An excerpt from “Tiger Tiger Fading Fast”, by Gordon J.L. Ramel
Tiger tiger fading fast
in the shadow we have cast,
what brave law or business deal
can thy future’s safety seal.
What the future, what the hope
that humankind may learn to cope
with life and maintenance of breath
without this need of needless death.
(The above poem is a parody based on the work of William Blake titled ‘The Tyger’ (Source – http://www.ecology.info/tiger-tiger.htm))
I would love to say that I took this picture while on a safari, but I didn’t. This is a Royal Bengal Tiger at the Nandankanan Zoo in Bhubaneshwar.
(Luckily, I saw a beautiful tigress on a safari later – read about the experience here)
THE NUMBERS
India has over half the world’s tigers. In 2016, data from the World Wildlife Fund and the Global Tiger Forum (GTF) placed the global tiger population at 3,890 while for the same year India’s count was 2,500, according to a statement by India’s Environment Minister.
As per Wikipedia, the Indian tiger population at the turn of the 20th century was estimated at 20,000 to 40,000 individuals. In 2006, it dropped to the lowest ever count of 1,411.
Poaching and habitat destruction/fragmentation have been the main causes for an alarming fall in numbers. ‘Project Tiger’ was launched by the Indian government in 1973 to ensure a viable population of Bengal tigers in their natural habitats and it has met with some success as the 2016 count shows.
Royal Bengal White Tiger
11 comments
Alarming info indeed!
In the rush for development, nature is the casualty. I guess we need to include sensitivity to our environment somewhere in the definition of a nation’s progress.
Yes, I agree that this is one of the things to include as well.
I deplore the destruction of any animal in the name of $$.
Absolutely. Ecologically sustainable ways of progress are a must in developing nations like India.Though primitive, worshiping nature was the answer in our religiously inclined country earlier. New methods of conservation need to be popularized today.
*nods*
<3 <3 <3
the sad truth 🙁
Yup. Ugly and sad.
We had a similar decline in wolf populations in the US, but that has been partially reversed through conservation efforts. Wolves were extinct in my state of Michigan, but now number in the low hundreds. So, it can be done!
That’s so good to know. Hoping we can do the same in this case. Fingers crossed!
Zoo or safari, it is a beautiful photo. I love the poem too, so sad that the tigers are in peril, whether of habitat or people shooting them.