Every year on July 29 International Tiger Day is celebrated on to raise awareness about the conservation of tigers but the Climate change poses a growing threat to us all, including tigers.
Rising sea levels are threatening critical tiger habitat, warming temperatures affect distribution of tree species which can impact tiger prey species, and there is an increased danger to tigers and tiger habitat of extreme weather events, like flooding or forest fires.
In addition, habitat changes due to climate change can bring tigers closer to human communities, leading to increased conflict and suffering for both humans and tigers
In view changing environment the countries all over the world today celebrate this day as a comprehensive effort to protect tigers and their natural habitat at a global level. International Tiger Day is celebrated so that humans and tigers can coexist harmoniously.
Tigers, listed as an endangered species in many regions worldwide, face numerous threats to their survival, including habitat loss and poaching.
Due to the Illegal wildlife trade , Human wildlife conflict , Habitat loss and fragmentation , Climate change there is great treat to the tiger population.
Tigers are mostly found in Asia and Africa. Unfortunately, because of poaching and habitat loss, more than 95 percent of tigers have been killed, leaving the remaining 5 percent severely endangered.
In India the tiger population is stood at 3,167, which is a 6.74% increase in tiger numbers since 2018. In 2018, the population of tigers in the country was 2,967.
As per the official figure, there were 1,411 tigers in 2006; 1,706 in 2010; 2,226 in 2014 and 2,967 in 2018. There has been a 124.45% increase in tiger numbers since 2006 according to the estimation results.
Project Tiger, launched in 1973 by the Indira Gandhi government, completed its golden jubilee on April 1.
India is home to 75% of the world’s tiger population which covers 75,000 square kilometers of land and in the past ten to twelve years, the tiger population in the country has increased by 75 percent.
In the latest census data on the completion of 50 years of Project Tiger, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said “The success of ‘Project Tiger’ is a matter of pride not only for India but for the whole world.”
The beautiful, awe-inspiring tiger is one of our world’s most iconic animals. But here’s the shocking truth. Wild tiger numbers dropped by around 95% since the beginning of the 20th century. Now, for the first time in conservation history, their numbers are on the increase.
Only July 28, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed India’s ‘Project Tiger’ which is aimed to promote the conservation of tigers while addressing the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Ministerial Meeting in Chennai .
He said, “India has recently launched the international Big Cat Alliance for the conservation of 7 big cats on our planet. It is based on our learnings from Project Tiger, a pioneering conservation initiative.
As a result of Project Tiger, 70 percent of the world`s tigers are found in India. We are also working on Project Lion and Project Dolphin.” The Prime Minister also said that India is one of the top 5 countries in the world in terms of installed renewable energy capacity.
“We have also set a target of attaining net zero by 2070. India has consistently been at the forefront of taking action on biodiversity conservation, protection and enrichment.”
HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL TIGER DAY
Global Tiger Day, commonly referred to as International Tiger Day, was first established in 2010 during the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit by nations that are home to tigers. The Global Tiger Initiative (GTI), a grouping of nations, international organisations, and conservation organisations committed to tiger conservation, organised the summit, which took place in St. Petersburg, Russia. The Tiger Range Countries (TRCs), or nations with wild tiger populations, gathered during this summit to discuss the worrying global drop in tiger numbers.
They understood the pressing requirement for coordinated efforts to preserve and safeguard these wonderful big cats and their habitats. They choose to set aside a day each year to promote tiger conservation and the difficulties it faces as part of their commitment.
The 29th of July was chosen as International Tiger Day because it represents the halfway point between the first and last days of the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit and the ongoing international campaign to rescue tigers.
THEME OF THE DAY
International Tiger Day 2023 will follow no specific theme. It will aim to create awareness about the tiger extinction and the need to save them. The loss of habitat and climate change have led the powerful predator to the brink of extinction. Illegal activities, including the smuggling of animal body parts, are also one of the biggest threats that wild tigers face in their daily lives. This has resulted in localised extinctions, which have made the revival of the tiger population impossible. Hence, this day becomes important to create awareness and reduce conflicts between humans and Tigers.
WHY TIGERS ARE SO IMPORTANT
As top predators and ‘umbrella species’ tigers help to keep their environment healthy.
It’s the way things naturally work in the wild – the predators prey on other animals, in this case herbivores (plant eaters) such as deer. But without enough tigers to eat them, herbivores can overgraze and damage the land, disrupting the balance of the local environment.
Local people also depend on a healthy environment for food, water and lots of other resources. By helping protect tigers we’re also helping look after the places where they live, which is good for all the people and wildlife sharing that environment.
TIGERS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change poses a growing threat to us all – tigers included.
Rising sea levels are threatening critical tiger habitat, warming temperatures affect distribution of tree species which can impact tiger prey species, and there is an increased danger to tigers and tiger habitat of extreme weather events, like flooding or forest fires.
In addition, habitat changes due to climate change can bring tigers closer to human communities, leading to increased conflict and suffering for both humans and tigers.
