The elephants and big cats are counted together.

The elephants and big cats are counted together.

In the News:

• The Union government will for the first time in this year, present a single assessment of Tiger, Leopard and Elephant population of the country, as per officials of the Union Environment Ministry.

The contents of today's news article:

• About NTCA (Objectives and Functions Tiger census and Statistics)
• Elephant Census (Data, Method used, etc.)
• Important Information for The Preliminary Exam (Project Tiger and Project Elephant)

National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA):

• The Tiger Survey in India is carried out by the NTCA every four years.
• NTCA is an statutory entity formed under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• It was founded in 2005, following the recommendation by the Tiger Task Force.
• Objectives :
  • To grant legal authority in Project Tiger so that compliance with its rules becomes lawful.
  • to ensure accountability for the Centre-State in the management of Tiger Reserves.
  • To address the livelihood needs of the local population in areas around Tiger Reserves.
• Functions :
  • To accept the tiger conservation plan drafted by the government of the state.
  • To ensure that reserves of tigers and the zones linking the protected area/tiger reserve to another aren't diverted to non-sustainable ecological uses.
  • Facilitate and assist the management of the tiger reserve within the state to ensure conservation of biodiversity.
• Chairman The Secretary of Union for Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Latest Tiger Survey:

• According to the most recent Tiger Census conducted in 2018-19 the tiger population in India has risen up to the number of 2967.
• India makes up around 70 percent of the world's tiger population..

Elephant Census:

• India has an elephant census(once every five years) however, it is mostly a head count of elephants in different elephant habitats, conducted by the state department of forest.
• The most recent census was conducted in 2017 and found that India has 29964 elephants.
  • According to estimates of current population the estimated number of elephants is 50,000 to 60,000. Asian elephants around the globe More than 60% of them being in India.
• Asian elephants are classified in the category " Endangered" on the IUCN Red List of threatened species.
• The year 2020 saw 87 elephants died and 359 humans died in conflict between humans and elephants.

Methods for conducting Census:

• The tigers are counted using cameras that identify people based on their stripes in addition to statistical analysis.
• "Hand counting", also known as "head counting" method which is used to conduct elephant counting has become outdated and often causes double counting.

A new method is was proposed:

• In August 2021 the Union government released the updated population estimation protocol to be implemented for the all-India elephant and tiger census in 2022.
• The new method would be used to estimate the number of elephants will be determined by States by analyzing DNA of their dung and other statistical methods.
• The process will consist of three phases:
  • Ground surveys, analysis of remotely sensed data, and camera traps.
• The elephant population that are analyzed using the method are evaluated for the first time.
• The method is commonly employed to estimate the tiger and leopard populations in India.

Important Information for Prelims:

• Project Tiger :
  • Project Tiger Project Tiger was launched by the Government of India in 1973.
  • It is an Centrally sponsored Scheme that is administered by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
  • Objectives :
    • To minimize the factors that lead to the destruction of habitats of tigers, and to reduce them through appropriate management.
    • To ensure a healthy population of tigers for the sake of scientific, economic, cultural aesthetic, ecological and aesthetic values.
  • Project Tiger funds activities. Project Tiger include:
    • Anti-poaching initiatives;
    • The strengthening of infrastructure in the tiger reserve;
    • Improvement of habitat and development of water;
    • The resolution of conflicts between animals and humans;
    • Helping States to develop staff and capacity-building in the tiger reserves.
  • Project Tiger was proven effective in increasing the number of tigers.
• Project Elephant :
  • It is a centrally financed scheme, and was officially launched in February of 1992.
  • Objectives :
    • To safeguard elephants, their habitats and corridors.
    • To tackle issues of animal-man conflict.
    • The welfare of elephants in captivity.
    • To encourage people to not harm elephants with their tusks.

Thank You