Modi releases tiger census report, their population doubles since 2014

Pic courtesy/Narendra Modi/Twitter

New Delhi: Narendra Modi released the All India Tiger Estimation report 2018 on Monday on the occasion of International Tiger Day and highlighted upon the need of striking a healthy balance between environment and development. Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed India as one the world's safest and biggest tiger habitats. The tiger population in the country has grown from 1,411 in 2006 to 2,967 in 2019, according to the report.

"Today, we reaffirm our commitment towards protecting the tiger. Results of the just declared tiger census would make every Indian happy. Nine long years ago, it was decided in St. Petersburg that target of doubling tiger population will be 2022. We completed this target 4 years early. Today we can proudly say that India, with about 3000 tigers, is one of the world's biggest and safest tiger habitats," Narendra Modi stated at the occasion.

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Outlining the necessity of striking a healthy balance between development and environment, Narendra Modi said, "In our policies, in our economics, we have to change the conversation about conservation. India will prosper economically and environmentally. The speed and dedication with which various stakeholders worked to achieve this is remarkable. India will build more roads and India will have cleaner rivers. India will have better train connectivity and also greater tree coverage".

"India will build more homes for our citizens and at the same time create quality habitats for animals. India will have a vibrant marine economy and healthier marine ecology. This balance is what will contribute to a strong and inclusive India. In 2014, India had 692 Protected Areas which have now increased to 860 in 2019. Similarly, community reserves have also increased from 43 in 2014 to over 100 now", he added.

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On a lighter note, Narendra Modi also invoked the reference of two popular Bollywood movies to back his point of conserving the big cats. "I would like to tell the people associated with this field that the story which started with 'Ek Tha Tiger' and has reached to 'Tiger Zinda Hai' should not stop here. The only tiger being alive won't help. We have to intensify the steps related to tiger conservation and the speed of such initiatives must be intensified."

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Edited by mid-day online desk with inputs from ANI