Union government funding for major wildlife conservation initiatives has witnessed substantial cuts over the last five years, leading to concerns about the state of wildlife preservation in India. The Wildlife Habitat Development Fund has experienced a drastic two-thirds reduction, while funds for Project Tiger have seen a 50% decrease.
This reduction in tiger conservation funds aligns with a notable increase in tiger deaths across the country. Wildlife habitat development plays a critical role in the conservation of diverse species. The centrally sponsored habitat development fund supports initiatives such as species revival in protected areas, wildlife protection beyond these areas, recovery programs for critically endangered species, and habitat preservation. Inadequate habitat availability has forced wild animals to venture outside designated forests in search of food and movement, resulting in escalating human-wildlife conflicts.
Data highlights that approximately 50% of tiger deaths occurred outside protected areas due to unsuitable habitats for sustained tiger life. The government’s data also reveals that 357 elephant deaths in India were caused by electrocution.
Ashwini Choubey, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, presented expenditure data in parliament, disclosing that the habitat development fund, which stood at Rs 165 crore for 2018-19, has been reduced to Rs 56 crore for 2022-23.
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