The Royal Bengal Tiger, nature’s magnificent beast with its beautiful striped coat and fangs that can terrify its challengers, is a symbol of India’s pride and the national animal of the country. The Royal Bengal Tiger attracts visitors from around the world and has been featured in many national and international publications.
In the past, the Royal Bengal Tiger faced a wave of illegal poaching during the 1970s, which greatly reduced its population in the country. However, after India adopted economic liberalization in 1992, the government gradually developed a plan focused on forest conservation and protecting natural habitats, which helped to grow the Royal Bengal Tiger population.
Currently, the Indian Subcontinent holds a total of 4,233 Royal Bengal Tigers. India has the largest share with 3,600 tigers, followed by Nepal with 355, Bhutan with 131, Bangladesh with 125, and Myanmar with 22. The total tiger population has increased by 74% in the last decade due to strong conservation efforts by both national and state governments of India.
We have written about Royal Bengal Tigers of Indian state of Madhya Pradesh here.
The Royal Bengal Tiger: India’s Pride and Identity
Royal Bengal Tigers are the gems of India. They are sparsely distributed across the country from the hot deserts of western Rajasthan to the cold deserts of the Trans-Himalayan region in the north. The animal holds deep cultural and mythological significance in the Indian subcontinent.
The tiger is highly adaptive to the environment it lives in. It has an orange coat with black stripes, which helps it blend into the jungle shadows. The orange color absorbs sunlight that filters through the grasslands, making it harder to spot in the wild.1
The word “tiger” means “arrow” and comes from Persian origin. The closest Hindi/Urdu word is “Teer,” commonly used in India.
In Hindu culture, especially in the eastern regions, Goddess Durga is shown riding a tiger in her battle against evil. In the Sundarbans mangrove forest of united Bengal, the tiger is revered as a guardian of the people. However, the forest is also known for stories of man-eating tigers. In Central India, where most of the tigers live and which is famous for tiger safaris, the Baiga tribe believes they are descendants of the tiger and treat it with deep respect.
From the 10th century onward, Indian royals held tiger hunts, which continued under Mughal rulers and later during British rule. The Maharaja of Rewa is believed to have killed 109 tigers. Colonel Geoffrey Nightingale, commandant of the 3rd Cavalry in Hyderabad, reportedly shot 300 tigers in the 1850s. King George V also participated in hunting at Chitwan National Park, killing 39 tigers and 18 one-horned rhinos. After 1947, tiger hunting continued due to the absence of laws regulating it.
It was around 1970, after consistent pressure and data collection by zoologist and conservationist Mr. Kailash Sankhala, that the government recognized the urgent need for tiger protection. This led to the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, which banned the hunting of all wildlife and granted legal protection. Mr. Sankhala was appointed the first director of Project Tiger. Launched in 1973, this project created Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand as India’s first tiger reserve and laid the foundation for future conservation efforts. 2
Tracking Royal Bengal Tiger Population in India
Tigers in forests and across different geographical regions are hard to find and count. However, with the help of technology such as camera traps and GPS collars, this task has become much easier.
Camera Trap: Tracking through camera traps has become the standard method for counting tigers, and India now uses the largest camera trap system in the world for this purpose.
Earlier, tiger numbers were estimated by counting footprints or pugmarks, which often gave inaccurate results. In the camera trap method, a team of specialists surveys areas where tiger movement is more likely. They then head to these locations and install the camera traps.
Each camera is equipped with a memory card and batteries, then attached to a tree or post and left in place for two to three months before being retrieved. These cameras use infrared sensors that activate and start recording photos and videos whenever a tiger or other wildlife passes by.
Once retrieved, the data is analysed by a team of experts, and based on that, a report on the tiger population is prepared.3
Royal Bengal Tiger Population in India 2023: Latest Data and Trends
As per reports by WWF, the latest population estimate from the Global Tiger Forum puts the number of wild tigers at around 5,574. This marks a 74% increase since 2010, when the population was approximately 3,200. Over the past 12 years, the tiger population has shown consistent growth in countries like Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, and Russia.4
The increase in tiger population is due to India’s conservation efforts, which have made the country one of the safest havens for tigers. Several reasons have contributed to the growth of the tiger population in India:
- The government’s decision to establish forest reserves in 1973, giving legal authority to protect forest habitats.
- The development and implementation of Project Tiger, which gave administrative powers to the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and introduced systems for accountability and information sharing.
- The government’s efforts to involve local villagers and tribal communities, and to look after their interests, have also played a key role in the success of tiger conservation.
- The number of protected forest landscapes has increased. In 2006, there were 28 tiger reserves; by 2018, this number had grown to 50, helping to safeguard the free-roaming tiger population.
- Local forest departments and increased vigilance have helped dismantle poaching rackets.
[Source: https://www.tigersafariindia.com/blog/reasons-behind-the-tiger-population-boost-in-india/]
Royal Bengal Tiger Habitat in India: Where Are They Found?
The table lists the number of Tiger Reserve in India, we have published the name of the Tiger reserve, nearest city, nearest airport, area of the park and estimated tiger Population:
| Sl No | Tiger Reserve (TR) | State | Total Area(sq km) | Nearest Airport | Tiger Population |
| 1 | Sunderban | West Bengal | 2,584.89 | Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata | approx 74 tigers in India’s side |
| 2 | Corbett | Uttarakhand | 1288.31 | Pantnagar Airport (~70–80 km) as nearest domestic, Dehradun (~100 km) & Delhi (~250–300 km) | 260 |
| 3 | Kanha | Madhya Pradesh | 2,051.79 | Jabalpur Airport | 105 |
| 4 | Satpura | Madhya Pradesh | 2,133.31 | Bhopal Airport | 50 |
| 5 | Pench | Madhya Pradesh | 1,179.63 | Jabalpur Airport | 48 |
| 6 | Bandhavgarh | Madhya Pradesh | 1,536.93 | Jabalpur Airport | 135 |
| 7 | Kaziranga | Assam | 1,173.58 | Guwahati International Airport | 104 |
| 8 | Ranthambore | Rajasthan | 1,411.29 | Jaipur International Airport | 57 |
| 9 | Panna | Madhya Pradesh | 1,598.10 | Khajuraho Airport (~80 km) | 55 |
As you can see, Jabalpur is a prime location for a tiger safari. Plan your visit outside the monsoon season, as the parks are usually closed between June and September. From Jabalpur, you can access three major tiger reserves. If you’re traveling on a budget, you can easily find a hotel in Jabalpur under 500, such as Hotel Anand Jabalpur, which offers basic facilities for a comfortable overnight stay. It’s a convenient base to begin your jungle safari adventure.
The Threats to Royal Bengal Tigers: Challenges to Conservation
Habitat loss is the biggest threat to tiger conservation efforts and the future of wild tigers in India. Tiger products like bones are smuggled for use in traditional medicine, posing a serious danger. This threat mainly comes from the traditional Chinese medicine industry, which fuels tiger poaching in India. Poachers use methods such as poison, steel traps, firearms, and electrocution.
The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, imposes a sentence of three years of imprisonment or a fine up to ₹25,000, or both. If the offence is committed inside a core area of a tiger reserve, the punishment increases to seven years of imprisonment and a fine of ₹50,000, which can go up to ₹2 lakhs.
[Source: https://www.wpsi-india.org/tiger/poaching_crisis.php]
Climate change is another major concern that can affect the natural habitat of forests, impacting all wildlife, including wild tigers. Clearing forests for commercial use and exploiting natural resources reduces the forest cover available to tigers. Since tigers live an isolated lifestyle, they need to roam over large areas in search of food and shelter. Reduced forest cover directly affects their habitat.
Rising temperatures also lead to more droughts and wildfires. A major example was the wildfire that devastated Bandhavgarh in 2021, destroying around 100 sq. km nearly one-third to half of pristine tiger habitat causing injuries, displacement, and loss of life among wildlife.
With deforestation and these effects, tigers may enter human settlements to hunt cattle and, in rare cases, may attack humans. In the absence of local government oversight, villagers may resort to using traps to protect themselves and their livestock. This makes it essential to safeguard forest areas for the safety of both wild animals and tiger habitats.
Conclusion
In 2023, the Royal Bengal Tiger population showed a strong recovery, thanks to decades of focused conservation efforts, scientific tracking, and community involvement. Yet, with ongoing threats like habitat loss, climate change, and illegal poaching, the mission is far from over. Protecting India’s national animal requires sustained commitment from governments, local communities, and wildlife enthusiasts alike. With continued vigilance and care, the future of this majestic predator looks promising as an enduring symbol of India’s wild heritage.
- https://www.tigersafariindia.com/the-royal-bengal-tiger/ ↩︎
- https://www.tigersafariindia.com/history-of-the-tiger-in-india/ ↩︎
- https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/how-scientists-count-tigers-in-india/ ↩︎
- https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/new-tiger-population-estimate-of-5-574-wild-tigers-announced-by-global-tiger-forum/ ↩︎