India has 60% of tiger population of the world. Illegal poaching of tigers is carried in all Asian countries.Tigers are illegally killed mainly for their furs and bones. Tiger bones are used primarily by the Chinese in a variety of medicinal products. As it is easy to smuggle tiger bones illegal poaching is carried out in India too.

Alarmed by the threat of extinction, the Government of India has adopted various measures for conservation of tigers. The strategy for tiger conservation in India revolves around Project Tiger and the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Between mid 1970's and mid-1980's, many protected areas (66 national parks and 421 wildlife sanctuaries) were set aside, including large tracts of tiger habitat. This resulted in an increase in tiger densities at many locations. Tragically, these conservation successes were short lived. Rampant poaching for the trade in tiger parts - all destined for markets outside India's borders - now threatens the tiger's very existence.

Initially, the efforts paid results. This is the reason why India still has 60% of world tiger population. But over years, new threats have emerged and present measures are not adequate to tackle the new threats to the existence of tigers. Poachers have acquired new sophisticated weapons and usually they outnumber our forest guards on duty. Our forest guards are ill equipped and they lack modern training. Even the people at highest level who frame policies seem to be insensitive to the problem.

I came all along from Japan to India know about the Project Tiger- the most successful conservation ventures in the recent times. The project was launched in 1973-74 by Indian Government to save the dwindling population of tigers. The project aims at tiger conservation in specially constituted 'tiger reserves', which are representative of various bio-geographical regions falling within our country. It strives to maintain a viable tiger population in the natural environment.

Project Tiger was formed in 1972 and launched on the 1st April 1973 at Corbett National Park.
It aims were:
To ensure maintenance of a viable population of tigers in India for scientific, economic, aesthetic, cultural and ecological values.
To preserve, for all times, areas of such biological importance as a national heritage for the benefit, education and enjoyment of the people.

By and large, the aims and objectives of the project remain same as at the inception of Project Tiger. There are some other objectives that have been added in present times These include the rehabilitation and relocation of villagers from inside protected areas to outside them. This will reduce conflict between the human population and the tiger.