A 50-year celebration of Project Tiger was inaugurated today at Mysuru University in Mysuru, Karnataka, by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA) was launched by the Prime Minister. The publication ‘Amrit Kaal Ka Vision For Tiger Conservation’, a report on the 5th cycle of the Management Effectiveness Evaluation of Tiger Reserves, announced the number of tigers released by him. On the occasion of Project Tiger’s 50th anniversary, he also released a commemorative coin.

As part of the 50th-anniversary celebrations of Project Tiger, the Prime Minister expressed its success by mentioning, “Tiger numbers have increased by 75 percent in the last decade in India. In his speech, he talked about the importance of biodiversity and the environment in Indian culture. A key component of India’s culture is the protection of nature and the coexistence of ecology and economy. Further, he emphasized the need for international cooperation to protect and prosper biodiversity while highlighting India’s unique achievements in wildlife conservation.

The Asian lion population in India has increased from 525 in 2015 to around 675 in 2020, making it the only country in the world with Asiatic lions. A leopard population increase of over 60 percent has occurred in India in the past four years, he also mentioned.
In addition, 11 wetlands were added to the country’s list of Ramsar sites, bringing the total to 75. By 2021, India will have added more than 2200 square kilometers of forest and tree cover in comparison with 2019. During the last decade, there were over 100 Community Reserves, as well as 468 National Parks and Sanctuary areas around which Eco-sensitive Zones were announced, said the Prime Minister.

During his speech, the Prime Minister said that India’s G20 motto of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ embodies the idea that humanity can only thrive if the environment is protected and biodiversity remains abundant. He said, “We are all responsible for this”, adding that it is a worldwide responsibility.

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