Col Satish Singh Lalotra
‘Panthera Tigris Tigris’ or the ‘Tiger’ is a species that belongs to the world’s ‘charismatic Mega fauna’ a class of animals that are large –in the relevant category that they represent –with symbolic value or widespread popular appeal ,and are often used by the environmental activists to gain public support for environmental goals .Charismatic species are often used as ‘Flagship species’ that are supposed to be affecting people’s feelings more along with disproportionately affecting their environment. Tiger is one such ‘Charismatic Mega fauna’ that has had the ability to reign supreme on the mental firmament of we Indians since India happens to be the home of about 70% of world’s tiger population as also this striped animal’s ubiquitous all pervasive presence ranging from mythology, history, culture, art and such like activities. Global tiger day is celebrated every year on July 29th as a way to raise awareness about this magnificent but endangered big cat. The day was founded in 2010, when the 13 ‘Tiger range countries’ came together to create TX2 –The global goal to double the number of wild tigers by the year 2022 held at St Petersburg in Russia. At the time of inception of this ambitious project the total tiger population was estimated to be about little less than 3000 with the shocked revelation that about 97% of world tiger population had just vanished from the face of the earth. Are we anywhere near that magical figure of TX2 as propounded by the ‘Tiger range countries in 2010? Let us do a random check of this tiger population in some of the slated TX2 Tiger range countries to arrive at our leitmotif in a more tangible manner with a way forward to really resurrect this beast from the bottomless pit of oblivion.
On this international day of the tiger I have taken few examples of the so called ‘Tiger range countries’ that were signatory in 2010 to the famous ‘TX2 initiative’ in Russia. Coming at a time when India is celebrating the 50th year of ‘Project Tiger’ a conservation effort that has got the country immense praise from across the world ,it is no wonder that we should test our Tiger conservation efforts on the anvil of south Asian/regional strides in this area.Beginning with our northern neighbour ‘Nepal’ which is a signatory to the 13 Tiger range countries, we come to know that as on the latest figures available there are officially 355 wild tigers in this former monarchy up from the figure of 121 from the cut off year of 2010. The country received accolades and applause from all around the world for its success in conserving this endangered species.However, with the growing numbers of these big cats attacks on humans and livestock have also gone up. Even so, Nepal’s tigers aren’t out of the proverbial woods yet. An ongoing spree of rail and road construction through important habitats is going to severely affect the population. Nepal’s success story though heartening has also raised concerns that its tiger population may be fast approaching the limit of what the country’s protected areas can host. The major cost has been borne by the forest –dependent communities of Nepal.As stated above incidents of human –animal conflicts have increased with the growing populations of both the big cats and the people crossing each other’s paths more frequently in the national parks and the buffer zones in search of food and fodder plus the firewood.In fact due to these man –animal conflicts the typical ‘Grassland management ‘ and other forest techniques long practiced by the indigenous communities have been lost with the establishment of these ‘Tiger reserves’ and sanctuaries where human activities have been banned. As per the nature experts sharing of tiger movements with the indigenous population is the key to resolution of such conflicts. Last year the DG of Nepal’s dept of national parks and wild life conservation MrMaheshwarDhakalsaid in so many words that a regional plan was needed to sustain the ‘Bengal tiger population between India and Nepal by boosting eco-tourism and boosting of local livelihoods. Now this is where the rub lies in India. The SC of India some time back had formed a CEC (Central empowered committee) that was to recommend ways to stop the ‘Tiger safaris’ in various TRs (tiger reserves) that forms a part of the eco –tourism which goes against the very grain of thinking and action as propounded by the Nepalese DG of forest conservation. Why so much of dichotomy in the thinking of two neighbouring countries in conservation of tigers?In Nepal for example species like leopards and sloth bears have been pushed to the fringes of the CAs (conservation areas) that have been optimized for the tigers leading to an increased man –animal conflict.
Switching on to the neighbouring Bhutan which is again a signatory to the TX2 initiative undertaken by the 13 ‘Tiger range countries,’ this tiny Himalayan nation has done quite well by increasing its baseline number of tigers in 2010 to a good number of more than 150 from a little less than 95 at the start of the international initiative. The ‘Royal Manas national park’ is at the forefront of such spearheading of national resolve which saw its tiger population double from 10 t0 22 tigers between 2010 to 2016 and thereafter jump to the final figures as stated above. A total of 90 camera trap stations were installed with a pair each across 1300 square kilometers in Manas. According to the Bhutanese tiger conservationists the increase in tiger population has been due to the migration and the remaining 50% is due to the new births. According to the WWF, Bhutan 12 Trans boundary Manas conservation areas were notified in 2015 which have revealed their benefits by doubling the tiger population in 2022 the final cutoff year as envisaged and pledged in the 13 tiger range countries draft resolution. Coming to Indonesia, the extinction of tigers from Java and Bali in the past century has resulted into this beast finding solace on the island of Sumatra. With less than 400 tigers left in that island and the IUCN classification of critically endangered ,urgent action is the need of the hour in that country.
Malaysia’s tigers are critically endangered with as few as 250 remaining. Malaysian tigers have been pushed to the brink of extinction by poaching, habitat loss, forest degradation and fragmentation. Malayan tiger is now on the ‘IUCN Red list’ and classified as a critically endangered species. Representing 76% of the global tiger population, South Asia with the countries mentioned above including India has been the mainstay the world over for this striped beast to draw solace from as also to fall back upon for its thriving. According to the latest international union for conservation of nature’s (IUCN) red list of threatened species assessment, the global tiger population has stabilized and potentially increased for the first time in decades. The new data suggests a potential 40% increase in tiger numbers from 3200 in 2015 to 4500 in 2022 (the cut off year as per the St Petersburg treaty of 2010). This is despite the extreme threats like poaching that feeds the illegal wild life trade and habitat loss. Protected areas (PA) population increases in countries like India, Nepal, and Thailand are particularly encouraging as they demonstrate that the recipe for saving this striped beast can be tailored and replicated across the species range. India way back since April 1973 till date has been the torch bearer to the world at large by its ambitious project known as ‘Project Tiger’ under the aegis of the then competent PM Mrs Indira Gandhi andDr Karan singh as its chairman and vice chairman respectively. To give a further heft to the whole idea the project was later metamorphosed into NTCA (National tiger conservation authority) in the year 2005 following the recommendations of ‘Tiger task force’. These sustained efforts have resulted into a sizable population of tigers now touching the enviable figure of 3,167(three thousand one hundred and sixty seven) in India alone.
The ambitious ‘Project Tiger’ has boosted not only economy of our country but also has been a means of employment to thousands of our tribal population in their quest for sustenance of forest cover, livelihoods et al. Tiger conservation has been at the forefront of ‘Ecotourism’ too which has been at the core of Tiger safaris. Since tiger is at the top of food chain, it has been able to help preserve a check on the population of herbivores to ensure the growth of forest cover which is a symbol of a healthy forest. Many readers of this article may not know that as late as 31st March 1973, Lion was the national animal of Indiaand was changed to that of a tiger from first of April 1973. This Act was prompted by the simple reason that tiger had preponderance all over India, unlike the Asiatic lion which was found only in the Gir forests of Gujarat. Even otherwise tiger as an animal has always found its place of pride in Indian context in almost all walks of life spanning a wide swath of religious, social, cultural, historical and mythological milieus each one fascinating than the other. Be it the carrier of Goddess Durga,Vaishno, Kali, or the humongous nature of their ilk found in plethora of TRs(tiger reserves) ,national parks ,sanctuaries and protected areas of our sub –continent ,this striped beauty has found its pride of place even in the exploits of world famous British army officer cum hunter Col Jim Corbett in his world famous book—‘The man-eaters of Kumaon’.
This carnivorous beast has had an all important role in mitigating climate crisis and also biological control thereby giving environmental awakening calls to the human beings too. When taken in the Indian context tiger per se has been symbolic of power resurgence as also convergence, since it portrays how his rising population has been symptomatic with our country’s economic development. All these facets points towards a sense of ‘Nationalism’ which was hitherto divested from the masses consciousness. Towards this end, the iconic ‘Tiger anthem’ a film venture by the national award winning composer ShantanuMoitra in league with S.NallaMuthua top class wildlife cinematographer with lilting music centering on a tigress and her cub created as part of Times of India’s # ‘Saving our stripes initiative’ was launched by the union minister of environment MrBhupendrayadav some time back. Launching the anthem, the union minister said that this unique venture focuses on simple joys of nature and for reminding the human beings that animals aren’t greedy. What a great message in such simplistic terms. With 01ST April 2023 and 29th July 2023 watershed in India’s tiger conservation efforts marking 50 years of the iconic ‘Project Tiger’ and ‘International day of the Tiger’ getting compressed within 4 months’ time isn’t it time to get our act together and fill in the gaps to further the cause of tiger conservation ? As Wole Soyinka has rightly said—-A tiger doesn’t shout its Tigritude, it acts.
The writer is a retired army officer
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