... Is this what we'll leave for our children?!

                                                       pic: http://www.projectbiwan.com/

When I was a kid, I loved visiting zoos and sanctuary. I used to spend the longest time watching tigers play, sleep, walk, jump around. All that I am left with now are memories...

Tigers have always been endangered species... but since ages they have been hunted, poached for adorning walls, floors and bodies of royal families. Even after the government declaring hunting and poaching illegal... our hunger for 'dead tiger' is not satiated.

Read the following Tiger facts:-

• From 40,000 Tigers at the turn of the last century, there are just 1411 Tigers left in India!
• 2009 was the worst year for Tigers in India, with 86 deaths reported.
• There are 37 tiger sanctuaries in India. However, 17 sanctuaries are on the verge of losing their Tiger population.
• Corbett National Park is the oldest tiger park in India. It was created in 1936 as 'Hailey National Park'
• The Kanha National Park's lush sal and bamboo forests, grassy meadows and ravines provided inspiration to Rudyard Kipling for his famous novel, 'The Jungle Book' (source: www.saveourtigers.com)

There are various reasons for the death of Tigers:-

• Illegal trade of Tiger body parts. There is a huge demand for tiger body parts across the world. Skin for fashion, other body parts for oriental medicines and food! (how inhuman!)
• It is estimated that quantum of trade in wildlife products is just next to narcotics, valued at nearly 20 billion dollars in the global market, of this more than one third is illegal.
• Illicit trans boundary trade in tiger body parts has increased due to lucrative prices offered for Tiger bones in particular.
• As per one estimate (1999) 10 gms. of tiger bones fetch a price of US$ 24.25 at the China-Vietnam border, i.e. above Rs. 1 lakhs per kg. In Japan, trade in Tiger parts and products was permitted till April, 2000.
• Depleting wildlife quantity and quality, and prey base is making the tigers walk into human occupied areas.
• Human invasion into wildlife occupied areas, thereby disturbing the eco-system. (source: www.projecttiger.nic.in)

Looking at the above facts and statistics of undying human hunger for Tigers... If it doesn't stop here... I guess I may end up showing photographs of Tigers to my children just beside Dinosaurs and other extinct species... Such a pity, they will never be mesmerised by Tigers the way I was when a kid!!!

Lets join in the cause and raise our voice... Save the Tigers!!!