Good Neighbors

Tigers in India are making a comeback.

Despite a growing population and increasing pressure on their habitats, new research has found that the number of tigers there is rising thanks to a combination of ecological restoration, economic initiatives, and political stability.

And then there is the reverence factor.

Tigers are deeply revered in India due to their cultural, religious, and mythological significance: They represent strength, power, and beauty, and are seen as protectors of good against evil. The Hindu Goddess Durga is depicted as riding a tiger.

As a result, India has constructed protected reserves and multi-use landscapes to ensure the safety of both people and tigers.

“If coexistence no longer works, the reserves provide a fallback option − ensuring that tigers are not at risk of extinction,” said study co-author Ninad Mungi.

Thanks to this approach, the tiger population has increased by 30 percent over the past two decades. Now a new study published by Aarhus University has found that about 3,700 tigers live in India, accounting for 75 percent of the world’s wild tiger population.

According to the researchers, the mix of people’s lifestyles, economic conditions, and cultural attitudes has allowed people and tigers to successfully coexist.

Tigers are most likely to stay in prosperous regions, close to reserves, where there is abundant prey and suitable habitats, and relatively low human population density.

Meanwhile, tiger populations remain low in rural areas with extreme poverty, where growing human populations and limited space have led to increased conflicts over forest resources.

Certain policies have encouraged a friendlier coexistence, too.

If farmers lose cattle to a tiger attack they receive financial compensation from the government. Similarly, if a person is killed by a tiger, the government compensates the family. However, attacks on humans are rare and when they happen, the tiger is relocated to a reserve or zoo.

“A significant gain can be achieved by going the extra mile and fostering a culture of coexistence beyond protected areas,” said Mungi, highlighting how India’s approach might provide insight into other areas of the world struggling to coexist with animal predators.