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India's tiger population has fallen drastically, more than half, during the past five years, according to a new government census.

The increasingly endangered animals' numbers have fallen to 1,411, down from 3,642 in the last major survey in 2002.

The report: State of tiger, co-predators and prey in India said there had been an overall decrease in the tiger population except in Tamil Nadu where the numbers have gone up substantially.

Wildlife activists blame poaching and urbanisation for the decline and say the authorities must do more.

Last year, federal authorities announced the creation of a special force to protect tigers. But it is unclear whether it has worked.

'Time to act'

Counting could not be carried out in the states of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand due to law and order problems, the report said.

And the exercise was still going on in Sundarbans in the eastern state of West Bengal, the report added.

Rajesh Gopal of India's Project Tiger said the census showed that "though the tiger has suffered due to direct poaching, loss of quality habitat and loss of its prey, there is still hope."

Wildlife experts say urgent efforts should be made to save the animals.

"It is now time to act and save tigers from human beings. We have to create inviolate areas for tigers and provide modern weapons to forest guards," conservationist Valmik Thapar said.

Experts blame the government for failing to crack down on poachers and the illegal trade in tiger skins.

Tigers are poached for their body parts - skins are prized for fashion and tiger bones are used for oriental medicines.

Tiger pelts can fetch up to $12,500 in China.

According to reports, there were 40,000 tigers in India a century ago.

State-wise data

The country is home to 40% of the world's tigers, with 23 tiger reserves in 17 states.

In Andhra Pradesh the population of tigers stands at 95 (as compared to 192 when the last census was carried out). Similarly, Chhattisgarh has 26 (227), Madhya Pradesh 300 (710), Maharashtra 103 (238), Orissa 45 (173) and Rajasthan 32 (58). Sariska has no tigers left.

In the Western Ghats, Karnataka is left with 290 (compared to 401 in 2002), Kerala 46 (71) and Tamil Nadu 76 (60).

In the North East Hills and Brahmaputra Plains, Assam has only 70 tigers against 354 in the previous census. Arunachal Pradesh has 14 tigers against 61, Mizoram six (28) and North West Bengal 10 against 349 earlier.

Source: BBC and The Hindu