1. Tiger population on the rise in Karnataka, minimum estimates pegged at 435
The tiger count in Karnataka has seen an increase with a minimum of 435 tigers as per the All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) exercise conducted in 2022 compared to a minimum of 404 tigers that were estimated during the 2018 AITE exercise. Nagarahole has pipped Bandipur to claim the coveted position of being the national park with the highest number of tigers — 149 compared to 140 at Bandipur.
Karnataka conducted the estimation exercise as per the protocols in 2021-22 in a total of 37 forest divisions, of which tiger presence was noted in 22 divisions. The Karnataka Tiger Cell analysed the AITE 2022 data and the result was released by Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre in Bengaluru on Thursday, July 27.