Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks — Current Affairs 2026
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India's Tiger Population Surges to 3,682, Accounting for 75% of Global Wild Tigers
July 29, 2023 (Global Tiger Day)The latest tiger census (2022), released in 2023, revealed a significant increase in India's tiger population, reaching 3,682 individuals. This achievement underscores the success of Project Tiger and the network of Tiger Reserves and National Parks in providing safe habitats. The growth is a testament to sustained conservation efforts, including anti-poaching measures, habitat improvement, and community engagement. However, it also brings challenges like managing human-tiger conflict in areas bordering protected zones and ensuring genetic diversity across fragmented populations.
UPSC Angle: Prelims: Factual data on tiger population, Project Tiger, NTCA, specific Tiger Reserves. Mains: Success story of conservation, challenges of increasing population (human-wildlife conflict, corridor management), role of protected areas, sustainable conservation models.
Declaration of Terai Elephant Reserve in Uttar Pradesh to Strengthen Elephant Conservation
December 2022The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change approved the establishment of the Terai Elephant Reserve (TER) in Uttar Pradesh, covering an area of 3,049 sq km. This marks India's 33rd Elephant Reserve and is crucial for protecting trans-boundary elephant corridors between India and Nepal. The reserve aims to provide better protection to elephants, manage human-elephant conflict, and conserve the rich biodiversity of the Terai region, which includes Dudhwa National Park and Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary. It highlights a landscape-level approach to conservation.
UPSC Angle: Prelims: Location of Terai Elephant Reserve, total number of Elephant Reserves, significance of elephant corridors. Mains: Importance of landscape conservation, human-elephant conflict mitigation, role of protected areas in species-specific conservation, trans-boundary conservation efforts.
Cheetah Reintroduction Project in Kuno National Park Faces Challenges, Prompts Review
Ongoing through 2023-2024The ambitious project to reintroduce cheetahs to India, starting with Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, has faced significant challenges, including the deaths of several cheetahs. This has prompted a review of the project's implementation, habitat suitability, and post-release monitoring protocols. The project aims to restore a lost species and enhance grassland ecosystems, but its initial phase highlights the complexities and risks associated with reintroduction programs, requiring careful scientific planning and adaptive management. It underscores the importance of thorough ecological assessment and long-term viability studies.
UPSC Angle: Prelims: Kuno National Park, species reintroduction, African cheetahs. Mains: Challenges in species reintroduction, ecological restoration, balancing conservation goals with practical implementation, role of scientific research in wildlife management, ethical considerations in conservation.