Cameras count 500 more tigers in wild in India thanks to conservation efforts

Tiger at a watering hole, Mangalore, India Image by Karunakar Rayker / CC BY 2.0

India’s latest tiger census shows a sharp increase in the number of endangered cats in the wild, raising hopes that conservation efforts are working.

The census carried out in 2014 counted at least 2,226 tigers in forests across the country – around 500 more than were counted four years ago.

Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar described the figures as a huge success story and said it was the result of sustained conservation efforts in tiger reserves across the country.

A tiger at Rajasthan, India Image by Christopher Kray / CC BY 2.0

Tigers have been threatened by rampant poaching and shrinking habitats from deforestation due to power projects, roads and human settlements.

Mr Javadekar said more than 9,700 cameras were used to count the big cats accurately.

(Press Association)