In India, tigers haven't just survived − they've made a comeback. Despite a growing population and increasing pressure on their habitats, the number of wild tigers is rising. The reason? A combination of ecological restoration, economic initiatives, and political stability. And just as important: a deeply rooted reverence for tigers that has fostered a culture where humans and predators can coexist.
How do you protect an endangered species when that species is a tiger − a predator that also poses a threat to humans? India has found a way by combining protected reserves with areas where tigers and people share space. The result? A 30% increase in the tiger population over the past two decades.
According to a new study published in Science, India is now home to approximately 3,700 tigers, accounting for 75% of the world's wild tiger population. This demonstrates that even in the world's most populous country, it is possible to protect large carnivores.
A Plan B for Tigers
India's tiger conservation strategy combines two approaches: some areas are strictly protected reserves, while others are multi-use landscapes where tigers and people share space. And this isn't just for the benefit of the tigers.
"The advantage of combining these two methods is that reserves act as a source of tigers for surrounding areas. And if coexistence no longer works, the reserves provide a fallback option − ensuring that tigers are not at risk of extinction," explains Ninad Mungi, assistant professor at Aarhus University and co-author of the study (see fact box).
Today, 45% of India's tiger-occupied landscapes are shared with around 60 million people.
What Makes Coexistence Possible?
According to researchers, human population density alone is not what determines whether tigers can thrive – it's people's lifestyles, economic conditions, and cultural attitudes that shape their willingness to share space with large carnivores.
In relatively prosperous regions where ecotourism and government compensation schemes generate income, tolerance for tigers is much higher.
In fact, for some Indian farmers, losing cattle to a tiger does not essentially spell disaster. Farmers who keep their livestock in barns and enclosures are rarely affected by tigers. However, when cattle are released to graze in tiger-inhabited areas, and if a tiger eats it, the farmer receives financial compensation from the government – turning a loss into a gain.
The study shows that tiger populations are growing fastest in areas that:
- Are close to tiger reserves
- Have abundant prey and suitable habitats
- Have relatively low human population density
- Enjoy moderate economic prosperity
Poverty and Armed Conflicts Also Threaten Tigers
However, tiger populations remain low in rural areas with extreme poverty, where many people rely on forests for food, firewood, and other resources.
"In the past, foraging in the forest was sustainable. But now, with more people and less space for tigers, conflicts are increasing," explains Ninad Mungi.
Tigers are also scarce in regions affected by armed conflict.
"Our study shows that nearly half of the areas where tigers have disappeared are in districts affected by the Naxal conflict," says Ninad Mungi. When effective governance is weakened by conflict, the risk of poaching and habitat destruction increases – posing a major challenge for tiger conservation.
Tigers Rarely Attack Humans
Although the idea of having tigers nearby might seem alarming, attacks on humans are rare. On average, around 100 people are killed by tigers each year in India.
And if the worst happens, there is a safety net:
"If a person is killed by a tiger, their family receives financial compensation from the government," explains Ninad Mungi.
When a tiger develops a habit of attacking humans, managers capture it and relocate it to a reserve or a zoo.
Can the World Learn from India?
India's model could provide valuable insights far beyond its borders. In Europe, many countries are struggling with wolves attacking livestock, and India's experience may inspire new approaches that protect both wildlife and farmers' livelihoods.
According to Ninad Mungi, India and Europe share some similarities when it comes to large carnivore conservation.
"In both India and Europe, protected areas are small − only 200-300 km² − and only a small fraction is strictly off-limits to humans. The debate in Europe and North America has been whether to focus solely on protected areas reserved for wildlife. It is critical to have such inviolate areas, where large carnivores are insulated from any human control. But a significant gain can be achieved by going an extra mile and fostering a culture of coexistence beyond protected areas. India offers an alternative by integrating shared landscapes," he says.
"There are, of course, cultural challenges, but culture can change over time. India's experience proves that large predators can survive in a modern world – if we are willing to think creatively and find a balance between protection and coexistence."
FACT BOX
The study Tiger recovery amid people and poverty was conducted by a group of researchers from the Wildlife Institute of India, the National Tiger Conservation Authority in New Delhi, and the Center for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere at Aarhus University.
