– Tigers are the largest members of the cat family and are renowned for their power and strength.
There were eight tiger subspecies at one time, but three became extinct during the 20th century. Over the last 100 years, hunting and forest destruction have reduced tiger populations from hundreds of thousands of animals to perhaps fewer than 2,500. Tigers are hunted as trophies, and also for body parts that are used in traditional Chinese medicine. All five remaining tiger subspecies are endangered, and many protection programs are in place.
Bengal tigers live in India and are sometimes called Indian tigers. They are the most common tiger and number about half of all wild tigers. Over many centuries they have become an important part of Indian tradition and lore. Saving the tiger means saving mankind..
There are bigger issues like poverty, global food shortage, price rise. Why do we have to care about some wild tigers? To answer this question, one needs to understand that the tiger is not just a charismatic species. It’s not just a wild animal living in some forest. The tiger is a unique animal which plays a pivotal role in the health and diversity of an ecosystem. It is a top predator and is at the apex of the food chain and keeps the population of wild ungulates in check, thereby maintaining the balance between prey herbivores and the vegetation upon which they feed. Therefore the presence of tigers in the forest is an indicator of the well being of the ecosystem. The extinction of this top predator is an indication that its ecosystem is not sufficiently protected, and neither would it exist for long thereafter.
If the tigers go extinct, the entire system would collapse. For e.g. when the Dodos a species goes extinct, it leaves behind a scar, which affects the entire ecosystem. Another reason why we need to save the tiger is that our forests are water catchment areas. If went extinct in Mauritius, one species of Acacia trees stopped regenerating completely. So when the tiger goes today, the forests will go tomorrow as they serve to be the guardians of our forest cover, villagers who live on the boundaries of our national parks and reserves are afraid to enter the forest to collect dry firewood, thatch for roofing purposes or grazing of cattle, the fear of the tiger prevent man from entering the forest and this prevents over grazing of the land. Tigers need a large prey base and large tracts of forest, this forest act as a catchment area for the rains and the trees slowly release the water right throughout the year. Once the tigers disappear, so will the forest cover and then there will be no catchment area for rain and soon there will be in water in our homes.
Tigers are essential for the protection of the forest and maintain the balance of the ecosystems. Apart from this other kinds of natural disaster will occur. One has to closely examine our forest and species to understand the interdependence of life and how every species in the ecosystem helps to sustain life of another species. This interdependence of life is difficult to explain for so far no one has quite understood how one species effects the life of another. “When we protect one tiger, we protect about a 100 sq. km of area and thus save other species living in its habitat. Therefore, it’s not just about saving the pride of India and an Iconic species but is about saving many other species that live in the same habitat as the tiger does. But again! Can’t this balance be maintained by other predators like leopards or wild dogs? The jungle is a place where each and everything, whether animal, bird or plant, has its own place, purpose and role in maintaining the ecosystem balance. Leopards or other predators hunt mostly smaller animals (with few exception that can’t be counted), whereas well grown Tigers are capable of bigger hunts. So their role cannot be ignored. Saving Tigers is saving jungles. Jungles are our water catchment. So we are not only ensuring that these beautiful animals are saved but also our source of clean air, drinkable water, global warming regulator and much more.
Therefore, Tigers are an integral part of our earth ecosystem. It is not that they need us to save them but we need them to save our planet and ourselves. I do believe that if we don’t take the “save our tiger” initiative seriously now, it will not be long before we end up with a “save ourselves” initiative. So if we want our children to enjoy a beautiful planet with clean and healthy environment to grow up in then – Let the Tiger Live!!!!!!!
