EDITORIAL ANALYSIS !! 08.AUGUST.2019 !! (4 th Tiger Census Report - 2018 )

TO REGISTER FOR UPSC CSE MAINS 2019 MOCKTEST SERIES CLICK THE LINK BELOW http://mocktest.aptiplus.in/indexpage/index_next.php FOR ANSWER WRITING CHALLENGE CLICK THE LINK BELOW https://iasgyan.in/answer.php ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ANSWER Q.1 - C Q.2 - B Q.3 - B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- International Tiger Day- 29 July The Prime Minister of India has released the fourth cycle of All India Tiger Estimation - 2018 Important findings of the Report The total count of tigers has risen to 2,967 from 2,226 in 2014 Increase of 741 individuals (aged more than one year), or 33%, in four years. India has achieved its commitment to the St.Petersburg Declaration, of doubling Tiger population, ahead of the 2022 deadline. This is by far the biggest increase in Tiger count in terms of both numbers and percentage (since the four-yearly census using camera traps and the capture-mark-recapture method began in 2006). This is by far the biggest increase in Tiger count in terms of both numbers and percentage (since the four-yearly census using camera traps and the capture-mark-recapture method began in 2006). The report rated Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh as the best in terms of good management practices. State wise performance report Madhya Pradesh saw the highest number of tigers (526) Karnataka (524) Uttarakhand (442) Worst Performers: Chhattisgarh and Mizoram saw a decline in tiger population. Tiger Sanctuaries An evaluation of India’s 50 tiger sanctuaries was also released along with the 4th National Tiger Estimation (Tiger census). Madhya Pradesh's Pench Sanctuary and Kerala’s Periyar sanctuary emerged as the best-managed tiger reserves in the country. Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu registered the “maximum improvement” since 2014. The Dampa and Rajaji reserves, in Mizoram and Uttarakhand respectively are at the bottom of the list in terms of Tiger count. No tiger has been found in the Buxa (West Bengal), Palamau (Jharkhand) and Dampa (Mizoram) reserves. Tigers in India India’s five tiger landscapes are: Shivalik Hills and Gangetic Plains Central Indian Landscape and Eastern Ghats Western Ghats North-East Hills and Brahmaputra Plains The Sundarbans. Majority of India’s tiger population of 3,500 are scattered among Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russian Federation, Thailand and Vietnam. Concern Man- tiger conflict which led to death of tigers Infrastructure expansion plans have discounted tiger presence Relaxations in norms to allow for a widening of highway and railway networks are the new threats Important Measures to taken Highways and railways should not be expanded to encroach into tiger areas irrigation projects should also avoid the areas Cost-benefit analyses need to take into account the needs of wild animals. ********************************************