Tigers in India

In April 2005, the official number of tigers in India was said to be 3,624, but many experts believe the actual number is much lower than this. The Indian tigers are important, because they represent 60% of the total world population. There had been an increase in numbers since the 1,827 low reported in 1972, because India created 27 special game reserves, under the Project Tiger banner. By 1989, numbers were said to be up to more than 4,000 animals.
    At the Palamu Tiger Reserve in Bihar, 22 tigers in 1974 rose to 62 in 1984, but in 2005 the number is down to 38, and nobody knows where the missing tigers are. Even at the successful Ranthambore Park in Rajasthan there are serious problems with hotel owners taking too many safari tourists into the reserve and disturbing the tigers.
    There is a general feeling that the management of the reserves is poor and there is much corruption. It is hardly surprising that poorly paid wardens turn a blind eye when receiving money from poachers. And for the poachers it is nothing—a tiger skeleton can fetch around £4,000 on the black market.