Assam’s Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve has recorded a rise in its tiger population to 148, an increase of 27 tigers since the last count, according to the 2024 report released on International Tiger Day. This growth is largely attributed to the first-ever sampling conducted in the Biswanath Wildlife Division, which identified 27 tigers and significantly boosted the park’s total count. Of the 148 adult tigers across the reserve’s three divisions, 83 are females, 55 males, and 10 of undetermined sex. The 2024 tiger census employed Phase IV protocols of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Institute of India, utilizing comprehensive camera trap coverage and a mark-recapture statistical model to ensure scientific rigor. With a new tiger density of 18.65 per 100 sq km—third highest globally—Kaziranga’s success reflects habitat expansion, technological integration such as drones and surveillance systems, and strong community engagement, including 113 trained Van Durgas (female forest guards) collaborating with local communities for ongoing conservation and protection efforts.
