George Schaller on tiger conservation in India

[Guest guest]

*http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/17/stories/2006091718770400.htm*

*`Protect India's proud symbols' *

 

Staff Reporter

 

*Programme planned to increase the tiger numbers *

 

 

 

*HONOUR: Wildlife biologist George Schaller presenting the Wildlife

Conservation Society awards to P.M. Muthanna (second from left) and N. Samba

Kumar in Bangalore on Saturday. Conservationist Ullas Karanth is at right. —

Photo: V. Sreenivasa M urthy *

 

BANGALORE: George Schaller, renowned wildlife biologist and vice-president

of the New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society (Science and Exploration

Programme), on Saturday said tigers were proud symbols of India and called

for their protection.

 

Regretting that skin trade and other activities had resulted in fall in

their numbers, he said the assistance of local communities should be taken

in efforts to increase their numbers.

 

" We have to have knowledge (of techniques protecting them) and the

dedication (to protect them). "

 

He was happy that more enthusiasts were working towards this in the country.

The situation was not so when he first came to India in 1963 to conduct a

study on tigers.

 

Mr. Schaller unveiled the poster of the India programme of the WCS called

" Tigers Forever " aimed at increasing the tiger numbers by 50 per cent in a

decade.

 

The site selected was Western Ghats, where an estimated 250 tigers lived.

Mr. Schaller hoped that the programme would succeed in India.

 

Mr. Schaller gave away WCS's awards to Karnataka wildlife conservationists

N. Samba Kumar and P.N. Muthanna in recognition of their contribution.

 

Mr. Kumar is from the Centre for Wildlife Studies here and Mr. Muthanna is

from the Living Inspiration for Tribals (LIFT), Hunsur, Karnataka.

 

Mr. Kumar (45), who quit his job in the Indian Space Research Organisation,

is an expert in distance sampling methods to ascertain animal numbers in

forests.

 

He has conducted surveys of large herbivores and carnivores across the

country under the direction of conservationist Ullas Karanth, who is the

director of WCS's India programme. He has trained hundreds of volunteers,

students and Forest Department staff in wildlife survey methods in several

States.

 

Mr. Muthanna (35), who gave up a career in journalism, has worked for the

resettlement of tribal people. Mr. Karanth said Mr. Kumar had built an army

of 250 conservationists.