Protected Areas

Humans are more important than birds?

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On a tour to the wildlife sanctuary at Kolleru lake in Andhra Pradesh, the union minister for environment and forests of India stated (source: The Hindu newspaper of 28 February, 2010) – “I don’t see the problem from the environment angle alone. Humans are more important than birds.”

The issue at stake is the reduction of the size of the wildlife sanctuary from present plus 5 contours to plus 3 contours.

Two local members of parliament and even the state government are reported to be pitching for this reduction in wildlife habitat. Pitiful situation indeed!

A final decision would be taken by the central government after a 5-member expert committee submits a report in about 3 months.

Thankfully, the minister recalled that the former chief minister of the state had sought a solution acceptable to all stakeholders.

The Kolleru wildlife sanctuary is a critically important avian habitat and stopover on India’s east coast between Chilika lake up north and Pulicat lake down south.

Trivia

Year of the tiger 2010

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You know, in India, people revere millions of gods. Do you realize the ancient people’s wisdom in creating so many gods? Indian gods are symbolic of different forms of life! By associating every known form of life to a god, the clever sages ensured that all living beings lived harmoniously and the ecosystem was healthy.

The Chinese year of the tiger has just started. China is alleged to be the largest consumer of tiger parts or things created after killing a tiger! Sic! Let’s hope that this “year of the tiger”, will instill some reverence for the tiger in the misled tiger parts consumers and instead of clamoring for tiger parts, they will save tigers instead; Or out of reverence, at least think to save tigers.

On a continuing note, we also hope that the tiger farms will be stopped. These farms just keep on increasing the Chinese appetite for tiger parts.

Campaigns, Vox Populi

What to do?

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Many of our readers have been asking what to do? There is widespread agreement and awareness of the need to save tigers, but the public needs an action plan which is not tied down by the so called red tape. Many people say they will contribute funds but have doubts if it will ever get used in the right time and manner? So, we will suggest here, things to do!

Let’s be very clear. Tiger killing is NOT the major reason for the dwindling tiger population. THE major reason is the dwindling forest cover and ever increasing encroachment of the forests by us, humans. An adult male tiger needs about 80 to 100 square kilometers forest area overlapping the area of about 2 to 3 female tigers to survive and reproduce.

What we can do? We have to educate, mold public opinion and actively participate to increase the forest cover and arrest deforestation. WE have to cut down OUR industrial and consumerist greed!

For a start, form a group of like minded people and start planting trees and protecting them. If you have lot of funds, buy out areas in the forest fringe areas and build non-commercial plantations with lot of trees. You could even pool funds if this is not possible individually. Create a society or trust and do this!

Please also see some of our past comments in the below pages for more ideas.

http://www.savetigers.com/our-comments-upto-06-feb-2010

http://www.savetigers.com/our-comments-upto-13-feb-2010

http://www.savetigers.com/our-comments-upto-20-feb-2010

Campaigns, Protected Areas, Tiger Conservation News, Vox Populi

Divert NH7 to save Pench Tiger Reserve

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Jairam Ramesh, the central minister in charge of the environment and forest ministry in India, recently questioned the detractors of the proposal to divert the stretch of NH7 between Seoni and Nagpur. This stretch of about 130 KM passes through a critical area within Pench Tiger Reserve in central India, and it is feared that maintenance and up-gradation of the national highway would do irreparable damage to the protected area. The supreme court of India has put a stay on the highway up-gradation.

The diversion proposed via Chhindwara would increase the distance by about 40 KM, which is not a big price considering the damage that would be done otherwise. Chhindwara is an upcoming industrial town and this could also help the local people.

General, Who's Who

Save Tigers

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We are a group of non-governmental non-profit conservationists and interact closely with and actively support the tiger conservation activities of government agencies as well as non-government organizations.

This website is a weblog of information and activities to save tigers. Interested entities are welcome to actively take part in discussions and submit their opinions. Though we are not related to any government or private agency, we follow the principles and guidelines issued by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, India and the tenets of the Project Tiger, India.

We are very grateful to Animail.com who preserved this domain name and transferred to us for a very generous consideration. Animail.com is giving away conservation related domain names to interested genuine entities to use the domain names for furthering conservation efforts.