Tiger Mortality and Conservation Concerns in Bandhavgarh
Source:the-morning-voice ↗
Why It Matters
MPPSC Prelims regularly features questions on Madhya Pradesh's geography, national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and its status as India's 'Tiger State'. Understanding the geographical context of Bandhavgarh (Umaria district, Vindhyan range) and tiger mortality statistics is highly crucial for state service aspirants.
Summary
A tiger skeleton found in Madhya Pradesh's Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve has pushed the state's recent tiger mortality count to 42. Despite retaining its title as India's 'Tiger State' with 785 tigers in the 2022 census, Madhya Pradesh's rising big cat deaths pose significant challenges for conservationists, the state Forest Department, and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). This highlights issues surrounding territorial clashes, habitat pressure, and monitoring in premier reserves like Bandhavgarh.
Key Points
- A tiger skeleton was discovered in the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh, highlighting issues with timely tracking and monitoring of big cats.
- With this discovery, the death toll of tigers in Madhya Pradesh, India's 'Tiger State,' has risen to 42 within a specified monitoring period, raising serious conservation concerns.
- Madhya Pradesh currently leads the country in tiger population, boasting 785 tigers according to the 2022 All India Tiger Estimation, followed by Karnataka and Uttarakhand.
- Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, established as a National Park in 1968 and designated a Tiger Reserve in 1993, is located in the Vindhyan hills and is famous for having one of the highest densities of Royal Bengal tigers in India.
- Conservationists and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) emphasize that high population densities inside reserves often trigger territorial disputes, alongside other factors like aging, electrocution, and poaching.
Important Terms
National Tiger Conservation Authority
A statutory body under India's Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, established in 2005 to provide legal, policy, and oversight support for tiger conservation and Project Tiger.
UPSC context
GS Paper III (Environment). Tests knowledge of environmental governance, statutory bodies, and wildlife protection policies.
Project Tiger
A flagship wildlife conservation program launched by India in 1973 to ensure a viable population of Bengal tigers and preserve their natural habitats through designated core-buffer reserves.
UPSC context
GS Paper III (Environment). Tests understanding of flagship conservation schemes, ecosystem-based management, and historic environmental policies.
Wildlife Protection Act 1972
A landmark act of the Indian Parliament providing a comprehensive legal framework for protecting wild animals, birds, and plants, managing their habitats, and regulating wildlife trade.
UPSC context
GS Paper III (Environment). Tests critical environmental legislations, legal schedules for endangered species, and statutory powers.
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve
A premier tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh's Umaria district, famous for its high tiger density, rich biodiversity, and the ancient, legendary Bandhavgarh Fort.
UPSC context
GS Paper III/Prelims (Environment/Geography). Tests knowledge of protected areas, geographic locations, and mapping of India's landscapes.
All India Tiger Estimation
A comprehensive national assessment conducted every four years by the NTCA and WII to estimate wild tiger populations and assess habitat health using technology like M-STrIPES.
UPSC context
GS Paper III (Environment). Tests scientific wildlife monitoring methodologies, population trends, and data-driven conservation.
Prelims Trap
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body chaired by the Prime Minister of India.
While the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) is chaired by the Prime Minister, the NTCA is chaired by the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Static Concepts Connected
How are Tiger Reserves declared under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972?
- State notification: State governments declare tiger reserves under Section 38V of the Act on the recommendation of the NTCA.
- Two-tier structure: They comprise a core or critical tiger habitat managed as inviolate, and a buffer or peripheral area supporting co-existence and livelihood.
- Alteration limits: No alteration in the boundaries of a tiger reserve can be made except on a recommendation of the NTCA and approval of the NBWL.
What is the statutory mandate and composition of the NTCA?
- Legal origin: Constituted under Section 38L of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, following the 2006 legislative amendment.
- Executive chair: Chaired by the Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, providing administrative and political leadership.
- Parliamentary oversight: Mandated to table annual reports and conservation plans of tiger reserves before both Houses of Parliament.
Cross-Topic Patterns
Tiger corridors intersecting Ramsar sites
The inclusion of the Sakhya Sagar Ramsar site in Madhav Tiger Reserve marks a growing shift toward integrated wetland-carnivore conservation frameworks.
Linear infrastructure vs. genetic isolation
High tiger density and territorial deaths highlight the urgent need for mandatory eco-ducts and wildlife underpasses in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs).
Expect a 2026 question pairing newly declared tiger reserves (like Madhav) with their specific draining rivers or adjacent Ramsar wetlands.
Linked PYQs · 3
Linked PYQs · 3
- 2009MPPSC_PRELIMSGS1
Which is called the 'Tiger State'?
- 2022MPPSC_PRELIMSGS1
Which of the following National Parks is the first in India to officially introduce a mascot named "Bhoorsingh the Barasingha"?
- 2024MPPSC_PRELIMSGS1
Which of the following pairs is false? Sanctuary District
