Tigers no more Predators’ decline cause of concern

The Tribune , Thursday, May 31, 2012
Correspondent :
TIGERS are dying at an alarming rate. It might be too early to say what exactly caused the death of three tigers in Uttar Pradesh in as many days recently, but given the past record, the needle of suspicion will point to man-made causes. The situation in Maharashtra is even worse, with five deaths this year. While not much has been done in Uttar Pradesh, in Maharashtra, once the state government found itself in the spotlight, it then asked its guards to shoot armed poachers who refuse to surrender on sight. Funds allocated years ago were made available for a special tiger protection force, and many extra patrol vehicles have been deployed.

With decreasing habitat, tigers are squeezed into ever smaller areas, which denies them adequate space to live. On the other hand, as mercury soars, tigers and other protected species in sanctuaries have only a limited number of watering holes to go to, and this makes them easy targets of poachers. It has often been seen that the major cause of poaching of tigers is the illicit trade in tiger body parts. In spite of all attempts of the government to stop them, poachers seem to have an upper hand in this battle of wits with the often ill-equipped and outnumbered forest guards. It has been seen that, after most incidents, the first attempt is to classify the death as natural. If the evidence is overwhelmingly contrary to this premise, only then is further action taken. Not only this, experts often point to the lack of patrolling by guards, of the absence of intelligence gathering efforts against poachers, shoddy investigation once an incident occurs, and a lack of accountability.

While on the one hand India has said that it will share the expertise it gained by running Project Tiger with other nations, on the other hand it has been rather lacking in providing protection to the tigers it seeks to protect. Ironic, indeed.

 
SOURCE : http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120531/edit.htm#3
 


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