The latest tiger census data in India, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has revealed that there has been a significant rise in the number of tigers in the country. This figure represents a 6.7 per cent (200 tigers) increase since the previous count in 2018. The data shows that as of 2022, there are now at least 3,167 tigers in India.
The data also highlights that the number of tigers in India has almost doubled in the last two decades. In 2006, there were 1,411 tigers in India, which increased to 1,706 in 2010 and 2,226 in 2014, demonstrating a boost in the total tiger population in the country.
The report showed that some areas, such as the Shivalik and Gangetic floodplains, have recorded a "substantial" increase in minimum tiger populations. In contrast, the Western Ghats landscape and north-eastern hills have witnessed a decline. The report also revealed the local extinction of tigers in some areas, such as the Kawal Tiger Reserve in Telangana.
The report is only a summary report, which provides the minimum population numbers. Full-fledged estimates are still being conducted at the Wildlife Institute of India. India estimates tiger numbers every four years, combining data from camera trap-based surveys and sign surveys.