There are only 1411 tigers….

Tiger is our national animal with sixty percent of world’s tiger population inhabiting India we are truly blessed. Not for long. India has lost more than 50 per cent of its tiger population in the past five years ( 60% dip over the last 10 years) with the numbers dwindling to 1,411 from 3,642 in 2001-02 (3,508 in 1997, a century ago, there were an estimated 100,000 tigers worldwide), but now tigers have dwindled to less than a few thousand, according to the latest tiger census report. Only 1,411 !!!!, that is as many people inhabiting a housing complex dude!! (the photo above is of Siberian tiger)

The study This time, the census used a new method that combines field surveys and statistical estimation instead of the pugmark method followed earlier. This system uses remote sensing, GIS, in combination with high resolution spatial data based on sign surveys and camera trapping. In the process, the final census monitors tiger population as well as its prey population. The “State of tiger, co-predators and prey in India” report (The counting could not be carried out in the Indravati Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh and Palamau Tiger Reserve in Jharkhand due to inaccessibility because of naxalite problem while estimation is on in the massive Sunderbans area in West Bengal. However, based on available data in Palamau Tiger Reserve, the report indicates a low density of tiger in the area ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 per 100 sq.km) The State-wise analysis has shown that Andhra Pradesh has 95 tigers (as against 192 in 2001-02), Chhattisgarh 26 (227), Madhya Pradesh 300 (from 710, the maximum decline for a State. Note), Maharashtra 103 (238), Orissa 45 (173), Rajasthan 32 (58). Sariska has no tigers left. In the Western Ghats, Karnataka has 290 (401), Kerala 46 (71) and Tamil Nadu 76 (60). In the North East Hills and Brahmaputra Plains, Assam has only 70 tigers against 354 in the previous census. Arunachal Pradesh has 14 tigers against 61, Mizoram only 6 (28) and North West Bengal 10 against 349 earlier, though figures from the Sunderbans regions are yet to be compiled. The north-eastern region is a heavy rainfall area and does not support high tiger populations. The report clearly shows that occupancy of a forestpatch by tigers was negatively correlated with human disturbances indices and positively correlated with prey availability.

There are some areas where individual tiger populations have high probability of long term survival by themselves: Nagarhole-Madumalai-Bandipur-Waynad population, Corbett population, Kanha population, and possibly Sunderban and Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong populations. Tiger populations that exist and can persist in a meta population (part human interference) framework are Rajaji-Corbett, Dudhwa-Katarniaghat-Kishenpur (along with Bardia and Shuklaphanta in Nepal), Satpura-Melghat, Pench-Kanha, Bhadra-Kudremukh, Parambikulum-Indira Gandhi, and KMTR-Periyar.

The landscapes that have potential but are currently in need of conservation inputs are Sirsailam Nagarjun Sagar, Simlipal, Ranthambore-Kuno Palpur, Indravati-Northern Andhra Pradesh, and Bandhavgarh-Sanjay-Palamau. The report clearly shows that occupancy of a forest patch by tigers was negatively correlated with human disturbances indices and positively correlated with prey availability.

In three other regions, the long-term future of the endangered cat looks good, the study conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India notes. The north-east, including Kaziranga and other habitats in the Brahmaputra valley, is one. The central Indian belt around the Kanha tiger reserve and parts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh is the second. The third belt is the one encompassing Bandipur, Nagarhole, Madumulai and Wayanad tiger reserves, the last safe haven for the tiger population in the south.

The reason Until recently, habitat loss was thought to be the largest single threat to the future of wild tigers in India. It has now been established that the trade in tiger bones, destined for use in Oriental medicine outside India's borders, is posing an even larger threat. Having decimated their own source Far Eastern traditional medicine manufacturers are now targeting India for their supply of tiger bones. Poaching of tigers for the traditional Chinese medicine industry started in northern India in the mid-1980's. Regardless of the tigers' classification as a "Critically Endangered" species, the demand for its parts has drastically increased at an alarming rate since the end of the 20th Century. The tiger is primarily killed to supply underground black markets with its organs, pelts and bones. These items are highly regarded in eastern medicine, claiming to posse's capabilities to heal all sorts of human illnesses and dysfunctions. In Asia, parts other then the bones are used in mythological medicine. This includes the tiger's eyes, hair, internal organs and even tiger penis (which is used in a soup as an aphrodisiac). In Hong Kong black markets, venders sell a pound of powdered tiger humorous bone sells for over $1700. Keep in mind that all of these so-called treatments are completely unproven by science and have absolutely no real medical value. In the '90s, the demand for tiger parts for Oriental medicines resulted in increased poaching. Indian tiger parts were much desired because China's dwindling tiger population threatened the manufacture of such medicines. More so because in the last 25 years China suffered a greater loss in its tiger population than any other country.

Poachers use one of the following methods to kill a wild tiger:
Poison - which is usually placed in the carcasses of domestic buffaloes and cows. During the dry, hot summer months small forest pools are also poisoned by poachers, or depressions dug and filled with water for this purpose. There is a sophisticated and well organised supply route operated by the major traders, to distribute poison and collect tiger bones from the remotest villages.
Steel Traps - which are made by nomadic blacksmiths. These traps are immensely strong. In a tiger poaching case near Raipur in 1994, it took six adult men to open a trap. In one area in central India, investigators found that so many steel traps had been set that the villagers were fearful of going into the forest. People have received dreadful injuries from these traps.
Firearms - are used where hunting can be carried out with little hindrance.
Electrocution - by tapping 230 volts -11KV overhead electrical wires and laying a live wire on animal tracts.
Tiger poaching occurs in all areas where large number of tigers have been recorded. Poaching is particularly prevalent in the States of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Assam.

The efforts The Centre-sponsored Project Tiger -- a massive conservation programme launched by Indira Gandhi on April 1, 1973 conservationist Billy Arjan Singh says "Project Tiger was initially a success while it was a species-oriented project, but progressively registered failure when academics of preserving the ecosystem replaced the symbolic value of the tiger." Singh believes that even the temporary increases in tiger population were caused by immigration due to destruction and degradation of its habitat in Nepal, and not to the widely acclaimed success of wildlife policy in India. The Project has not evolved in accordance with the changing habitat of the tiger..

The law machinery Investigations carried out in 1993-94, during which a total of 36 tiger skins and

667 kilos (1470 pounds) of tiger bones were seized in northern India, brought to light the severity of the problem. If an offence is committed against the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, there is a maximum sentence of three years imprisonment or a fine which may extend to Rs. 25,000 or both. For an offence committed inside the core area of a Tiger Reserve, there is a mandatory prison term of three years, extendable to seven years and a fine of Rs. 50,000 extendable to Rs. 2 lakhs. In case of a subsequent conviction, there is an imprisonment of at least seven years and a fine of Rs. 5 lakhs which may extend to Rs. 50 lakhs. Despite these penalties, the laws are difficult to enforce and to date, in spite of hundreds of cases, only 16 people have ever been convicted of killing a tiger.

Pitted against the poacher's sophisticated weapons, the forest department is handicapped by infrastructure problems. To expect a forest guard to protect 15 square kilometres under his jurisdiction armed with just a danda is ridiculous forest guards work under difficult conditions. They often remain on duty for all of 24 hours, through the month. Since there are no medical, educational or social facilities in his spot in the forest, he is compelled to live away from his family. Helpless against the might of the poachers, incidents have been reported where forest guards have had their toes chopped, even their bodies hacked in the line of duty. At times forest officers get entangled in legal wrangles with poachers and timber merchants.

Custom authorities in India multiply poaching offences by ten to estimate the actual figure of illegal trade. On this premise, the Wildlife Protection Society of India indicates credibly that at least one tiger is killed by poachers every day. "Though Indian wildlife protection laws are considered amongst the most stringent in the world, the lack of a trained enforcement staff force has rendered these laws weak, almost non existent,"

The resources Fifty per cent of India's tiger population falls outside the protected area network. Inflicted with problems like schemes that go implemented, vehicles that cannot be repaired, and a severe resource crunch, the 23 tiger reserves have lost their sheen. However, the five year plan allocation for tiger conservation has been more than doubled to Rs 750 million. In 1998-1999, the central government has increased its funding for Project Tiger from Rs 80 million to Rs 170 million. Yet, unless administrative measures are not rectified, no real change will take place at the ground level.

Sane voice "This is the worst ever crisis. Our forests and wildlife, especially tigers, are facing their most serious threat now," said an impassioned Valmik Thapar, perhaps India's best known wildlife conservationist and an expert on tigers and their habitat, an author who also presents the acclaimed BBC television series -- Land of the Tiger: A Natural History of the Indian Subcontinent. He maintains that the ministry of environment and forests is not equipped to handle the pressures and demands of forests and wildlife. "The government should create a new ministry for natural treasury". At present wildlife falls under the ministry of environment and forests. Thapar reiterates it is time environment and subjects like pollution were separated from forests.

India claims two-thirds of the tiger population of the world. Of the eight subspecies of the tiger, three -- the Caspian, Bali and Javan tigers -- are already extinct. The position of the South China subspecies is perilious; the Siberian, Sumatran tiger population is very low; and the Indo-Chinese and Bengal tiger habitat is so little in some areas that they face the threat of inbreeding and subsequent genetic disorders.

The tiger is a symbol of our biodiversity. If it is allowed to become extinct, it will spell disaster for a host of other fauna and flora, vital water catchments will be lost, affecting the lives of millions who depend on natural resources for their very survival. This blogger-being an avid wildlife enthusiast, has been to most wild life sanctuaries in India, right from Corbett to Manas to Madumalai but has witnessed tiger only once, that too for split second, at Corbett. It is an elusive but brilliant animal (tyger tyger burning bright!!). Unfortunately the place to watch tigers are zoos or in TV. Or the dummies, the snap taken by the blogger in bannerghatta zoo. Bengaluru is probably the only metro city that has wild life sanctuary, 40 minutes drive (there is also an artificially created butterfly park. Mysore has a natural one).

Yes Tiger No Tiger!! Two years back I was in Bandipur sanctuary we were taken around in a mini van (wonder why they can’t have noiseless vehicles, the battery one probably. Is it that difficult to provide these vehicles?). A 7 or 8 year old kid who was with his extended family was absolutely excited he shouted ‘tiger’. We all poked our eyes but found nothing then he said ‘no tiger!!’. After few minutes he again shouted ‘tiger’, again the group wandered out, he laughed ‘no tiger’. Then his father glared at him, he tried again he got a good pinch. That kept him quiet. So no tigers!!.