Dwindling tiger population
Steps should
be taken so that the natural
habitats of tigers are not destroyed
due to human
intervention
With fewer than 4,000 left in the wild, tigers are on a precipiceyet more than 100 of the big cats are still killed and illegally trafficked each year, according to a fresh analysis published recently. The latest estimate came as experts and dignitaries, including Britains Prince William, gathered in Vietnams capital for an international wildlife conference which kicked off on Thursday.
It is worrying to note that the number of the Royal Bengal Tiger, the majestic animal that dwells in the Sundarbans, known to be the largest mangrove forest in the world, is declining fast. A recent census by the forest department found that there were only 106 tigers left in the Bangladesh part of the Sundarbans. In 2004, the government had undertaken a tiger census by using the pug mark method which showed 440 tigers inhabiting our part the Sundarbans. Why this alarming decline in the number of tigers?
The Bangladesh part of the Sundarbans is bigger than the Indian one in terms of acreage. But the number of tigers dwelling in the Indian part has outnumbered the tigers living in Bangladesh part of the forest. The number of tigers in our part of the forest should have been much more than the Indian one but the reverse is occurring.
Indiscriminate poaching of tigers is mainly responsible for the decline in tiger population. Over the past few years, tigers have been falling victim to mindless human cruelty. Since the hides and skins and other organs of tiger have great demand in the local and the international markets, a section of greedy people are engaged in killing tigers. Some dishonest forest department officials are abetting the crime in exchange for hefty bribes. On the other hand, due to shortage of food tigers are migrating to the Indian part of the forest. Conservation of forest animals is being strictly followed in India unlike in Bangladesh. So, tigers have a safe sanctuary there. Besides, there are other factors that have contributed to decline in tiger population.
Movement of vessels inside the Sundarbans, setting up of heavy industries adjacent to forests, climate change and filling up of the rivers are greatly responsible for dwindling in the number of tigers.
Poaching of tigers, our valuable national asset, must be stopped. Steps should also be taken so that the natural habitats of tigers are not destroyed due to human intervention. It is high time for the government to refrain from any action inimical to survival of tigers.
