WORLD TIGER DAY 2009 - PART II - SAVE OUR NATIONAL ANIMAL

Save the Royal Bengal Tiger from being sentenced to death and extinction, by notorious poachers, indifferent politicians, mining companies, and by illegal fur traders


Introduction:

Let me say this once and for all. Saving the royal Bengal tiger (RBT), tigress, and their cubs is of utmost importance today.

The majestic Royal Bengal Tiger, tigress and their beautiful cubs are 'the sovereigns' of dry deciduous forests, moist deciduous forests, wetlands, and savannah grasslands from Assam to Kerala and from Rajasthan to West Bengal.

Humanity in the 21st century stands at the crossroads between life and destruction. We in India, have to act right now to save our tigers from annihilation.

Of primary concern right now is the 'plight' of tigers in several Tiger Reserves including Indravati Tiger Reserve in Chattisgarh and Palamau Tiger Reserve in Jharkhand. These are in Central India and Eastern India, respectively. We can also add Valmiki Tiger Reserve in West Champaran district of Bihar to this list.

These Tiger Reserves are on the verge of losing all their tigers because of rampant poaching by vile poacher gangs as well as unchecked destruction by armed political groups who have laid waste to these reserved forests.

In Eastern India, the plight of tigers is getting from bad to worse in Simlipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj district in Orissa, where armed political groups and poachers have taken over large areas of this Reserved Forest and have decimated numerous tigers for the past five years or more. Simlipal Tiger Reserve is an extraordinary tiger reserve not only in Eastern India but as far as the whole country is concerned and is especially noted for it's 'immense biodiversity'.

Therefore, an instant plan of action is needed through the Central Environment Minister Mr. Jairam Ramesh and the Union Ministry of Forests - to reclaim Indravati, Palamau, Simlipal and Valmiki Tiger Reserves from armed political groups and poachers who have devastated these beautiful reserved forests and slaughtered numerous tigers and tigresses for the last 10 years or more.



Some Basic Facts Regarding Relentless Destruction of Tiger Habitat in India

We need to save the remaining tigers at Indravati, Palamau, Simlipal and at Valmiki Tiger Reserves asap from poachers before all our precious and majestic tigers are brutally slaughtered and their skins and bones shipped off to countries in the Far East. This was the case in 2005 in Sariska where a number of tiger skins were traced to Tibet after tigers were horrendously massacred in Sariska Tiger Reserve by local poachers, who supplied tiger skins and bones to illegal fur traders based in various parts of India, who in turn smuggled them through Nepal and into Tibet (Related Internet links 5, 6). Catastrophe struck Sariska Tiger Reserve in 2004 and 2005 only because the core area of the tiger reserve was encroached upon by illegal settlers. This made it easy for local poachers to target the tigers that lived in the reserve (Related Internet links 5,6).

Similarly, a number of these beautiful striped big cats from Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh were butchered by poachers in 2007 and 2008, to satiate the need for tiger skins and bones in great demand by greedy buyers and tycoons in countries in the Far East (Related Internet link 4).

A large number of individuals in many countries in the Far East especially those who are well heeled, wrongly believe that 'tiger penis soup' can cure a male who is impotent and improve his sexual prowess. It is disgusting to note the extent to which their destructive thinking extends (Related Internet link 4).

From 2002 and more so from 2005, numerous poacher gangs have been butchering beautiful tigers all over the country especially at tiger reserves, which are in a mess because of mismanagement.

Let us have the guts to do something not only in or near tiger reserves all across India but let us also be proactive by blogging or writing about our concern for this flagship species of our forests, in newspapers and magazines.


Our Bengal tigers deserve a much better deal than the one they are presently getting from various State Governments and Agencies. It is a terribly raw deal to the nth degree. Poaching gangs need to be smashed right now to save our tigers.

To make matters worse, greedy mining companies in collusion with greedy 'powers-that-be' have been mining forests near 'core tiger habitat' as well as near forest corridors which tigers are known to frequent for prey and for water.

This is especially the case in Orissa where mining companies have freely been given the right to mine in and around Simlipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj district, as well as in forests in Keonjhar district and in numerous forests in Western and Southern Orissa, to the total detriment of tigers in Orissa.

The apathy of the Orissa State Government vis-a-vis it's tigers is unbelievable and most distressing. I believe the 'riot act' needs to be read to the Orissa Government by the Union Ministry for Forests asap or else every tiger in Orissa (or what is left of them) is utterly doomed to be slaughtered by all kinds of poacher gangs. Terrible degradation is taking place in the forests of Orissa due to the activities of greedy mining companies as well as by armed political groups who have occupied these pristine forests.

I say this for the following reason: Once a mining company starts mining in a forest near 'core tiger habitat', tigers and their precious cubs are immediately vulnerable to infamous poacher gangs that are constantly prowling in and around biodiverse forests in India.



What could have been a bad situation for tigers in Maharashtra was brewing for some time in 2009 in a forest corridor near Tadoba Tiger Reserve which is connected to the South Junona Reserved Forests - here tigers have been observed on a regular basis.

There was a plan to lease this forest corridor to a mining company to the detriment of tigers living here as well as to the detriment of tigers at Tadoba Tiger Reserve. And even to the detriment of their invaluable herbivorous prey who were bound to be affected if an unfortunate decision was taken in favor of this coal mining company.

Luckily, the State Government of Maharashtra has shelved plans to lease this forest corridor to ANY coal mining company for the foreseeable future only because of local environmentalists and tiger conservationists who rallied against this destructive and environmentally unfriendly mining company and in favor of the 'striped sovereign' of the forests of Tadoba and it's jungle corridors.

Mr. Bandu Dhotre, a noted environmentalist from Chandrapur, Maharashtra, was instrumental in getting this proposed lease of forest land to a mining company canceled due to his untiring efforts in exposing those responsible for the proposed mining of this forest corridor which would have surely ensured the end of tigers in and around Tadoba, had this lease been approved. He even went on a fast unto death as part of his protest. He is most definitely 'the saviour and protector' of tigers in and around Tadoba (Related book citation a).


An Important Perspective Connected to Tiger Poaching:

Most importantly let us remember, whether we are well-heeled and well educated urbanites or whether we are urbanites who are truly concerned tiger lovers; that every time tigers are slaughtered in different parts of India by poachers, tiger skins and bones which fetch lakhs of rupees in the International market are used to fund terrorist attacks against our beloved Motherland by fundamentalist terrorist groups who are well connected and have an established nexus with poacher gangs from whom they buy tiger skins and resell it to buyers from countries in the Far East.

"Imagine how many terrorist attacks can be financed through tiger skins obtained by poachers from Tiger Reserves in different parts of India". For example, a tiger skeleton is valued at 5 lakhs in Indian currency, in the International market; and a tiger skin is valued at twice as much (Related internet link 1).

It is evident that terrorist groups are 'part and parcel' of the poacher network.
As long as tigers are slaughtered in India, we should expect constant terrorist attacks in all cities all across India; that is why the poacher-terrorist network needs to be smashed and stopped in it's tracks (Related Internet link 1).



CONCLUSION:

India can still save it's wild tigers !!!! It is still not too late !!!!

Can we effectively save our precious tigers and tigresses who live in Tiger Reserves and wildlife sanctuaries from being slaughtered by poachers in the same way as the tigers of Sariska and Panna were slaughtered????

The answer to this question is 'YES'! We in India are capable of having the will and the means to stop well-organized poacher gangs in their tracks who are determined to empty Reserved Forests especially in Central India, Eastern India, North India and Southern India of all tigers that live in these forests or wildlife sanctuaries.

It is distressing to say this: Whatever tigers still exist at Namdapha Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh, Dampha Tiger Reserve in Mizoram, Orang Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam, etc. all must be relocated to safe Tiger Reserves in Peninsular India like Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan, Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve also in Madhya Pradesh, or at Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka where adequate prey exists.

This is especially the case in Orang Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam where only seven tigers are left as of 2009. They must be immediately relocated to Kaziranga National Park or to Manas National Park where adequate prey exists.

I say this for the following reason: I am extremely distressed about tigers and about their safety in some parts of North-East India like Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram simply because the indigenous tribes that live near these Tiger Reserves eat tigers as part of a cultural ritual. And if they do not eat tigers, they poach them down to the last one and sell their skins to wildlife skin smugglers operating in North East India who in turn resell tiger skins to their contacts in countries in the Far East (Related book citation d).

Most importantly 'shoot at sight' orders need to be issued against poacher gangs asap. Merely arresting poachers and imprisoning them for 3 years or so will do nothing to save tigers in any part of India.


What do we need to really do to safeguard our majestic tigers from being slaughtered to extinction??

Arresting members of hard core poacher gangs is merely a slap on the wrist as they will get back to their poaching activities once they are out of prison.

I strongly believe that a 8-point plan needs to be adopted if we are really sincere about saving our tigers and tigresses into the next century or even for the next 10-20 years. This should be done immediately, as if there is no tomorrow.

Point 1: Paramilitary forces must be deployed in every Tiger Reserve to prevent tiger extinction asap. If active paramilitary forces cannot be deployed in every Tiger Reserve from Assam to Kerala, and from Orissa to Rajasthan, then ex-Servicemen from the Border Security Force and Central Reserve Police Force must be deployed in Tiger Reserves without any further delay.

In addition, the creation of a highly reliable volunteer citizen group or groups, to assist and patrol jungle areas, would add to security measures already in place, as well as strengthen the hands of the existing Forest Department and Security Forces.


Point 2: To control the 'rampant poaching' of tigers and wild denizens, a new force and Ministry needs to be created at the State level as well as at the Central Government level to save our regal tigers and tigresses.

Existing wildlife protection laws need to be upgraded and enforced asap and poachers caught and punished severely. For example, a 20-year rigorous prison term for poaching tigers should work very well as a deterrent against tiger poachers and would-be tiger poachers.


Point 3: Full protection needs to be given to those individuals who are involved in protecting our natural resources, without any interference from politicians, or the bureaucracy.

Point 4: 2 percent of the country's landmass should be made completely inviolate and should be completely dedicated to wildlife and wildlife protection. Any country should be more than able to meet it's needs with 98 per cent of land. This is especially applicable to India and the way things are going on and getting from bad to worse for it's 'wild denizens' who are being slaughtered with no end in sight.

Identify that 2 per cent land within a period of 1-2 years at the most, and declare it an 'exclusive area for wildlife' especially for magnificent Royal Bengal Tigers and tigresses.


Point 5: The Eastern and North Eastern borders with Nepal and Bangladesh should be sealed asap to prevent large-scale smuggling of tiger skins and tiger bones by illegal fur traders.

It is through the 'porous Nepal border with India' that a large number of tiger skins are smuggled to countries in the Far East through various poacher middlemen in league with corrupt officials. This was the case with tigers who were slaughtered in Sariska and Panna in 2005 and 2008, respectively. This has also been the case with tigers who were slaughtered in other Tiger Reserves from 2002 to 2009 (Book citations b and d; Related Internet links 5, 6).


Point 6: We need to declare 'Wildlife Protection' as an ESSENTIAL sector so that huge vacancies that plague forest staffing are filled and the gates to looting precious wildlife from India are permanently closed. In addition to the above that has been stated, we need to have a 'National Armed Force' for forest officers, on call and on guard, that is capable of taking on poacher gangs.

Forest officers should be armed with sophisticated automatic rifles and weapons to take on all kinds of poacher gangs that are causing enormous damage to the natural 'treasury' of India.


Point 7: A brand-new Central Ministry exclusively for the protection of highly endangered wildlife should be created asap. More importantly, all countries in the Far East that buy tiger skins and bones from illegal fur traders in India should be boycotted and black-listed by the Indian Government and by the International Community.


Point 8: Last, but not least 'shoot at sight' orders need to be issued asap against all poacher gangs that are found prowling in or around Tiger Reserves from Assam to Kerala and from Orissa to Maharashtra.

'Shoot at sight' orders will work immediately against all criminal tribes who are involved in tiger poaching and as a deterrent to would-be tiger poachers (Related book citation b).

Finally, I would like to emphasize this: It is extremely distressing that in 2002, there were 2,200 tigers (or thereabouts) in 'wild India'. But in 2010, there are only 1,300 tigers (approximately) in Indian Forests. This is incontrovertible evidence that from 2002 to 2009, at least 800 tigers (if not more) met their end at the hands of poachers (Related Internet Link 4).

Hopefully the tigers that still exist in 'wild India' will be given the highest protection in the land asap. IMHO, tigers should immediately be given VVIP status by the Union Ministry for Forests and Environment.


Notes and Credits:

1. I strongly recommend an excellent book by Prerna Singh Bindra namely 'The King and I - travels in tigerland' for all wildlife enthusiasts and tiger lovers who are genuinely concerned about the safety and welfare of the 'striped sovereign' in varied forests in India. This book is a "must-read" for all. Bindra, for a number of years, has been documenting the on-going crises of Indian wildlife.

2. Book citations:

a. 'Mining undermines tiger forest' by Rushikesh Chavan and Sanjay Karkare. From Hornbill BNHS, Issue July-Sept 2009.

b. 'Saving wild tigers, 1900-2000, The Essential Writings' edited by Valmik Thapar. 2001. Published by Permanent Black, Delhi, Distributed by Orient Longman Ltd.

c. 'Tiger Haven' by Arjan Singh. 1973. Edited by John Moorehead, Published by Macmillan London Ltd.

d. 'The King and I - Travels in Tigerland' by Prerna Singh Bindra, 2006. Published by Rupa and Co. New Delhi.



Related Internet links:

1. 'Link between terror and poaching', 2008. Anahita Mukherji and Vijay Singh. December 11, 2008. Times of India.

2. 'Accountability to be fixed for inflated Panna tiger numbers', June 2009. Times of India, IANS, Kolkata.

3. 'On a reel mission to save tigers', 2010. Neha Dara. Originally published in Hindustan Times. 8 February, 2010. (The official database of the National Tiger Conservation Authority).

4. 'Take a Good Look....This May be the Last Time You See a Tiger'. 2009. Special Report by Neelam Raaj. Sunday Times in the Times of India. 9 August, 2009, page 18.

5. 'Tiger, tiger, losing fight'. May 2005. By Vibha Sharma. May 2005. The Tribune: Spectrum.

6. 'The Great Indian Tiger Factory'. By Jay Mazoomdaar. September 25, 2005. The Sunday Express.

7. 'Now, tiger conservation to go hi-tech'. By Neha Shukla. November 11, 2008. The Times of India, Mumbai.