08 February 2012
Tiger poaching dropped nearly 60 percent in 2011 as compared to the previous year, though it continues to pose a major threat to the survival of the big cat in the country, a leading NGO said.
According to the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI), 13 tigers were hunted last year as compared to 30 in 2010 - a decline of 57 percent. The bodies of poached tigers, seized bones and skins were computed to arrive at the figures. Click on date for more details
The Sunderbans
Where the land meets the sea at the southern tip of West Bengal lies the Indian Sunderbans; a vast area forming the largest Tiger Reserve and National Park in India.
In addition to climate change, the Sundarbans tigers, like other tiger populations around the world, already face tremendous threats from poaching and habitat loss. The fertile soils of the delta have been subject to intensive human use for centuries, and the region has been mostly converted to intensive agriculture, with few enclaves of forest remaining.
As a result, Tiger ranges have decreased by 40 percent over the past decade, and tigers today occupy less than seven percent of their original range.
In 2002 a census put the number of tigers at 274; in 2006 the number had fallen to only 75.
Global Tiger Patrol has supported tiger conservation in the Sunderbans for many years notably providing and helping maintain a patrol boat to support and monitor conservation activities.
Sadly in May 2009 villages in the area in which we work were destroyed by the little publicised Cyclone Alia. GTP responded with an immediate tranche of funds and set up an appeal to help those villages helping our work. Among the pictures is our patrol boat delivering fresh water.
In addition to climate change, the Sundarbans tigers, like other tiger populations around the world, already face tremendous threats from poaching and habitat loss. The fertile soils of the delta have been subject to intensive human use for centuries, and the region has been mostly converted to intensive agriculture, with few enclaves of forest remaining.
As a result, Tiger ranges have decreased by 40 percent over the past decade, and tigers today occupy less than seven percent of their original range.
In 2002 a census put the number of tigers at 274; in 2006 the number had fallen to only 75.
Global Tiger Patrol has supported tiger conservation in the Sunderbans for many years notably providing and helping maintain a patrol boat to support and monitor conservation activities.
Sadly in May 2009 villages in the area in which we work were destroyed by the little publicised Cyclone Alia. GTP responded with an immediate tranche of funds and set up an appeal to help those villages helping our work. Among the pictures is our patrol boat delivering fresh water.
