I still remember my childhood days when I was taught that the tiger is on top of the food chain pyramid, was once a vehicle of the gods and is a symbol of our national pride. Being a true nature lover the tiger has always fascinated me. But are we part of a generation lucky to have the last glimpse of this beautiful beast? I experience goose bumps even at the slightest thought of it. The charisma of the tiger has inspired poets, persuaded nations to adopt it as their emblem, and sold everything from gasoline to sport merchandise and confectionery. Yet universal appeal has not assured the survival of the tiger in the wild. Nothing has prevented the poachers from systematically killing the big cat for profit. But are they really profiting? Is a dead tiger more worth than a live one? The answer is an unequivocal NO. My neighbor Shailesh a true tiger lover has been to kanha and ranthambore tiger reserves numerous times and has always shared with me his anecdotes. Rightly said by him, the Indian tiger is arguably the best draw for tourists both in India and abroad. People have been known to wait for days on end for a glimpse of the lord of the jungle.
We should take a leaf from other countries which have projected one or other species as a big tourist draw. China advertises its elusive panda as a major tourist attraction, no one comes back from Australia without seeing the cuddly koala bear and far-flung Galapagos Island draws hordes of visitors who flock there to see the giant turtle sunning itself on the rocks. This is not to say that tourism alone will save the tiger; we need conservation measures alongside. Public awareness is a key to this issue. Despite propagating awareness campaigns, the myth that the tiger's body parts boost strength and courage still persists. It is only by convincing people that they are harming their own economic interests by killing the tiger that they will realize the merits of conservation. They must be made aware that killing the tiger brings in a one-time profit, keeping it alive means a sustained income. Surely, the choice will then be obvious.
There is still a chance to save the tiger from extinction, but that will require a concerted effort in the two largest developing economies, China and India — to control the trade in tiger parts, and to protect habitats.
Extinction of the Royal Bengal tiger, lord of the Indian jungle, would be an irreversible loss to India’s heritage and a signal of the environmental dangers of the current development path. It is urgent that India and the world community realize the solemnity of this issue, lay down a concrete plan on tiger conservation and implement it without procrastinating so that the tiger continues to live for generations and generations to come.
I still remember my childhood days when I was taught that the tiger is on top of the food chain pyramid, was once a vehicle of the gods and is a symbol of our national pride. Being a true nature lover the tiger has always fascinated me. But are we part of a generation lucky to have the last glimpse of this beautiful beast? I experience goose bumps even at the slightest thought of it.
