India records less than 100 tiger deaths for the first time in three years-The Hindu- 03-01-2020

Context

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) released the data, for the first time in the past three years, the number of tiger deaths in a year in the country has been less than 100.

Statistics:

In 2019, there were 84 cases of tiger deaths in the country and 11 cases of seizures (in which a tiger is presumed dead on the basis of body parts seized by authorities). Both put together, the number of tiger deaths was 95.

The data on tiger mortality also confirms 22 cases of poaching in the country and one case of tiger poisoning in 2019.

In 2018, the number of tiger deaths recorded was 100 (93 mortalities and seven seizures).
In 2017, the number of tiger deaths was 115 (98 mortalities and 17 seizures).
In 2016, it was 122 (101 mortalities and 21 seizures).

Figures from the States

Madhya Pradesh, which has the highest number of tigers in the country (526, as per the last census), has recorded the most number of cases of tiger deaths, with 31 tiger deaths reported from the central Indian State in 2019.

It is followed by Maharashtra, which reported 18 deaths.

Karnataka, another State with high tiger population, recorded 12 deaths, and Uttarakhand recorded ten deaths.

Tamil Nadu recorded seven cases of tiger deaths.

How was this achieved?

The reduced numbers of tiger mortalities are because of surveillance, good management of Tiger Reserves and a lot of awareness and education programmes on tiger conservation.
M-STriPES (Monitoring System for Tigers-Intensive Protection & Ecological Status) patrolling app was deployed and used in every Tiger Reserve.

Recommendations

Tigers are coming out of Reserves and covering long distances, so there is a need for more Tiger Reserves.