"Tiger is a symbol of beauty, bravery, strength, and Nationality so save the Tiger. Save the Nation Pride."
— Uzma
29th July is referred to as the International Tiger Day also every year. The day is observed to mark the declining population of tigers across the globe. The decline happened in the 20th century and the number is luckily on rise again due to the continued efforts of the people. India prepares the tiger estimation report every four years and last report was released in 2018.
In 1973, Project Tiger was started in India which was a unique plan to save tigers on the planet. Since it formative years there were 9 tiger reserves but the Tiger Project coverage has increased to 50. As the Bengal Tiger is the national animal of India, this project aims to stem the dwindling population of the big cats and work to increase their numbers.
But according to WWF around 3,900 wild tigers are left in the world. Since the beginning of the 20th century, over 95% of the world's tiger population is lost. It is said that across Asia, the snaring crisis poses a grave threat to wild tigers.
We can't deny the fact that tigers are the largest species of the cat family and also one of the most iconic animals on the planet. About a century ago, there may have been over 100,000 tigers that roam on the planet.
A conservational goal which is so ambitious was set up by the government of the 13 range countries to double the number of wild tigers by 2022 in the next Chinese year of the tiger. There is a famous quote "Where tigers thrive, it is a sign that the ecosystem is healthy".
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲
International Tiger Day was established in 2010 at Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit in Russia to raise awareness about the decline of wild tiger numbers, leaving them in the brink of extinction and to encourage the work of Tiger conservation. In the Summit, a declaration was made that Governments of tiger populated countries had vowed to double the tiger population by 2020.
Several events every year are organised by animal organisations like WWF, IFAW, and the Smithsonian Institute.
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞
The theme for this year International Tiger Day is- "Their Survival is in our hands”.
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
Observing International Tiger Day is significant because according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), there are only 3900 wild tigers present globally. The goal of the day is to promote a global system for protecting the natural habitats of tigers and to raise public awareness and support for tiger conservation issues.
Tigers are of various colors like White Tigers, Brown Tiger with black stripes, White Tiger with black stripes, and Golden Tigers. Watching them walk in there all majesty is a lovely sight. So far, these four species of tiger, including Bali Tiger, Caspian Tiger, Javan Tiger, and Tiger Hybrids are extinct.
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬
• Poaching and illegal trade : For traditional Chinese medicines, tigers face the problem of poaching as there is a demand for every part of the body of the tiger. In illegal wildlife trades, they keep high prices.
• Habitat loss : Nowadays and with the increasing population forest are becoming less in numbers. Clearing of forests for several reasons like agriculture, industries, etc. made a loss of around 93% of the natural habitats of tigers.
• Climate Change : With the rise of sea level due to climate change lead to wiping out of Sundarbans one of the habitats of Royal Bengal Tigers.
• Several diseases are also the key factor. Several animals die and there is no way to ascertain the cause of their death. Certain diseases spread epidemic like Feline Panleucopania, Tuberculosis, etc.
• The study of Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve (RTR) says that the tiger population in the park shown a loss of genetic diversity over the years.
• Degradation of Habitats : Big cats want secure and disturbance-free habitat to survive but due to several developmental activities in the landscape of the protected areas (PAs) pose a big threat to tigers.
• Man-animal conflict also affects the population of big cats.
• Lack of protection infrastructure.
• Increasing tourism day by day is also one of the factors for the decline in tiger numbers.
𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫
• What makes tigers important are their position in the food chain present in the ecosystem. Tigers keep their environment healthy by maintaining a balance in the food chain.
• Without enough tigers, herbivores can overgraze and damage the land which will eventually disrupt the balance of the local environment.
• Tigers are one of the stealthiest predators of the jungle. The large cats have soft toe pads which help them walk silently around their habitat. According to WWF a tiger will travel 9 to 19 kilometres during its nocturnal hunting routine.
• The United States has held more tigers in captivity than there are out in the wild.
• Tigers typically hunt deers. With one large deer as its prey, a tiger can satisfy its hunger for a week.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫
Tigers are one of the most beautiful felines that are on the verge of extinction. International Tiger Day celebrated on July 29 aims at spreading awareness about tigers and their conservation to ensure this species survival. As we celebrate this international tiger day, let’s raise our awareness by taking a look at some of the ways we could protect the Tiger as a citizen. After all it is the harmonious coexistence that shall sustain the ecological balance.
• Be responsible, and spread the word : We need to adhere to forest department guidelines and must not pollute the environment. The requirement for responsible tourists is the need of the hour.
We need to collaborate and spread information about the impending extinction threat on tigers. By opening online forums, wildlife clubs, we can communicate opinions, news, and carry forward discussions on tiger conservation strategies.
• Help prevent wildlife trade : We can actively stop such heinous trades by refusing to endorse or buy any products made of tiger’s body parts. If needed talk to dissuade such trade practices, and immediately inform the local law enforcement offices about illegal wildlife trade activities.
• Protect tiger habitat : The loss of around 93% of natural habitat has been reported so far owing to mindless human activities. By saying NO to products made out of forest resources like trees, woods, we can discourage the cutting down of trees, deforestation and ensure that the natural habitat stays intact. There must be an increase in range capacity.
• Be informed about Human-tiger conflict mitigation : The ideas that tigers are a threat to humans, they harm cattle, etc. give rise to unrest and anger amid common man. We need to realise that there is no conflict between the two. Both can coexist without harming each other. There are conflict mitigation teams that are well-versed in assuaging such conflicts and ensure no damage is caused to either man or tiger.
• Build tiger policies : We must support tiger-friendly policies, write to local MP, Minister for Environment and Forests or Prime Minister to voice our concerns and request immediate preventive measures to conserve tigers.
Also, promote scientific research on tiger protection.
Saving Tiger is not only our duty but also our responsibility. We have to support the government in its projects for the protection of the tigers so that a healthy population of the tigers exists. We should know that when we ask something from nature, we must be ready to give something back. If nature is responsible for our existence, we must take responsibility for its existence.
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