India, Jan. 31 -- Tigers expanded their area by around 30% (33,127 sq km) between 2006 and 2018 with the most increase seen in proximity to protected areas (and in areas with lower population densities and higher wealth), highlighting the possibility of human and tiger coexistence, a new paper says.

Although the success of tiger recovery is highlighted by the feline population doubling in this period, from 1,411 to 2,967, the study, titled "Tiger Recovery Amid People and Poverty" said that the population growth is in line with the intended flagship role of the tiger in conserving and increasing biodiverse areas -- it credits tigers for an increase in the numbers of other species in tiger habitats such as leopards, elephants, sloth bear a...