International Tiger Day 2024: History, PM Modi’s Top Quotes, and India’s 10 Most Famous Tigers and Tigresses

International Tiger Day, also known as Global Tiger Day, is celebrated on July 29 every year as a way to raise awareness about the conservation of magnificent but endangered big cats. The main objective of this day is to establish a worldwide framework for protecting the natural habitats of tigers and to raise public awareness and support for tiger conservation issues.

International Tiger Day 2024: History

The International Tiger Day was established in 2010 at the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit in Russia. The summit brought 13 tiger range nations to address the alarming revelation that 97 per cent of wild tigers had vanished since the beginning of the 20th century.

The nations came together to join Tx2, intending to double the tiger population from 3,200 to at least 6,000 tigers. This ambitious initiative aimed at addressing numerous challenges faced by tigers such as habitat loss, poaching and human-wildlife conflict.

International Tiger Day 2024: 10 Famous Tiger And Tigress Of India

1. Machli at Ranthambore National ParkNamed for having a fish-shaped mark on her cheek, Machli, also known as the Tigress Queen of Ranthambore has played a significant role in boosting the tiger population in India. She gave birth to 11 cubs between 1999 and 2006 raising Ranthambore’s tiger count from 15 to 50. In 2013, the government issued a commemorative postal cover and stamp to honour the tigress. Machli passed away in 2016 at the age of 19, the longest any tigress has ever lived in the wild.
2. Collarwali, Pench National ParkCollarwali is the only tigress in the wild to have given birth to 29 cubs. She earned her name as the first tiger in Pench to be fitted with a radio collar. She is also known as Mataram (beloved mother) because of the many children she had.
3. Maya, Tadoba-Andhari Tiger ReserveMaya reigns as the supreme in Tadoba National Park, the oldest national park in Maharashtra. If you visit this reserve, safari guides and forest authorities often recount her clashes with other tigresses. Such battles also reflect the shrinking tiger habitat and survival struggles.
4. Paro, Corbett Tiger ReserveFirst sighted in Corbett around 2013-14, there was speculation that Paro was the daughter of a tigress known as Thandi Maa from Dhikala Chaur. Despite her petite size, she chased away two tiger matriarchs, establishing her rule over both sides of the Ramganga river.
5. Vijay, Delhi ZooVijay, the six-footer white tiger born in the Delhi Zoo, became well-known for attacking a 22-year-old intruder. He played a key role in the zoo’s successful breeding program as he sired 5 cubs with his mate Kalpana.
6. Munna, Kanha National ParkAlso known as the King of Kanha, Munna is famous for its distinctive stripes on his forehead. Though old now, his tales of territorial fights remain popular. His son, Chota Munna, is taking forward his legacy in Kanha.
7. Prince, Bandipur National ParkPrince, a dominant male tiger, was the most photographed and dominating tiger of Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka. In 2017, his body was found in the park’s Kundakere Range.
8. Waghdoh, Tadoba-Andhari Tiger ReserveWaghdoh in Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve was named after a waterhole in the Mohurli region of Tadoba. He has claimed his territory by defeating another tiger named Yeda Anna. He was found dead in May 2022, shortly after reportedly killing a shepherd.
9. Kankati, Bandhavgarh National ParkKankati, also known as Vijaya, dominated the Chorbehra and Chakradhara regions up to the Bandhavgarh Fort. Her fierce battle with Lakshmi, a disabled tigress, left her with one eye. Her story is detailed by Shivang Mehta in his book, A Decade with Tigers: Supremacy, Solitude, Stripes.
10. Bamera, Bandhavgarh National ParkBamera, the largest tiger that the park had ever known, ousted his ailing father (B2) and became the dominant male of the Bandhavgarh National Park.

International Tiger Day 2024: PM Modi’s Famous Quotes

1. “For wildlife to thrive, it is important for ecosystems to thrive. This has been happening in India.”

2. “Protection of wildlife is a universal issue.”

3. “Human empowerment is incomplete without a better environment. And so, the way ahead is in collectiveness instead of selectiveness. We need to take a broad-based and holistic look at environmental conservation.”

4. “India has not only saved the tiger but has also given it an excellent ecosystem to flourish.”

5. “We do not believe in conflict between ecology and economy, but give importance to co-existence between the two.”