Tiger Habitat Project

Tiger Habitat Project

Bandhavgarh National Park, in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, is home to one of the last few concentrations of Bengal Tigers on Earth. Despite being declared a Tiger Reserve in 1968, the tigers are facing the threat of poaching and encroachment on their land by the many villages surrounding the park. 

Forest clearing is a major threat to the tiger habitat as it reduces their shelter and security. Exodus is supporting the Tiger Habitat project, which aims to reduce the amount of wood being used by local people in their everyday activities. Reducing the need for wood consumption will reduce human activity in the forest, which will reduce human-tiger conflict. This is being done through the modification of wooden cattle sheds in 150 households in the Kaluabah, Pathari and Mardari villages, and swapping wood burning stoves for energy efficient smart stoves in 280 households across the Kaluabah, Mardari, Gadawah, Pathari and Gohadi villages. 

Renewing cattle sheds will potentially save 1300 trees over the next decade and swapping the cook stoves will save approximately 84 tonnes of wood per year, which is vital for protection of the tiger population. The new cookstoves will also benefit women and children by decreasing the risk of smoke inhalation during cooking. 

Exodus’ funding has also contributed to the installation of solar powered street lights in key areas in Manpur, which has helped to decrease negative interactions between humans and wildlife.  

W O R T H   M O R E   A L I V E  X

The Tiger Habitat Project is largely funded by Paul Goldstein, expert guide and award-winning wildlife photographer, through his Worth More Alive campaign, in support of protecting the endangered Bengal Tiger. In 2019, in the tenth iteration of this campaign, he raised over £100,000 by undertaking three marathons in his now famous tiger suit. He completed the Brighton marathon, closely followed by the London Marathon in 2021 and travelled to Nepal in 2022 to complete the grueling Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon. To find out more about Paul’s epic mission and achievements click here.