Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in poll-bound Karnataka, is all set to release the latest tiger census data at a mega event to mark the completion of 50 years of 'Project Tiger' in Mysuru on Sunday.
The prime minister was taking a "safari" at the Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Chamarajanagar district this morning where he will interact with the frontline field staff and self-help groups involved in tiger conservation.
Modi shared pictures of Safari on his Twitter account in which he can be seen standing in the open jeep, and with a camera and binoculars. He also shared pictures of elephants, langurs, spotted deer, and bisons. "Spent the morning at the scenic Bandipur Tiger Reserve and got a glimpse of India’s wildlife, natural beauty and diversity," he tweeted.
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Security was tightened in the city in view of his visit today.
PM will also release the government's vision for tiger conservation during 'Amrit Kaal', and also launch the International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA). He will release the publications 'Amrit Kaal ka vision for tiger conservation', a summary report of the 5th cycle of Management Effective Evaluation of Tiger Reserves and declare tiger numbers and release a summary report of All India Tiger Estimation (5th cycle). A commemorative coin on completion of 50 years of 'Project Tiger' will also be released on the occasion.
IBCA will focus on protection and conservation of seven major big cats of the world -- Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Puma, Jaguar and Cheetah, with membership of the range of countries harbouring these species.
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He will then head to the Theppakadu Elephant camp in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in neighbouring Tamil Nadu and interact with mahouts and 'kavadis' of the elephant camp. He will interact with Field Directors of tiger reserves that have scored highest in the recently concluded 5th cycle of the Management Effectiveness Evaluation exercise.
‘Project Tiger’ and launch of IBCA
India has around 3,000 tigers, more than 70 per cent of the global wild tiger population, and the number is increasing at a rate of six per cent per year.
'Project Tiger', launched on 1 April 1973, aimed to promote tiger conservation. The project initially covered nine tiger reserves spread over 18,278 sq km. At present, there are 53 tiger reserves spanning more than 75,000 sq km (approximately 2.4 per cent of the country's geographical area).
In July 2019, the Prime Minister called for an 'Alliance of Global Leaders' to "obliterate demand" and firmly curb poaching and illegal wildlife trade in Asia. Taking the message of the Prime Minister forward, the IBCA is being launched.
India is on a mission to sustain the tiger population based on a scientifically calculated carrying capacity of habitats while maintaining a balance between development and wildlife conservation, the head of 'Project Tiger', which completed 50 years on April 1, said earlier this week.
Additional Director General of Forests S P Yadav told PTI that though tiger poaching has substantially reduced due to better technology and protection mechanisms, it is still the biggest threat to the big cats besides habitat fragmentation and degradation.
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Yadav added that 'Project Tiger' generates more than 45 lakh man-days of employment for local people annually. Besides, the government is supporting eco-development committees and self-help groups.
