Photography by Darshan Khatau

Photo Feature

The 3,167 Tiger Population Figure
<p>In the past, India came close to losing its tigers, with the population declining from roughly 40,000 at the turn of the 19th century, to a dismal 1,411 in 2006, with Sariska and then Panna losing their entire tiger populations. Today, Sariska is said to harbour 24 tigers, Panna between 57 and 60... with India’s 2023 tiger count listed as 3,167 tigers (roughly 70 per cent of the world’s population). It has always been Sanctuary’s position that the word ‘estimation’ should replace the word used by the government – ‘census’. This is because it gives lay persons the wrong impression that an exact tiger count is possible, which it is not. Photo: Steve Winter</p>

photography by darshan khatau