Despite government’s initiatives to conserve remaining tigers, their numbers are going down at a tremendous speed.
According to a report in the National Tiger Conservation Authority and TRAFFIC-India, the wildlife trade monitoring network, India has lost 41 tigers in seven months. Between January and August 9 this year, the rates in death of tigers have seen a tremendous increase.
As per 2014 census, there are 2,226 tigers left.
But the shocking fact is, even after so many rules and regulations, these tigers are not dying a natural death but are shot to death by authorities in case of man-animal conflicts. Poaching, shooting, snares and traps, poisoning by villagers are other reasons enumerated for the decreasing numbers in the study.
Another unusual cause of death cited was poaching by poisoning using organ phosphorous compounds. Other causes included cardio-respiratory failure and even retaliatory killing by electrocution near Dhamokar at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh.
Where?
Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu are the states that have reported the maximum number of tiger deaths.
Quote- Unquote:
“There have been instances when a tiger was poisoned by villagers for revenge or out of fear. Tigers usually eat their prey in phases. Villagers know this and, at times, poison a carcass as they know that the tiger would return to feed on it. There have also been instances of electrocution of tigers in Vidarbha, when villagers intentionally left an electrical wire lose, to kill a tiger,” a senior official from the state forest department, said.
He added that most tiger deaths in the state have been due to intentional poisoning by villagers.
Big B appointed as tiger ambassador of Maharashtra
Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan has been pronounced as the ambassador of Save Tigers campaign by the Government of Maharashtra.
Maharashtra Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said that the Bollywood icon had sent a formal letter to the state government on Monday, accepting their proposal and invite.
“I want to thank Maharashtra government for appointing me as the ambassador for ‘Save Tigers’,” said Bachchan.
As per as 2104 census, Maharashtra, with six tiger reserves, has 190 tigers.