Man Eating Tigers
05, Nov 2018
Prelims level :
Mains level : GS: III “Environment Conservation”
- Over the last three months, over 200 men with sniffer dogs, drones and trap cameras scoured the forests in Maharashtra Yavatmal district on the trail of an elusive man-eating tiger.
- Due to the fear it caused the villagers, the Maharashtra forest department issued a shoot – to – kill order to eliminate it.
- Although the order was to be used as a last resort, it was challenged in the courts all the way to the supreme Court.
- In September, the top court refused to restrain the forest department from killing. After a 53-days of massive hunt, the man eater tigress was shot dead in Raligoon by a sharp shooter leading to protest of wildlife activists.
Various steps taken by the government for Tiger conservation:
- Indian Tiger is listed in Schedule 1 of the wild life (Protection) Act, 1972.
- Act prohibits trade of rare and endangered species.
- Project tiger was initiated in 1973.
- In 1973, project launched in Jim Corbett national Park.
- Project is sponsored by centre in 9 reserves of different states.
- Projects running in 17 states, their number has increased to 50.
Tiger conservation authority:
- National Tiger Conservation authority was launched in 2005.
- NTCA farmed under ministry of environment, forests and climate change.
- Ensures protective measures and reduces dependency of local communities on tiger reserves.
- Responsible for implementing “Project Tiger” Plan.
Special Tiger Protection Force:
- Formed recommendations by NTCA to protect tiger in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve.
Wildlife protection society of India:
- Founded in 1994 by Belinda Wright.
- WPSI implemented successful conservation campaign around tiger reserve areas in central India.
- Campaign was launched in April 2011.
Tiger Population in India:
- According to the census released by National Tiger Conservation authority there is 5.8% annual increase in Tiger population.
- 2015 Census estimates 2,226 tigers.
Tiger Habitat in India:
- Shivalik – Gangetic Plains Landscape.
- Central Indian and Eastern Ghats Landscape complex.
- Western Ghats Landscape.
- North – eastern hills and Brahmaputra flood plains.
World Tigers
- Larger subspecies live in Northern colder areas,
- Smaller subspecies live in southern, warmer countries.
- Smaller species live in arid forests, flooded mangrove forests, tropical forests and tiaga.
- There are nine subspecies of tigers: Bengal, Siberian, Indo Chinese, South Chinese, Sumatran, Malayan, Caspian, Javan, Bali.
- Caspian, Javan, Bali already extinct, the rest are endangered.