Why in News ? The Uttar Pradesh government has confirmed that a significant rise in tiger numbers in Uttar Pradesh (UP) from 173 in 2018 to 222 in 2022.

This increase is credited to:

• Better habitat management
• Modern patrolling
• Community involvement

This report comes ahead of International Tiger Day (celebrated on July 29).

About ‘Bagh Mitra’ Initiative

The ‘Bagh Mitra’ (meaning Tiger Friend) is a tiger conservation initiative launched by the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department in 2019. It was later expanded into a mobile app in 2023.

Objectives of Bagh Mitra:

• Enhance community participation in tiger conservation.
• Reduce human-wildlife conflict.
• Provide real-time reporting tools via the mobile app.
• Educate and engage local populations and forest staff.
• Dudhwa Tiger Reserve leads the state with 135 tigers (as per Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Anuradha Vemuri).

M-Stripes Patrolling System

• Description: The Monitoring System for Tigers – Intensive Protection and Ecological Status (M-Stripes) is a technology-driven patrolling system implemented across Uttar Pradesh’s tiger reserves, including Dudhwa, Pilibhit, Amangarh, and Ranipur. Forest staff cover over 1.5 lakh km monthly using vehicles, boats, elephants, bicycles, and foot patrols to monitor tiger populations and prevent poaching.