Will Tiger be Extinct in India?

Tiger Population Decline

The beast surely faced a big risk of being extinct in India but with sufficient conservative initiative, the outlook seems promising.  From perhaps less than 1400 tigers in the country, the population now touches around 3000. This has certainly been no small achievement.   

Tiger Population 20th 

At the turn of the 20th century, the estimated population of big cats was more than a hundred thousand spread all over the country. This was the period in which hunting had started on a large scale and habitats were being replaced with agriculture or commercial forestry. Although the impact was not immediate the rot had set in and led to further damage whence monetary incentive was doled out to kill wild animals in India by the ruling British to get rid of the vermin in which the tiger was also included.  This was disastrous as animals like wolves, jackals, hyenas, foxes, leopards, and tigers were culled in large numbers. 

Hunting by the elites was a major scourge that added to this massacre and it was responsible for local extinction at many places.  

Indian Tiger

Post Independence 

Post-independence the population had come down strikingly low from estimated forty thousand to + - 1400. The die was cast and something had to be done if this magnificent predator had to make a return. Thankfully India had become a republic  (1950 ) the British had left and the local realms had been included in the newly born republic with no administrative controls.         

Under the new domain, the animals continued to be hunted, and their habitats are taken over by humans for agrarian purposes. The fast-growing population was making its presence felt and hungry stomachs had to be fed. This lead to an extensive takeover of wild habitats in all types of ecosystems to facilitate agriculture and to settle the ever-growing communities. This was one of the main reasons for the reduction in the population of tigers in India. The habitats were trampled over thoughtlessly to feed the masses. 

Commercial Forestry in India      

Systemic exploitation of forests is a recent phenomenon in India if the historic time scale is taken into account. Perhaps it all started post-1850 whence commercial forestry began during the Raj. This also implies that large-scale forests were cleared in India for commercial purposes accentuated by the industrial revolution in Great Britain.   

Commercial Forestry Slide Show

Extensive deforestation in the country took place from 1880 onward to 1920. There are many reasons for extensive deforestation during British rule but we should also take into the account overflowing population and the subsequent need for food and settlement. 

Deforestation, commercial exploitation, and human takeover of ecosystems continued in the country till the rot stemmed somewhat. But by the time corrective action had been taken the tiger population in the country had come down drastically and extinction seemed inevitable. 

Tigers were still hunted under license, and one could shoot the predator in the allotted area for a price as low as Rs.45 less than 1 $.  This bewildering anomaly in the system was caused by little understanding of nature especially wildlife and forests that maintained an equilibrium capable of sustaining life including that of humans. 

Nevertheless, India is a country with a strong conservation ethos that was inculcated during the Vedic Era some five thousand plus years back. 

Wildlife Protection Act 1972

In 1972 corrective action was taken in form of the Wildlife Protection Act. which prohibited the killing of all animals except those that fell under the purview of livestock. This was a wonderful law the effect of which is quite prevalent now. Wild animal populations are on the rise everywhere in the country and the incidence of poaching has come down. The Act also accords protection to floral elements.    

Under this Act, there are provisions to notify the area as sacrosanct. This has led to the creation of Protected Areas. The PAs are divided into an inviolate core zone which is the critical tiger habitat and buffer or eco-sensitive zone. The latter is an outer ring with some restrictions where the source population can settle down in case of a lack of territory. 

Project Tiger Program 1973

NTCA or National Tiger Conservation Authority is at the helm of Project Tiger. The policies are framed under this organization. This body also regulates overseas tiger tourism in conjunction with State Governments and with the participation of local bodies. 

Although the implementation of this conservative initiative was done euphemistically there were periods of complacency till cases of mass killing of tigers in Panna and Sariska shook the Nation. The program has been successful of late with the population rising to 3000 in about fifty tiger reserves spread across the country.     

Survival of Tiger in India

The most important factor that will help the animal survive is political will. Political initiatives taken at the top are important for the survival of this critically endangered species. This becomes imperative in case of the strong impetus for urbanization and industrialization taking place at the present juncture. The ruling dispensations, the policymakers within should accord immense consideration for natural area preservation without any concession to unplanned development and resource extraction agenda.    

Preservation of tiger habits is imperative to save the species besides as much increase as possible of the core area. Thus the protected areas with inviolate cores are of utmost importance and should remain till eternity in the habitats now terribly constricted by humans and their overpopulated livestock. 

But PAs are not eternal...in case of political infringement if the status is diluted or abrogated that would lead to certain extinction of the tiger. Although a strong framework guarantees the prevention of such anomalies it is all under the control of humans. There are no natural factors or barriers that prevent the violation of critical tiger habitats the predator is entirely at the mercy of humans. 

Creation of corridors, although this has been construed as vital for the prevention of inbreeding and to accord free movement to wildlife the implementation is at best on paper. A strong political will is required in order to relocate settlements from these sensitive and fragile habitats that could form a viable connection. But mass relocation seems to be too overwhelming for the system.   

In India, there is a tribe of organizations that are strong detractors of the inviolate core area concept and often act as a pressure group against the implementation of strong conservative measures.  

Understanding the behavioral characteristics of tigers is very important. As an ambush hunter, it is dependent upon the thick canopy of dense forest and tall grasslands and thus this virtue makes it vulnerable to habitat degradation since it cannot survive in the open country unlike the leopard and the lion.      

Political initiatives are imperative at all levels of administration, especially in the vicinity of the PAs. The initiatives should be favorable towards conservation and prevent biotic interference and commercialization. 

Albeit the forest management in charge of PAs is efficient and dedicated...lacunae in the system should be amended and corrupt elements should be weeded out.  

Poaching through reduced due to stringent patrolling is still an issue and cases of electrocution, snaring, and hunting are still prevalent. Tigers are being lost annually in such incidences. The demand for bones and parts of the big cats is very much prevalent in countries wherever TCM is popular. Thus the threat of poaching and resultant illegal trade in wildlife looms large over our tiger landscapes.   

Eco-development is playing a key role in preventing the alienation of local communities which play a major conservation role in and around the PAs.  Economic development through employment and empowerment is essential in this aspect and tourism and jobs in the forest department are playing a vital role.  

India has a long way to go in order to save the tiger eternally. Although the present trend of increasing population is exhilarating there is no room for complacency.   

Will the tiger be extinct in India?

No! This, if the current trend is taken into consideration and corrective measures are vigorously implemented. The animal will survive until in unforeseen circumstances the threat becomes a reality.   

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Uday Works as Freelance Naturalist and Blogs on conservation, tigers, environmental issues.

He also provides SEO and Website Contents in English. He teaches Digital Marketing in Jabalpur in Summers.

He can be contacted at:

Mail: pateluday90@hotmail.com
 Mob: 09755089323

              

Ecosystem Development: Saving The Sink Population of Tigers

Tiger conservation in India has expanded beyond the perspective of protected areas. Though PAs with inviolate space dedicated to other life forms are the best means to protect the source population of the big cats and will remain relevant for a long long time to come, the tiger's realm is an ever-expanding phenomenon. 

With the success of contemporary conservation practices and the increasing population of this tertiary predator, the paradigm is rapidly changing conservation needs and technology employed. This will challenge the approach and capabilities of wildlife managers and planners in our country. 

The recent induction (news) of funds into corridor development is one fine step for our Government. But will it be finely and boldly executed remains to be seen? Hopefully, there will be some curbs on liner development as well which intersect our reserves and natural lands. The creation of wildlife passages or corridors is a must to save and prevent inbreeding among migratory species. But for this purpose relocation of the human population has to take place which requires political will besides facing stiff opposition that will accrue from many quarters.   

Indian Tiger 

The tiger is a territorial animal and in case of the dearth of space or conflict it becomes peripatetic and thanks to recent findings a good one at that. Well, what this means is that the buck does not stop here at the core or in critical tiger habitats. The predator's realm is an ever-expanding one. 

As a naturalist, I have noticed local migration of tigers displaced by territorial conflicts now enhanced by expanding population. Hence in many cases pertaining to the disappearance of tigers, the reason is not internecine fights leading to death or an act of poaching. In order to avoid bloodshed the loser simply migrates to neighboring forests away from the core. 

In the neighboring region forests classified as buffers or reserves offer a stressful ecosystem to survive and mind you many of the displaced animals are not old but are capable of breeding and surviving their full lives. This is where the problems arise thanks to ensuing man-animal conflicts. But this is not the end of the story ....space is. 

Man-animal conflicts that result in a direct attack on humans are less compared to the acrimony generated due to the killing of livestock. The general feeling of insecurity instigated by the predator's presence further compounds the problem where this animal had lost ground earlier.

The vermin concept flouted during the Raj still infects our minds. 

The latter two are responsible for the poisoning of the big cats in the buffer. Electrocuting small games in the periphery of the reserves often leads to the death of this apex species. 

With increasing urbanization and infrastructure development, the metapopulation of big cats in tiger landscape and distant reserve forests are coming under severe stress. In the modern mind space, increased intolerance of carnivores in India is bound to take place unless the conservation ethos is rekindled. This concept of man-animal harmony is at best chimerical in the material world where the beast needs inviolate space and has no equity. 

Unlike in the periphery of tiger reserves where tourism income flows directly to the local populace the survival of dispersing metapopulation is difficult in areas devoid of connected income. Wildlife and ecosystems cannot survive without the sympathy of the local human population. It is difficult to curb the exploitation of reserve forests and killing of other life forms, and yes prevent man-animal conflicts, by implementing the law in isolation.    

If conservation practices result in the increase and spatial expansion of the big cat, problems compounding conservation practices will be enhanced. This gives rise to many questions?

Do we have the will to save this critically endangered species?

Does the country have the required political will to take the right measures to put aside appeasement and developmental urgencies?

Are we willing to further safeguard forests outside protected areas and prevent encroachment and poaching?

Will ecosystem development take place in habitats, not under the purview of protected areas?

Tigers need space and protection. A population increase that will extract the species from the brink will depend upon their survival in both PAs and outside. A comprehensive approach is therefore required from the Center and States not forgetting institutions involved in conservation research and practices.    

And we the people of India should also support it!

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Uday works as a naturalist and loves to write about conservation. 

Contact: pateluday90@hotmail.com

Mobile: 09755089323

  

Future of Tigers in India

Some ten thousand years back tiger crossed into India from the cold climes of Siberia. It possibly migrated via IndoChina and entered the country to spread around many dense forest and grassland habitats.  It faced a little challenge since the prime predator preceding its arrival was the Asiatic Lion which incidentally had a different habitat preference. The leopard and other predators were no match for this magnificent beast.     

Tiger in Forest - Uday Patel

The predator spread far and wide in the subcontinent perhaps leaving a few States that did not contain the requisite habitat. The spread was gradual till the population came to more than a hundred thousand animals. The big cat flourished as a tertiary carnivore and settled down in the prevailing ecosystems well. That it could breed and multiply with ease confirmed that it had a strong survival instinct.     

For thousands of years, all went well but not in recent times of history. It faced a greater challenge from humans as they multiplied and spread. But the conflict was not daunting as there was plenty of space for all the species then. 

Tiger Reserve - Teerath Singh

It was the unchecked human populations...ever-expanding for more space and utilization of resources that put wildlife and their habitats under pressure including the tiger. Since the carnivore is an apex predator the impact was worse in its case.

As human settlements increased and resource utilization became unmanageable the negative impact increased tremendously as well. The big cat began to lose its habitat, and the ecosystems were gradually destroyed one by one. In dire need of space, humans began to invade habitats at a fast pace. 

Eventually, the grasslands began to recede and so did the forests. In the period of contemporary history, human populations in India grew at a rapid pace resulting in the unplanned acquisition of lands that were crucial for the tiger’s survival. Agriculture too expanded rapidly in recent times sounding a death knell for the homes of the big cats. Large areas of forests and a wide span of grasslands were taken over for human settlement and agriculture. Many species were lost and many are on the verge of extinction as a result.

After suffering decimation due to organized culling campaigns during the British Raj the remaining tiger populations were further being reduced drastically by modern-day hunters with guns. But the conversion of habitats into agriculture had a major impact on the tiger populations in India, especially during the post-independence period.    

Modern Day Challenges 

The human population in the country continues to grow and continues to acquire land for agriculture or other purposes, especially urbanization. The new threat is from development as perceived by the planners. Much under pressure to create a robust World beating economy the fast-expanding industrialization is threatening the very existence of remaining big cat habitats and other species in the country.  Mining, encroachment, and denudation of forests are slowly but surely suffocating the breath out of the big cats.     

It all depends upon what policies are shaped and executed. A lip service paid to conservation would be disastrous with habitats already decimated and surviving species on the verge of extinction. Conservation should be on the agenda of the governing bodies as well as the planners and executioners such that it evades the threat of rabid industrialization that can take place. We should also reckon that public participation is the need of the hour.

Climate change is being augured by the use of fossil fuels as well as the decimation of natural lands. This poses a certain threat to humans but it threatens the species' survival as well.  Our rivers the only source of drinking water, fresh air, and edible elements all are under severe threat.

Consumerism is posing a big threat to the environment. The frustrating plastic menace has come to note. The use of toxic chemicals like pesticides and toiletries is threatening the health of our environment and increasing the extinction risk of many life forms.    

Poaching is a threat that exists in various quarters where the big cats survive. Local poaching is very much there in some places while organized poaching has completely decimated populations in Panna and Sariska Tiger Reserves.

Demand for tiger parts in the Chinese system of medicine is proving to be an existential threat. This is correlated with the taste of exotic wild species in the cuisine of many countries. Pet keeping as a hobby is an unethical practice that is tolerated by many countries.  Activities like these encourage and help flourish the illegal wildlife trade. 

A large population in the country still considers wild species as inimical to human safety and interest. It is organized awareness campaigns and tourism that will perhaps mitigate these horrendous beliefs. If only the big cat could create equity for itself which it does to some extent due to tourism. But is this enough? Many erudite conservationists regret that the tiger cannot vote. Seriously!  

The Future

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It would be unjustified to say that the ruling dispensation does not care for the wilderness. It does and so did the past Governments. What is questioned is the degree of commitment overriding political expediences and hasty development practices.   

Conservation cannot be considered just as a deemed policy matter and ethical or moral obligation. Concrete and sincere efforts have to be made from all quarters to preserve and populate other life forms including the tiger.

The creation of the Project Tiger Program was a shot in the arm for the beleaguered specie. The numbers were precariously low whence this effort was launched. In spite of all the initial hurdles and organized poaching racket the tiger in recent times has gained ground.       

The creation of tiger reserves or inviolate protected areas (critical tiger habitats) accorded much-wanted breathing and breeding space for the other life forms including the big cats. But the preservation of the protected area is subject to many challenges ironically whence there is a dire need to accord greater space and protection to the tigers in India. The biotic pressure on our natural lands threatens the coexistence of other life forms hence the inviolate spaces should be zealously guarded.  

As per the 2014 Census using a new methodology, the figure arrived at was 2226 a rise over the earlier estimates. The 2018 census is going to result in indicating the survival of more tigers in India. But is this enough? 

We have a long way to go...   

2014 Tiger Census

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Uday works as a senior naturalist at Kanha National Park in India
He loves blogs on conservation and related issues
Contact: pateluday90@hotmail.com
9755089323