On April 1, 2023, India celebrated 50 years of Project Tiger, arguably the most important ecological conservation programme in the country, and easily the most successful large carnivore protection initiative in the world. Yet, policy challenges abound: development vs ecology, human-animal interaction, habitat loss. Dr Anish Andheria, president and CEO of Wildlife Conservation Trust speaks to Sachin Kalbag on both the success of Project Tiger and the opportunities ahead