Tigers in India
Tigers in India occupy a very significant place in the culture. Tiger is considered to be the symbol of power, beauty and is associated with fierceness and bravery. Tigers also have an important place in the Hindu mythology as tiger is the vehicle of Goddess Durga. Tigers are equally important for maintain the health and diversity of an ecosystem.
Tigers are found in various habitats like sub tropical forests, evergreen forests, tropical forests, grasslands etc. Tigers in India are mostly found in 19 states. To protect the tiger forests have been demarcated as wildlife sanctuaries, tiger reserves and national parks. Under the Project Tiger program new tiger reserves have been added making the total number of tiger reserves in India to 39.
Tiger is the national animal of India. Tigers in India have the highest population of wild tigers. More than half of the world’s tiger population is there in India. There are five species of tigers surviving in the world today. They are Indian Tiger or Royal Bengal Tiger which is found mainly in India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. Indo-Chinese tiger is seen in Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Southern China and Vietnam. Siberian tiger is found in East Russia. Sumatran Tiger is found is Indonesian Island of Sumatra. South China Tiger is found in China.
India has the largest population of Bengal Tigers in India. The tiger appears with black stripes on an orange coat patterned skin. The color of the ears is black, powerful forepaws and long tail. Length of Bengal tiger of Indian tiger is 2.6 to 3 meters. It weighs between 135 – 280 kgs. The Indian Tiger lives in the wild for 14 – 16 years. This species is mainly found in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan. It feeds on the other animals as per situation like wild pig, sambar, Barasingha, wild buffalo, langur, peafowl and occasionally elephant. Tiger cannot climb trees as their body weight is more. But they can swim well.
White tigers in India are another sub-species that is found only in India. The white color of the tiger is due to the recessive genes. This sub-species is seen only in Indian Tigers. These are not seen more in wild and only bred in captivity. These have black, grey or chocolate color stripes, white color fur and pink noses. Eyes look blue, green or amber.
Tigers in India that live in the wild are facing threat. The present population in India of tigers is only 1400. There are many reasons for the decrease in tiger population. Because of huge growth of human population, natural habitats of tigers are destroyed for agriculture. There was a tradition which considered killing of tigers as a great achievement. Hunting of tigers in India was banned with the enactment of Wildlife Protection Act in 1972. The usage of tiger bones in traditional china medicines and the skin in making the traditional robe worn by Tibetans is the serious threat to wild tigers in India.
Killing of tigers in India can attract a punishment of not less than three year imprisonment that can be extended to sever years and a fine of fifty thousand to two lakh rupees. If the offense is committed for the second time, the imprisonment can be up to seven years and the fine can be between five lakh rupees to fifty lakh rupees. Government of India, National Tiger Conservation Authority, State Forest Departments, Tourism Departments, and NGOs such as WWF-India is working for the cause of tiger conservation in India.
Government of India has taken many steps to conserve the tiger species. Tiger habitats that spread across the country has been converted in to Tiger Reserves. Taking measures like strengthening protection measures in National Parks, Tiger Reserves and sanctuaries can help increase the population of tigers in India.
Conservation measures taken to increase the population of Tigers in India have increased their numbers to 1706 from 1411. Most numbers of tigers are now found in Karnataka state followed by Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Rajasthan.
