What is the main reason behind the merger of Project Tiger and Project Elephant into the new 'Project Tiger and Elephant Division'?

Solution

Project Tiger and Project Elephant have been merged under a new division called 'Project Tiger and Elephant Division.' The merger aims to rationalize funding and avoid overlap in areas where both projects operate. The decision was announced in April 2023, but details on how finances will be split remain unclear. Wildlife experts are concerned that the merger may impact the conservation of both signature animals, especially tigers. The amalgamated budget for 2023-24 is Rs 331 crore, a reduction from the previous year's combined budget of Rs 335 crore. About Project Tiger The Govt. of India had launched “Project Tiger” on 1st April 1973 to promote conservation of the tiger. Project Tiger has been the largest species conservation initiative of its kind in the world. While the field implementation of the project, protection and management in the designated reserves is done by the project States, who also provide the matching grant to recurring items of expenditure, deploy field staff/officers, and give their salaries, the Project Tiger Directorate of the Ministry of Environment and Forests was mandated with the task of providing technical guidance and funding support. About Project Elephant Project Elephant was launched in 1992 by the Government of India Ministry of Environment and Forests to provide financial and technical support to wildlife management efforts by states for their free-ranging populations of wild Asian Elephants. The project aims to ensure the long-term survival of the population of elephants in their natural habitats by protecting them, their habitats and migration corridors.