(IN): NDTV What's causing our tigers to die?

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*What's causing our tigers to die?*

 

NDTV Correspondent

Saturday, March 8, 2008 (New Delhi)

In 1973, when the number of tigers in India was estimated to be just over

1,700, the whole world said that tigers were in grave danger.

 

The new report from the National Tiger Conservation Authority suggests that

in some tiger reserves such as Corbett, Kaziranga, Nagarahole, Kanha and

Tadoba, the tiger is safe. But outside such protected forests, tigers have

almost vanished.

 

The report says that today we may have less than 1,500 tigers left alive.

 

Almost every forest in India is under attack from agriculture, cattle

grazing and commercial projects including dams, four-lane highways, thermal

plants, cement factories and even nuclear reactors. Those in whose hands we

have left the tiger seem not to care about the cat.

 

*Habitat fragmentation*: Increased human and cattle population in our

country has led to pressure on forest resources which has ultimately caused

fragmentation and degradation of wildlife habitats. This, along with the

increase in wildlife population in Protected Aeras have resulted in wildlife

spilling over to other areas. This leaves them vulnerable to local

extinction. Protection must be stepped up and reserves must be connected to

one another so that tigers have larger populations and areas to hunt and

breed.

 

*Forest upgradation:* The Wildlife Crime Bureau must be made effective by

strengthening and staffing it with professionals. Strong anti-poaching units

must be deployed on the frontlines, which can work with trusted local

community members who could provide information and field strength.

 

*Preserving natural homes:* Unnatural zoos are not the best ways to protect

the tiger's natural habitat. Even the best zoo cannot even come close to the

tiger's natural home, the rich, wild forest. If we continue to destroy the

tiger's home and only keep specimens in the zoo behind bars, their numbers

are likely to dwindle further. Thirteen tigers dying in the one of the

best-managed zoos in the country, the Nandankanan zoo in Orissa came as a

shock to Indian authorities who started questioning whether it was really

necessary to have zoos at all.

 

Through the *Save Tiger initiative*, NDTV is seeking to collect one million

signatures to represent the voice of the masses. These signatures will be

presented to the Center and the State governments demanding them to take

stringent steps towards saving this endangered species.

 

Apart from nationwide public support, the campaign is also being backed by

celebrities, well-known environmentalists and NGOs.

 

Bollywood stars Aamir Khan, Hrithik Roshan, John Abraham, Kareena Kapoor,

Preity Zinta and Farhan Akhtar, Sporstsmen Rahul Dravid, Rajyavardhan

Rathore, environmentalists and conservationists like Bittu Sahgal, Editor,

Sanctuary Magazine and the Kids for Tiger Group have come out to support

this movement.

 

*So go ahead and sign on to make a difference!*

 

 

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