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India has been a prolific home to tigers for a long time, and also boasts highest tiger population in the world. Commonly known in India as Bengal Tigers, Panther Tigris (Scientific Name) [1] have been an endangered species of cat family for a long time, and have a population of only approximately 2226 [2] widely distributed in India. The tiger population has been on decline since late twentieth century and early 21st century. A survey conducted by Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), in partnership with WWF-India, revealed that the Tiger population has declined from 3642 in 2002 to 1706 in 2010.
[3] It is quite evident from the above-mentioned survey and other surveys that the Tiger population rapidly declined during this period. The WWF-India along with
Government of India started a Campaign to Conserve Tiger population which has been a successful attempt to save these beautiful and unique cats from going extinct.
It is pertinent to save tigers not only because they are our National Animal but also because they play a pivotal role in maintaining health and diversity of ecosystem.
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Being the Apex predator and being on top of the food chain, tigers help in keeping in check the balance between the carnivores, the herbivores and the vegetation of an ecosystem, for without them, the population of Herbivores can escalate rapidly and can further degrade the balance between the herbivores and vegetation resulting in the ultimate destruction of the whole ecosystem. Therefore, it is very important to keep this balance in check and to conserve tiger population.
Staggering population growth and rapid industrialization has resulted in substantial deforestation and loss of natural wild habitat. Tiger habitat is being destroyed rapidly to make way for the agricultural land, human settlement, and industrial development and over the course of last century this has led to destruction of over 93% of tiger habitat in India. This has led to several problems for tigers, like loss of habitat and interbreeding, which diminishes the genetic diversity of the species and this also results in contact of tigers with humans, which results in conflict and further killing of tigers. It happens that the tigers sometimes wander into human settlements, mostly villages, and kill their cattle, and in return the villagers kill the tigers for causing their cattle harm. Many a cases have come forward where the tigers get killed because of this reason alone. It is pertinent to aware the people around such tiger habitats and villages the importance of tigers and also make proper arrangements to keep the tigers away from human contacts.
For centuries now, the tigers have been the most sought out wild beings and are being hunted for their uniqueness and medicinal properties found in their claws and teeth which are being openly sold in the Chinese market. Although no scientific research has been put forward concerning the effectiveness of these products, the demand for these products is quite high.
Their skin is of great ornamental value and is being used as rugs to decorate the living rooms of high society people who think of them as trophies and are willing to pay sumptuous amounts for the same.
Being the apex predators and on top of the food chain, tigers are usually the ones who wander out to hunt, but from earlier times, they're being hunted down by the people in power. In the old days, the Rajput kings in Rajasthan and other kings in different parts of India used to hunt tigers for sports, elevating their status symbols and bestowing different titles on them like "SherSingh", "SherKhan", etc. All these and many more reasons are responsible for tiger the decline in tiger population and it has become very important to save tigers and conserve them by any means necessary.
The tiger being an iconic species, several attempts have been made for its conservation making it a priority to save tigers, so that its extinction can be prevented. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) is an international organization working immaculately towards tiger conservation, specifically focussing on trade of tiger derivatives and putting an international trade ban on such products. CITES functions in conjunction with several NGO's such as TRAFFIC (Trade Records Analysis of Flora and Fauna in Commerce) to evaluate and monitor the progress of member states, specifically tiger range member countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, China, Malaysia, etc.
This wildlife conservation project is an initiative of India created to protect Bengal tigers launched on April 1, 1973 and has since become the most successful conservation project. It aims to conserve tigers in-situ in their natural habitats which are special biosphere reserves spread through the country. The number of wildlife reserves protecting tigers has risen to 28 in 2007 covering area of 37,761 km2. As a result, the population of tigers has dramatically increased from 1200 in 1970s to 3500 in the 1900s.
The success of Project Tiger is evident from the increase in numbers of tigers from just 268 tigers in 9 reserves recorded in 1972, has increased to around above one thousand tigers in 28 reserves recorded in 2006. It is understandable that project tiger is basically a project to conserve all the wildlife, because to save tigers and to increase their population, they have to be provided with ample and suitable preys and to have that there would be a requirement of enough vegetation to be able to sustain such animals which can be potential preys to the tigers. This project has been a major contributor to India's wildlife conservation campaign.
Laws governing Wildlife in India have existed from ancient times, when Ashoka, the Emperor, gave law for preserving and conserving wildlife in Third Century BC. Much later in Modern Times, the Government of India has brought a comprehensive act, Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972, which later got amended in 2006 to incorporate some changes.
This act was drafted in 1972 to counter the proem of declining wildlife and natural habitat in our country and was last amended in 2006 to incorporate Project Tiger. The Wild Life Protection Act (WLPA), 1972 provides for the protection of Wild animals, birds and plants and for matters connected therewith or ancillary or incidental thereto. It extends to the whole of India, except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. The act includes all animals like birds, mammals etc. "While the act clearly defines hunting it also prohibits the usage, supply etc. of animal articles, Animal article means an article made from any captive animal or wild animal, other than vermin, and includes an article or object in which the whole or any part of such animal has been used and ivory imported into India."
"Section 9 of the Act prohibits hunting of wild animals and birds specified in Schedule I, II, and III and IV, except as provided under Sections XI and XII. [5] This classification has been made keeping in mind the significance and population of wildlife. Those highly threatened find a place in Schedule I." As of punishment for offences, Section 51 of the Act prescribes a maximum imprisonment of six years, Rs 25,000 fine or both for hunting animals and birds specified on Schedule I. [6]
The WLPA contains expound systems for managing lawful rights in proposed secured regions and procurement of any land or enthusiasm under this law is regarded as an obtaining for an open reason. In any case, with the enactment of The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, [7] consistence of different arrangements identifying with tenurial and group rights must be guaranteed.
Aside from ensured zone foundation, other vital parts of the WLPA incorporate techniques for the arrangement of state wildlife authorities and wildlife boards, the control of exchange wildlife items and the avoidance, recognition and discipline of infringement of the WLPA. The 2006 revision presented another chapter (IV B) for foundation of the National Tiger Conservation Authority and warning of Tiger Reserves (before this correction, Tiger Reserves were not characterized under the law, but rather were just managerial assignments to empower subsidizing under Project Tiger).
The primary goal of the Indian Forest Act (1927) was to secure selective state control over forests to take care of the demand for timber. "The greater part of these untitled grounds had traditionally had a place with the forest abiding groups. The Act characterized state proprietorship, managed its utilization, and appropriated the ability to substitute or douse standard rights." The Act encourages three classes of forests, [9] to be specific:
Held forests are the most protected inside these classes. No rights can be gained in held forests aside from by progression or under an allow or contract with the administration. Felling trees, eating cows, expelling forest items, quarrying, angling, and chasing are culpable with a fine or detainment. In spite of the fact that the Indian Forest Act is a government act, numerous states have enacted comparative forest acts however with a few changes.
This Plan replaces the prior Plan embraced in 1983 [11] and was acquainted accordingly with the requirement for an adjustment in needs given the expanded business utilization of regular assets, proceeded with development of human and domesticated animals populaces, and changes in utilization designs.
The Plan most intently speaks to an actual approach on protection of wildlife. It centers around reinforcing and upgrading the protected zone arrange, on the conservation of Endangered wildlife and their living spaces, on controlling exchange wildlife items and on research, instruction, and preparing.
The Plan embraces two new protected region classes: 'conservation saves,' alluding to passageways associating protected territories, and 'group holds', which will permit more prominent support of nearby groups in protected zone administration through traditional or social conservation practices. These new classes of protected zones are probably going to acquire passage zones under protection. The Plan contains different suggestions to address the requirements of nearby groups living outside protected zones and layouts the requirement for deliberate movement and restoration of villages inside protected territories. The Plan perceives the need to diminish human-wildlife strife and accentuates the foundation of viable remuneration systems. It incorporates the rebuilding of corrupted territories outside protected regions as a key goal.
"Protection of Wildlife alone isn't conceivable just by laws and Government. Regardless of these laws and endeavors, devastation of wildlife, illicit exchange and
poaching proceeds. Active participation from the regular open is likewise extremely essential. It is presently high time for us to comprehend the gravity of the circumstance and act for its sake. What's more, this must be accomplished by our mindfulness and by assist stringent laws by the Government. We should not lose the national fortunes in our rodent race of urbanization and modernization."
As is evident from this article, India has a solid arrangement of laws, Acts and approaches for the protection of forests and wildlife. It is for residents to examine these deliberately and apply them fittingly while leading conservation support battles.
Issue Of Animal Protection: Tiger Conservation In India. (2024, Feb 17). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/issue-of-animal-protection-tiger-conservation-in-india-essay
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