DISAPPEARANCE OF TIGERS - WILDLIFE AT THREAT

Tiger has become one of the most endangered species of wildlife and its survival largely depends on conscious conservation and care. According to IANS, India is left with less than 1500 Tigers, as it is focusing on Tiger conservation programmes and Tiger reserves to improve the situation.

Madhya Pradesh alone preserves around 300 Tigers in its sanctuaries and reserves, but quite recently it has started facing the problem of missing Tigers, especially from the Panna Reserve. One of the important steps taken recently by the Madhya Pradesh Government is formation of a committee to investigate into this serious issue of the big cats. The urgent call came from following the pressure created by the Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) working for preserving the wild.

The members of this committee, who will play a pivotal role in finding the reason behind the disappearance of Tigers include Rajesh Gopal, a member of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NCTA), Former Director of Wildlife Institute of India (Dehradun) H S Pawar and Former State PCCF J J Dutta. The committee has been asked to submit its report within three months and has been asked to suggest its recommendations to preserve the Tiger population in Madhya Pradesh.

Madhya Pradesh has always been a state known for its Tigers but due to increased poaching and smuggling of these rare species by the poverty stricken forest villagers, the Tiger count in Madhya Pradesh has gone down drastically. There are also other probable reasons for the missing Tigers including electrocution by wires and reduction in forest cover.

There are several measures being taken by the State Government, the Tiger Reserve Authorities and several NGOs to prevent the decline in Tiger count like Tiger Protection Force is being positioned, Tiger and Other Endangered Species Crime Control Bureau has been constituted by the Central Government to prevent smuggling of animal skin, local authorities are trying to spread awareness among the forest villagers and are trying to improve their economic conditions.