BIG CATS, BIGGER COMEBACK

Established in 2025 with its secretariat in India, the International Big Cat Alliance fosters global collaboration to protect and restore big cat populations.

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In 1967, a 19-year-old Ullas Karanth wandered through the forests of southern India, his senses assaulted by the cacophony of gunshots and the stark sight of decimated woodlands. The tiger, India's regal predator, was teetering on the brink of extinction. Fast forward to today, and India's tiger population has witnessed a remarkable resurgence, climbing from approximately 2,000 to nearly 3,000 individuals. This resurgence is not merely a tale of numbers but a testament to relentless conservation efforts, scientific innovation, and the indomitable spirit of individuals like Karanth.

THE GENESIS OF A CONSERVATIONIST

Originally trained as an engineer, Karanth's journey into wildlife conservation was unconventional. He even ventured into farming before his passion for wildlife led him to the forests. Mentored by the legendary Dr. George Schaller in the United States, Karanth transformed into a leading tiger researcher and conservation zoologist. He pioneered reliable tiger population estimation techniques in India and became a role model for many young, conservation-oriented minds.

INNOVATIONS IN TIGER RESEARCH

In 1988, Karanth embarked on rigorous fieldwork in the Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot in India. By 1990, he was radio-tracking five tigers and three leopards, delving deep into their secretive lives. Later, he introduced camera traps to census tiger populations, leading the way in both endeavors and spearheading subsequent conservation efforts. His work provided unprecedented insights into tiger behavior, ecology, and population dynamics.

Karanth's studies revealed that a single tiger kills about 50 prey animals annually, necessitating a prey base of 500 to sustain one tiger.

This finding underscored the critical importance of preserving prey populations and their habitats.