Tiger Conservation at Risk: Habitat Loss Slashes India’s Key Prey Populations: Sample Q&A

The Prey Crisis: Key Findings
India’s 2022 All-India Tiger Estimation included the first-ever national ungulate assessment. The findings, compiled by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Wildlife Institute of India (WII), reveal:
Core tiger prey (chital, sambar, gaur) are declining in Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh due to:
Habitat fragmentation from mining/roads
Subsistence hunting by local communities
Left-wing extremism disrupting conservation
Genetic bottlenecks in isolated species like barasingha (swamp deer) and wild buffalo due to fragmented habitats.
Uneven distribution: Healthy populations persist in Uttarakhand, Western Ghats, and Northeast India.
“Tiger reserves have robust prey, but adjoining sanctuaries and forests show alarming scarcity.”

Why Ungulates Matter for Ecosystems
Tiger Survival: Ungulates form 75% of a tiger’s diet. Low prey forces tigers into human areas, escalating conflict.
Forest Regulators: Their grazing maintains soil health and plant diversity.
Carrying Capacity: Maharashtra/Madhya Pradesh tigers are nearing habitat limits, while east-central India’s underused forests could support more tigers – if prey recovers.

Threats Driving the Decline
Habitat Loss: Wetlands/grasslands converted to farms or cities.
Infrastructure: Highways/railways fragment migration corridors.
Human-Wildlife Conflict: Crop-raiding nilgai/wild pigs trigger retaliatory killings.
Policy Gaps: Weak protection in non-tiger reserve forests.

Urgent Solutions Needed
Habitat Corridors: Link fragmented forests for genetic diversity.
Prey Augmentation: On-site breeding in protected enclosures.
Community Engagement: Incentivize coexistence to reduce hunting.
EIA Reforms: Stricter scrutiny of mining/infrastructure near forests.
 
5 Sample Q&A for Exams
Q1 How does ungulate decline impact India’s tiger conservation efforts?
A1: It reduces carrying capacity, forces tigers into human areas, and increases conflict – undermining Project Tiger’s success.
Q2 Which body conducted India’s first ungulate assessment?
A2: NTCA and Wildlife Institute of India (2022).
Q3 Name three states where ungulate populations are declining severely.
A3: Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh.
Q4 “Habitat fragmentation is the greatest threat to India’s wildlife.” Discuss with ungulate examples.
A4: Key arguments: Isolates populations → genetic erosion (e.g., barasingha); disrupts prey base → tiger conflict; solutions include green corridors.
Q5 Who chairs the National Tiger Conservation Authority?
A5: The Union Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change.