Bengal Tiger

The Bengal Tiger is India's most iconic big cat and the second-largest cat species globally. This large carnivore requires vast territories—males roam 50-100 sq km while females use 20-50 sq km. They are excellent swimmers and are unique among cats in their affinity for water, particularly in the Sundarbans mangroves where they have adapted to saline habitats. Bengal tigers are primarily nocturnal hunters, relying on stealth and explosive power to bring down prey up to 2,000 kg. The species plays a crucial umbrella role in forest ecosystems, with tiger conservation directly protecting entire habitats and countless species. In India, Bengal tigers are protected across 51 tiger reserves established under Project Tiger since 1973. Major reserves include Sundarbans (West Bengal), Corbett (Uttarakhand), Kanha (Madhya Pradesh), and Ranthambore (Rajasthan). The population has shown gradual recovery from fewer than 1,400 tigers in 2006, though human-wildlife conflict remains a critical challenge, particularly in the Sundarbans where tiger attacks on humans are annually documented. Climate change and habitat fragmentation pose emerging threats to their long-term survival. Current conservation challenges include habitat loss due to agricultural expansion, poaching for illegal wildlife trade, livestock depredation leading to retaliatory killings, and the impact of large development projects. India's tiger census using camera traps has become a global model for monitoring. The genetic diversity of Bengal tiger populations is maintained through careful breeding programs in zoos and coordinated conservation efforts across range states.