Project Tiger was launched in 1973 to conserve tigers in India, increasing the number of reserves from 9 to 53, while focusing on habitat management and mitigating human-animal conflicts. The tiger population has seen some recovery thanks to these efforts, though challenges such as poaching and habitat disputes remain. Project Elephant, initiated in 1992, aims to protect wild Asian elephants through habitat restoration and management, addressing human-elephant conflicts and illegal trade.

1. PROJECT
TIGER

2. INTRODUCTION
The government passed the Wildlife Protection Act in 1972 for the preservation and
protection of wildlife.Project Tiger is a tiger conservation programme launched on
April 1, 1973 by the Government of India, in collaboration with the WWF, at Jim
Corbett National Park.
Tiger is an endangered species in the world. Due to the hunting practices of
Maharajas and the British, their numbers had drastically dwindled to 820 in the
1970s. Another reason for the sinking population was the scarcity of prey for these
wild cats.
In the initial years of this project, there were only 9 tiger reserves in India. At
present there are 53 tiger reserves.The project’s task force had visualised these
reserves as breeding nuclei, from which surplus animals would migrate to adjacent
forests.
The tiger census of 2006 estimated at 1411 tigers. Owing to the project, it further

3. Objectives
>Reduce factors that lead to depletion of tiger habitats and to
mitigate them by suitable management. The damages done to
the habitat shall be rectified to facilitate the recovery of the
ecosystem to the maximum possible extent.
>Ensure a viable tiger population for scientific, ecological and
aesthetic values.

4. Management
The various tiger reserves were created in the country based on the
'core-buffer' strategy: • Core area: These areas are free of all human
activities like minor forest produce and grazing. It has the legal status of
a national park or wildlife sanctuary.
• Buffer areas: These areas are subjected to 'conservation-oriented land
use'.
The important thrust areas of the the Plan are:
>Voluntary relocation of people from core areas to provide
inviolate space for tigers
>Use of information technology in wildlife crime prevention
>Addressing human-wildlife conflicts

5. The monitoring system M-STrIPES was
developed to assist patrol and protect tiger
habitats.
The e-Eye system was launched in 2016 at
Corbett, which uses thermal cameras for
enhanced surveillance.

6. Major Threats to Tigers
#1:Man-animal Conflict:
The acquisition of forest lands by
humans has caused destruction
of tiger habitats . Along with loss
of habitat, tigers have also
experienced a loss of prey
species due to human activities.
#2:Hunting, illegal trade
and poaching:
The hunting of tigers
for their body parts for
commercial purposes is
a huge issue faced by
the tiger population.

7. Rise in Tiger Population
The wildlife policy of India embraces conservation and
protection through the provision of national parks and
sanctuaries. This has assisted their sustainable growth and a
drastic declining man-animal conflict. A proactive judiciary has
shaped a well-built restriction against poachers.

8. Causes for Rise in Population of Tigers
• Providing suitable habitat with the availability of prey, water
bodies, etc. So that tigers do not come out which results in man-
animal conflict.
• Limiting the tourists to peripheral areas and not core areas where
Tiger mate and small cubs generally are taken care of.
• Better trained and efficient Forest administrators and rangers to
deal with the issue of hunting and poaching.

9. Controversies and Problems
• Project Tiger's efforts were hampered by poaching, as well
as debacles and irregularities in Sariska and Namdapha, both
of which were reported extensively in the Indian media.
• The Forest Rights Act passed by the Indian government in
2006 recognizes the rights of some forest dwelling
communities in forest areas. This has led to controversy over
implications of such recognition for tiger conservation.

10. PROJECT
ELEPHANT

11. Introduction
Project Elephant was launched in February 1992 by the
Government of India Ministry of Environment and
Forests to provide financial and technical support to
wildlife management efforts by states for their
populations of wild Asian Elephants.

12. Research
Environmentalists had studied why were Indian
Elephants endangered for a long time. They concluded
that conversion of habitats into farmland, Human-
Elephant conflict and an absence of elephant corridors in
India were the main reasons for the decline in the
population of elephants.

13. Objectives
•Develop and promote scientific and planned management strategies for
Elephant conservation.
• Prevent illegal trade of ivory and ensure elephant protection from
hunters and poachers.
•PE has also imbibed the use of eco-tourism for generating extra revenue
for the welfare of captive breeding programmes for elephants.
• Ensure ecological restoration of the natural elephant habitats.
• To mitigate and prevent the increasing conflict in elephant habitats
between humans and elephants.

14. Haathi Mere Saathi
The Ministry of Environment and Forests in partnership
with Wildlife Trust of India has launched a campaign
Haathi Mere Saathi. The aim of the campaign was to
increase public awareness and develop friendships
between elephants and the local population. The
campaign Haathi Mere Saathi was for the welfare of the
elephants, to conserve and protect the elephants in India.

16. Project Elephant has also
produced a 58-minute
video documentary
“Living with the Giants” on
elephant conservation in
India.