Page 69 - NIS English 1-15 June, 2026

Cover Story
Forests and Wildlife...
Years
of Vikas Yatra

Initiatives for the Welfare and Conservation of Wildlife

The forest cover in the country has increased significantly. The area under protected forests is also continuously expanding. Not
only are Ramsar sites fostering biodiversity within the nation, and ‘Project Tiger’ boosting the country’s tiger population, but the
inter-continental initiative to reintroduce African cheetahs to India has also given a significant fillip to the country’s biodiversity.
Furthermore, it is not just the cheetah population that is growing; Great Indian Bustard chicks are making a comeback under
new conservation initiatives—a testament to the deep-seated aspiration for the welfare of all living beings, a sentiment echoed
even in our ancient scriptures.

India: From Ramsar Sites to Tiger and Dolphin Conservation

99 718 6,327
Number of Ramsar Sites Snow Dolphins

Leopards
26 The first scientific

numerical estimate
for the country has
been presented.
2014 2026

According to the ‘Status of Leopards 13,874
in India 2022’ report, the leopard
population in India stands at
Over the past 12 years, India has significantly strengthened its
commitment in this direction by adding 73 new Ramsar sites.

n Over the last decade, the tiger population in India has
more than doubled. According to the 2022 census, the
tiger count has reached a record high of 3,682.
n Today, approximately 70% of the world’s tigers are found
in India. Moreover, the area under protected forests
covered by ‘Project Tiger’ has expanded to approximately
85,000 square kilometers.

n ‘Project Cheetah’ is world’s first inter-continental
translocation project A chick of the ‘Great Indian Bustard’ (GIB)
involving a major wild has hatched in Kutch, Gujarat, after nearly a
carnivorous species. This decade. This achievement was made possible
initiative has significantly
enriched the country’s through an innovative conservation measure
wildlife diversity. known as the ‘Jumpstart Approach,’ which

n In 2023—after a gap of 70 years—cheetah cubs were born was planned a year ago. Project GIB was con-
in India, marking a historic moment as the species had ceptualized by PM Modi in 2011 for the conser-
previously gone extinct within the country. To date, the vation of the Great Indian Bustard within its
total number of such cubs born in India has reached 37. natural habitats, including Gujarat.

June 1-15, 2026 || NEW INDIA SAMACHAR 67