"Project Tiger provides real hope for the survival of
the striped predator in India. The Prime
Minister of India has made a personal promise to save
the tiger. And we now have over one million 'Kids for
Tigers' around India who have sworn to help save the
cat. Project Tiger was launched in 1973 with nine
tiger covering an area of 16,339 sq.km., which has
increased to 37,761 sq.km. in 27 Tiger Reserves. The
budgetary provision of the Government of India during
1973 was only Rs. 23 million, which has increased to
230 million during 2000-2001. The main objective of
Project Tiger is to ensure a viable population of
tiger in India for
scientific , economic , aesthetic , cultural and
ecological values and to preserve for all time, areas
of biological importance as a natural heritage for the
benefit, education and enjoyment of the people.
Tiger Reserves in India :
Corbett Tiger Reserve:
Corbett had
the proud distinction
of being chosen as the venue for the inauguration of
Project Tiger in India. The rich biodiversity of the
Reserve is partly attributed to the variety of habitat
found here. Corbett had the proud distinction of being
chosen as the venue for the inauguration of Project
Tiger in India.
Ranthambore Tiger Reserve:
Ranthambhore
Tiger Reserve in the Indian state of Rajasthan
comprises distinct areas
with varied conservation
history and virtually separated geographically, with
mere narrow corridors linking them to the core, Ranthambhore
National Park. These are mainly, the Ranthambhore
National Park, Keladevi Sanctuary and Sawai Mansingh
Sanctuary.
Sariska Tiger Reserve:
Home of the majestic Tiger, Sariska
is one of the protected sanctuaries in India where
Project Tiger was a success. Set amidst the scrubby Aravali Hills, the sanctuary sprawls with dry thorny
deciduous forests, covered almost ninety per cent by
the Dhok tree. Sariska was declared a Sanctuary in
1955 and became a Tiger Reserve in 1979.
Periyar Tiger Reserve:
The Periyar Lake with an area of 26
sq. km. is the nucleus of the Tiger Reserve. Periyar
Tiger Reserve lies in the Western Ghats in the Idukki
District of the Kerala state in India. The terrain of
the Reserve is undulating and the drainage is
dendrite. North-eastern boundary of the Reserve is a
ridge, which also forms boundary between Kerala .