The bar chart illustrates the total number of tigers across all tiger reserves in India between 1972 and 2002, while the line graph shows changes in tiger populations in five individual reserves over the same period.
Overall, the total tiger population in India increased significantly throughout the 30-year period. Among the five reserves, Bandipur consistently had the highest number of tigers, whereas Buxa recorded the lowest figures despite gradual growth.
In 1972, the total number of tigers was only 268. This figure rose steadily to 711 in 1979 and more than quadrupled to 1,121 by 1984. The upward trend continued, reaching approximately 1,327 in 1989 and peaking at 1,576 in 2002, despite minor fluctuations during the 1990s.
Looking at individual reserves, Bandipur experienced a sharp rise from around 100 tigers in 1972 to approximately 250 by the early 1980s, after which the number remained relatively stable. Corbett and Kanha both showed moderate but steady growth over time. Sundarbans saw a gradual increase from a low base, while Buxa had the smallest tiger population throughout the period, rising slowly from about 20 to just over 60 by 2002.