This is the third such stocktaking after two previous ones in 2012 and 2014, which were held in Delhi and Dhaka respectively.
Ahead of the results of India's tiger population estimation in summer and in the backdrop of setbacks in South East Asian countries, 12 tiger-range countries will convene next week for a stocktaking of the target to double global wild tiger population. In 2010, 13 governments had committed to and endorsed the St.Petersburg declaration in Russia for doubling global wild tiger population and for the global tiger recovery programme. This is the third such stocktaking after two previous ones in 2012 and 2014, which were held in Delhi and Dhaka respectively.
With the exception of China, all other tiger-range countries — Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Russia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, India and Nepal — would be participating in this meet.
Globally, between 3,500 and 3,800 are estimated to be in the wild with 2,226 of them in India alone. While India and Nepal have doubled their tiger population since the 2010 declaration, officials from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) said most other countries, with the exception of Thailand, are largely struggling.
Official sources said the stocktake will see a discussion on enhancing cooperation on the global tiger recovery programme. Following a visit of NTCA officials to Moscow in September, it signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in scientific areas, especially on managing disease in wild tigers.
Besides Russia, India is already collaborating with neighbouring countries; Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh and China. As part of its quadrennial tiger population estimation exercise, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh have joined hands with India this time. Scientists from Wildlife Institute of India had collaborated with and trained field staff in these countries for the joint estimation.
However, there have been certain setbacks for the global tiger population. Last October, China lifted its ban on trading of tiger and rhino parts and this has increased fears of a rise in poaching in India. India's cooperation with Cambodia too saw a little setback with the possibility of loaning them tigers kept on a backburner for now. NTCA officials said available scientific evidence shows the habitat in Cambodia is not conducive enough for India or Thailand to loan tigers.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Tiger")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}