Read the following passage and answer the questions based on it: Project Tiger…

Read the following passage and answer the questions based on it:

Project Tiger has recently completed fifty years. On this occasion, this major news was repeatedly shown how the number of these tigers, which was 2,967 in the year 2018, became 3,167 in the year 2022. This hides the bitter truth: the people of India are not ready to make any kind of compromise with their Western lifestyle to save the tigers. Most middle-class Indians would not like to give up the habit of driving towards the hills located on multi-lane highways for their second investment home or the national animal.

You cannot even change the requirements (needs) of the tiger - because it is a large, solitary animal. A tigress needs about 15 square kilometers of space with a good prey base. If she gives birth to cubs, those cubs will need additional space. Data shows that 30 percent of the tiger population lives outside protected areas, i.e., among us. The more we fragment their habitats through urbanization, highways, and industrial parks, the more they will be forced to go towards unprotected areas.

We have to bring a change in our thinking. I advocate achieving these three results by the 75th anniversary of Project Tiger. First, instead of unbridled growth in the number of tigers, India can identify and achieve a metric (measurement) that is not much more than the current number. Remember, about 1000 tigers are roaming in fields and villages, if it becomes more than this, it will become a disaster. Second, making better what we have protected. It is important to keep the protected tiger habitat undisturbed. Keeping in mind the investment made in keeping the unprotected ecosystem intact should be economically viable and part of other programs like CSR. Third, it is essential to reduce conflict with humans. Monitoring and communication are important parts of this. Compensation for killed livestock should be evaluated quickly and compensation should be given at the market rate. In the next 25 years, we have to consider quality.

"Bitter truth" refers to which of the following?