Will a Tiger's roar echo 10 years from now?

Photo Credit: Sujith Muriyad

Why do we need to protect tigers? and why do we think Humans and other species will be safe if there are no tigers? Some of us would have thought about this when we hear about ‘Protect Tigers’. As wild tigers were close to extinction, In 2010, Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit founded ‘International Tiger Day on 29 July. This day is celebrated all across the globe to give awareness about protecting tigers and gaining support for the same cause.

A forest’s health is measured by the population of the animals that live in that forest. If it is a tiger reserve, then the population of tigers.

Tigers play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance, which helps in the survival of humans. No one can disagree that the tiger is an apex predator and is on top of the food pyramid for carnivores. Therefore, tigers hunt down many herbivores. This helps to keep the population of herbivores animals and also the vegetation it feeds on in check, maintaining a balance in the world.

So what is the reason tigers are on the verge of extinction?

The simple answer is because of us human beings. With deforestation, tigers fight over the forest to survive. When forests are cut down, we are cutting down their food supply and habitat, which is why they come to nearby villages to find food. Human beings threatened by these cats kill them for trespassing into human territory.

Another fascinating fact is that Tigers are under constant threat by poachers because of its symbol in various cultures. A wild tiger is poached especially for its bones, meat, and skin. Chinese medicine is old yet expensive practice uses tiger parts as an ingredient for their medicines. It is believed that consuming medicine made from the tiger will help them heal and also replenish one’s energy.

In India, to protect tigers ‘Special Tiger Protection Force' (STPF) is formed under the recommendation of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). The members of STPF have undergone special police training and handling arms. STPF is assigned in various tiger reserves all around India so they can patrol the forest and protect not only tigers but also other animals and their habitats.