CM Dhami: Uttarakhand Tiger Count Up 215% Since 2006
Synopsis
On International Tiger Day 2026, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami announced a 215% rise in the state's tiger count since 2006, with 560 tigers recorded. Corbett Tiger Reserve now leads India in both tiger numbers and density, and conservation gains are being channelled into eco-tourism and local employment.
Key Takeaways
Uttarakhand's tiger population has grown by 215% since the 2006 national baseline — well above India's national growth rate of approximately 160% .
560 tigers are currently recorded in Uttarakhand's forests, according to CM Dhami.
Corbett Tiger Reserve ranks first in India on both tiger numbers and population density.
India's tiger recovery is anchored in Project Tiger (launched 1973) and the rigorous census methodology introduced after the 2006 All India Tiger Estimation.
CM Dhami linked conservation success directly to eco-tourism growth and new livelihood opportunities for local communities near reserves.
The Uttarakhand government reaffirmed commitment to wildlife protection, eco-tourism expansion, and forest security.
On International Tiger Day, 29 July 2026, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced a landmark conservation milestone — the state's tiger population has surged by 215 percent since the baseline year of 2006, outpacing even India's national recovery rate of approximately 160 percent over the same period.
Posting on X, CM Dhami credited the achievement to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, writing that India has achieved a 'historic accomplishment in the field of tiger conservation' under his guidance. He placed Uttarakhand at the centre of that national story, noting that 560 tigers are currently recorded in the state's forests — and that Corbett Tiger Reserve now ranks first in the country on both tiger numbers and density.
Corbett's Crown: India's Top Reserve by Numbers and Density
Jim Corbett National Park, established in 1936 as India's oldest national park and later designated a tiger reserve under Project Tiger — the central government's landmark conservation programme launched in 1973 — has long been synonymous with big-cat protection in the subcontinent. Dhami's claim that it now leads the country on both population and density is a significant marker of how far the reserve has come since India's tiger numbers hit a crisis point in the early 2000s. The 2006 All India Tiger Estimation established the national baseline against which all subsequent recovery is measured. That census shocked conservationists with figures far lower than official estimates had suggested, galvanising a more rigorous, camera-trap-based counting methodology and renewed political will behind Project Tiger and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).From Forest Floor to Local Income: The Eco-Tourism Dividend
Dhami was explicit that conservation success is not an end in itself — it is a multiplier. 'Tiger conservation's success has given new momentum to eco-tourism,' he wrote, 'creating new employment and livelihood opportunities for local people.' The link between a healthy tiger population and a thriving tourism economy around reserves like Corbett has become a central plank of Uttarakhand's forest policy. Local communities living on the edges of protected areas — historically in tension with conservation mandates — stand to benefit most directly from rising visitor footfall, guide services, homestays, and ancillary businesses that a high-density tiger reserve generates. CM Dhami reaffirmed that his government would continue working 'with full commitment' toward tiger and wildlife protection, eco-tourism expansion, and forest security. With the next All India Tiger Estimation awaited and Uttarakhand positioning itself as the country's premier tiger-tourism destination, the numbers CM Dhami cited on International Tiger Day will set the benchmark the state is now expected to defend.Point of View
If borne out by the next official census, would position the state as the definitive model for the 'conservation-plus-livelihoods' approach that the NTCA has been pushing for over a decade. Framing eco-tourism as a jobs engine also signals a political calculation: forest communities that once resisted tiger reserves are now being courted as conservation stakeholders. The announcement lands ahead of what will likely be a keenly watched next All India Tiger Estimation, raising the stakes for Uttarakhand to deliver verified numbers.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tigers are there in Uttarakhand in 2026?
According to CM Pushkar Singh Dhami's statement on International Tiger Day 2026, 560 tigers are currently recorded in Uttarakhand's forests.
Which tiger reserve has the most tigers in India?
Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand now ranks first in India in both tiger numbers and tiger density, according to CM Dhami.
By how much has India's tiger population grown since 2006?
India's tiger population has grown by approximately 160% since the 2006 All India Tiger Estimation baseline, while Uttarakhand specifically has recorded a 215% increase.
What is Project Tiger in India?
Project Tiger is a central government wildlife conservation scheme launched in 1973 to protect tigers and their habitats across India. It operates under the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) .
What is International Tiger Day?
International Tiger Day is observed every year on 29 July to raise global awareness about tiger conservation and the need to protect tiger habitats worldwide.
