Global tiger population increases first time in 100 years
New Delhi - The tiger remains an endangered species although its estimated population has risen for the first time in 100 years, conservationists said ahead of a global conference in New Delhi Tuesday.
The number of wild tigers was revised to 3,890 from the 3,200 estimate of 2010, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Global Tiger Forum said.
The figure has been compiled from the latest national tiger surveys.
"For the first time after decades of constant decline, tiger numbers are on the rise," said Marco Lambertini, WWF International director.
"This offers us great hope and shows that we can save species and their habitats when governments, local communities and conservationists work together."
While several tiger range countries like India, Nepal, Russia and Bhutan had registered an increase in tiger population, others, particularly in Southeast Asia are at imminent risk of losing its tigers, according to WWF.
India's Environment Ministry, which is hosting the three-day 3rd Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation, noted concern about the decimation of the species in some areas to "non-viable" levels.
At the first summit in St Petersburg in 2010, participating governments agreed to a goal of doubling their tiger populations by 2022.
"A strong action plan for the next six years is vital," said Michael Baltzer, head of WWF's Tiger Initiative. "The global decline has been halted but there is still no safe place for tigers."
Ministers and officials of all 15 tiger-range countries would be participating in the New Delhi conference, BS Bonal, associate director of India's Tiger Project said.
The delegates were to discuss habitat management, tiger reintroduction, monitoring protocols and use of new technology for monitoring among others.
The countries would also report on the status of their tiger conservation programmes and set future goals.
"This is a critical meeting taking place at the halfway point of theTx2 goal," said Rajesh Gopal, secretary general of the Global Tiger Forum.
"Tiger governments will decide the next steps towards achieving this goal and ensuring wild tigers have a place in Asia's future."
- DPA
RELATED