Tiger in trouble, both in INDIA and US!

What a paradox, two of the biggest democracies in the world and smitten by the Tiger Buff. On one hand United States is still stumped with the Tiger Woods controversy and is trying to come in terms with the troubled life of Tiger. India on the other hand is struggling to save its national animal ‘Tiger’ from going into the pages of history. Though the Tiger’s trouble in US is expected to end or atleast fade a bit after the rehab program which the golfer is undergoing but the stakes for Indian Tiger coming out of trouble waters are very bleak. The pace with which this enchanting specie is dwindling in number is exorbitant. The statistics of their decline are nerve wrecking and if we go by the trends it won’t be an exaggeration to say that our children would be seeing this beautiful animal only in the books or documentaries. It is believed that at the turn of last century there were around 100,000 Tigers worldwide, 40,000 of which inhabited in India and from around those 40,000 tigers there are just 1411 left in India currently and even these figures are also of last year. The condition is so bad that out of 37 Tiger Sanctuaries in India, 17 are on the verge of losing their Tiger population completely and the irony is condition is getting worse everyday in spite of the various measures taken by the Indian Government to save its national animal; 2009 being the worst year for tigers in India with 86 deaths being reported.

But the question is, suddenly why is there so much fuss about plummeting Tiger numbers, when many more endangered species are also facing the same scenario. Is it simply because Tiger is our national animal? NO, there is much more to it. Tigers occupy an important place in the Indian culture. Since ages, it has been the symbol of magnificence, power, beauty and fierceness and has been associated with bravery and valor. The tiger also has a significant place in Hindu mythology as the vehicle of Goddess Durga. In the olden times, hunting of tigers was considered to be one of the highest acts of bravery by kings and noblemen. The tiger is a unique animal which plays a pivotal role in the health and diversity of an ecosystem. It is a top predator and is at the apex of the food chain. Therefore the presence of tigers in the forest is an indicator of the well being of the ecosystem. The extinction of this top predator is an indication that its ecosystem is not sufficiently protected. Tigers and high intensity biotic disturbances such as poaching and stealing of kills do not go together. If the tigers in the wild have to survive, it is imperative that other species of wild animals that are directly or indirectly a part of the food chain must also thrive. Therefore, the survival of the tiger is an important yardstick to measure the existence of a healthy forest ecosystem.

So what are the dreadful contributors to the sorry state of this royal animal? Habitat and prey loss is certainly one of the most important reasons, large-scale habitat destruction and decimation of prey populations are the major long-term threats to the existence of the dwindling tiger population in the country. Less than a hundred years ago, tigers prowled all across India and the sub-continent. But growing human populations, particularly since the 1940s, have contracted and fragmented the tiger's former range. Tigers need large territories. And along with habitat, tigers have also suffered a severe loss of natural prey populations – in particular ungulates such as deer and antelopes. But the biggest reason for this decimation is Hunting, Poaching and Illegal trades. For over thousand years, tigers have been hunted as status symbol, decorative item such as wall and floor covering, as souvenirs and curios, and for use in traditional Asian medicines. Hunting for sport probably caused the greatest decline in tiger populations until the 1930s. In the early 1990s, trade in tiger bone for traditional Chinese medicines threatened to drive tigers to extinction in the wild. Poaching is the largest immediate threat to the remaining tiger population. And last but not the least Conflict with human population is another threat resulting into this awry state. As tigers continue to lose their habitat and prey species, they are increasingly coming into conflict with humans as they attack domestic animals – and sometimes people. In retaliation, tigers are often killed by angry villagers.

But all this while I was wondering how a common man can contribute towards the ‘Save Our Tigers’ campaign? Can we really save this beautiful creature just by writing blogs and talking big? The answer to this is Yes and No. Unless we spread the word about the criticality of the situation we can’t even think of moving forward. So going out loud and telling everyone that Tigers are dying and they need our help is the least we can do. We should also try to become responsible tourists and shouldn’t damage the sanctuaries and zoos by littering around and as the saying goes ‘Don’t leave thing anything behind except foot steps, and don’t take anything except memories.’ We should also strive towards reducing our dependency on the natural resources and hence should cut down on the usage of products derived from forests, such as timber and paper. And being a responsible citizen of this nation we should be honest and brave enough to report any susceptible incidents of hunting, poaching or illegal trading because this is the one which is causing the maximum damage to this endangered specie. And last but not the least if can curb on any of our luxuries and in turn donate that saving towards the cause of Tiger Conversation through the channels WWF and PETA, it would not only be an act of kindness to this nation but it will be a great service towards the entire mankind.

At the outset matters like this seem quite uninteresting and boring to us when we have much glamorized and less though provoking options like IPL, My Name is Khan, Rahul Dulhaniya Le Jaega or Tiger Woods sexcapades at our fingertips. We generally tend to keep ourselves away from such important issues and even if we come across advertisements emphasizing about the importance of Tiger Conservations, we more often than not change the channel. But it is high time we take some ownership and give a serious thought to such issues because our nation’s pride is at stake. If we won’t do it, who will do it? The current generation hardly knows anything about our national sport which is in its worst possible state, let us pledge and not let this happen to our national animal.

Save the Speechless, Save Our Tigers!

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