Ramnagar records dramatic rise in tigers as population climbs to 96

In a forest division that lives in the shadow of Corbett Tiger Reserve, a quiet but remarkable conservation success is unfolding. A new survey by the Uttarakhand forest department, conducted with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), has revealed a dramatic surge in tiger numbers: from 67 in 2022 to 96 in July 2025.

The sharp rise of 29 big cats in just three years underscores how intensive forest restoration and prey density improvements are paying off. The survey, carried out under the All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) protocol, relied on 1,059 camera-trap photographs placed across 181 sites in Ramnagar division — a buffer zone adjoining Corbett.

Unlike regular assessments limited to tiger reserves, this division-level exercise marks a rare and telling study. “The increase is not from wandering tigers. They are territorial creatures. Even Corbett itself has seen growth, from 260 to nearly 290 tigers,” an official said.

Science meets conservation

The survey used high-tech extract-compare software to identify individuals through unique stripe patterns. Of the images, 56 tigers were confirmed using both flanks, while another 40 were added based on left-flank captures. Eleven cubs below the age of one were excluded, given high mortality risks.

The rise, officials say, is a direct outcome of Forest Landscape Restoration projects rolled out in recent years, which balanced human dependence on forests with ecological recovery. “It reflects not just tiger protection but healthier ecosystems,” said an officer involved in the study.

The other side of success

Yet, conservation gains come with a human cost. With nearly 30% of India’s 3,600-plus tigers now living outside reserves, encounters with people are rising. Ramnagar itself has recorded 13 human deaths since 2022. Nationally, tiger-human conflict killed 382 people between 2020 and 2024, according to official data.

“Outside tiger reserves, coexistence becomes much harder,” explained former Ramnagar divisional forest officer Diganth Nayak. “Here, tigers share space with villages, livestock, and people. Unlike reserves, these divisions don’t have the same funding or resources, but they face the highest risks.”

Funding disparities remain glaring. While reserves like Corbett benefit from Project Tiger grants, tourism, and conservation foundation revenues, adjoining divisions such as Ramnagar shoulder heavy responsibility with fewer resources.

Beyond the tiger

The latest survey also captured a mosaic of wildlife thriving in Ramnagar: elephants, wild boars, chitals, leopards pushed to the fringes, and elusive species like leopard cats, jungle cats, yellow-throated martens, sloth bears, and even the rarely spotted Himalayan serow.

Experts warn that rising tiger numbers in human-dominated landscapes demand urgent policy innovation. “India has shown the world how to bring tigers back. The real test now is whether we can balance that success with the safety and livelihoods of people who share their homes with the big cats,” said a senior official.