SOURCE: http://www.ptinews.com/news/536327_Tiger-population-registers-increase-in-Tamil-Nadu

Erode, Feb 25 (PTI) At a time when the fast dwindling population of tigers has become a cause of concern, Tamil Nadu has witnessed an increase in the number of big cats in the wild.

"Due to the stringent action taken by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department to prevent poaching of wild animals, the population of tigers in reserve forests in Tamil Nadu has increased. As of date there are 76 tigers as against 62 some years back," state Forest Minister N Selvaraj said.

After visiting Kundry forest area in Sathyamangalam forest in Erode district yesterday, he noted that eight tigers had been sighted in this forest alone as per the ongoing forest census, to be completed today.

The exact percentage of increase will be known after that, he said.

India has just 1,411 wild tigers left as compared to 3,400 a decade earlier.