Pilibhit Tiger Reserve: Surge in Tiger Population

The Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Uttar Pradesh has reported a significant increase in its tiger population, rising to approximately 80 tigers in 2025, up from 71 in 2022, according to an internal survey conducted by PTR and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
This achievement builds on PTR’s global recognition for doubling its tiger population from 25 in 2014 to 65 in 2018, earning the inaugural TX2 Award in 2020.

Tiger Population Growth in 2025:

Population Increase: PTR’s tiger population has grown to ~80 in 2025, up from 71 in 2022, as per a joint PTR-WWF survey. A 2024 census using 402 cameras reported 71 tigers, with recent sightings of tigresses with cubs indicating further growth.
Conservation Efforts: The surge is attributed to enhanced prey availability (e.g., swamp deer, chital), improved grassland and water management, and anti-poaching measures using advanced technology like thermal drones and infrared cameras.
Challenges: High human population density and sugarcane cultivation around PTR lead to human-tiger conflicts, with tigers straying into agricultural fields, posing risks to both humans and wildlife.
Recent Incident: In December 2024, a viral video showing a minister’s vehicle fleet in PTR’s core area sparked a probe, highlighting the need for stricter adherence to forest regulations banning private vehicles.

Location: Situated in Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, and Bahraich districts of Uttar Pradesh, along the India-Nepal border in the Terai Arc Landscape of the upper Gangetic Plain.
Area: Covers 730 km², with a 602 km² core zone and a 127.45 km² buffer zone.
Rivers and Dams: The Gomti River originates here, with Sharda, Chuka, and Mala Khannot as catchments. The Sharda Sagar Dam (22 km) marks the reserve’s boundary.
Climate and Soil: Dry and hot climate with dry teak forests and Vindhya Mountain soils.
Habitat: Features dense sal forests (76% of the area), tall alluvial grasslands, savannahs, and swamps maintained by periodic flooding.
Vegetation: Includes Tropical Moist Deciduous, Tropical Dry Deciduous, Seasonal Swamp, and Tropical Semi-evergreen Forests. Dominant flora: sal (Tectona grandis), with grass species like Sacchrum, Sclerostachya, Imperata, Themeda, Bothriochloa, Vetiveria, Apluda, Dichanthium, Digitaria, and Cyperus.
Fauna: Home to over 127 animal species, including endangered tigers (~80), swamp deer (1,431 in 2022), leopards (40), sloth bears (100+), hog deer, chital, sambar, nilgai, and Bengal florican. Also hosts 326 bird species (e.g., Swamp Francolin, Great Hornbill, Black Francolin, Red Junglefowl) and 79 fish species. Reptiles include marsh crocodiles, gharials, and pythons.
Conservation Status: Notified as India’s 45th Tiger Reserve in 2014 under Project Tiger, with high conservation value for its unique Terai ecosystem.

TX2 Award: PTR received the TX2 Award in 2020 for doubling its tiger population from 25 in 2014 to 65 in 2018, ahead of the global 2022 target.
Prey Base Growth: Swamp deer population rose from 845 in 2019 to 1,431 in 2022, and overall wildlife increased by 160% (38,295 to 99,882 animals) from 2019 to 2022, supporting carnivore populations.
Management Strategies: Success stems from improved grassland and water management, vigilant anti-poaching patrols, and community coordination. Technology, including camera traps and drones, enhances monitoring.
Eco-tourism: PTR promotes low-impact activities like jeep and canter safaris, with Zones 1 and 2 noted for frequent tiger sightings due to rich vegetation and water sources.

Human-Wildlife Conflict: Proximity to high-density human populations and sugarcane fields increases risks of tiger straying, leading to potential human fatalities and retaliatory killings.
Regulation Violations: Unauthorized vehicle entries, as seen in the 2024 minister incident, threaten the core zone’s integrity.
Habitat Pressure: Encroachment and agricultural expansion challenge habitat preservation, requiring robust corridor conservation.
Environment and Ecology: PTR’s success highlights India’s leadership in tiger conservation, contributing to 75% of the global tiger population (3,682 in 2022). It exemplifies Project Tiger’s impact since 1973.
Conservation Policy: The role of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in funding and monitoring reserves like PTR underscores centralized conservation governance.
Human-Wildlife Conflict: Balancing conservation with human needs in densely populated areas is a key governance challenge.
International Cooperation: The TX2 Award reflects global collaboration via the Global Tiger Forum and IUCN, aligning with India’s commitments under CITES.

Pilibhit Tiger Reserve’s tiger population growth to ~80 in 2025 reflects exemplary conservation efforts, driven by habitat management, anti-poaching measures, and technological innovation.
Despite challenges like human-wildlife conflict and regulatory breaches, PTR’s success, recognized by the TX2 Award, positions it as a model for global tiger conservation.