LUCKNOW, July 28 -- Uttar Pradesh has seen a steady rise in its tiger population-from 173 in 2018 to 222 in 2022, a state government statement on Monday read, on the eve of International Tiger Day.

Among several initiatives the 'Bagh Mitra' initiative, launched in 2019 and expanded via a mobile app in 2023, has been instrumental in reducing human-wildlife conflict and has earned praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, read the statement.

According to principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), Uttar Pradesh, Anuradha Vemuri, the state's tiger population has shown growth-from 109 in 2006 to 222 in 2022. Dudhwa Tiger Reserve leads with 135 tigers (up from 68 in 2014 and 82 in 2018), followed by Pilibhit with 63, Amangarh with 20,...