In a unique ‘Tiger Initiative’, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) plans to revive the dwindling number of tigers in India from the existing 1,400 to 3,000 by 2014. “We intend to facilitate breeding and rehabilitation of tigers in their habitats by creating corridors and necessary environmental conditions,” said Sashwati Sen, Director, WWF-India on the eve of the ‘Save the Tiger rally’ in the city.
The rally, organised by the WWF in association with the Centre for Ecological Movement, will begin at 3.30 pm on Friday from Shahid Minar and end at Elliot Park. It will be followed by a discussion with tiger conservationist Fateh Singh Rathore, a skit and two film screenings. The event will end with a candle light oath.
“Our aim is to make people aware of the damage that can occur in our eco-system if tiger is exterminated and motivate them to protect the predator,” Sen said.
Rathore said that the reason for mismanagement of forest reserves and wildlife was the lack of ground level research. “The government and officials concerned know the problem, but no research is undertaken to find out its cause. Hence, it becomes impossible to come up with a solution,” he said.
“Policies don’t matter to hungry people living in the fringes of forests. Prosecution of poachers can never help reduce their number,” said Rathore. His organisation, Tiger Watch works for the rehabilitation of poachers in and around the Ranthambore forest reserve. He said that the government and police are often involved with the poachers themselves.
The WWF suggested that privatisation of some amount of forest areas may be a helpful move.