World Tiger Day 2026: Celebrating India's Remarkable Tiger Comeback, One Forest at a Time
This World Tiger Day, India has a powerful conservation success story to celebrate. For decades, National Geographic India has documented the inspiring journey of the tiger through the eyes of scientists, forest rangers and local communities. From the brink of extinction nearly 50 years ago to becoming home to the world's largest wild tiger population, India's conservation efforts stand as a global example of what sustained commitment can achieve. While the Western Ghats remain a historic stronghold, the biggest driver of the country's recent tiger resurgence has emerged from the Central India and Shivalik-Gangetic landscape, where states like Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh have played a pivotal role in expanding tiger populations and strengthening habitats. Tamil Nadu proudly remains one of only five Indian states with more than 300 tigers, reaffirming its critical role in protecting the globally significant Nilgiri landscape. Alongside Karnataka and Kerala...