Tiger Conservation

WWF initiated the Tiger Conservation Programme in 1997 with the long-term aim of protecting this magnificent species from extinction.

The programme components of the initiative include: providing infrastructure support to the government for strengthening management capacity; assessment and monitoring of tiger habitat; strengthening political will and intensification of public awareness; sustained generation of conservation finance for support to tiger conservation; and facilitating international cooperation.

The programme is governed by a Steering Committee comprising a member each from WWF-International, WWF-UK, WWF-US, WWF-Netherlands and three members from WWF-India.
 
The Programme began with seven protected areas, which were well known for their tiger presence-Corbett Tiger Reserve(TR), Dudhwa TR, Palamau TR, Manas TR, Kaziranga NP, Bandhavgarh TR and Periyar TR. This number has steadily increased over the years, and at present there are 21 Protected Areas being supported by the TCP.

They include a number of tiger reserves (TR) national parks (NP) and wild life sanctuaries (WLS).

Two important factors in the conservation efforts are the inherent capacity of the Indian forest and grassland eco-system to rapidly improve and second, the propensity of the tiger itself to multiply if adequate protection, food and cover is provided.

Furthermore, the prime consideration for selecting a conservation area is where the inputs to be provided by TCP would be expected to yield the best results in habitat improvement, prey species increase and growth in tiger population.

Direct Funding to the Protected Areas (PAs)

• Bandhavgarh TR ( Madhya Pradesh)
• Biligiri Rangayan Temple WLS ( Karnataka)
• Corbett Tiger Reserve (Uttranchal)
• Dudhwa Tiger Reserve ( Uttar Pradesh)
• Kalakad Mundanthurai TR (Tamil Nadu)
• Katerniaghat Wild Life Sanctuary ( Uttar Pradesh)
• Kaziranga Natioanal Park (Assam)
• Mahananda WLS ( West Bengal)
• Manas Tiger Reserve ( Assam)
• NamdaphaTR ( Arunachal Pradesh)
• Nameri NP( Assam)
• Orang NP ( Assam)
• Pakhui WLS ( Arunachal Pradesh)
• Palamau TR (Jharkhand)
• Periyar ( Kerala)
• Pench TR ( Maharahtra)
• Pench TR ( Madhya Pradesh)
• Rajaji National Park ( Uttranchal)
• Sariska TR ( Rajasthan)
• Satkosia WLS ( Orrisa)
• Sunderbans TR (West Bengal)
• Tadoba Andhari TR ( Maharashtra)
• ValmikiTR ( Bihar)