Why in news?
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change launched the “Tigers Outside Tiger Reserves” (TOTR) project on 6 October 2025. The initiative addresses rising human–tiger conflicts in India’s landscapes outside protected reserves.
Aim and scope
- Conservation beyond boundaries: Over half of India’s tigers range outside notified tiger reserves. TOTR seeks to manage these populations across entire landscapes, not just within park boundaries.
- Coverage: The project will initially focus on 205 forest divisions, with 40 pilot divisions prioritised based on conflict incidents. It spans 17 states including Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and West Bengal.
- Funding: Around ₹88 crore has been allocated from the Compensatory Afforestation Fund to implement the project. Additional resources may be mobilised through corporate social responsibility and donor support.
Key components
- Technological monitoring: Use of camera traps, satellite collars and artificial intelligence to track tiger movements and predict conflict hotspots.
- Community participation: Formation of rapid response teams and local informant networks. Awareness campaigns and ex‑gratia compensation encourage coexistence and discourage retaliatory killing.
- Landscape approach: Restoration of degraded corridors and maintaining connectivity between habitats allows tigers to move safely and reduces encounters with people.
- Capacity building: Training forest staff, veterinarians and community members in conflict mitigation and first aid for injured wildlife.
Context and significance
India’s tiger population has increased over the past decade thanks to conservation efforts. However, animals often disperse into agricultural fields and settlements in search of territory and prey, leading to attacks on livestock and humans. The TOTR project reflects a shift toward managing wildlife at the landscape level. It aims to balance conservation with the safety and livelihoods of local communities.