Wildlife Crime & Tiger Protection in India

18.09.2025

Wildlife Crime & Tiger Protection in India

Context

The Supreme Court recently called on the CBI to investigate well-organized tiger poaching syndicates in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, reflecting urgent concerns over illegal wildlife trade and the threat to India’s tiger population.

Wildlife Crime & Tiger Protection: Key Issues

• Poaching Syndicates: Tigers are illegally killed for skin, bones (used for bone glue in medicines), and body parts, mainly trafficked to Southeast Asia.
• India’s Tiger Population: India is home to over 70% of the world’s tigers, with core populations in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, and Assam.
• Tiger Reserves & Corridors: Major tiger reserves include Corbett (Uttarakhand), Kanha (Madhya Pradesh), Sundarbans (West Bengal—only mangrove habitat), and Nagarjunasagar Srisailam (largest, in Andhra Pradesh & Telangana).
• Protection Status: Tigers are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972; hunting is strictly punishable with heavy penalties.

Institutional Mechanisms

• National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA): Statutory body for monitoring and safeguarding tiger reserves.
• Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB): Central agency for curbing illegal wildlife trade. Issued a "red alert" in February 2025 for increased patrolling.
• Investigation: Supreme Court's directive for CBI intervention due to organized poaching networks.

Statistics & Updates

• Tiger Population Report: As of July 2024, India had 3,167 tigers (All India Tiger Estimation by NTCA).
• Trends: After falling from 2,967 in 2018 to 2,226, the population showed recent improvement.
• Subspecies Status: Bengal and Indochinese tigers are endangered; South China tigers may be extinct.

Challenges

• Persistent poaching and weak law enforcement.
• Illegal trade networks operating across borders (Myanmar to SE Asia).
• Data gaps and insufficient patrolling in reserves.
• Human-tiger conflict and habitat loss.

Way Forward

• Strengthen wildlife crime investigation and judicial processes.
• Expand anti-poaching units and community awareness.
• Increase budget and resources for NTCA, WCCB, and tiger reserves.
• Promote international cooperation on trade control and intelligence sharing.

Conclusion

Tiger protection is a flagship conservation challenge for India. While population shows improvement, combating poaching and wildlife crime demands robust surveillance, judicial intervention, and community involvement. Enhanced law enforcement and habitat conservation remain pillars for ensuring survival of India’s endangered tigers.