Karnataka has registered nearly 30% growth in tiger population in 2018 when compared to 2014 as the census results showed on Monday. The population increased from 406 in 2014 to 524 as per the 2018 census. Madhya Pradesh has 526.
The tiger census was conducted in Bandipur, Nagarahole, Bhadra, BRT Tiger Reserve, Kali (Amshi Dandeli) as well as outside the national parks, including Brahmagiri, Pushpagiri, and Talacauvery wildlife sanctuaries.
While the tiger reserves and national parks of Karnataka have been ranked high in Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE), there are challenges and weakness listed out by the NTCA pertaining to increase in anthropogenic pressure on the tiger habitat due to human habitation around the tiger reserves, human-wildlife conflict, vacancies in the frontline staff, etc. that needs to be addressed.
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However, wildlife scientists have cautioned that it would be more prudent to state that more tigers have been counted during the 2018 census due to increase in the use of camera traps and increase in the area covered for the exercise.