Bengal Tiger: Of reasoning and solutions

admin — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 10:32:25 +0000

The Jhurjura tigress…a tragic event has once again highlighted the plight of tigers in India. It has also brought to surface how event centric we are and how we fail to take preemptive and proactive action. We believe in reasoning for rational approach and too much at times. Paradoxically whence circumspect evidence is right at our door step we perform the worst. We believe in burying our heads in the sand and hope the rot stems on its own.
As a mature democracy we show our concerns in debates, discussions, forums and public platforms. – thankfully there is a voice. The rot continues as intellectual pursuit to ensuing problem intensifies. The answer is not always found, especially in case of ultra revolutionary, antidemocratic and anti national contingencies that of late has become day to day phenomena.
Declining tiger population is akin to state of emergency, it highlights lack of efficacy and incompetence of Governments and administrative setups in the country. It also highlights one basic fact, how localized democratic urgency dominates the whole scenario in India. If the tiger could vote or if it helped brew the local wine, its persecution could not have taken place so mercilessly. Tiger poaching is an anti national activity - the animal is our pride and priceless inheritance.
We are simply unable to take timely proactive or preemptive actions as is evident from our handling of nefarious activities in our surroundings. We lack the will to go for offensive in order to defend. In case of tiger reserves certain communities (e.g.Bel Pardhi) are more inclined to poaching along side network of seasoned criminals, regular poachers and underground traders. Much more can be done to bring these people to boot as they leave footprints (evidence) whence involved in nefarious activity. Use of snares and electric wires is increasing as means of killing big cats. How the poachers can lay traps without being caught even once is alarming.
I have seen at Pench, tiger, bear and bison were electrocuted repeatedly at one spot barely 2 km from Karmajhiri R.H. It is reported that snares are being used in Kanha and Satpura tiger reserves. This could be happening in all protected areas in Central India.
The cause of the rot is well known, we all know how and why of the decline of tigers and other endangered species in India. Man animal conflicts, peripheral discontents, encroachment, wood logging are quagmire of issues that the tiger heavens face. But the worst is unchecked poaching that continues in one form or other. The impunity with which tigers in Sariska and Panna were poached is astounding. The failure can best be ascribed to: “Nero fiddled while Rome burned”.
Not exactly! But while the tigers were being poached in one of our Nation’s best protected wildlife havens the administration was right there from top to bottom. And not a blotch on their deliverance of duty. Until after! After much explicatory response and counter responsive the revelation of ghastly truth. I am not here to blame individual lethargy and incompetence. This article lays emphasis on exposing the inability of our system to deal effectively with contingencies that arise from within. Particularly the case of vanishing tigers. This is of utmost urgency. The anomalies in systemic governance pertaining to wildlife protection should be rectified with electric cadence.
If a neighboring country elements can effectively fulfill demand for tiger bones by using elements from within India by exploiting the system…How safe we are in all spheres of life?
It all bores down to the fact that machinery responsible to check and discourage poaching in our tiger reserves is ineffective – due to systemic inefficiency or loop holes. There is no intelligence gathering up to the scale, whatever is there, it has bore no fruits.
I know that physically guarding such large sensitive territories is not easy..but than is it so immensely difficult that we loose all the tigers in short period. The most important element in preventing poaching is the beat guard and unfortunately he is the weakest element…prone to intimidation and corruption. Teams of trained armed guards well versed in matters of conservation and familiar with wildlife are a must. Similarly professional wildlife manager’s trained to the task are a prerequisite. Devoid of political interference the administration should be hell bent upon protecting the area. Discouragement comes from punitive action which so far has been a big farce in and around our tiger reserves.
Of late some steps have been taken or proposed but then how effective they are time will tell. The tiger’s plight depends upon implementation of correct policies with a strong will that puts them in force.
Posted byupty123at5:36 PM

Bengal (Indian) tiger

admin — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 01:52:25 +0000

The Bengal tiger is found primarily in India with smaller populations in Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, China and Burma. It is one of numerous of all tiger sub-species with around 1,850 left in the wild. The creation of tiger reserves in the 1970s helped to stabilise numbers but poaching recently inside the reserves has once again put the Bengal tiger at risk.

Most numerous tiger pushed out of its home

The Bengal (Indian) tiger is the most numerous of all tiger subspecies. However, a burgeoning human population and its own needs are pushing the tiger out of its natural habitat.

Increasing human-tiger conflicts often lead to retributive killings. The tiger also faces a serious threat from poachers.

Where do Bengal tigers live?

Bengal tigers are found in an array of habitats in South Asia – from mountains to savannas to mangroves.

A tiger also found in mangroves

Bengal tigers mostly inhabit the dry and wet deciduous forests of central and south India, the Terai-Duar grassland and sal forests of the Himalayan foothills of India and Nepal, and the temperate forests of Bhutan.

Also, they are found in Bangladesh, Myanmar, and China.

The mangroves of the Sundarbans (shared between Bangladesh and India) are the only mangrove forests where tigers are found. The Sundarbans are increasingly threatened by sea-level rise as a result of climate change.

How many Bengal tigers are left?

The Bengal tiger is one of numerous subspecies, with around 1,850 individuals surviving in the wild.

India is home to the largest population, with about 1,400 tigers – although a recent government survey indicates there might be as few as 1,300. Around 150 live in Nepal. Accurate estimates are not available in other countries.

What is WWF doing?

We are working with local partners to strengthen anti-poaching efforts, and to reduce threats to the natural habitat, both in India and Nepal. Work is underway to reduce pressure on natural forests so that you can reduce conflict with people.

Saving tigers by protecting their landscapes

In 2002, WWF developed a new and far-reaching strategy together with other conservationists and authorities. The cornerstone of the tiger conservation programme is a landscape-based approach. Seven priority landscapes have been identified where conservation will benefit the long-term survival of tigers in the wild.

Within these key landscapes, WWF and its partners work to reduce or remove threats to tigers in the wild by restoring their habitat, maintaining connectivity, and securing a wilderness landscape, strengthening anti-poaching efforts, working with villages in critical tiger corridors, mitigating human-wildlife conflict by creating physical barriers (solar fencing, CPTs), providing interim relief schemes to curb retaliatory killing, providing alternatives to reduce pressure on forest resources, exploring and supporting alternative livelihood options, facilitating institutional strengthening of local communities and creating awareness among villagers and local populace for their protection.

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Secrets of wild cats » Bengal

Bengal Tiger: Of reasoning and solutions

Bengal (Indian) tiger