On the 28th of March 2011, the Indian Environment and Forest Ministry claimed that a new census estimates the national population as 1,706 animals, a 21% increase compared to the 1,411 animals reported following the previous Tiger census in 2007. The latest census used camera trapping and DNA analysis, the most accurate methods available. While this is great news, some caution is needed in interpreting the data as a change in methodology could give different results due to inherent errors in each method as I had discussed in a previous post. For instance, the pug mark method could under- or over- estimate tiger numbers by up to 55%. So the 2007 tiger estimate may be low due to this error, or it may be high for the same reason. If the former, then the new numbers are more likely to be a correction due to better accuracy. If the latter, then there is genuine cause for celebration. The bottom-line is no tiger hosting nation can afford to become complacent in its efforts to curb tiger poaching and the illegal trade in tiger parts.
