Latest tiger census 'positive': Official

NEW DELHI: The government is all set to release the latest tiger population report which is "positive" showing an improvement over the earlier census.

A senior environment ministry official said today that preliminary indications suggest that the overall figure of tigers in India has improved.

"The tiger census will be released on January 20 by environment minister Prakash Javadekar," he said.

The official said, "Although I have not seen the report, as per the messege which we have got, the report is good and overall figure has improved. It is positive on this."

While the census in 2010 put the number of tigers at around 1706, in 2006, it was estimated at 1411 across the country.

Experts said that the latest census has been done with the best scientific technology available and it should should give good estimate of tiger population in India.