You will wonder by knowing the fact that the number of tigers left in India is merely 1411 which was 40000 at the start of 20th century. Within the first month of 2010, 3 tiger deaths have been reported. And the government is still waiting for the concerned department to take some decision to save the tigers from extinction.
There were 84 tiger deaths in 2009-10 according to Wildlife Protection Society of India which includes both natural and poaching causes. Considering the trend of Tiger deaths, wildlife experts say Tigers would probably extinct within next 20 years. The Tiger reserves will have no tigers in future.
Relentless hunting and clearing of habitat for agriculture purpose have been the primary causes of this decline, though demand for tiger skins and parts for "medicinal" purposes has become an increasingly important threat in recent years.
The hunters take away every part of the tiger from the scene of crime, leaving behind no evidence, therefore many poaching cases are unnoticed. Even there is no conviction because courts need evidence which poachers do not leave behind.
Aircel and WWF India has started a social campaign “Save our Tigers”. This motive of this campaign is to draw attention towards the dwindling number of Tigers across the planet.
Updates on Save Tigers Campaign:
April 12, 2010
The Indian Government in association with National Tiger Conservation Authority and Wildlife Institute of India has launched a Hi Tech program that will protect the Big Cats from poachers. The system called “M-Stripes” is packed with GPS and will monitor each and every activity of Tigers. It will also monitor the ecological habitat of Tigers.
May 8, 2010
Adding to the efforts to save tigers from extinction, a tigress in Panna Reserve Field has given birth to 3 cubs (baby tigers). The tigress was trans located from Bandhavgarh where the reserve has lost its tigers.
Nov 14, 2010
"Eight more tiger sanctuaries will be put up in India as part of tiger conservation campaign within the next six month" forest minister Jairam Ramesh said during an interview. These tiger reserve sanctuaries will add to the existing 39 sanctuaries to make the total toll to 47.
Nov 16, 2010
A Tiger relocated from Ranthambore National Park to Sariska in June 2008, codenamed ST1, was found dead in mysterious circumstances on 14 Nov, 2010. 5 Tigers were relocated from Ranthambore National Park to Sariska after poachers cleaned up the big cats in Ranthambore. Another Tiger codenamed ST4 is missing for 20 days from the reserve. It appears that both the Tigers might have territorial fight and died after sustaining injuries.
Nov 17, 2010
Over the past one decade, 1000 poaching cases along with the body parts of tigers have been recovered from the poachers around the world. This figure only reveals the number of cases reported and excludes the number of poaching cases not reported and not discovered. This further support the fact that the extinction of big wild cat is near.
Nov 25, 2010
The stats of Tiger deaths at zoos have revealed that the endangered species is not even safe at zoos also. A cumulative toll of 75 tiger deaths have been reported in the last three years. Though deaths due to old age is a natural process but the deaths due to diseases and poaching is serious concern. Dec 1,2010
The Ministry of Environment confirmed that Sariska Tiger ST1 was poisoned to death. The postmortem report confirmed the death by poising most probably involving human hands.
Labels: Save our Tigers
