India achieved the target of doubling of tiger population four years ahead of schedule of the St. Petersburg Declaration on Tiger Conservation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on International Tiger Day on Thursday.

The date July 29 is historic because on this day several countries signed the agreement in the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit, which was held in Russia in 2010.

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St. Petersburg agreement was about raising awareness about the decreasing tiger population globally and preserving the natural habitat of tigers. Also, the representatives from various countries declared that the tiger-populated countries would thrive to double the tiger population by the end of the year 2022.

Greeting the wildlife lovers, especially those who are passionate about tiger conservation on International Tiger Day, in a series of tweets, the Prime Minister said: “On #InternationalTigerDay, greetings to wildlife lovers, especially those who are passionate about tiger conservation. Home to over 70 per cent of the tiger population globally, we reiterate our commitment to ensuring safe habitats for our tigers and nurturing tiger-friendly eco-systems.”

“India is home to 51 tiger reserves spread across 18 states. The last tiger census of 2018 showed a rise in the tiger population. India achieved the target of doubling of tiger population 4 years ahead of schedule of the St Petersburg Declaration on Tiger Conservation,” he said.

India’s strategy of tiger conservation attaches topmost importance to involving local communities. “We are also inspired by our centuries-old ethos of living in harmony with all flora and fauna with whom we share our great planet,” Modi added.

The theme for this international day is – “Their Survival is in our hands”. Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, last year the celebration was held online. However, the event was observed with great enthusiasm worldwide. Since India has around 70% of the global tiger population, it plays a vital role in the annual celebration. With Tiger reserves in place and thriving efforts by the Environment department, India has successfully doubled the tiger population ahead of the 2022 target.