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UPSC Prelims 1991 · Environment · Wild Places
Of the various wildlife and forest observation schemes undertaken with world aid funds in India, which one has been the most successful project?
- (a) Project Tiger
- (b) Mangroves arid land development
- (c) Development of national parks
- (d) Protection/conservation of forests in Terai region
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (a) Project Tiger
Project Tiger (1973), supported by WWF funds early on, brought tigers back from ~1,800 and is India’s most successful wildlife project.
The idea
The tiger is an umbrella species. It needs a large forest with plenty of deer, and deer need grass and water. Protect enough forest for tigers and everything under that “umbrella” is protected too. That is why saving one animal became India’s most successful conservation programme.
1972 count: about 1,800 tigers → Project Tiger launched in 1973 at Corbett with nine reserves → Core–buffer plan; villages shifted from cores → 2006 count: 1,411, a new low → Tiger authority made statutory → 2022 count: 3,682
Also know
Early money came from the World Wildlife Fund’s international appeal, which is the “world aid” in the question. India now holds about three-quarters of the world’s wild tigers in 58 reserves.
🔒 Project Tiger 1973 → NTCA 2006; tigers ~3,682 (2022).