BHOPAL: The recent release of the 2022 census report by the National Tiger Conservation Authority has caused a stir as Madhya Pradesh forest officers bristled over Karnataka expressing “surprise” at the central Indian state pulling far ahead in the tiger count.

An Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer from MP defended the tiger population figures on Sunday, saying: “They (Karnataka) should introspect rather than comment on the estimation figures, as the analysis was done by an independent agency, Wildlife Institute of India. Karnataka should answer why their reported tiger death rate is only a fourth of what is reported from MP. Even then, they have only grown 7% in four years.”
The 2022 census report revealed that MP now boasts 785 tigers, a remarkable increase from 526 in 2018, retaining its “Tiger State” crown. Karnataka, on the other hand, holds the second position with 563 tigers, up from 524 in 2018, and Uttarakhand takes third place with 560 tigers. Karnataka’s forest minister Eshwar B Khandre expressed surprise on Saturday at the sharp increase in MP’s tiger population, leading to further debate between the two states.

IFS officers from MP asserted that the figures indicate that the earlier numbers were underestimations, and the Wildlife Institute of India conducted an accurate and impartial study. “Karnataka should now focus on staying ahead of Uttarakhand. There is no competition with MP,” an officer said.
The comparison of “unique individual tigers” captured on camera in MP and Karnataka has fuelled the debate further. MP reported 726 unique individuals out of an estimated population of 785 tigers, while Karnataka’s estimates stood at 563, showing a marked difference of 163. This has raised questions about the methodology of wildlife estimation in both states.
The debate extends to the efforts and resources invested in wildlife conservation between the two states. MP officials argue that they covered a wider area and deployed more camera traps, leading to the higher tiger count.
Wildlife experts and authorities from both states are expected to engage in discussions to address the discrepancies and concerns surrounding the tiger census. A comprehensive and transparent evaluation of the methodologies used in wildlife estimation will be crucial in ensuring the accurate conservation of India’s precious tiger population.
MP also faces concerns of its own. Only two tiger reserves in MP have been graded “excellent” in the Management Effectiveness Evaluation of Tiger Reserves in India (MEE) report, whereas all of Karnataka’s reserves received this top grading. MP is assessing its shortcomings in light of this ranking.