India does not believe in conflict between ecology and economy: PM Modi
New Delhi: India does not believe in conflict between ecology and economy but gave importance to coexistence between the two, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday. Launching the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), which aims to protect and conserve big cats, Modi said protection of wildlife was a universal issue.
Speaking after inaugurating the programme "Commemoration of 50 years of Project Tiger" organised at the Karnataka State Open University, the Prime Minister cited data to show that the tiger population in India stood at 3,167 in 2022, up from 2,967 in 2018, and 1,411 in 2006. "The tiger numbers we have now reached show that this family of ours is growing. This is a moment of pride."
Calling for a standing ovation to celebrate the rise in tiger population, Modi said, "I am confident and I assure the world that in the days to come, we will achieve more."
The Prime Minister noted that India has not only saved the tiger population from declining but also provided an ecosystem for the tigers to flourish.
Speaking about the increasing tiger population in India, which is either stagnating or decling in other countries, Modi said the answer lies hidden in India’s culture and traditions and its natural urge towards biodiversity and the environment.
"India does not believe in the conflict between ecology and economy and gives equal importance to the coexistence of both," he said.
Pointing out that cheetahs had become extinct in India decades ago, the Prime Minister referred to the recent initiative where the big cats were brought to India from Namibia and South Africa and said it was the first successful transcontinental translocation of the big cat. He also talked about the birth of four cheetah cubs in Kuno National Park a few days ago.
Modi also stressed on the importance of international cooperation for the protection and prosperity of biodiversity.
In July 2019, the Prime Minister had called for an Alliance of Global Leaders to obliterate demand and curb poaching and illegal wildlife trade in Asia. Taking the message forward, the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) was launched today.
The IBCA will focus on the protection and conservation of seven major big cats of the world — tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar and cheetah — with a range of countries harbouring these species as its members.
The Sahyadri or Western Ghats have several tribal communities that have worked for wildlife and tigers to flourish, Modi noted as he lauded their contribution to conservation efforts.
"The Oscar-winning documentary The Elephant Whisperers also depicts the traditional bond between nature and creatures," Modi said.
Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister went on a safari at the Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka as part of programmes to mark 50 years of "Project Tiger".
Dressed in speckled safari clothing and a hat, he covered about 20 km in an open jeep inside the reserve, located partly in Gundlupet taluk of Chamarajanagar district and partly in H.D. Kote and Nanjangud taluks of Mysuru district.
“Spent the morning at the scenic Bandipur Tiger Reserve and got a glimpse of India's wildlife, natural beauty and diversity," the Prime Minister tweeted, along with pictures of the safari.
During his address at the event, the Prime Minister also said that India, with just 2.4 per cent of the world's land area, contributes nearly eight per cent of the known global diversity. It is the largest tiger range country in the world. “With nearly 30,000 elephants, we are the largest Asiatic elephant range country in the world. Our rhino population of nearly 3,000 makes us the largest single-horned rhino country in the world," he stated.
"India is the only country to have Asiatic lions and their population has increased from around 525 in 2015 to 675 in 2020. The leopard population is up by 60 per cent in a span of four years. Also, endangered aquatic species have shown improvement through measures like cleaning of rivers and water bodies."
Highlighting the increase in forest and tree cover, Modi said India added over 2,200 sq km of forest and tree cover by 2021 in comparison to 2019 figures.
"In a decade, the number of national parks and sanctuaries around which eco-sensitive zones were notified, increased from 9 to 468," the Prime Minister added.
