Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav today inaugurated the National Workshop on "Tiger Re-introduction: Opportunities & Challenges" at Alwar, Rajasthan, and released three publications on tiger conservation and Project Cheetah.
Addressing the workshop, organised to mark 18 years of tiger re-introduction in the Sariska Tiger Reserve, the Minister said tiger conservation is not merely about protecting a single species, but about conserving forests, watersheds and the rich biodiversity that shares the tiger's habitat.
Describing the Sariska tiger reintroduction programme as a historic milestone in wildlife conservation, Shri Yadav said it represents the world's first successful scientific reintroduction of tigers into a landscape where the species had become locally extinct. He said the programme has emerged as a global example of successful species restoration through scientific management, dedicated conservation efforts and community participation.
The Minister said Sariska has witnessed remarkable recovery from a situation of local extinction in 2005 to supporting 56 tigers today. He said Sariska today serves as a global example of successful species restoration and offers valuable lessons for future conservation initiatives.
Highlighting the country's achievements in tiger conservation, the Minister said the number of tiger reserves has increased from 46 to 58 over the past decade. He also noted that India has successfully achieved the St. Petersburg Declaration target of doubling its wild tiger population by 2022.
The Minister said that the successful reintroduction of tigers in Panna and Sariska was possible because of the support and participation of local communities. He noted that similar success could not be achieved in Satkosia Tiger Reserve, Odisha, due to the lack of community support.
Yadav said that the success of Project Cheetah has also been driven in large measure by the active participation of local communities.
The Minister stressed that while efforts are made to attract tourists from across the country and abroad, equal importance should be given to the welfare and interests of local communities.
Yadav also said that in landscapes where the distribution of tigers and elephants overlaps, emphasis should be placed on maintaining and strengthening landscape connectivity.
The Minister said the workshop should analyse potential source and sink areas and deliberate on factors that have contributed to successful tiger reintroduction programmes. He added that the workshop would also focus on the scientific management of tiger reintroduction.
Emphasising the need for balanced conservation, Yadav said, "Our priority is to ensure that our tigers are protected, our forests remain green and healthy and local communities continue to prosper."
The Minister said the government's objective is not only to protect tigers but also to ensure that no species becomes extinct and that sustained efforts should be made for the recovery and re-establishment of threatened species.
He said that as guardians of nature, conservation efforts must be guided by both a scientific approach and human values.
