India's tiger population increased to 3,682 in 2022, up from 2,967 in 2018, as per the estimate released by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
This indicates significant growth over the past decade, with 2,226 tigers reported in 2014, up from 1,706 in 2010.
Madhya Pradesh had the highest number of tigers in 2022, with 785, followed by Karnataka (563), Uttarakhand (560), and Maharashtra (444).
India's tigers are mainly concentrated in 53 dedicated tiger reserves spread across 75,796 square km, covering about 2.3% of the country's total land area.
Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand reported the most number of tigers (260), followed by Bandipur (150) and Nagarhole (141), both in Karnataka.
Certain regions, like Central India, the Shivalik Hills, and the Gangetic plains, witnessed increases in tiger population, while the Western Ghats experienced localized declines, requiring targeted monitoring and conservation efforts.
Some states, such as Mizoram, Nagaland, Jharkhand, Goa, Chhattisgarh, and Arunachal Pradesh, reported "disquieting trends" with smaller tiger populations.
The estimated number of 3,682 tigers is an average figure, with the actual population likely ranging between 3,167 and 3,925.
Future exercises may not see dramatic increases in tiger population, as the growth rate has been around 5% to 6% annually since 2014.
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