Jo Russell

How to save endangered tigers in India

The tiger is the national animal of India, yet despite the many measures that have been put in place to protect this rare and beautiful animal, it is now perilously close to extinction.

Although the current slogan is “only 1400 tigers left it India” it has been reported that this figure is actually much lower and as few as 800-900 tigers are now surviving in the wild. What has led to this shameful state of affairs and what can we do to change things?  Strangely part of the answer lies in tourism and by choosing a wildlife holiday in India you can help make a difference:

There are two main reasons for the demise of the tiger in India. One is loss of habitat and the conflict that occurs when humans and wildlife are forced to live in close proximity. Shock waves are still being felt from the very recent case in Ranthambore National Park where two tiger cubs where poisoned – the reason for this atrocity is that a goat belonging to local villagers was killed by the tigers and the priority of these people is to protect their livestock and not the tiger. This type of conflict is an ongoing problem and unfortunately not an isolated case, but it seems incredible that it can happen in this day and age in one of the most famous tiger reserves in India.

The other threat to tigers is poaching as there is a huge demand in the East for illegal body parts – tigers are killed to supply this lucrative black market with bones, pelt and organs – even the tiger penis is considered an aphrodisiac when made into a soup.  Huge sums are paid for tigers so, despite armed guards within the sanctuaries, people are prepared risk their lives in order to kill these majestic animals.

The problems the tiger faces are therefore those of ignorance and poverty - the people living in the surrounding villages are living hand to mouth and obviously must protect their livelihood however they can, and the temptation to make money by supplying tigers to the black market is easily understood when you consider the struggle these people have in simply surviving from day to day.

You can actually help by having the holiday of a lifetime and taking a wildlife tour of India.  Seeing a tiger in the wild is one of the most amazing and rewarding experiences you can ever have and if you choose the right travel company, your holiday can actually help save the tiger from extinction. There is a huge choice of wildlife packages to India offering safaris in India’s National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries and it is therefore imperative that you choose carefully and find a tour company that actively supports tiger conservation.  Such tour operators in India work closely with local support groups and if you choose the right wildlife package to India, you will find that the local people will benefit directly as only local services and guides are employed. By continued education from the support groups, and by proving that living in harmony with the tiger will actually bring much needed prosperity to local people, your holiday of a lifetime can help save India’s remaining tigers.

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