Tiger Conservation: Saving the Tiger Series 1

In this series, i will focus on the conservation of the tiger and conservation efforts around the world. But first, i'll talk about why we need to save the tiger.

Why We Need To Save The Tiger
Yes, why do we need to save the tiger?

I'll answer this question with facts about the tiger and maybe this might help you see why we need to conserve these creatures. (Special thanks to 'Tiger Time' organization for this information. You can check out their website at http://tigertime.info/)

Facts on the Tiger:
1. Tigers shape the ecosystems in which they live in by preventing over-grazing through limiting herbivore numbers and maintain ecological integrity. (It's a harsh reality but only so that the ecosystem is balanced.)
2. Tigers are solitary animals and live in large habitat ranges. This makes them an excellent 'umbrella' species providing space for a variety of other species to flourish. In fact, in India, there are more than 350 rivers that originate from tiger reserves, cool, right? Hence, protecting tiger habitats will in turn protect these habitats. It may also help buffer poor communities in Asia against the impacts of river siltation and flooding due to reforestation efforts in tiger habitats.
3. Tigers bring in tourism which is obviously beneficial to the local populations.

And my answer to this question, well, God gave us all animals to care for and tigers are irreplaceable...like any other magnificent creature, they deserve to live another day.

Don't you think so too?

Tiger Conservation: The Tiger's New Home Series

The Sanctuary: A Tiger's Refuge
There are more than 441 sanctuaries in India of which some have been declared as tiger reserves under the Project Tiger scheme. That's a lot of them! As usual, i filtered out 3 of them. These sanctuaries have done their best to conserve tigers despite not being among the Project Tiger reserves of India.

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Wayanad District, Kerala
The Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Wayanad, Kerala and was established in 1973. In fact, it is the second largest sanctuary in Wayanad. It forms part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve that was established with the specific objective of conserving the biological heritage of the region. The sanctuary is made up of two forest regions known as Muthanga and Tholpetty covering about 344 sq.km.

The sanctuary is very rich in flora and fauna. The fauna found here include the tiger, leopard, jungle cat, sloth bear, wild dog, Indian python, common Indian monitor, black buck, wild boar, spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, blue bull, common langoor, harep, jackal, mongoose, peacock, jungle fowl and flying squirrel. Among these, there are reported to be about 45 species of mammals, 216 species of birds, 45 species of reptiles, 30 species of amphibians and 59 species of fish. The sanctuary is part of Project Elephant where herds of elephants roam freely across the ranges. About a third of the sanctuary is covered by plantation of teak, rosewood, eucalyptus and silver oak. 

A study conducted in 2012 on tiger monitoring by the Kerala Forest Department and WWF India in the sanctuary revealed that it may be housing the largest population of tigers in South India after Bandipur Tiger Reserve, a sanctuary adjacent to the Wayanad. The study revealed that the sanctuary was home to as many as 80 tigers including 10 cubs! Awesome, ha?

Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhandara District, Maharashtra
Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary is a small and little-known reserve covering 152 sq.km located in Bhandara District. It is commonly known as the Green Oasis of Vidharba region as it is enclosed in nature and landscape. In fact, nearly 30,000 tourists visit the sanctuary annually. The sanctuary consists of hills and lakes within its boundary. The land has diverse vegetation and forests that provide refuge for animals and birds. Animals commonly spotted are the tiger, panther, leopard, bison, sloth bear, sambar, four-headed antelope, blue bull, chital, barking deer, mouse deer, civet cat, jackal, jungle cat, spotted hyena and hare. Birds commonly spotted are the peafowl, grey jungle fowl and red spur fowl. The sanctuary is home to 34 species of mammals, 166 species of birds and 36 species of reptiles, 4 species of amphibia and fish. There are also 49 recorded species of butterflies.

Maharashtra region is home to many wildlife sanctuaries. The Government of India is determined to protect these places in order to attract tourists. In fact, the state government of Maharashtra has awarded a research project a lump sum amount to study the density, habitual patterns, eating habits, socio-economic impacts of the tiger including their numbers, that of their co-predators and prey. It is a five year project that targets Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve and adjoining landscapes such as Navegaon National Park, Bor, Chaprala and Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuaries. The research will also target to look into cases of human-tiger conflict, a major concern of the study.

Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary, Gadchiroli District, Maharashtra

Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary has been known to be one of the most beautiful sanctuaries in India as well as a favorite spot for tourists. In fact, they say, while travelling to Maharashtra, one's itinerary should include visiting this sanctuary. It is spread over 134 sq.kms and is home to nearly 131 species of wild animals and birds such as the tiger, leopard, jungle cat, wild boar, black buck, barking deer, peacock, common langoor, common Indian monitor, mongoose, Indian python, flying squirrel, sambar, jackal, jungle fowl, harep, blue bull, spotted dear, and sloth bear. The existence of some of these animals is said to be threatened. The land here is vastly populated with wildlife and vegetation, some of which are endangered. There are also several water places where tourists go boating. It is a real treat for any visitor and is a majestic place for nature lovers.

Out of the 23 species of mammals recorded, 5 species are endangered, namely the tiger, leopard, jungle cat, sloth bear and wild dog. Two species of reptiles are also endangered; the Indian python and common Indian monitor. There are also 3 species of birds that hold the endangered status. Chaprala's greatest attraction is the Giant Indian squirrel. Unfortunately, its numbers are steadily declining.

Like Nagzira, Chaprala WS is one of the beneficiaries of the study on tiger populations, habitats and eating habits among other aspects. This will help the government of Maharashtra to find ways of curbing human-tiger conflicts and hopefully bring a lasting solution to this major issue.

These 3 sanctuaries may not be Tiger Reserves but they play a large role in the conservation of tigers, so much that studies are being done on their tiger populations. Now isn't that awesome...makes me think about the David-Goliath story...nothing is too small or insignificant to make an impact!

Tiger Conservation: The Tiger's New Home Series

National Parks: The Tiger's Safe House
There are more than 80 national parks in India of which some have been declared as tiger reserves under the Project Tiger scheme. Needless to say, these 3 i believe have displayed great conservation efforts as far as tigers are concerned.

Ranthambore National Park, Sawai Madhopur
It is said that when you see a photograph of a tiger in India, then it was most likely taken in Ranthambore National Park! Clearly a favorite of wildlife photographers! Its fame speaks for itself. It is one of India's largest national parks at 1334 square kilometers. It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1955, became a tiger reserve under the Project Tiger in 1973 and was made a national park in 1980. It was among the first nine tiger reserves under the Project Tiger. It was once known as hunting grounds for the Maharajas of Jaipur, a state in India. The park gained celebrity status during the 1960s when Queen Elizabeth II visited and Prince Philip shot a tiger there! Of course this was way back before the park gained protective status in 1973.

It is now one of the best tiger reserves in India, and the most filmed one too! According to non-government sources, in 2008, there were 34 adult tigers and 14 cubs recorded in the park. Like any other park, it is plagued by poaching due to increasing demand for tiger parts in India. There are also several human-tiger conflicts every year as the people live around the reserve herding livestock. Need i say more!

Its most interesting features is that its decorated with ancient ruins including a fort where tigers and leopards are often spotted. It is said to be among the best places in India to spot tigers in their habitat! Tiger Safaris are most popular in this park as it is most known for its diurnal tigers. This means they sleep during the day and hunt at night but also hunt during the day and sleep at night too...Cool,right?

The park is home to other wild animals such as the leopard, jungle cats, sloth bears. hyenas, foxes, jackals and crocodiles. It is also known for its thriving bird species with more than 270 species!

Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand
This park is known to have many firsts! It is first and foremost, the oldest park in India, established in 1936. It was also the first national park in the whole of Asia! It was the first tiger reserve to be launched by the Project Tiger where this event took place in 1973. It was also first named Hailey National Park in 1936 before being changed to Jim Corbett National Park.

This park is named after Jim Corbett, a naturalist-writer and hunter-turned-conservationist who led man-eater hunting expeditions back in the day. He played a key role in its establishment as a protector of the Bengal tiger. He wrote many writings on his hunting adventures. The park is one of India's most beautiful wildlife areas with a tiger population of around 160! The park is said to be an area with the richest bird region and a favorite of bird enthusiasts with about 600 species sighted and over 488 species of plants with a diverse variety of fauna! A 'healthy' park, isn't it?

In addition to tigers and birds, one is likely to spot leopards, jungle cats, fishing cats, sloth bears, jackals, Bharal, goral, Himalayan tahr, serow, chital, sambal and barking deer. The park is usually known as 'elephant park' where a large number is spotted in Ramganga River, one of the best places to spot them. Tourism activity is only allowed in selected areas of the Reserve so that people get an opportunity to see its landscape and wildlife. Apart from wildlife, the park is located at a bio geographic confluence situated at the junction of two hill regions hence representing a synthesis of cultures of these mountain areas. In recent years, more than 70,000 visitors have frequented the park every season. Tells a lot about this park, right?

Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh
Famously known as 'Tiger Land', Kanha National Park is situated in a horse-shoe shaped valley in Central India of Madhya Pradesh. It is named after the clay-like soil, Kanhar found in this area. Besides the tiger, Kanha has the largest variety of fauna in the country that includes 22 species of mammals. It is said to be an excellent park for wildlife and photography. The park came into being in 1955 where strict conservation measures for protection of the park's flora and fauna has given Kanha a deserved reputation for being the finest administered national park in all of Asia! It is in fact the biggest national park in Madhya Pradesh and the largest in Central India. Awesome,ha?

The major feature of the park might be its interesting topography but its major draw still remains its Royal Bengal tigers. Actually, Kanha is said to have the most sightings of tigers in all of India! Other species that can be spotted include: Indian hare, wild dog, stripped palm squirrel, common langur, jackal, wild pg, spotless deer, black buck, Sambar, Barasingha, leopard, stripped hyenas and others. In fact, the reintroduction of the rare swamp deer, Barasigha also known as the 'Jewel of Kanha' into the park, gave it worldwide recognition since it is its largest preservation. This park also gained popularity when the famous Rudyard Kipling, who wrote the book, "The Jungle Book" used the park's location and several of its settings in his story. The park also boasts a large avian population of about 200 species.

These 3 national parks serve as an example as to the benefits of conserving wildlife. They are working to make the world a better place for wildlife, what are you doing? Food for thought.

Tiger Conservation: The Tiger's New Home Series

Reserves: The Tiger's Protector
There are numerous reserves around the world working on protecting the tiger. A large number of them are found in India. So you can guess that my top 3 choices are from there!

There are 53 tiger reserves in India alone governed by Project Tiger, administered by the National Tiger Conservation Authority. The Project Tiger was formed by the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi in 1973. It was put in place to save the tiger species of India, as this animal is India's national symbol and a vital part of their culture. India has currently over 80 national parks and 441 sanctuaries of which some have been declared as tiger reserves by the government under the Project Tiger Scheme. Below is just 3 of them:

Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh
This reserve was established as a national park in 1968 and as a reserve in 1993. It is named after the highest hill in the park (807m), where the Bandhavgarh fort sits. This park offers much more than just wildlife. With historical temples, 10th century shrines and hand-carved caves within tropical forests, steep rocky hills and valleys, it is undoubtedly the most beautiful park in India.

Despite the magnificence, the one thing that draws tourist's attention is the tiger population there that amounts to about 63 tigers (when they were last counted). This park is well known for its Royal Bengal tigers. It is also a natural hub for White tigers! Cool, ha?

Of course, there are other species such as leopards, wild boar, sloth, rhesus monkeys and birds however, the tiger population there is quite something. Needless to say, it is a popular tourist destination!

Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra
This is the largest national park in Maharashtra with a total reserve area of 1727 km² and created in 1955. It was not well known until recently. This park located in Northern Maharashtra, offers a fascinating view of a jungle in Central India. 

It has two lakes and open waterholes that ensure the population of tigers, all 43 of them (census 2010), are well watered. There are more than 200 bird species here too! It is no wonder that it is the only reserve in India that is open all year!

Sunderbans Tiger Reserve, West Bengal

The Sunderbans is a national park, tiger reserve, biosphere reserve and a wildlife sanctuary all in one! It is located in West Bengal, India and is home to a wide range of flora and fauna. It is famous for its low-lying mangrove estuary which are the largest in the world! 

The Tiger Reserve has a large number of tiger populations numbering up to 70 of them at the last census! It is one of the largest reserves for the Bengal tiger and generally the largest tiger reserve in the world. Actually, it is reported that there are over 250 tigers in the Sundarbans forest area...you can say its popular with the tigers! So rich is its ecosystem that it was declared a World Heritage Site way back in 1989! Feel free to explore more of Sunderbans here...http://www.westbengaltourism.gov.in/web/guest/sunderban-home

There are several other tiger reserves in the world. However, India has proven to host a larger number of them and for this, we need to applaud the good work they are doing to protect these magnificent creatures!

Can i say, बहुत बहुत धन्यवाद (bahut dhanyavaad)

Translated...thank you very much!

Tiger Conservation: The Tiger's New Home Series

The Zoo: A Tiger Preserve 
There are several zoos in the world that have become second homes to tiger species. I must say, they are doing a great job! However, i have decided to pick my top 3 choices (am not ranking them or anything ).

Sriracha Tiger Zoo
The Sriracha Tiger Zoo is home to more than 400 Royal Bengal tigers! The largest of their population in one place. Now isn't that exciting? This zoo is found in Bangkok, Thailand and is also known to host the largest number of crocodiles amounting to around 10,000 of them!

This zoo despite various controversies and internet meme's hosts these wild animals together where most of them have been known to interact. In fact, some of the public shows involves a mother tiger nursing piglets dressed in tiger fur and a sow nursing tiger cubs! Don't believe me... Be my guest! Check out this link...http://www.tigerzoo.com/eng/hightligh2.php and prepare to be amazed!

So i guess we all have our views on whether this is orthodox or not? Well, in my opinion, i fully support any species being able to roam free in their natural habitat, but as we've seen so far,they don't really have that anymore. So am glad these tiger's have found new homes. And isn't it great that these creatures are living peacefully with one another?

San Diego Zoo and San Diego Safari Zoo Park
The San Diego Zoo is located in Balboa Park, San Diego. It is privately operated by the Zoological Society of San Diego founded by Dr. H.M. Wegeforth. It is home to over 3700 animals of over 650 species and sub-species. Among this large number, are tigers. Over the years, San Diego Zoo has hosted over 100 Bengal, Siberian, Malayan and Sumatran tigers!

Currently, this zoo is home to a Malayan tiger called Connor while the SD Zoo Safari Park hosts a mother tiger, Delta, her offspring and her brothers Conrad and Thomas. The zoo has had 23 Sumatran tigers born there and since they are critically endangered, this place is a great boost to their conservation. In fact, the zoo is planning to open up a new tiger habitat in May this year!

The zoo also runs an organization known as the San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy that helps save and protect wildlife around the world.  So lets support them as they help bring species from the brink of extinction...just click here and learn more (http://www.sandiegozooglobal.org/)

The ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
Now these zoos may not host a great number of tiger populations but they are doing something incredible!

The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is an international scientific, conservation and educational charity and founded in 1826 whose mission is to promote and achieve the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats. This society runs two zoos, the London and Whipsnade zoos that are actively involved in conserving species around the world. One of the species that they care for is the tiger.

The London Zoo is home to two Sumatran tigers and recently, three new tiger cubs were born! As this species is critically endangered, this is pretty big news for tiger conservationists around the world. This zoo has recently done something really awesome for these tigers. They have re-created a sort of habitat for them called Tiger Territory with a floor-to-excelling glass windows filled with drawings of these beautiful tigers. And since they are excellent climbers, the team of tiger keepers have put up exhibit features of tall trees for them to scale including high feeding poles to encourage their predatory behaviors. This exhibit was meant to mimic the island of Sumatra. Awesome, right?

The Tiger Territory will enable ZSL breed tigers at this zoo and be able to learn more on these creatures. This will in turn help to create awareness and help people to understand their role in their conservation. It will also help fund ZSL's tiger conservation.

Equally, the Whipsnade Zoo hosts a number of Amur tigers. ZSL has been involved in the conservation of the Amur tigers since 1995. This project is focused on population monitoring, anti-poaching efforts and increasing education and awareness. And because of their effort, the population of this tiger is as of now more stable than any other tiger species. You can learn more about this here...http://www.zsl.org/conservation/regions/asia/amur-leopard-and-tiger-conservation.

I have spent a considerable amount of time making my pick among numerous zoos around the world that host tigers and are involved in tiger conservation and awareness. This is just a small part of this larger group of guys out there looking out for the tiger. And I thank God for them.

Cheers to tiger heroes in zoos all over the world!

Tiger Conservation: The Tiger's New Home Series

Hey Readers,
So, this series will be about tiger conservation efforts all over the world. And for our first section, we'll talk about the tiger's new home.

The Tiger's New Home

In the previous articles on the tiger species, we spoke of how these creatures have been driven out of their natural habitats. And so this has led to them acquiring new homes in zoos, reserves, sanctuaries and national parks spread all over the world. Let's define these places, shall we.

Zoo
A zoo according to the Oxford dictionary is defined as an establishment which maintains a collection of wild animals, typically in a park or gardens, for study, conservation or display to the public.

Reserve
A reserve is defined as a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities fr study or research.

Sanctuary
A sanctuary is a naturally-occurring refuge, protected area or geographic territory such as an island, that provides protection for species from hunting, predation or competition.

National Park
A national park is usually defined as a tract of land declared public property by a national government with a view to its preservation for purposes of recreation and culture due to its notable scenic, environmental or historical importance.

So all these places seem to have one thing in common. Their goal is to conserve and protect species that could be otherwise endangered for purposes of preservation.

Now that we know what these places are, in the next chapter of this series, we'll find out where they are around the world. Of course we cannot possibly look at each and every one of these new homes but maybe the ones that have had the greatest impact on tiger conservation.

Extinct Tiger Species: Part 3

The Caspian Tiger (Panthera tigris virgata)

The last of the three extinct species is the Caspian tiger. It was also referred to as the Hyrcanian or Turanian tiger. This species is believed to have gone extinct in the 1970s. It was last spotted in 1968 near the Aral River. Interestingly, it was believed to have been a subspecies of the Siberian tiger. And actually, recent genetic research conducted in Oxford University suggests that the Caspian tiger may be the same subspecies as the Siberian tiger. The Caspian tiger inhabited west and south of the Caspian Sea in Turkey and Iran and Central Asia, including parts of the Takla Makan desert in Xinjiang, China.  

This tiger was the third largest tiger species and had a stocky build with wide paws and unusually long claws. It had thick fur around its face and closely resembled the Bengal tiger in colour. It had a short ear, furry cheeks and long hair all over its body. Male tigers were believed to weigh between 169-240 kgs while females weighed between 85-135 kgs. The extinction of this species is believed to have been due to direct hunting, habitat loss and conversion to agriculture, increased vulnerability of small populations and loss of wild prey. The loss of this species was a huge loss to the people of Asia due to the huge connection that their culture has to the Caspian tiger and this can still be found in their literature and artwork. Today, no Caspian tiger lives in captivity. It was thus declared extinct by IUCN in 2003.

In order to understand how this beautiful creature came to be completely terminated, we'll need to show a few disturbing facts. Now, in the early 20th century, the Russian government began an effort to eradicate the Caspian tiger in conjunction with an extensive land reclamation project. The Russian army was instructed to kill all tigers found in Caspian Sea and sure enough, this extermination effort was effective. Luckily, in 1947, before they were completely wiped out, tigers were declared a protected species in the USSR. In Iran, these tigers have been protected since 1957 but biologists having surveyed the Caspian remote forests found no trace of the tigers. 

A ray of hope for us though is that Kazakhstan is now working on a plan to reintroduce the Siberian tiger into their former range. We may not be able to bring back this creature to life, but we, like Kazakhstan can ensure that the remaining tiger species have a place they can call home once again, don't you think?