Dragon stalking our Tigers...
Panthera Tigris - Indian Tiger.... Some questions haunt my mind whenever I look at Ashoka's pillar at the back of Indian rupee coin... Will this beautiful artefact remain only to tell the story of an extinct species, exactly like we talk about dinosaurus these days... or worse.. when in the coming centuries these creatures will only be featuring in local legends, our coming generation will be doubting the fact that a magnificent and powerful creature like Tiger ever existed!
Tigers are symbols of civilization and economy, which is evident through Harappan seals from the Indus valley culture, dating back to 2500 BC. The rock paintings of Warli tribe, which date back to around 3000 BC also feature Tiger. Now, you might wonder that why I am talking about History here... the answer is that it is important to know the influence and evolution of this second most powerful animal on this earth (after humans) to be able to relate to it and to strongly feel the need to preserve it. WE are connected to TIGERS from ages now. Today, the Tiger on Harappan seals tell us that WE had a civilization, the pictures of Tigers not only tell that WE existed, they also tell that HOW we existed!
It is believed that Tigers evolved in Northern China and Far East Asia. Through woods and river systems they travelled to South east Asia and finally to India. During this process they split into eight subspecies. All subspecies breathed till 1940, from here the hunter became the hunted, three subspecies became extinct in coming three decades. These subspecies are Javan Tiger, Bali Tiger, and Caspian Tiger. The whole world is now left with few Tigers in five other subspecies which are - Bengal Tiger, Siberian Tiger, Sumatran Tiger, Indo-Chinese Tiger, and South China Tiger. The Tiger population in India is estimated to be 1411 according to the latest census (the result features count from 16 states from which state of West Bengal was covered partially). India holds over half the world's Tiger population and this is indeed a shameful figure for a nation which had around 5000 Tigers once upon a time.
I called These cats as the second most powerful species on this earth, because the most powerful is Human. We play with the power assigned to us by nature for our own luxuries .... forgetting the fact that power granted to Humans is for protection and not destruction. Just Think... No Tigers, means No ecological balance as herbivores will keep increasing and will eat up all the green food resources for them one day, and then they head for our man made greens to survive, when this option finishes, they will also start perishing along with the human race as well.. as we will niether have greens, nor herbivores to fill our stomach with (keeping in mind the fact that we are finishing up with jungles, for our concrete assets already).
It is still not late to wake up folks! we all know what's killing these big cats... poaching and loss of habitat. Poaching in India has increased so much so that Sirsa Naitonal Park in Rajasthan is now empty with Tigers. The major reason being demands for Tiger products from China. Very strict measures have to be taken by law for this offence, along with checking and controlling curruption among Forest guards. Loss of habitat is because of factors like mining, hydroelectric projects, and illegal cutting of woods for Timber smuggling. We will have to stand up against any kind of our development exercise which can hamper the life, habitat and growth of these wonderful cats. Protection of woods is directly proportionate to life of Tigers. There are Tiger preservation projects like Project Tiger, but alone these projects cannot do much unless each one of us intervenes, keep ourselves updated and suggest.
Well, good news is that India still has 18 states where tiger thrives, we stand a strong chance to take them along with us into future! At some places we are reported to have over hundred Tigers with protected habitat! Let us keep the hope alive and help the staggering number of giant cats to become giant enough to take pride in.
Tigers are symbols of civilization and economy, which is evident through Harappan seals from the Indus valley culture, dating back to 2500 BC. The rock paintings of Warli tribe, which date back to around 3000 BC also feature Tiger. Now, you might wonder that why I am talking about History here... the answer is that it is important to know the influence and evolution of this second most powerful animal on this earth (after humans) to be able to relate to it and to strongly feel the need to preserve it. WE are connected to TIGERS from ages now. Today, the Tiger on Harappan seals tell us that WE had a civilization, the pictures of Tigers not only tell that WE existed, they also tell that HOW we existed!
It is believed that Tigers evolved in Northern China and Far East Asia. Through woods and river systems they travelled to South east Asia and finally to India. During this process they split into eight subspecies. All subspecies breathed till 1940, from here the hunter became the hunted, three subspecies became extinct in coming three decades. These subspecies are Javan Tiger, Bali Tiger, and Caspian Tiger. The whole world is now left with few Tigers in five other subspecies which are - Bengal Tiger, Siberian Tiger, Sumatran Tiger, Indo-Chinese Tiger, and South China Tiger. The Tiger population in India is estimated to be 1411 according to the latest census (the result features count from 16 states from which state of West Bengal was covered partially). India holds over half the world's Tiger population and this is indeed a shameful figure for a nation which had around 5000 Tigers once upon a time.
I called These cats as the second most powerful species on this earth, because the most powerful is Human. We play with the power assigned to us by nature for our own luxuries .... forgetting the fact that power granted to Humans is for protection and not destruction. Just Think... No Tigers, means No ecological balance as herbivores will keep increasing and will eat up all the green food resources for them one day, and then they head for our man made greens to survive, when this option finishes, they will also start perishing along with the human race as well.. as we will niether have greens, nor herbivores to fill our stomach with (keeping in mind the fact that we are finishing up with jungles, for our concrete assets already).
It is still not late to wake up folks! we all know what's killing these big cats... poaching and loss of habitat. Poaching in India has increased so much so that Sirsa Naitonal Park in Rajasthan is now empty with Tigers. The major reason being demands for Tiger products from China. Very strict measures have to be taken by law for this offence, along with checking and controlling curruption among Forest guards. Loss of habitat is because of factors like mining, hydroelectric projects, and illegal cutting of woods for Timber smuggling. We will have to stand up against any kind of our development exercise which can hamper the life, habitat and growth of these wonderful cats. Protection of woods is directly proportionate to life of Tigers. There are Tiger preservation projects like Project Tiger, but alone these projects cannot do much unless each one of us intervenes, keep ourselves updated and suggest.
Well, good news is that India still has 18 states where tiger thrives, we stand a strong chance to take them along with us into future! At some places we are reported to have over hundred Tigers with protected habitat! Let us keep the hope alive and help the staggering number of giant cats to become giant enough to take pride in.
Good to see that some one is thinking so strongly about Tigers / Wildlife which are about to get extinct from this planet. Others too should lead this campaign.
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