Environment & Ecology Samyak IAS 04 Jul, 2026 3 min read

Government’s Plan to Revive Struggling Tiger Reserves

The Centre has released two new assessments on tiger conservation: one providing a roadmap for future tiger management and the other reviewing lessons from 12 tiger reintroduction initiatives in India, especially on the 18th anniversary of tiger reintroduction at Sariska Tiger Reserve.

1. Rising Tiger Population

India’s tiger population has increased from 1,411 in 2006 to 3,682 in 2022.
Tigers are now spread across 58 tiger reserves covering around 85,000 sq. km.
However, the overall rise in numbers does not reflect the uneven distribution of tigers across reserves.

2. Uneven Distribution

Around 10–12 tiger reserves account for nearly 36% of India’s tiger population.
There are 12 tiger reserves with fewer than three tigers.
Three reserves — Kawal, Kamlang and Dampa — have zero tigers.

3. Problems in High-Density Reserves

In reserves with high tiger density, tigers move into buffer zones, forest edges and agricultural landscapes.
This increases human-wildlife conflict.
Tigers become more dependent on livestock near forest fringes.
Mortality risk rises due to movement across railways, roads and canals.

4. Problems in Low-Tiger Reserves

Some low-tiger reserves may have intact forests but poor prey availability.
Such reserves fail to support breeding tiger populations.
This creates weak or “sink” populations.

5. Source and Sink Population Challenge

Source populations are areas where habitat, prey and tiger numbers are high.
Sink populations are areas with no breeding tigers or poor connectivity with healthier forests.
The unevenness between source and sink populations is a major challenge for long-term tiger conservation.

6. Centre’s Latest Assessment

The Centre has called for consolidating source populations in 13 tiger reserves, including Corbett, Bandipur and Kaziranga.
It has recommended priority intervention in at least 25 tiger reserves.
Reintroduction has been suggested where fewer than five tigers remain.

A MIXED RECORD

• Sariska, which had previously lost all its tigers, was the first to undertake reintroduction in 2008. Panna in MP followed suit in 2009 — 10 more reserves have done so since then.

• The Centre acknowledged failure in Odisha’s Satkosia owing to rejection by local communities, besides slow and lethargic progress in Rajasthan’s Mukundara Hills.

What is Recipient Sites?

Recipient sites are suitable habitats where dispersing or reintroduced tigers can establish viable populations.
These areas require adequate prey, good habitat quality, protection and connectivity.

Need for Recipient Sites

Tiger population growth has remained around 6% annually, but growth is uneven.
High-density reserves face pressure from dispersing tigers, conflict and poaching risks.
At the same time, many forested areas remain without tigers.

Causes of Uneven Recovery