Save Our Tigers

Tigers Reserves in India ( Map )

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 22:02:00 +0530

From around 40,000 at the turn of the last century, there are just 1411 tigers left in India. What started as a Royal Sport during the olden times is now a target of Poaching and Depleting Habitat. Our National Animal is fighting for its life!

The rich biodiversity and natural capital of India can be witnessed in the Tiger Sanctuaries. Knowledge of these sanctuaries helps build awareness for the cause.

Tiger Facts

From around 40,000 tigers at the turn of the last century, there are just 1411 tigers left in India.
2009 was the worst year for tigers in India, with 86 deaths reported.
There are 37 Tiger sanctuaries in India. However, 17 sanctuaries are on the verge of losing their tiger population.
Corbett National Park is the oldest tiger park in India. It was created in 1936 as ‘Hailey National Park’.
The Kanha National Park’s lush sal and bamboo forests, grassy meadows and ravines provided inspiration to Rudyard Kipling for his famous novel, The Jungle Book.

To know more about our tigers, visit:

WWF India

Project Tiger (Govt. Of India)

High-Tech Tiger Tool

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 11:05:00 +0530

Tiger conservation is continuing to go high-tech. A new software program allows researchers to quickly identify an individual tiger from its unique stripe pattern. The software may also help locate the origin of tigers from confiscated skins.

The program was developed by Conservation Research Ltd. with assistance from WCS. WCS provided funding in collaboration with the big cat conservation organization Panthera.

The new software works similarly to fingerprint-matching software used by criminologists. It creates a 3D model from tiger photos taken by remote camera traps. Scientists scan the photos into the computer program, which can be downloaded for free at http://www.conservationresearch.co.uk.

Researchers from WCS-India and their partners at Conservation Research Ltd. and the Gatty Marine Laboratory’s Sea Mammal Research Unit tested the software and found it was up to 95 percent accurate in matching tigers from scanned photos. They also scanned in photos of confiscated tiger skins and were able to discover the pelts’ origins.

Currently, researchers calculate tiger populations by painstakingly reviewing hundreds of photos of animals caught by camera “traps” and then matching their individual stripe patterns. Using a formula developed by renowned WCS tiger expert Dr. K. Ullas Karanth, they can accurately estimate population sizes based on the number of times individual tigers are photographed.

“This new software will make it much easier for conservationists to identify individual tigers and estimate populations,” said Dr. Karanth, one of the program’s reviewers. “The fundamentals of tiger conservation are knowing how many tigers live in a study area before you can start to measure success.”

Facilities for obtaining the images used to construct the three-dimensional surface model were provided by Thrigby Hall Zoo in Norfolk, England. The Centre for Wildlife Studies in Bangalore and WCS-India provided images, local resources, and staff time for this study, which was supported in part by a grant from the Liz Claiborne/Art Ortenberg Foundation.

Tiger Reserves in India

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 19:42:00 +0530

Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve

Best Time to Visit: October to June

Earlier the hunting preserve of the Maharajas of Jaipur, the Park at Ranthambore was once the scene of royal hunting parties. Today, it is famous for its tigers and is one of the best places in the country to see these majestic predators in the wild.

Tigers can be spotted quit often even during the day, at their normal pursuits - hunting and taking care of their young. With the strict measures that have been taken for their accustomed to human activity and are not disturbed by it. A good time to visit is between November and April when the nature of the dry deciduous forests makes sightings common.

Ranthambore has large numbers of sambar, chital and nilgai. Sounders of boar and an occasional gazelle - the chinkara can be seen, as also the Indian hare, mongoose and monitor lizards.

The lakes and pools at the Park are where the deer congregate and where it is easiest to see the animals. Among the other local fauna are the leopard, hyena, jackal, jungle cats, sloth bear and marsh crocodile. Jacanas. painted stok and white necked stork are seen along the water bodies. Peafowl are found in abundance and other birds include Bonelli's eagle, Crested serpent eagle, the great Indian horned owl, quail, partridge, spur fowl and the paradise flycatcher.

The Park which covers an area of 392 sq. km. is set between the Aravalli and Vindhya ranges. Its deciduous forests were once a part of the magnificent jungles of Central India.

The terrain is rugged and there are rocky ridges, hills and open verfteys with lakes and pools. Ranthambore's royal past manifests itself in the picturesque ruins that dot the Park.

There are lake palaces, chhatris, old fortifications and a majestic thousand year old fort. On a height overlooking the Park. The forest rest house at the foot of the Ranthambore fort is located in the lovely Jogi Mahal. It overlooks a tank - the pretty Padam Talao, afloat with water lilies.

Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve

Best Time to Visit: October to June

Bandhavgarh an ancient stronghold of many kings, a land with history dating back to roughly 4000 years ago. This area had many dynasties ruling over it and finds mention in the Ramayan. This park once the private game reserve of the ruling family of Rewa also holds the distinction of being the home of the last White Tiger in the wild. The park is dotted with many caves with ancient rock paintings and carvings. The majestic Bandhavgarh Fort dominates center of the park with its own history dating back thousands of years. Various temples with statues depicting incarnations of Lord Vishnu dot the fort.

Bandhavgarh has an undulating landscape with around 32 hills some with flat plateaus and overhanging cliffs. Some perennial streams and rivulets crisscross this park creating fertile vegetation on the riverbanks. The area's combination of hills, rivers and valleys, meadows and marshes has created a unique biodiversity evident in the varied luxuriant vegetation. Bandhavgarh's forests are generally of the moist deciduous forest type. The sheltered valleys are covered with moist evergreen Sal forests, while the drier slopes and plains are covered in mixed forest. Dense tracts of bamboo are scattered throughout the valleys. The Chakradhara and Rajbehra meadows are two major meadows of this park.

The chances of seeing a Tiger in Bandhavgarh is greater than in any of India's other forests. In summer's Tiger can quite often be seen at couple of major waterholes in the park like Chakradhara, Gopalpur, Jurmani and Barwanala.Other important cats in Bandhavgarh are Leopard and the jungle cat. As many as 37 species have been listed for this park including 3 types of antelopes - Blue Bull, Chinkara and the Chausingha. Deer species like Chital, Sambar, Barking Deer, 4 species of bats, 2 types of squirrels, Indian Pangolin, Indian Porcupine, Palm Civet , Rare Indian Wolf, Indian Wild Dog, Ruddy and Common Mongoose, Honey Badger, Jackal, Wild Boar, Indian Hare, Common Langur and Rhesus Macaque.

The park also has over 70 species of butterflies and around 255 species of birds. It provides ideal habitat for various species of Stork ( White-necked & lesser Adjutant), Hornbill (Malabar Pied & Common Grey), herons, cranes and birds of prey like Crested Hawk, Crested Serpant Eagle, Honey Buzzard, Shikra, Lesser Kestrel. In winter Bandhavgarh attracts large number of migratory birds such as Nakta, Lesser Whistling Teal and Ruddy Shelduck. One can also see smaller birds like Gery Tit, Baya Weaver bird, Spotted Munia, the Green and Bearded Bee-eater, flycatchers and three species of parakeet- Alexandrine, Plum Headed and Rosering.

Sariska Tiger Reserve

Best Time to Visit: October to June

Steep cliffs and narrow valleys of the Aravallis dominate the landscape of Sariska, whose forests are dry and deciduous. Within the Sariska wildlife sanctuary there are the ruins of medieval temples of Garh-Rajor, belonging to the 10th and 11th centuries. This adds to the beauty of the jungle by giving it the historic touch. A 17th century castle on a sharp hilltop at Kankwari, gives a nostalgic view of the times gone by. The area was declared a sanctuary in 1955 and became a National Park in 1979.

The Sariska Park is home to numerous carnivores and omnivores including Leopard, Wild Dog, Jungle Cat, Hyena, Jackal. These prey on the species of the small kind like the Sambar, Chital, Nilgai, Chausingha, Wild Boar and Langur. Sariska is also very well known for its large population of Rhesus Monkeys, which are found in large numbers around Talvriksh.The park has a rich population of migratory birds that are a treat to the eyes of the bird watchers and lovers. Birding in Sariska is always a pleasant experience as the chances of spotting these beautiful little creatures is quite frequent.

Sariska is very different from the other wildlife sanctuaries in the country. It gives its esteemed visitors a reason to love the locations.

It just doesn’t house the vast stretch of and with the living species ,but also has a historic ambience attached to it. It represents all cultures and traditions of the country. Among the historic landmarks located within the Sariska national park, includes the Kankwari. For, where, Emperor Aurangzeb once imprisoned his brother, Dara Shikoh.

Within the area of the Sariska tiger sanctuary, Neelkanth temples that date back to the 6th-13th century AD now in ruins, afford a wonderful sight to the visitors. Sariska was known as the royal reserve of the rulers of Alwar. This palace built by the Maharajas of Alwar, has now been converted
into a hotel.

Best Time to Visit Sariska Tiger Reserve is throughout the year; still the best period is during the months of October to June.

Corbett Tiger Reserve

Best Time to Visit: November to May

Nestling in the foothills of the Himalayas, the Corbett National Park extends over an area of 520.82sq.km. Varied topography and vegetation gives Corbett a rich diversity in habitats and natural beauty. Flat valleys are interspersed with hilly ridges and the Park's rolling grasslands known as the Chaurs provide visitors with an excellent view of its inhabitants.

The magnificent Ramganga River flows through the entire length of the Park and little forest streams tumble through the ravines. While dense stands of sal cloak the higher ridges, mixed deciduous forests are found throughout the Park and over 110 varieties of trees, 51 species of shrubs and over 33 kinds of bamboos and grasses are seen here.

Corbett has the highest density of tiger in the Country - approximately one every 5 sq.km. and it was here that the prestigious "Project Tiger" was launched in 1973. Four of deer - hog deer, samber, chital and barking deer and other prey like the wild boar, support the predator.

Besides the tiger, Corbett is a haven for 50 mammals, 580 kinds of birds and 25 reptile species. The Park has elephants, the Himalayan black bear in the higher elevations, sloth bear, varieties of lesser cats, dhole -the wild dog and an entire spectrum of colourful birds including water birds, pheasants, jungle fowl and the Indian hornbill.

Basking along the banks of the Ramganga are the slender snouted gharial and the mugger or marsh crocodile. The river is rich in the magnificent mahaseer - a fine sporting fish prized by anglers, though angling is not permitted inside the National Park. Excellent facilities for staying and viewing wildlife make Corbett one of the finest reserves in India.

Tiger Reserve in Pench

Pench National Park, nestling in the lower southern reaches of the Satpura hills is named after Pench river which flows from north to south through the Pench National Park. It is located on the southern boundary of Madhya Pradesh. Recently in 1992, Pench has been included under the umbrella of "Project Tiger" as the 19th Project Tiger Reserve.

A total of 758 Sq. kms of this Southern Indian tropical moist deciduous forest has its extent mingling with the tropical dry deciduous teak. The area is crisscrossed by a number of streams and 'nallahs' most of which are seasonal. Though the Pench River dries up in April end, a number of water pools locally known as 'dohs' are found which serve as water holes for the wild animals. However, the water sources are not suitably distributed, hence large area is left unutilized by the wild animals. The Pench Reservoir at the center of the park is the only major water source during the pinch period.

As a prey concentration is high along the Pench River, tiger usually inhabits this belt. Leopard though generally operates in the peripheral areas but are occasionally seen in the deep forest also. Jungle cats are commonly seen. Leopard cats, small Indian civets and palm civets are common but seen rarely.

Cheetal, Sambar, nilgai are commonly seen grazing on the open sites on roadsides and banks of river & reservoir. Jackals can be seen in search of food anywhere in the Park. Packs up to 15 of wild dog can be seen near Chhedia, Jamtara, Bodanala and Pyorthadi areas of the Reserve. Herds of gaur can be spotted near streams and bamboo patches commonly in summer months. Sloth beer occupy hilly, rocky out crops and favour mahul bel infested forest. Chnkara is present in very small numbers and is found in open areas around Turia, Telia and Dudhgaon villages.

Langoors are very common whereas the Rhesus monkeys may be seen occasionally on the fringes. Pench boasts of, more than 210 species of birds that include several migratory ones also. Commonly seen are Peafowl, Red jungle fowl, Crow pheasant, Crimson breasted barbet, Redvented bulbul, Racket tailed drongo, Magpie robin and lesser whistling teal.

Location:
The Park is situated in the Seoni District of Southern Madhya Pradesh and runs in continuation with Pench National Park in Maharashtra. It is situated 82 Kms. (2 hours of drive) and is well connected by an all weather metalloid road network to other important places in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The nearest railhead of Nagpur- Jabalpur (192 Kms.) serves as a comfortable air and railhead.

Flora:
It is blessed with forests spread in all the direction. As per the physiognomy, the forest type is southern tropical dry deciduous teak and southern tropical mixed deciduous forest with other species of shrubs, trees and climbers. Teak and its associates moyan, mahua, mokha, skiras, tendu, bija, achar, garari, aonla, ghont, baranga, amaltas, kihamali, khair, palas. Bamboo occurs sparsely, restricted to some valley.

Fauna:
The Pench National Park is very rich in fauna and a number of endangered species have made it their habitat. There are 25 tigers under this umbrella of the Park. 39 species of mammals, 13 species of reptiles, 3 species of amphibians and over 170 varieties of birds have already been listed.

Apart from mammals and other land-based wildlife, the park is also rich in bird life. According to an estimation of the wildlife authorities, the bird population in the park counts to be over 210 species like barbets, bulbul, minivets orioles, wagtails, munias, mynas, waterfowls and blue kingfishers.

Estimation of Animal Population

Seasons October to January- Cold 16* to 3* C
February to March- Cool 16* C to 26* C
April to June- 26 * to 42* C
Park Timings
The Pench National Park is open to the visitors from November 01st to June 30th each year and closed during the rainy seasons (July- Sept.).

Kanha Tiger Reserve

KANHA is the place that has been described by RUDYARD KIPLING in his great book "The Jungle Book". Located in the Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh, Kanha National Park is a tiger reserve that extends over an area of over 940 square km. A horseshoe shaped valley bounded by the spurs of the Mekal presents an interesting topography. Steep rocky escarpments along the edges offer breathtaking views of the valley. Realizing the danger on the Tiger population in the country, the Government started the "Project Tiger" at Kanha and in 1974 the area was declared a Tiger reserve. The park is also the habitat of the high ground Barasingha.

In 1930s, the Kanha area was divided into two sanctuaries - Hallon and Banjar of 250kms to 300kms each. Though one of these was subsequently disbanded .The area remained a protected one until 1947. Depletion of the tiger population in the year that followed led to the area being made an absolute sanctuary in 1952.

Patient watching should reward the visitor, with a sight of Indian Fox, Sloth bear, striped hyena, Jungle cut, Leopard, Mouse Deer, Chausingha or four horned antelope, Nilgai, Ratel and Porcupine. Kanha has some 200 species of birds. Watchers should station themselves in the hills, where the mixed and bamboo forests harbor many species and in the grassy forest clearings. Water birds can be seen near the park's many rivulets and at Sarvantal, a pool that is frequented by water birds and the area in front of the museum.

Frequently Asked Questions - Tiger

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 2 Feb 2010 23:11:00 +0530

Where are tigers found in the wild?

In the wild, tigers are found in India, Nepal, China, Russia, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand and Sumatra. Eight sub-species of tiger existed in the past out of which three have been extinct for many years. The five surviving sub species of tiger are the Indian Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) found in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar; Siberian or Amur Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) found in far east Russia ; Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) found in Indonesian island of Sumatra; South China Tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis) found in China and Indo-Chinese tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti) mainly found in Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia but are also found in Myanmar, Southern China, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. The population found in Peninsular Malaysia has been given a status of separate sub species Panthera tigris.jacksoni.

In the last century, three sub species of tigers have already become extinct: Bali Tiger (Panthera tigris balica) that was found in Indonesian island of Bali, Javan Tiger (Panthera tigris sondaicus) that was found in Indonesian island of Java and Caspian Tiger (Panthera tigris virgata) that was found in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Turkey, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Caucasus, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Recent reports indicate that South China tiger is also extinct in the wild.

What is an Indian tiger?

The Indian tiger has an orange coat patterned with broad black stripes. It has black ears, each with a winking white spot on the back, powerful forepaws, and a long banded tail. The total length of the tiger from the tip of its nose to the end of its tail is between 2.6 to 3 meters and it weighs anywhere between 135-230 kgs. The average life span of a tiger in the wild is about 14 to 16 years. The diet of an Indian tiger mainly consists of large wild ungulates such as chital (Axis axis), sambar (Cervus unicolor), barasingha (Cervus duvacelii), nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) and gaur (Bos gaurus) and other animals such as the wild pig (Sus scrofa) and Nilgiri tahr (Hemitragus hylocrius). It is an opportunistic feeder and can also kill large prey such as elephant calves (Elephas maximus), gaur (Bos gaurus) and wild buffalo (Bubalus arnee) as well as smaller prey such as peafowl, jungle fowl and hare.

Due to their large body size tigers are not good tree climbers like leopards. They can only climb along large leaning trees. But tigers are excellent swimmers and love water.

Where do you find tigers in India?

Tigers are found in a variety of habitats, including tropical and sub tropical forests, evergreen forests, mangrove swamps and grasslands. In India, tigers are found all across the country in 19 states. For the better management of tiger habitats, forests have been demarcated as Tiger reserves, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries. There are 29 Tiger Reserves in our country today. For more details about the tiger reserves visit www.projecttiger.nic.in

What are white tigers?

White tigers are not a separate sub-species, but are white in color due to an expression of recessive genes. Interestingly, the white tigers are found only among the Indian tigers and can only be seen only in captivity now. The last white tiger reported in the wild was captured in the forests of Rewa in the state of Madhya Pradesh. The white tigers found in the zoos today are most likely descendants of this one tiger that was caught from the wild in Madhya Pradesh and later bred in captivity. White tigers have pink noses, white-to-cream coloured fur, and black, grey or chocolate-coloured stripes. Their eyes are usually blue, but may be green or amber

Are all tigers man-eaters?

Tigers, like all other wild animals, tend to avoid people, but can attack in defense if they are taken by surprise or if they are with their young ones. Such incidences may sometimes lead to humans being mauled or killed by chance. Occasionally, an aged, sick or injured tiger that is unable to hunt its natural prey may also kill a human being and feed on the body. A few of such tigers may resort to killing human beings intermittently since man is an easy prey. But not all aged, sick or injured tigers become man-eaters.

A healthy cub may also acquire man-eating skills from his/her mother. It is very difficult to state the exact reasons why a tiger turns man-eaters but the good thing is that such cases are extremely rare.

What is the significance of tigers in India?

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.

Is tiger endangered?

Yes, tigers in the wild are facing severe threats. There has been steep decline in the tiger population all across the world. At the beginning of the last century, it is believed that worldwide, there were about a 100,000 tigers in the wild with about 40,000 in India. This has declined to a few thousands today.

The decline in the tiger population in India can be attributed to many factors. The major reason is the growth in human population. Soon after independence large chunks of prime tiger habitats were lost to agriculture and developmental activities. In India, till the middle of the last century people killed tigers in the name of sport. Tiger hunting was officially banned only after the enactment of the Wildlife (Protection) Act in 1972. Today increasing biotic disturbances, uncontrolled poaching of prey, urbanization, mining and quarrying; and poaching of tiger for its body parts gravely threaten the future of the tiger. Bones and other body parts of the tigers are used in Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM) and their skins are used for making Chubas( the traditional robe worn by the Tibetans). It is this illegal market for tiger skins and parts in China and Tibet that remains as one of the most serious threat to wild tiger populations in India.

What are the Indian and international laws that protect tigers?

Indian Tiger is an endangered animal and is listed in the Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. This act gives it protection against hunting/poaching and trade for skins, bones and body parts. Any person who commits such an offence is punishable with an imprisonment of not less than three years extending up to seven years along with a fine of not less than fifty thousand rupees which may extend up to two lakh rupees. In the event of a second or subsequent conviction he can receive imprisonment for a term of not less than seven years and a fine which shall be not less than five lakh rupees and can vary up to a maximum of fifty lakh rupees

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) presently ratified by over 160 countries, makes international trade in tiger parts illegal. India has been a signatory of this convention since the year 1975.

Who are the major stakeholders in tiger conservation in India today?

The major stakeholders in tiger conservation in India are Government of India (Ministry of Environment and Forest), State Forest Departments, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (formerly known as the Project Tiger) and local communities. Tourism Departments, media and NGOs such as WWF-India and several other organizations also support tiger conservation initiatives.

The process of estimating the number of tigers in a given area is called ‘Tiger census’. It is conducted from time to time to know the current tiger populations. Besides collecting data on tiger numbers the method also helps to gather information on sex, age and the density of the tiger populations.

What is tiger census?

What are the methods to estimate tiger populations?

Many different methods are used to estimate the number of tigers. The most commonly used technique in the past was ‘Pugmark Census Technique’. In this method the imprints of the pugmark of the tiger were recorded and used as a basis for identification of individuals. Now it is largely used as one of the indices of tiger occurrence and relative abundance. Other methods used to count the number of tigers are: the camera trapping in which the photograph of the tiger is taken and individuals are differentiated on the basis of the stripes on the body and DNA fingerprinting that is the latest technique in which tigers are identified from their scats. The latter two techniques, although expensive, are slowly gaining ground. The latest tiger population estimation was conducted during the year 2005-06, the results of which are awaited.

What is the nature of Human-Wildlife conflict in India?

For centuries humans and wild animals have co-existed in India. This is mainly because the human populations were much lower and the forest areas were large. However, over the past few decades, the human population has grown by manifolds thereby creating great pressure on forest resources. Large areas on which the forests were vast and undisturbed have given way to human habitations and settlements. Grazing by domestic cattle in forest areas has resulted in disease out-breaks among wild herbivores, and also reduced availability of fodder forcing the wild herbivores to crop depredation in areas adjacent to forests. In retaliation villagers sometimes resort to stealing power from power lines and setting up live electric fence to kill crop raiders. Due to lack of sufficient wild prey base, carnivores such as tigers, leopards and dholes (wild dog) take to killing of domestic cattle for survival. Villagers may again retaliate by poisoning these wild animals. Illegal activities such as stealing of animals killed by tigers lead to injury and death of human beings. Due to lack of prey in the forests leopards frequent villages looking for food and in the process humans, particularly children and women get killed.

Does tiger farming increase tiger populations in the wild?

No, captive breeding of tiger or tiger farming does not help to increase tiger populations in the wild. If this was true then those countries indulging in tiger farming would boast a healthy population of tigers in the wild and this hasn’t happened so far.

Tigers in the wild breed very well provided they have a good habitat and adequate protection. Problems related to habitat, prey base and protection can not be solved by captive breeding. Furthermore rehabilitation of a captive bred tiger in the wild has been unsuccessful. This is because tigers in the wild learn hunting by a process of close association with the mother, a situation which cannot be replicated in captivity. Therefore tiger farming is only a way to breed tigers for their skin and derivatives to meet market demands and cannot be seen as a conservation tool.

Moreover, if the trade in tiger body part is legalized in the name of tiger farming, eventually the tigers in the wild would be poached. Body part of wild tigers would always be preferred much more than that of farm-bred tigers. It will also be far more profitable to poach a tiger in the wild than to raise it in a farm which would cost about US$ 1500/year. The concept of farming the tigers for commercial trade should be abandoned for ever. Human ailments can be treated and cured with drugs other than the medicines prepared with tiger body parts.

Where do we stand in Tiger Conservation today?

India was the first country in the world to champion the cause of conservation of the tiger and its natural habitats. Project Tiger, launched in 1973, was one of the largest conservation initiatives of its kind globally. After a great success initially, it has had mixed results. Focus has been sharpened on tiger conservation issues across the country and many prime tiger habitats were designated as Tiger Reserves. Conservation initiatives in many areas have led to successful amelioration of habitats and a healthy tiger population while in other areas; the results have not been so effective. Threats to tiger conservation such as destruction and fragmentation of habitats, human-tiger conflict and poaching continue to remain.

What does the future hold for Indian tigers?

Tiger conservation continues to face increasing challenges on the ground. However, it is still not too late. Through scientific, planned management interventions such as restoration of habitat and prey base, curbing human-tiger conflict and illegal wildlife trade, we can help conserve viable tiger populations in the wild.

How does WWF-India contribute to Tiger Conservation?

To protect the tiger and to ensure its survival in the wild, WWF-India supports tiger conservation initiatives undertaken by the Government of India. The activities undertaken include strengthening protection measures in National Parks, Sanctuaries and Tiger Reserves, helping local communities to reduce their dependence on forest resources, mitigating human-wildlife conflict, providing a scientific database that will serve as a basis for sound management of tiger habitats, and capacity building for conservation of the species.

TRAFFIC-India, a collaboration of WWF and IUCN, has restarted operations to curb illegal trade in wildlife that is drastically affecting the wildlife populations in India.

Can you help?

Yes, you can help save the tiger. Say ‘NO’ to tiger trade by refusing to buy tiger parts and items prepared from tiger derivatives. Speak to tiger and wild ungulate poachers and persuade them to give up poaching. You can also contribute by spreading awareness about tiger conservation issues and threats and also by supporting NGOs that work towards the same. Most importantly you must support green development initiatives to help restore the forest cover and reduce biotic pressures. To know more about how you can support WWF-India in their tiger conservation initiatives please visit www.wwfindia.org.

India’s Tigers at Risk- Estimation Confirms

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 2 Feb 2010 23:09:00 +0530

The long-awaited India's Tiger Census, released yesterday by the government of India, shows the country more at risk of losing its national symbol to poaching and habitat loss, WWF-India said yesterday. WWF commended the Indian government for its scientific integrity, and for sharing with the world the harsh truth of the crisis facing the tiger.

The census, conducted in 2006/ 2007 estimates an Indian tiger population of between 1165 and 1657 tigers. But it can be safely assumed that the current estimation is more accurate than the ones undertaken earlier, which showed inflated tiger numbers than what actually existed on the ground.

WWF complimented the Indian government’s National Tiger Conservation Authority for its decision to undertake a scientific assessment of tiger population through an independent research agency, the Wildlife Institute of India which has resulted in producing the most reliable picture yet of the state of the Indian tiger. This is the most complete census ever undertaken of tigers in India, or indeed of wild tigers anywhere else in the world.

“These estimates are distressingly low, but at least we now have better habitat and population data than ever before and we can intervene more strategically and more effectively to help ensure that tiger populations recover, and that India can maintain its national symbol.” said Sujoy Banerjee, Director, Species Conservation, WWF-India.

"It is also amply clear that the tiger numbers are at the threshold, and if the numbers go down any further, then recovery may not be possible at all. The time has come for the government and all other institutions and agencies to show serious commitment to tiger conservation if at all we wish to see tiger in the wild in India in the future" he added.

Tigers are threatened by a combination of poaching, habitat loss from development, the loss of corridors between areas and retaliatory killing of tigers for preying on cattle or attacking humans. The existence of international markets for illegal tiger parts in spite of the fact that the countries where majority of illegal trade in wildlife takes place are signatories to CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is indeed a matter of grave concern.

“However, we are glad that the areas where WWF is deeply involved in tiger conservation are among the areas identified as having the best prospects for tigers.”

In India, WWF is working in three landscapes with focus on tiger conservation which are encompassing the foothills of the Himalayas in neighbouring Nepal, the central part of India and the Sunderbans adjoining Bangladesh. The areas identified as having high probability of long term persistence by themselves such as Corbett, Kanha, and Sunderbans are located in the landscapes in which WWF has its activities.

WWF is working at the grassroots level in these landscapes by supporting the forest department for better protection of tigers, providing habitat management initiatives for better management of prey populations, curbing poaching by developing informer networks, building capacities of staff and equipping them to execute their duties more efficiently in the field, and reducing the human-tiger conflict to nullify chances of retaliatory killings of tiger or its prey. Above all, WWF is working very closely with local communities to reduce their pressures on the forest resources on one hand, while providing them with better livelihood opportunities to help them become “partners in conservation” .

“It is of great concern that some reserves appear to have lost their tigers, pointing to a clear need to upgrade and maintain the general level of protection offered in reserves, but apart from this, the matter of real concern is the tigers outside the Tiger Reserves, National Parks and Sanctuaries. If attention is not paid to their conservation we will lose them altogether” said Banerjee. “The continued threat from poaching and illegal trade in tiger parts must be met with enhanced enforcement efforts.”

WWF-India welcomed the government initiatives, also announced to increase financial assistance for tiger conservation, both within and outside protected areas. It also applauded this month’s establishment of the eight nation South Asia Wildlife Trade Initiative (SAWTI) as the beginning of an effective co-operation on organized criminal networks engaged in wildlife trafficking. WWF hopes that the newly formed Wildlife Crime Control Bureau will also start showing results which will of immense value for tiger conservation in India.

How can we save the tiger

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 2 Feb 2010 23:05:00 +0530

What WWF-India is doing to save the tiger?

At the turn of the 20th century, according to sources, India had an estimated 40,000 tigers in the wild. In 2002, based on pug mark census, this number was 3,642. As per the monitoring exercise by Wildlife Institute of India in association with National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Government of India using camera traps, in 2008 we were left with only 1,411 tigers. This number is so small that they will be gone soon if we don’t wake up to the crisis.

WWF-India aims for a strategic and focused approach in its tiger conservation efforts. Our goal is to restore, maintain and protect tigers as well as their habitat and prey base in important tiger landscapes in India.

The objectives are to:

Protect, restore corridors to ensure connectivity between tiger habitats while ensuring that human-tiger conflicts are reduced.
Reduce pressures on the tiger habitats by promoting alternative livelihoods for local communities in and around tiger habitats.
Create incentives for local communities as well as state and regional government and opinion-makers to support tiger conservation.
Enhance capacities of the Forest Department to control poaching of tigers and prey species.
Provide policy inputs at state and central levels to ensure effective measures for conservation of tigers and their habitats.
Promote the political will as well as popular support within all sectors of society for tiger conservation.

What you can do to save the tiger?

The tiger is not just a charismatic species. It’s not just a wild animal living in some forest either. 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 and keeps the population of wild ungulates in check, thereby maintaining the balance between prey herbivores and the vegetation upon which they feed. 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, and neither would it exist for long thereafter.

If the tigers go extinct, the entire system would collapse. For e.g. when the Dodos went extinct in Mauritius, one species of Acacia tree stopped regenerating completely. So when a species goes extinct, it leaves behind a scar, which affects the entire ecosystem. Another reason why we need to save the tiger is that our forests are water catchment areas.

When we protect one tiger, we protect about a 100 sq. km of area and thus save other species living in its habitat. Therefore, it’s not just about saving a beautiful animal. It is about making sure that we live a little longer as the forests are known to provide ecological services like clean air, water, pollination, temperature regulation etc. This way, our planet can still be home to our children.

Spread the word: Go out loud and tell others that tigers are dying and that they need our help. You can form forums (or join existing ones) on the web for discussions and exchange views on tiger conservation. Reach school going children. WWF can help you in this regard.

Be a responsible tourist: The wilderness is to be experienced and not to be disturbed and polluted. Follow the forest department guidelines when visiting any wilderness area, tiger reserve in particular. As the saying goes ‘Don’t leave thing anything behind except foot steps, and don’t take anything except memories.’

Write to the policy makers: If you are really concerned and feel that more needs to be done for tiger conservation, then write polite letters to the decision makers - the Prime Minister, the Minister for Environment and Forests or even your local MP.

Informing the nearest police station: If you know of any information on poaching or trade of illegal wildlife. You can also contact TRAFFIC- an organisation fighting the powerful poachers and pass on the information to them.

Reducing pressure on natural resources: By reducing the use of products derived from forests, such as timber and paper.

Countdown to Extinction

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 1 Feb 2010 22:06:00 +0530

In the 1970's we came dangerously close to losing forever one of the world most magnificent creatures. Poaching, deforestation, and human expansion brought all species of tiger to the brink of extinction. Indeed, over the past century, 3 of the 8 sub-species that existed became extinct; the Caspian, Javan and Balinese tigers. Today, we are by no means out of the woods. All remaining sub-species of tiger are endangered, making the tiger species as a whole nearly extinct.

As Figure 1 shows, the tiger population dropped over the past 100 years by a factor of 25 - from an estimated 100,000 in 1900 to only 4000 in the 1970's. A concerted effort by wildlife protection groups in the 1970's halted their rapid demise and the global population of tigers in the wild has grown modestly to around 6000 at the turn of the century(1). Poaching continues to this day,
Figure. 1 however. When a Russian poacher can make as much from a single tiger kill as he would normally earn in 6 years, it will take more than words to halt this tragedy(2).

Figure 2 shows how the range of tigers has changed over the past 100 years. Once ranging all throughout India, southeast Asia, central Asia, and eastern China, only small pockets of natural habitat remain(3).

Figure 2

Tigers & the Satpura Forest

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 1 Feb 2010 20:21:00 +0530

Save the Tiger

The Choice

About the TATR Community Conservation Project

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 1 Feb 2010 20:16:00 +0530

There are 53 villages on the fringe of the reserve with 60% landless families & no means of livelihood. The project involves establishing a field station at Moharli in TATR and keeping field staff working on employment and other essential works to reduce the biotic pressure of communities on the forest & Tigers.

Your donation will fund a team of 3 conservationists for a year to work towards understanding the problems faced by the tribals in the villages in the area and designing viable & sustainable solutions beneficial to the villagers and the forests.

Project Costs:
Salaries for 1 Conservation Officer & 2 Staff (1 Year) = Rs. 1,56,000
Travel & Office Expenses (1 Year) = Rs. 1,20,000
Total = Rs. 2,76,000

Benefits:
1) A key aspect of the project will be to gather community support and indigenous knowledge for framing and later implementing biodiversity conservation programmes in the Reserve.
2) Man-tiger conflict will fall, and incidences of poisoned waterholes and kills will reduce in frequency. The project will help in strengthening protection to the entire tiger belt, ensuring the genetic viability of this region’s tiger population. In the absence of such proactive measures, it is unlikely that the project area will survive in the long run.
3) Employment opportunities from the district administration will improve, with villagers paid to protect their own source of survival, the forest which provides them food, shelter, water and fodder.

About Satpuda:
Satpuda Foundation is a grassroot NGO works towards the protection of the Satpura landscape which is spread in Central India across two states i.e. Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. It is supported by Born Free & Wildlife Conservation Trust, India. Satpuda is a registered NGO & is headed by Kishore Rithe. Kishore gave up his job to work for wildlife conservation. In view of his contribution, he has been appointed Honorary Wildlife Warden for Amravati and to the Maharashtra Wildlife Advisory Board. He has also been awarded Marathwada Friends of Birds Award in1997, Tiger Link Award in1997, Ashoka Fellowship in 2000 & Conde Nast Traveller's Environmental Award in 2003.
Read his interview here - http://www.satpuda.org/Kishor%20Rithe.doc

Help Save the Tiger! URGENT!!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 1 Feb 2010 20:13:00 +0530

Tigers are on the threshold of extinction. According to WWF, Tigers are amongst the ten most endangered species in the world. Over the last century more than 95% of the Tiger population has been wiped out & three sub-species are already extinct. Less than 3500 tigers remain in the wild today with around 50% in India & their numbers are declining fast.

Initial results from the Wildlife Institute of India Tiger census (released on 24 May 2007) are warning that India has far fewer tigers living than had been previously thought. Complete stories on BBC & Discovery Channel. The next five years are going to be extremely critical if we are to save India's Tigers & forests. This is a small attempt to mobilise people like you & me to connect with conservationists out there with plenty of energy but very little money (Click here for more details on the Tiger situation & the Satpura Forests - the largest tiger habitat in the world).

I am selling prints of two tiger cartoons & doing custom caricatures to help raise money for a Community Conservation Project in Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in Maharashtra.

The conservation project involves setting-up a field station in Moharli, with three conservationists for a year. They will work towards improving the living conditions of the tribals who live in extreme poverty & reducing biotic pressure on the forest. The project will thereby help protect one of the largest Tiger habitats in the world. It will be executed by Satpuda Foundation (http://www.satpuda.org/), a registered grass-root NGO & will cost 2.76 lakh rupees (Click here to learn more about the project).

Every single paisa raised will go to the charity. All transactions will be transparent & available on this blog below. If at any time you are not satisfied - I will refund you all your money & you can keep the cartoons.

HOW CAN YOU HELP THE TIGER?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 1 Feb 2010 20:12:00 +0530

Kids CAN help tigers! We have a list of suggestions to help you get involved!

Start a Tiger Club in your school.

Visit Tiger Reserves with your family to know more about tiger conservation.

Write a letter. Start a letter writing campaign to help protect tigers.

Learn all you can about tigers, and teach others about the threats to tigers. Teaching people about the dangers tigers face is an important part of bringing about change.

Raise money and make a donation to a tiger conservation organization.

Kids can teach people about the plight of tigers and raise money to help support tiger conservation. Let's look at the following example:

A "kids for tigers" campaign in India has got support of one million children & has entered the Limca Book of Records in November 2000. If you and your friends and classmates get involved in tiger conservation, let us know what your doing - we'd love to hear from you!

WHY IS THE TIGER SAD?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 1 Feb 2010 20:09:00 +0530

TIGERS are sad because people have killed many of their friends & relatives. Tigers are now an endangered species; Today there are only about 5,000 to 7,400 tigers left in the world. These tigers would soon die if people do not stop hunting them. It is estimated that 100 years ago, there were 50,000 to 80,000 tigers in India alone. Three types of tigers, The Bali, Javan, and Caspian tigers have become extinct (not even one of them is left in this world.) in the past 70 years.

There are two reasons why tigers are endangered:

1) Habitat loss:

People cut forests where tigers live, to do farming, build houses & buildings. This leads to tiger becoming homeless and foodless. Animals which the tiger eats also die when forests are cut. This leads to tigers becoming weak and ultimately they die.

2) Illegal Killing:

Tigers are killed to make rugs and coats out of their skins, and also because in many Asian cultures medicines made from tiger parts are believed to cure diseases. Tigers and many other endangered species are killed illegally for their skins and body parts. Products made from rare wild animals such as spotted cats, tigers, rhinos, and elephants are still sold illegally.

WHAT DOES TIGER LIKE?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 1 Feb 2010 20:09:00 +0530

A tiger is a powerful jumper and can easily leap ten feet (three meters) off the ground. Tigers can run 35 miles per hour! That's really fast. Whether in the wild or in captivity, the tiger loves to sleep!

Tigers always live in forests because they offer places to hide. Tigers do not like big open spaces. Tigers like to hide, because they hunt by sneaking up on their prey. If they didn't have grasses or trees to hide behind they will never get food!

Tigers do eat people-but only in very unusual situations! Sometimes people roam where tigers live. A sick or injured tiger finds it easier to attack a person than to hunt for its usual prey.

People have found ways to protect themselves by wearing masks on the back of their heads. Tigers only attack from behind, so the mask fools them. It seems like the person is always facing them! Another method used to deter tigers is Scarecrows- which gives electric shock so any tiger that touches the dummy gets a mild shock. It helps teach tigers to stop attacking people.

Tigers don't like becoming pets because they are wild. Even captive cubs that have been raised by humans are not domesticated. Trainers in a circus use whips or chairs to scare the tigers into submission.

Want to learn more about tigers? Here it is……

White tigers are not a separate subspecies of tiger, they are not from cold, snowy climates-they come from India. White tigers are a rare form of Bengal tiger. They're regular tigers with whiskers and tails-they just happen to be colored white. White tigers actually range from pure white to white with chocolate brown or black stripes. Many white tigers have blue eyes, but some have amber or even greenish eyes.

White is a very, very unusual color for a wild tiger. Of the thousands of tigers in the wild, only a few are white. There are many white tigers in captivity, though-and almost all of them are descended from a wild white Bengal tiger named Mohan that was captured in India in the 1950s.

Almost all of the captive white tigers in North America today are descended from Mohan and are highly inbred. Some white tigers have also been mated with other tiger subspecies, creating what are called hybrid tigers.

WHERE DOES TIGER LIVE?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 1 Feb 2010 20:08:00 +0530

TIGERS live in hot jungles as well as in cold forests. All wild tigers live in Asia. Some of them also live in the snowy forests of Siberia. Others live in the humid jungles of Sumatra. And some live in the dry grasslands of India.

TIGER STORIES

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 1 Feb 2010 20:05:00 +0530

INDIAN STORIES:

The Story of Goddess Durga

The tiger is vahana(vehicle) of goddess DURGA. Do you know that in Nepal there is no burning of Ravana on Dusshera because it is believed that Goddess Durga, riding a tiger, killed Mahishasura ( a buffalo-headed demon) on the same day. Mahishasura it is said , was so powerful that none of the gods were able to defeat him. Therefore they met together to form Durga with 18 hands, many weapons, riding a tiger. It thus shows that tiger has always been a very important symbol of power & might.

The story of Lord Ayyappan:

Ayyappan was born as a result of alliance between Siva & Vishnu when Vishnu appearded in Mohini Rupa after churning of milky ocean. He is the third son of Siva after Ganesha and Kartikeya. Ayyappan, was found by a childless king & queen on the bank of a river. They brought him home as their own child. But when the queen had a child of her own she became jealous of Ayyappan. The queen pretended that she was very ill & she would be cured by drinking tiger's milk. Ayyappan , who was 12 years old volunteered & went to the forest. He returned riding a tiger followed by all tigers of the forest. The king begged for forgiveness & asked where did Ayyapan want his temple to be built?

Ayyapan fired an arrow & it fell at a place Sabari. Hence, the Sabarimalai temple was built. Both the stories thus show how important the tiger has been to our mythology. The tiger has been an important part of Chinese, Korean, Sumerian , Japanese & European mythologies. It is a pity that the tiger is endangered because of us humans killing it discriminately. Killing a tiger with a sword or a spear has always been considered very courageous.

KOREAN STORIES

The Legend of Dan-gun

In the ancient times, Hwan-In ruled the heaven. He loved his son, Hwan- Ung who was a clever, compassionate & constructive man. One day, Hwan-Ung pleaded with his father to let him go to earth & rule Korea. Hwan -In said yes and sent him along with Pung-Beg (the Earl of Wind), U-Sa (the Chancellor of Rain), and Un-Sa (The Chancellor of Clouds). The ministers were able to control rain, wind, clouds, and all natural elements. Meanwhile a bear and a tiger lived on the earth in a cave near a sandalwood tree & wanted to become human. Hwan-ung told them that to become humans they will have to live in a dark cave for 100 days & eat only garlic and mugwort. The bear lived in the cave, but the tiger was extremely restless and ran away. The bear became a beautiful woman, married Hwan-Ung was made the Queen. Soon she gave birth to a prince, Dan-gun, or the Sandalwood King. Dan-gun reigned as the first human king of the North Korea. Koreans believe that the tiger still roams the mountains. Though the tiger did not become a human, even today people's affection for the tiger is special. The tiger is seen as brave and sacred.

The Mountain Spirit

In ancient times the tiger was a messenger of the mountain spirit, San Shin.

The Matchmakng Mountain Spirit

Once upon a time there lived a rich man Kim, who had a beautiful daughter named Ok-bun. Ok-bun became friend with a poor boy P'al-bong. Both of them were very close friends. As they got older, Ok-bun's father realized that they loved each other & wanted to get married. Kim decided to marry his daughter to Tol-swae, who was also a nobleman. Kim wanted to get her married quickly & arranged for the engagement and set an early wedding date. Both Ok-bun & P'al-bong felt very sad. On the wedding day when the bridegroom entered the bridal chamber, where Ok-bun was waiting for him, a tiger took away Ok-bun.

The tiger dropped Ok-bun at P'al-bong's door. In the meantime, Tol-swae searched to look for Ok-bun. He thought she had surely been killed by the tiger. When everybody found Ok-bun then everyone nodded and said that it was the mountain spirit, San Shin, at his matchmaking again, and that no human should interfere. So a marriage between the two childhood sweethearts was arranged and they lived happily every after.

References

The Tiger Call, Published in March, 1996, WWF-IndiaFolk Tales from Korea, 3rd edition, by Zong In-Sob, 1982, Hollym International Corp: New Jersey Tiger, Burning Bright, Kathleen J. Crane Foundation, 1992, Hollym International Corp: New Jersey

Books to read:

At the Zoo. National Geographic Society, 1992.
Bowden, Joan. A World Without Tigers. Dial Books for Young Readers, 1993. Hewett, Joan. Tiger, Tiger, Growing Up. Houghton Mifflin Co., 1993. Who's Who at the Zoo? DK Publishing, Inc., 1994.

TIGER'S WORLD

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 1 Feb 2010 19:59:00 +0530

Do you know that tigers are the biggest cats in the world. There are five different kinds or sub-species of tiger alive in the world today. Tigers are called Panthera tigris in latin, Bagh in hindi & Bengali, Kaduva in Malayalam & Pedda Puli in telugu..

Types of Tigers:

Earlier there were 8 kinds of tigers but human killing has left only 5 kinds of them. These are

1. Amur (Siberian) tigers
2. Royal Bengal tigers
3. Indo-chinese tigers
4. South China tigers
5. Sumatran tigers

All these types are different in their size, weight, habits and appearance.

Total Population of Tiger in the World

SUB SPECIES	RANGE COUNTRIES	ESTIMATED POPULATION
		Minimum	Maximum
Royal Bengal Tiger P.t.tigris	Bagladesh Bhutan China India Nepal Total	300 80 30 2500 150 3060	460 240 35 3800 250 4785
P.t.altaica (Also called Amur,Siberian, Manchurian,N-E China Tiger)	China North Korea Russia Total	12 10 415 437	20 10 476 506
P.t.amoyensis (South China Tiger)	China Total	20 20	30 30
P.t.sumatrae (Sumatran Tiger)	Sumatra Total	400 400	500 500
P.t.corbetti (Indo-Chinese Tiger)	Cambodia China Laos Malaysia Myanmar Thailand Vietnam Total	100 30 600 250 200 1180	200 40 650 600 300 1790
	GRAND TOTAL	5000	6800
Extinct Species
P.t. virgata (Caspian Tiger)	Extinct
P.t.sondaica (Javan Tiger)	Extinct
P.t.balica (Bali Tiger)	Extinct

WHY SHOULD WE SAVE TIGER?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 1 Feb 2010 19:55:00 +0530

Saving the tiger means saving mankind..

Not only is tiger a beautiful animal but it is also the indicator of the forest's health. Saving the tiger means we save the forest since tiger cannot live in places where trees have vanished and in turn secure food and water for all.

If we make sure tigers live, we have to make sure that deer, antelope and all other animals that the tiger eats (its prey base) live. To make sure that these herbivores live, we must make sure that all the trees, grass and other plants that these prey animals need for food are protected. In this way, the whole forest gets saved! Saving the tiger means saving its entire forest kingdom with all the other animals in it.

Also forests catch and help store rainwater and protect soils. In this way we protect our rivers and recharge groundwater sources. Areas with less trees lead to floods, killing people and destroying homes. It takes away the precious soil, leaving behind a wasteland. The soil jams up our lakes and dams, reducing their ability to store water. By destroying the tiger's home, we not only harm tigers, but also ourselves.

The tiger thus becomes the symbol for the protection of all species on our earth since it is at the top of the foodchain. This is why we sometimes call the tiger, an apex predator, an indicator of our ecosystem's health