India is one of the 17 megadiverse countries of the world, home to tigers and elephants, rhinos and lions, snow leopards and sea turtles, and an extraordinary variety of flora and fauna. From the Himalayas to the Western Ghats, and from the deserts of Rajasthan to the mangroves of Sundarbans, the country harbors some of the richest ecosystems on Earth.
But this biodiversity has long faced threats—ranging from hunting in the colonial era to rapid deforestation and urbanization in modern times. Alarm bells began to ring in the early 1970s, when iconic species like the tiger, crocodile, and hangul were on the brink of collapse. In response, India launched a series of national-level conservation projects, backed by legislation, institutions, and community efforts. These projects not only sought to save species from extinction but also safeguarded entire ecosystems.
Let us journey through some of India’s most significant national conservation projects and their impact on wildlife protection.
Project Tiger (1973): The Flagship of Indian Conservation
When the tiger population in India fell below 2,000 in the late 1960s, it symbolized an ecological crisis. Alarmed by reports of vanishing tigers, then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), launched Project Tiger in 1973.
Objective: Ensure a viable population of tigers in their natural habitats and protect them from extinction.
Implementation: Initially launched in 9 tiger reserves, covering 18,278 sq km. Today, there are 58 reserves under the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), spanning more than 83,000 sq km.
Achievements:
- Tiger numbers rose from around 1,800 in 1972 to over 3,600 in 2022, making India home to more than 70% of the world’s tigers.
- Tiger reserves like Corbett, Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Kaziranga, and Nagarhole are now global icons of conservation.
Challenges: Poaching, linear infrastructure projects, and human–tiger conflict remain persistent threats.
Project Tiger is often hailed as one of the most successful conservation programs in the world and remains the bedrock of India’s biodiversity protection.
Project Elephant (1992): Protecting the Gentle Giant
The Asian Elephant, declared India’s National Heritage Animal, plays a vital ecological and cultural role. Yet, fragmentation of forests and ivory poaching placed them under severe stress. To address this, the Government of India launched Project Elephant in 1992.
Objectives:
- Protect elephants and their habitats.
- Manage human–elephant conflict.
- Improve welfare of captive elephants.
Implementation:
- Establishment of 33 Elephant Reserves, spread over 14 states, covering around 80,000 sq km.
- Identification of elephant corridors to facilitate safe movement between habitats.
Achievements:
- Improved monitoring of elephant populations through GPS collars and synchronized censuses.
- Recognition of elephants as a flagship species for forest conservation.
Challenges: Human–elephant conflict claims hundreds of lives every year, alongside crop damage and elephant casualties due to train collisions and electrocution.
Despite these hurdles, Project Elephant has ensured that India still holds the largest population of wild Asian Elephants in the world over 30,000 representing more than 60% of global population.
Project Snow Leopard (2009): Saving the Ghost of the Mountains
High up in the Himalayas roams the elusive snow leopard, often called the “ghost of the mountains.” Threatened by climate change, habitat degradation, and retaliatory killing by herders, its population in India was estimated at just 718 individuals.
Recognizing the fragility of the Himalayan ecosystem, the Project Snow Leopard was launched in 2009.
Key Features:
- Focused on landscape-level conservation, rather than creating small, isolated reserves.
- Emphasized community participation—engaging herders in conservation and livelihood support.
- Coverage: Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim.
Achievements:
- India is part of the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP).
- Use of camera traps and DNA sampling has improved population monitoring.
Challenges: Increasing development pressures, glacial retreat, and infrastructure projects continue to threaten high-altitude habitats.
Project Snow Leopard has set a model for inclusive conservation, where local people are partners, not adversaries.
Crocodile Conservation Project (1975): From Extinction to Recovery
By the early 1970s, India’s mugger crocodiles, gharials, and saltwater crocodiles were almost extinct due to hunting and habitat loss. In 1975, the Crocodile Conservation Project was launched with the help of the UNDP and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Approach:
- Establishment of captive breeding and rearing centers.
- Release of young crocodiles into the wild.
- Protection of key riverine habitats.
Achievements:
- Gharial sanctuaries like National Chambal Sanctuary were established.
- Saltwater crocodiles recovered well in Bhitarkanika National Park, Odisha.
- Mugger crocodile populations stabilized across central and southern India.
The crocodile project is hailed as one of India’s earliest species recovery successes.
Indian Rhino Vision 2020 (2005): Expanding the Kingdom of the Rhino
The Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros, once widespread across the Gangetic plains, had been reduced to just 2,000 individuals by the turn of the century, mostly confined to Assam.
To secure their future, the Indian Rhino Vision 2020 (IRV 2020) was launched by the Assam Forest Department, WWF-India, and the International Rhino Foundation.
Goal: Increase the rhino population in Assam to 3,000 individuals and spread them across seven protected areas by 2020.
Achievements:
- Successful translocation of rhinos from Kaziranga to Manas National Park, helping revive the park’s ecosystem after years of insurgency.
- Today, India’s rhino population stands at more than 4000 individuals, with Assam holding over 70%.
Challenges: Poaching for horns and floods in Assam continue to pose risks.
Though the 2020 target wasn’t fully met, the initiative strengthened rhino conservation and habitat connectivity in Assam.
Vulture Conservation Breeding Program (2000s): Saving the Sky’s Sanitation Workers
In the 1990s, India’s vulture population crashed by over 95% due to poisoning from the veterinary drug diclofenac, used for cattle. This was one of the fastest bird declines ever recorded.
To prevent total extinction, the Vulture Conservation Breeding Programme was launched in the early 2000s.
Actions Taken:
- Ban on veterinary use of diclofenac in 2006.
- Establishment of breeding centers at Pinjore (Haryana), Rajabhatkhawa (West Bengal), and Rani (Assam).
- Captive breeding of White-rumped, Long-billed, and Slender-billed vultures.
Progress:
- Captive-bred vultures are now being released back into the wild.
- Populations have stabilized in some regions, though still critically low.
This program highlights how science-driven interventions can revive species on the brink.
Other Notable National Initiatives
- Sea Turtle Project (1999): Protecting Olive Ridley turtles in Odisha through nest protection and community engagement.
- National Dolphin Conservation Project (2009): Focused on the Ganges River Dolphin, India’s National Aquatic Animal. Protected areas like Vikramshila Dolphin Sanctuary in Bihar safeguard their habitats.
- Hangul Conservation Project (1970s): Efforts to save the Kashmir Stag (Hangul) in Dachigam National Park. Population has recovered from less than 150 in the 1970s to around 300 today.
- Asiatic Lion Conservation: Though not a formal “project,” decades of protection in Gir National Park have raised lion numbers from 180 in the 1970s to over 600 today. Plans for relocation to Kuno National Park are ongoing.
Legal and Policy Framework for Conservation
These projects are backed by strong legislation and institutions:
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 – the backbone of conservation law.
- Biological Diversity Act, 2002 – safeguarding genetic resources.
- National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) and State Boards – policymaking and monitoring.
- Eco-sensitive zones, CAMPA funds, and Green India Mission – strengthening habitat protection.
Role of Communities and Technology
Conservation in India has increasingly embraced people’s participation and modern tools:
- Community reserves and eco-tourism initiatives provide locals with sustainable livelihoods.
- Technology like camera traps, satellite telemetry, drones, and eDNA analysis are revolutionizing wildlife monitoring.
- NGOs and citizen scientists are playing active roles in awareness and conservation action.
Challenges Ahead
Despite successes, India’s conservation journey faces significant hurdles:
- Human–wildlife conflict is rising due to shrinking habitats.
- Poaching and illegal wildlife trade continue to threaten species like pangolins and leopards.
- Climate change poses new threats, from melting Himalayan glaciers to altered monsoon patterns.
- Infrastructure development—roads, dams, railways—cuts through critical wildlife corridors.
Conservation in India must now move towards landscape-level planning, ensuring connectivity between habitats and integrating wildlife needs into development models.
Conclusion
India’s national conservation projects represent a powerful mix of vision, science, and community involvement. From the tiger roaring back in reserves, to crocodiles basking again in rivers, and rhinos reviving in Assam’s grasslands, these initiatives have shown what determined action can achieve.
Yet, conservation is not just the job of governments and scientists. Each citizen has a role—whether by supporting eco-friendly practices, raising awareness, or advocating for sustainable development.
In the words of a famous saying:
“The tiger protects the forest, and the forest protects the tiger. If we save the forests, we save ourselves.”
India’s conservation story is still being written—and with continued commitment, it can remain one of hope, resilience, and coexistence.