TIGERS LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY

The latest tiger counting operation — a staggering exercise spread over 3,81,400 sq km and 26,838 camera trap locations in India has shown that the tiger population is up by 30% and 75% of the world tiger population is in India. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has asserted in its report, ‘Status of Tigers in India 2018’, that 83% of the big cats counted in the census were individually photographed using camera traps, 87% were confirmed through a camera trap-based capture-recapture technique, and other estimation methods were used to establish the total number of 2967 tigers in India. Madhya Pradesh saw the highest number of tigers at 526, closely followed by Karnataka (524) and Uttarakhand (442), but Chhattisgarh and Mizoram saw a decline. 

Tigers are among the most endangered species in this world. However, thanks to something called the Saint Petersburg Declaration, the current global population of tigers has increased from a mere 1411 in 2006, to approximately 3900 according to records taken in 2018. Despite the many measures in place to conserve this iconic and beautiful species, every bit of help makes a difference as there are still numerous threats that could cause this fierce species to disappear from the planet for good.

So what are the dangers faced by tigers and what are the conservation efforts being made across the globe? You will be surprised to know that every person on the planet has a role to play in the conservation of this mighty cat and the first road to that role is information, and that is what I intend to share with you!

What is Global Tiger Day? 

On July 29th, 2010, the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit was held in Russia with the sole purpose of raising awareness to the drastically declining tiger populations the world over.

An agreement was signed by the countries present at the summit, mandating all signatory governments to work towards the goal of doubling the global population of tigers by 2022, the next year of the Tiger. This agreement was called the Saint Petersburg Declaration and this venture is entitled the Global Tiger Recovery Program. In honor of this common commitment between nations, July 29th was named Annual International Tiger Day.

Global Tiger day (also known as International Tiger Day) has since been observed every year with a major focus on promoting awareness on the need for conservation of tigers and the efforts being made for the same.

Why are Conservation Efforts Needed for Tigers? 

At the beginning of the 20th Century, there were approximately 100,000 tigers on Earth, spread across the various jungles in the world. By 2005, the number had reduced to an estimated 2000 and continued to decline drastically. So over the last century, there has been a whopping 97% decrease in the population of tigers throughout the world. 

So the question then becomes, why do we need tigers? To begin with, tigers are gorgeous and fascinating creatures physically, but even more importantly tigers are umbrella species. Umbrella species are a category of species that are vital to the preservation of other species sharing their (and our) ecosystem - therefore making them vital to our preservation. The role of a tiger as a predator in the jungles keeps the herbivore population at a viable limit and, consequently, the vegetation plentiful. Another reason why we need to save the tiger is that our forests are water catchment areas. If the unchecked numbers of herbivores devour the vegetation there will be vast stretches of deserts and arid land.

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. So when a species goes extinct, it leaves behind a scar, which affects the entire ecosystem.  So 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.

What are the Current Threats against Tigers? 

There are 5 major factors that can be attributed to the significant decline in the tiger population.

1. Spread of Disease

This can be a bigger problem than one would assume. Tigers usually live in isolation from others of their kind (with the exception of immediate relatives). However, the space in most habitats of these cats, both in protected forests and the wild, is extremely limited. Diseases like canine distemper, tuberculosis, and Feline Panleucopania can spread rapidly among the species and wipe out a significant portion of the population. 

2. Climate Change

Global warming affects the vegetation and the preys living in any given ecosystem are affected negatively. These changes reduce sources of food for tigers in the surrounding areas. Further, rising sea levels contribute heavily to the destruction of tiger habitats in and around coastal areas like the Sunderbans. Rising sea levels are killing or displacing tigers from their homes.

3. Habitat Loss

Deforestation continues to be rampant, whether for industrial purposes, agricultural purposes, trade purposes or urbanization, among many other reasons. In fact, nearly 93% of natural tiger habitats have been destroyed due to the clearing of forests for agriculture, and for development. Rail and road networks, hydel projects and human dwellings are forcing tigers into small and scattered islands of remaining habitat. Tigers need large territories. And along with habitat, tigers have also suffered a severe loss of natural prey populations – in particular ungulates such as deer and antelopes. Large-scale habitat destruction and decimation of prey populations are the major long-term threats to the existence of the dwindling tiger population in the country.

4. Tiger-Human Interactions

As tigers continue to lose their habitat and prey species, they are increasingly coming into conflict with humans as they attack domestic animals – and sometimes people. In retaliation, tigers are often killed by angry villagers. With villagers entering into the forest to gather resources, and tigers entering human territories in search of space, numerous conflicts can arise leading to a rise in the number of both human and tiger deaths.. 

Another important area of tiger-human interactions includes the rearing of tigers for performance purposes. These animals are born and raised in confined spaces, usually with traveling circuses and carnivals. When the use of these animals in performance art is not well regulated, it can result in disaster and even death for the animals. 

5. Hunting

For over thousand years, tigers have been hunted as status symbol, decorative item such as wall and floor covering, as souvenirs and curios, and for use in traditional Asian medicines. Hunting for sport probably caused the greatest decline in tiger populations until the 1930s. In the early 1990s, trade in tiger bone for traditional Asian medicines threatened to drive tigers to extinction in the wild. This is largely due to the illegal trade in tiger bones, skins, teeth, and other by-products, which continues to be rampant and quite lucrative. 

How Can We Help? 

Though you might not realize but you can do a lot!

1. 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 anything behind except footsteps, and don’t take anything except memories.

2. Help prevent wildlife trade:

Say ‘NO’ to tiger trade by refusing to buy tiger parts and items prepared from tiger derivatives. If you know of any information on poaching or trade of illegal wildlife, inform the local law enforcement agencies. You can also contact TRAFFIC- an organisation fighting the powerful poachers and pass on the information to them.

3. Reducing pressure on natural resources:

By reducing the use of products derived from forests, such as timber and paper you can prevent deforestation. Try becoming an opinion maker against the use of wood in cremation and for cooking purposes and paper that is not recycled.

4. Pick Your Products Carefully! 

Check for specified certifications to ensure that edible products have been produced in a manner that is least destructive to the habitats of not only tigers but elephants, orangutans and many other species. For example, you can make sure to purchase palm oil certified by RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil), Rain-forest Alliance-certified Coffee, and recycled toilet paper with certification from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). 

5. Keep Yourself Updated!

You can never have too much knowledge. There are several organizations across the globe that are constantly working towards newer and better conservation programs. You can help their efforts by donating to their many tiger conservation projects or by volunteering in awareness programmes. 

6. Speak Up! 

Voice your concerns with the policy makers. Please keep an eye out on online platforms and markets for items that seem to be made from tiger furs or bones. In case of any such instances, you can report the same directly to the nearest local police department, or approach one of the many wildlife protection organizations, like WWF (Worldwide Fund for Nature) or Humane Society International or write polite letters to the decision makers - the Prime Minister, the Minister for Environment and Forests or even your local MP.