Over two decades, India’s tiger population increased by 30%, aided by strong legislation.

• A study by senior scientist Yadvendradev Jhala and colleagues found a 30% increase in the tiger population in India over the past two decades.

• The study highlights the socio-ecological factors that enabled tiger recovery and persistence despite high human densities and economic challenges.

• The National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) attributed the success to a balance of scientific strategies and a strategic blend of land-sharing and land-sparing.

• Despite the high human population in economically diverse regions, India has managed to conserve wildlife, despite global wildlife populations declining by 73%.

• The study also highlighted the influence of economic prosperity and cultural values on tiger persistence, recovery, and colonisation.

• Despite the success, challenges remain, including the depletion of potential tiger habitats due to socio-political instability and habitat degradation.