It is estimated that less than 1500 wild tigers remain in India today. This is in contrast to 50,000 tigers thought to have existed at the start of 20th century. Poaching, loss of habitat, and human-wildlife conflicts have reduced the numbers to a critical level. Estimates suggest that one tiger is killed every day, at which rate they will be extinct from India within a decade.
As India’s national animal, the tiger’s importance was recognised thousands years ago by our ancestors when they associated it with Goddess Durga. Goddess Durga protects humanity from evil and misery, and the tiger, as her vehicle, delivers good fortune. Symbolically, Durga represents the mother earth, while the tiger is the protector of the earth’s resources.
As a top predator, the tiger is a key indicator of the state of the environment, particularly the forests. These forests, while acting as the lungs and filters of the planet, are very important water catchment areas. They are also home to thousands of economically and medically important species. Apart from increased frequency of natural disasters like droughts and floods, removal of forest cover would seriously limit fresh water availability, which soon will be the most essential natural resource. With 70% of India’s population based in rural areas and dependent on agriculture in some manner, these will have very serious consequences. The wildlife reserves under “Project Tiger”, comprising just around 1% of India’s total area, are important water catchment areas and also play an extremely vital role in controlling soil erosion and floods while maintaining soil fertility. If the Tiger population flourishes, then we can be sure that the forests will remain safe as a bastion of bio-diversity, and the essential ecological processes such as water, nutrient and the climate cycles remain unaffected.
Our own survival as a species is the reason why we must save the tiger. The strategy must be on saving the tiger and its habitat by making it beneficial for the local people. The focus must be on conservation and sustainable management of tiger’s habitat in order to benefit future generations and us.
We build grand temples or make generous offerings in the name of religion to flaunt our power and achievements or in the hope of some divine blessings. We worship gods-goddesses in the hope of prosperity and eternal peace, but destroy their creations or symbols, such as tigers (Durga), elephants (Ganesh), monkeys (Hanuman), etc. What would be a greater gift to our creator, protecting our living heritage or building grand monuments for false pride and glory?
APPEAL : SAVE THE TIGER TO SAVE OURSELVES
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About Me
- Nimish
- My love for wildlife began during large part of my childhood spent on a farm in Tanzania. That, followed by travels around remote corners during the 12 years of student life in India really got me hooked on to the love for the wild. I was fortunate to qualify in the field of my interest, acheiving a Honours degree in Botany with Zoology & Chemistry from M.S. University of Baroda (India) followed by a Masters in Wildlife Management & Control from University of Reading (UK). I have had some wonderful experiences of living or working in the wild. Conducting series of field studies on human-wildlife conflicts around some of India's wildlife reserves; researching the trade and exploitation of wildlife in northern and western India by interacting with poachers, wildlife smugglers and traders; or working for seven years in remote part of Tanzania have all added to understanding the issues and complexities of environmental conservation. To me, the tiger is one of the most magnificient creatures on earth. Even after having seen numerous tigers, I still get the same thrill and excitement today as when I saw my first wild tiger in 1982.
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Jhurjurha Tigress
The Jhurjurha tigress at waterhole in Bandhavgarh
