BENGALURU, India — It was a celebratory atmosphere for officials gathered just hours away from several of India's major tiger reserves in the southern city of Mysuru, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Sunday to much applause that the country's tiger population has steadily grown to over 3,000 since its flagship conservation program began 50 years ago.
FILE - Tigers are visible at the Ranthambore National Park in Sawai Madhopur, India on April 12, 2015. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Sunday, April 9, 2023, to much applause that the country’s tiger population has steadily grown to over 3,000 since its flagship conservation program began 50 years ago after concerns that numbers of the big cats were dwindling. (AP Photo/Satyajeet Singh Rathore, File)
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In this handout photo released by Press Information Bureau of India, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi rides in a jeep during his visit to Bandipur Tiger Reserve, in southern state of Karnataka, India, Sunday, April 9, 2023. (Press Information Bureau via AP)
Scenes from Holi celebrations in India
People celebrate Holi, the festival of colors on a street in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, March 8, 2023.Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the ''Holi" festival, dancing to the beat of drums and smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets. Free from mask and other COVID-19 restrictions after two years, they also drenched each other with colored water. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Hindu devotees with offerings make way to reach the car which carried the deity Shri Krishna during the Holi festival in Kolkata, India, Sunday, March 5, 2023. Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the ''Holi" festival, dancing to the beat of drums and smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets. Free from mask and other COVID-19 restrictions after two years, they also drenched each other with colored water. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
People celebrate Holi, the festival of colors on a street in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, March 8, 2023.Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the ''Holi" festival, dancing to the beat of drums and smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets. Free from mask and other COVID-19 restrictions after two years, they also drenched each other with colored water. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
People celebrate Holi, the festival of colors on a street in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, March 8, 2023.Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the ''Holi" festival, dancing to the beat of drums and smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets. Free from mask and other COVID-19 restrictions after two years, they also drenched each other with colored water. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
People put colour powder to their friend to celebrate Holi festival, in Prayagraj, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Tuesday, March 7, 2023. Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the ''Holi" festival, dancing to the beat of drums and smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets. Free from mask and other COVID-19 restrictions after two years, they also drenched each other with colored water. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Devotees cheer as colored powder and water is sprayed on them during celebrations marking Holi at the Kalupur Swaminarayan temple in Ahmedabad, India, Wednesday, March 8, 2023. Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the ''Holi" festival, dancing to the beat of drums and smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets. Free from mask and other COVID-19 restrictions after two years, they also drenched each other with colored water.(AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
People celebrate Holi, the festival of colors on a street in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, March 8, 2023.Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the ''Holi" festival, dancing to the beat of drums and smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets. Free from mask and other COVID-19 restrictions after two years, they also drenched each other with colored water. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
People celebrate Holi, the festival of colors on a street in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, March 8, 2023.Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the ''Holi" festival, dancing to the beat of drums and smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets. Free from mask and other COVID-19 restrictions after two years, they also drenched each other with colored water. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Children play with color water as they celebrate Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, in Hyderabad, India, Tuesday, March 7, 2023.(AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.) ,
A girl throws collar powder during Holi, the festival of colors on a street in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, March 8, 2023.Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the ''Holi" festival, dancing to the beat of drums and smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets. Free from mask and other COVID-19 restrictions after two years, they also drenched each other with colored water. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
A devotee throws colored powder to others during celebration of the Holi festival on the onset of spring in Kolkata, India, Sunday, March 5, 2023. Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the ''Holi" festival, dancing to the beat of drums and smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets. Free from mask and other COVID-19 restrictions after two years, they also drenched each other with colored water(AP Photo/Bikas Das)
Devotees cheer as colored powder and water is sprayed on them during celebrations marking Holi at the Kalupur Swaminarayan temple in Ahmedabad, India, Wednesday, March 8, 2023. Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the ''Holi" festival, dancing to the beat of drums and smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets. Free from mask and other COVID-19 restrictions after two years, they also drenched each other with colored water. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
A girl smeared with colors celebrates Holi, the festival of colors on a street in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, March 8, 2023.Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the ''Holi" festival, dancing to the beat of drums and smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets. Free from mask and other COVID-19 restrictions after two years, they also drenched each other with colored water. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
People celebrate Holi, the festival of colors on a street in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, March 8, 2023.Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the ''Holi" festival, dancing to the beat of drums and smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets. Free from mask and other COVID-19 restrictions after two years, they also drenched each other with colored water. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
People celebrate Holi, the festival of colors on a street in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, March 8, 2023.Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the ''Holi" festival, dancing to the beat of drums and smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets. Free from mask and other COVID-19 restrictions after two years, they also drenched each other with colored water. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
People celebrate Holi, the festival of colors on a street in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, March 8, 2023.Millions of Indians on Wednesday celebrated the ''Holi" festival, dancing to the beat of drums and smearing each other with green, yellow and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks and streets. Free from mask and other COVID-19 restrictions after two years, they also drenched each other with colored water. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Devotees cheer as colored powder and water is sprayed on them during celebrations marking Holi at the Kalupur Swaminarayan temple in Ahmedabad, India, Wednesday, March 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
