By Pramod Kumar (19thFebruary, 2008)
If we close our eyes and think about wildlife, tigers are the first to
emerge in our imagination. Tiger has a special place, charisma of tiger
inspired lots of poet and it carried nations to adopt it as their emblem.
But unfortunately universal appeal has not guaranteed the survival of the
tiger in the wild.
From past two decades tiger conservation have had been an issue among
naturalist but all the measurement and steps seems twice shy in front of
poachers. India and China are the two largest developing economics but their
effort to protect tigers are not eulogistic for many conservationist. Why
this happen? The simple reason that India and China are looming place of
trading tiger parts. There is till a chance to save the tiger from
extinction but that will require a concerted effort by two nations.
Of the seven sub-species of the tiger(Panthera tigris), the Balinese,
Javanese and Caspian tigers have already disappeared and the south China
tiger is on the brink India is still hold the pride of conserve the largest
number of wild tigers and a conservation infrastructure with a system of
connected protected areas. But tragically, India’s tiger population is
also collapsed.
Far and away, the first cause of the crisis is poaching to satisfy the
demand for tiger products for traditional oriental medicines in China and
other parts of eastern Asia. Incidentally, poachers have also turned to the
remaining 300 or so Asiatic lions in the Gir forests of Gujarat because lion
parts are identical from tiger parts in the East Asia markets.
The second reason is quite unavoidable. With intense competition for land,
water and forests and the endless encroachment of villages onto protected
land have pitiably taken the land of wildlife. In the past decade the areas
inhabited by tigers have fallen by two-fifths.
Four decades ago, the Indian government initiated Project Tiger, involving
protected areas and wildlife corridors to assure a genetic pool, protective
measurement and enforcement of law. That was a decisive step taken by Indian
government and India soon reached a dramatic increase of tiger population
but only for a time being. Sariska,once illustrated for tigers now have no
species left. Indian poachers have no more ancient weapons but equipped with
sophisticated automatic weapons. So there need to be more strong effort to
ensure adequate numbers of protection staff with motivation and proper
remuneration to face daily eye to eye with the poachers.
Forest based communities also need a stake in protecting the tiger. There
are examples when eco tourism simultaneously brought environmental
protection and prosperity. Strong review is also required. There need to
conscious effort from all quarters including business communities. There are
few business communities who support the cause.
Royal Bengal tiger, considered as the lord of Indian Jungle is India’s
pride and extinction cause an irreversible damage to Indian heritage. Time
is still there for India and world community to give an honest effort to
save one of the prized possession of nature.
Indian Wildlife Parks
Jim Corbett Park
Kanha National Park
Sunderbans
Ranthambore National Park
Related Links
Indian Tiger
