Alert: TIGER POPULATION TRUTH

[Guest guest]

Link: http://www.care2.com/c2c/share/detail/527233

 

from The Independent & The Independent on Sunday 31 October 2007 00:56

Mahendra Shrestha: The heartbreaking fate of India's symbol of

strength Published: 31

October 2007

 

As its national emblem, the tiger symbolises India's strength and natural

beauty. And this makes the new tiger population estimate of between 1,300

and 1,500 even more heart breaking. It is also truly shocking, for it is

less than half of the estimates from the 1990s.

 

The method used to calculate previous estimates was controversial and this

resulted in a dangerous complacency regarding the need proactively to

protect India's tigers, their prey and their habitats. This new figure is

the outcome of a rigorous sampling procedure. It is the realistic figure

today and it is one which everyone, from the Indian authorities to

conservationists, needs to accept.

 

Saving tigers is increasingly challenging in today's India, as it seeks to

juggle the livelihood of its rural population, its speedy economic growth

and at the same time protect its natural assets. But it is a challenge that

must be met. And there are historic precedents to suggest that real success

is possible. The 1972 estimate of 1,872 tigers prompted the launch of an

extensive tiger conservation effort, with strong political support. It was

one of the most successful wildlife conservation efforts for the recovery of

tigers and numbers recovered to 3,750 within two decades. But after that

step forward, it has been many steps back and the population has declined.

 

Lower tiger numbers underscore the precarious situation of tigers throughout

Asia, since India has always been the tiger's stronghold. The number of

tigers in captivity around the world now far exceeds the population in the

wild, and a recent study found that the area in the wild in which tigers are

able to roam is down by 40 per cent on what it was in the 1990s.

 

This gloomy picture calls for tiger conservation efforts to be urgently

re-evaluated, especially in light of the new demographic and economic

changes seen in Asia. Economic growth in the region has enabled a large

emerging middle class to afford expensive tiger parts and products and

sparked a resurgence of illegal trade in tiger parts, intensifying the

poaching pressure on tiger reserves in Asia.

 

The capacity of government institutions needs revamping to address the

emerging threats. The establishment of the Wildlife Crime Bureau in India is

encouraging, but regional co-operation such as ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement

Network is essential to curb the trans-border illegal trade.

 

Strong and lasting commitments from governments, NGOs, development agencies

and others are critical to save tiger lands. The tiger population in India

includes many small populations and tigers in small and isolated reserves

are always vulnerable. Habitats must be protected, embedded into the larger

landscape with very little or no human intervention, so a viable tiger

population can survive. Winning the support of people living in the

surrounding communities is critical and so conservation efforts need to

benefit local people – they need to see why they should save tigers.

 

There were about 100,000 tigers in Asia at the beginning of the last century

and if we are to prevent the last animals from dying out in this century

then we need nothing short of a miracle. But every miracle must start

somewhere, and it is these initial steps that India must now take.

 

*Mahendra Shrestha trained as a forester in India and is now the director of

Save The Tiger Fund, based in Washington DC*

 

**

 

 

 

--

Fight captive Jumbo abuse, end Elephant Polo

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[Guest guest]

Hi Azam,

 

I agree that a miracle is needed to save the tigers in the wild, however the

ASEAN-WEN is probably not part of the solution and as far from a miracle as

possible. ASEAN-WEN has been working for many years now and is not allowing

anyone else than Wildaid and Traffic to join. Many (smaller) organizations

in the field with loads of data and information are not able to network or

join the ASEAN-WEN and for that reason it is merely a government scheme to

fool the media that they are serious in tackling the illegal wildlife trade.

 

 

Governments should not only cooperate, but also allow outsiders to see what

is going on, to witness the strategy, work and (if any) results.

 

Edwin Wiek

WFFT Thailand

 

 

aapn [aapn ] On Behalf Of AZAM

SIDDIQUI

Wednesday, 31 October, 2007 16:50

AAPN List

Alert: TIGER POPULATION TRUTH

 

Link: http://www.care2.com/c2c/share/detail/527233

 

from The Independent & The Independent on Sunday 31 October 2007 00:56

Mahendra Shrestha: The heartbreaking fate of India's symbol of

strength Published: 31

October 2007

 

As its national emblem, the tiger symbolises India's strength and natural

beauty. And this makes the new tiger population estimate of between 1,300

and 1,500 even more heart breaking. It is also truly shocking, for it is

less than half of the estimates from the 1990s.

 

The method used to calculate previous estimates was controversial and this

resulted in a dangerous complacency regarding the need proactively to

protect India's tigers, their prey and their habitats. This new figure is

the outcome of a rigorous sampling procedure. It is the realistic figure

today and it is one which everyone, from the Indian authorities to

conservationists, needs to accept.

 

Saving tigers is increasingly challenging in today's India, as it seeks to

juggle the livelihood of its rural population, its speedy economic growth

and at the same time protect its natural assets. But it is a challenge that

must be met. And there are historic precedents to suggest that real success

is possible. The 1972 estimate of 1,872 tigers prompted the launch of an

extensive tiger conservation effort, with strong political support. It was

one of the most successful wildlife conservation efforts for the recovery of

tigers and numbers recovered to 3,750 within two decades. But after that

step forward, it has been many steps back and the population has declined.

 

Lower tiger numbers underscore the precarious situation of tigers throughout

Asia, since India has always been the tiger's stronghold. The number of

tigers in captivity around the world now far exceeds the population in the

wild, and a recent study found that the area in the wild in which tigers are

able to roam is down by 40 per cent on what it was in the 1990s.

 

This gloomy picture calls for tiger conservation efforts to be urgently

re-evaluated, especially in light of the new demographic and economic

changes seen in Asia. Economic growth in the region has enabled a large

emerging middle class to afford expensive tiger parts and products and

sparked a resurgence of illegal trade in tiger parts, intensifying the

poaching pressure on tiger reserves in Asia.

 

The capacity of government institutions needs revamping to address the

emerging threats. The establishment of the Wildlife Crime Bureau in India is

encouraging, but regional co-operation such as ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement

Network is essential to curb the trans-border illegal trade.

 

Strong and lasting commitments from governments, NGOs, development agencies

and others are critical to save tiger lands. The tiger population in India

includes many small populations and tigers in small and isolated reserves

are always vulnerable. Habitats must be protected, embedded into the larger

landscape with very little or no human intervention, so a viable tiger

population can survive. Winning the support of people living in the

surrounding communities is critical and so conservation efforts need to

benefit local people - they need to see why they should save tigers.

 

There were about 100,000 tigers in Asia at the beginning of the last century

and if we are to prevent the last animals from dying out in this century

then we need nothing short of a miracle. But every miracle must start

somewhere, and it is these initial steps that India must now take.

 

*Mahendra Shrestha trained as a forester in India and is now the director of

Save The Tiger Fund, based in Washington DC*

 

**

 

 

 

--

Fight captive Jumbo abuse, end Elephant Polo

http://www.stopelephantpolo.com