| NAGPUR: With 46 tiger deaths in just 7 months this year in the country, most of them due to poaching and several shrouded in mystery, the Global Tiger Day on Monday will be celebrated under a dark shadow. Looking at the startling revelations by organized tiger poachers, arrested recently near Nagpur and Amravati, the tiger death figures may even be more than 46. A gang of five Bahelia poachers, currently in magisterial custody at Nagpur, has claimed that other gangs have killed at least 11 tigers. These skins were sold to Sarju Bagdi, a tiger skin and body parts trader from Haryana/Delhi, near Nagpur in April and June this year. However, Maharashtra forest officials are investigating only 5 tiger skins, others have not been recorded officially. Global Tiger Day, celebrated every year on July 29, is relatively new, first initiated at the global tiger summit at St Petersburg (Russia) in 2010. The primary aim is to draw world's attention to the plight of tigers, but it is a low key affair in the region, which otherwise should be a mega event considering the 'Gateway to tiger capital' status. The day is celebrated by 13 range countries - India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia (Sumatra), Lao, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand, Vietnam, and perhaps North Korea. In the last seven months, from January 6 to July 16, 46 tigers have died in India, compared to 72 in all of 2012. Of the 46 deaths, at least 15 have died of poaching, while several deaths are shrouded in mystery and still under investigation. Twelve 12 tiger deaths were recorded in Karnataka, followed by eight each in Maharashtra and Uttarakhand. "Apart from habitat loss, poaching remains a major threat to tigers. An estimated 3,000 tigers are left in the wild. These are targeted by poachers, fuelled by demand for tiger skins and parts," says Chittaranjan Dave, project coordinator for WWF-India's Satpuda-Maikal Landscape programme. "Nothing concrete is happening at the national level to curb poaching and trade in India. I've already raised this issue in National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) on June 6, suggesting effective measures and awaiting response from MoEF," said Kishor Rithe, member, Standing Committee, NBWL. However, tiger conservationist Valmik Thapar says, "I'm don't believe in a tiger day. The need to save them should be normal policy and prioritized by all state governments." "I think after 38 years of working with tigers that the delivery system that exists in India to provide relief to tigers is flawed and requires urgent overhauling and reform. This system that primarily consists of the IFS and the IAS has failed the tiger. There are individual exceptions as we have seen in Maharashtra where forest secretary like Praveen Pardeshi has made a difference," Thapar said. He said the forest department should share decision-making with the outside world. "They should use non-governmental expertise in anti-poaching, forest management, science and research, tourism and local people partnerships," he says. "More engagement will enable the forest department is innovate and take sensible decisions," said Thapar. "All this fanfare about tiger day is urban-centric. The organized poachers have not changed their occupation of killing tigers. Second and third generation poachers is still targeting tigers near source population areas. Unless poaching is addressed, such celebrations are worthless," said Nitin Desai, Central India director of Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI). "Looking into the poaching incidents, it should be instead be observed as a black day," said honorary wildlife warden for Nagpur Kundan Hate. Copyright © 2013 Times Internet Limited. All rights reserved.  via Science - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNF_4DTGOBhUJpfW6k9S-V4JBsSQww&url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/environment/flora-fauna/at-46-tiger-deaths-may-beat-last-years-high/articleshow/21437855.cms | |||
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