India's tiger population was 3,167 in 2022, highlights census data released by PM

India has a tiger population of 3,167, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced at an event in Mysuru, commemorating 50 years of Project Tiger on Sunday in poll-bound Karnataka.

Modi undertook a 20-km-long safari in Bandipur Tiger Reserve and released the summary report of the 5th cycle of the All India Tiger Estimation.

"We have added about 200 tigers to our forest in the last five years ... we are expanding our tiger family," he said, calling the success of Project Tiger a matter of pride, not just for India, but for the entire world.


"We finished 75 years of Independence and now we have 75% of the world's tiger population. Coincidentally, we also have 75,000 sq km of tiger reserves, and we have increased the tiger population by 75% in the last 10-12 years," he added.

The Prime Minister lauded India's spirit towards protectiveness and conservation, attributing the success of Project Tiger to "sabka prayas" (everyone's efforts). "With only 2.5% of the world's area, we contribute around 8% of the world's biodiversity. We do not assume conflict between ecology and economy, we promote coexistence," he said.

Modi also launched the International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA), to mobilise financial and technical resources while learning from the conservation experiences of various countries. The IBCA will focus on conserving seven major big cats of the world - tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar and cheetah. Countries that are home to these cats will be a part of this alliance. "Together we will save these species from extinction, and create a safe and healthy ecosystem," he said.