The latest tiger census presented a shocking report that only 1411 tigers are remaining in India.This means that we have lost around 2500 Tigers in the last 3-5 years.
But the fact is, only this time the census department have used proper techniques to take the count of the Tigers. earlier they were determining the count by using Pug Marks methodology which was not at all accurate.
Now they use camera trapping also where in infrared cameras are set up in common tiger trails and whenever anything passes by it takes a picture.
Tiger stripes are like finger prints. No 2 tigers have the same kind of stripes.This helps in not counting a tiger twice.
so now they use these snaps and pug mark methodology to determine the count.
There are very few people who understand the true importance of protecting the tiger.
Most people feel it is only a matter of saving an animal that makes a beautiful sight to see. This reason only makes up a fraction of why we need to save this incredible animal. The tiger is at the top of the food chain in the jungles that it roams.
The following is a very basic description of the chaos that would ensue if the tiger became extinct.
If this was to happen, the populations of prey species like Spotted deer and Sambhar would burst at the seams.
This excessive population would then totally ravage it's food source - vegetation. If the vegetation in the jungles was devastated, where and how would the insects survive. They may even shift to the crops in farmlands. If the plants in the jungles would be finished, what would refurbish the soil. If the soil was no longer fertile, new plants would not sprout. Over the years, this would probably mean the end of the jungles.
Without the tiger to control the populations of its prey species, it would have a devastating effect on the forest as a whole.
The end of jungles also means the end of the biggest suppliers of the oxygen filled air,
which we take so much for granted. This is a very simple layman description of what the result of tiger extinction could mean to our own survival.
The truly scientific description is even more alarming and drastic.
It isn't necessary for every one of us to take world-awakening steps.
All we have to really do is influence those that are a part of our own lives.
Obviously, anyone wanting to do more than that is another breath of fresh air for a dying tiger.
The least we can do is sign up to the NDTV save the Tiger Campaign
and enlighten our friends about the seriousness of the situation.
Here's the link -- http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/savetiger/sthome.aspx
In 1900 we had 40000 Tigers and now we have 1411.
Let us please do our bits to save our National animal.
Cheetah is already extinct in India.
Let this not happen with our Royal Bengal Tiger.
This truly is our last chance.