The tiger is the largest living cat species in our environment. A tiger can be recognised by its orange fur and dark vertical stripes. It is also the National Animal of India. It is also the national animal of Bangladesh, South Korea, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Tigers are widely considered the strongest animals due to their extreme strength, size and predatory skills.
Since the turn of the 20th century, the tiger species have lost more than 90% of their range. As per the Word Wide Fund (WWF) estimate, the tiger population has reduced by over 95% over the last 150 years. This has largely been attributed to the loss of habitat to human activities, human-tiger conflict, and illegal poaching. As a result, the tiger is listed as an endangered species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. As per a 2015 report, the global population of wild tigers has been reported to be in the range of 3000 to 4000 mature tigers. There are differences of opinion in terms of the exact number. India is home to the largest population of tigers. As per a 2023 census, the tiger population in India is 3167, which is more than 75% of the global tiger population. On the occasion of the 50th year of the Tiger Project, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared this estimate indicating an increase in the tiger population by 200 in the last four years before 2023.
International Tiger Day is celebrated on July 29 every year to increase general awareness about the dwindling population of this magnificent animal – the Tiger. To address this issue of the dwindling population of tigers, the Indian government formulated the Tiger Project in 1973. The tiger project paved the way for the formation of 53 tiger reserves in India, up from the previous 9 tiger reserves in India. These tiger reserves created tiger habitats spanning more than 75,000 sq. km. The concerted efforts over the last few decades have led to more than doubling the tiger population from 1400 in 2006 to 3000 in 2022. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the formation of the tiger project, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an International Big Cat Alliance, to safeguard and conserve the seven precious big cat species – tigers, leopards, lions, snow leopards, jaguars, pumas, and cheetahs. A book titled “Amrit Kaal Ka Tiger Vision ” was also announced on this occasion detailing the next 25 years of strategy for safeguarding the tiger.
The tiger reserves of India have played a significant role in the recent reversal in the declining tiger population in India. Let’s look at some of the most famous tiger reserves in India that you can visit with your child.
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (Madhya Pradesh)
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve is home to the largest tiger population in India. It is also the home to the Royal Bengal Tigers. The Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve is located in the state of Madhya Pradesh, specifically in the eastern Satpura hill range of Umaria and Katni districts. Mythologically the name Bandhavgarh comes from the Bandhavgarh fort which was said to be built and gifted by Lord Ram to his brother Lakshman. The Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve is an ideal place for a fun vacation with children. The weather is conducive and the forest is laced with hundreds of animal and bird species. A fun safari to watch the glorious royal Bengal tigers from up close could be a magical sojourn for families with kids, especially. Facilities for overnight stays are also available for families to enjoy a fun-filled holiday together.
Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve (Uttarakhand)
Jim Corbett has been one of the most popular holiday destinations for travellers from India and abroad. Home to a vast variety of flora and fauna and some of the most majestic tigers, Jim Corbett makes for an ideal vacation destination for children. Jim Corbett was established in 1936 in the hilly Nainital District of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It also happens to be India’s first national park. It was named after Colonel Edward James Corbett, an Indian-born British. Ironically, he was famous for hunting man-eating tigers found in the Kumaon-Garhwal region.
Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve is flocked with tourists, wildlife photographers and wildlife enthusiasts. It is less than 250 km from the Indian capital of Delhi. A variety of easy transportation means are available to take you and your family comfortably to the tiger reserve.
Sunderbans Tiger Reserve (West Bengal)
Located in the South 24 Pargana district of the Indian state of West Bengal, the Sunderbans Tiger Reserve was designated as a national park in 1984. Along with being a tiger reserve, Sundarbans is also a national park and a biosphere reserve. The name Sundarbans comes from the Sundari trees that inhabit this region. It is famous for its dense mangrove forests and is one of the largest habitats of the Bengal Tiger. It is also a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. It is another popular vacation vantage point for wildlife enthusiasts as human-tiger interactions from up and close are quite common here.
Sariska National Park (Rajasthan)
Located in the Alwar district (near Jaipur) of Rajasthan, Sariska National Park is amongst the most popular national parks and tiger reserves in India. It stretches over an area of 881 sq. km. and was given the tiger reserve status in 1978 under Project Tiger. It is the first reserve in the world that managed to successfully inhabit relocated tigers. Situated around 100 km from the popular tourist city of Jaipur and 200 km from the national capital of Delhi, Sariska National Park is an attractive vacation joint for families with children. The expanse and variety of landscapes, tigers and leopards and a wide variety of flora and fauna make it a fun and adventurous outing for families with children.
Awareness and sensitisation towards the environment are an integral part of the education curriculum and strategy at Euroschool. Euroschool students share a strong responsibility towards the environment and are taught to believe in a healthy balance of mutual coexistence of species.
