(IN): NDTV Sign on to save the tiger

[Guest guest]

Link:

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/Story.aspx? & id=NEWEN20080043487 & ch=3/9/2008\

%203:21:00%20PM

*

 

Sign on to save the tiger*

 

NDTV Correspondent

Sunday, March 9, 2008 (New Delhi)

It's March 9 today, the day all of India is rallying together to show its

will to save our national animal, the tiger.

 

In just a hundred years, tiger numbers have dwindled from 40,000 to less

than 1400 and in the next five years we can either save or lose our tigers

altogether.

 

NDTV supported by Sanctuary Asia and Kids for Tigers has been proud to carry

out a national campaign to save the world's largest feline predator, now on

the brink of extinction.

 

It's your chance to be part of this movement now. Look for the NDTV

signature centres in your city- and sign the petition to save the tiger.

 

We kicked off this signature campaign by putting up banners and notebooks at

various schools across the nation. The signature count has been overwhelming

and is increasing every minute. It's now at 4,13,000 and we need you to go

out and add your signature to our petition.

 

You can pledge to make a differance to the lives of these elegant predators

who are in the top five of all poached animals in the world.

 

The latest census revealed that there were just 1400 tigers left in India.

Here's what the government has done.

 

 

- A sum of Rs 1600 crore has been sanctioned for conservation in the

next five years. Of this, Rs 50 crore will be spent specifically on tigers.

 

- Soon after the census came out, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held

an emergency meeting of government officials where it decided that

henceforth the conservation of tigers in a state was the responsibility of

the chief minister.

 

But there's still a lot that needs to be done. Conservationists including

those with the Tiger Task Force have suggested.

 

 

- An elite, well-trained protection force and an intelligence network

to check poaching.

 

- Centre to take over and deal with all sanctuaries and parks under

Naxal control.

 

- No permission for big projects like mining and industries in tiger

habitats.

 

- Push for more convictions in poaching cases and a chief for the

Wildlife Crime Bureau, currently without a head.

 

Make your voice heard and sign on to save the tiger. It's not too late to

save our national animal from extinction.

 

 

--

United against elephant polo

http://www.stopelephantpolo.com