Wednesday 13 February 2008

The Indian government released the country-wide India Tiger Estimation survey yesterday, showing how poaching is threatening the survival of this national symbol.

New survey techniques including camera traps showed an estimate of between 1165 and 1657 tigers in the country.

"These estimates are distressingly low, but at least we now have better habitat and population data than ever before and we can intervene more strategically and more effectively to help ensure that tiger populations recover, and that India can maintain its national symbol." said Sujoy Banerjee, Director, Species Conservation at WWF-India.

WWF praises survey

WWF India complimented the Indian government's National Tiger Conservation Authority for its decision to undertake a scientific assessment of tiger population through an independent research agency, the Wildlife Institute of India which has resulted in producing the most reliable picture yet of the state of the Indian tiger.

This is the most complete estimation survey ever undertaken of tigers in India, or indeed of wild tigers anywhere.

Threats from poaching and habitat loss

Tigers are threatened by a combination of poaching, habitat loss from development, the loss of corridors between areas and retaliatory killing of tigers for preying on cattle or attacking humans.

International markets for illegal tiger parts despite the fact that the countries where majority of illegal trade in wildlife takes place are signatories of the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is another threat to the tiger.

WWF protecting tigers

WWF is working with the forest department in India for better protection of tigers, providing habitat management initiatives and reducing human-animal conflict to reduce retaliatory killings of tigers.

We are also working to curb poaching by developing an informer network and better equipping and training staff engaged in anti-poaching activities.

"It is amply clear that tiger numbers are at the threshold, and if the numbers go down any further, then recovery may not be possible at all. The time has come for the government and all other institutions and agencies to show serious commitment to tiger conservation if at all we wish to see tiger in the wild in India in the future," concluded Banerjee.