Key Reasons to Save Tigers & Steps for Tiger Conservation
Tiger is the most charismatic and ferocious wild cat and the national animal of India. Tiger symbolises India’s wildlife wealth. It is considered as the national animal because of its grace, strength, agility and enormous power. Also, India is the land of the largest number of tigers in the world and consists of 50% of the world’s tiger population. Yet this creature is the most slaughtered one in the country and is on the verge of becoming extinct. In 1970, the alarm was raised and hunting of tigers was made illegal. Many programs and initiatives were taken for the protection of the tiger population living in the wild.
Essay On Tigers 200 Words
In India, from the era of kings and princes, hunting tigers had been a popular source of entertaining sport, which continued during the British rule. The royal families and elites hunted tigers for several reasons; they were killed for the beautiful skin, which was used for making clothes, rugs, etc; for its multitude of medicinal properties and for other selfish interests. There was and there is a huge demand for tiger parts and products in the market outside India’s border, which is providing an added threat to the tiger’s very existence.
It is also perceived that large development projects like mining, thermal and hydroelectric dams are also affecting the tiger’s habitat as many forests have been destroyed to facilitate such projects.
Why Save Tigers?
As a large predator, tigers play a pivotal role in maintaining the equilibrium of the ecosystem. Tigers being the top predators, they are at the apex of the food cycle. They along with other predators keep a check on the herbivore animals, thus helping in maintaining the right balance of animals in the forest. This cycle can prevent deforestation. One tiger can protect several acres of forest in this way. In this way, the tigers and other animals will continue to get their natural habitat.
Essay On Tigers 500 Words
The very first thing anyone should do is to spread awareness among people regarding the matter of preserving the tigers. One can create and increase attention to “Preserve Tigers” by spreading adverts, leaflets, by the use of the Internet, by social media, by creating websites, etc. Public attention is crucial for such matters.
Protecting the jungles by all means necessary is the next most important phase in order to preserve the population of the tigers. The awareness that was spread earlier will come in handy as people will begin to join the cause on their own. Planting new trees in the areas around the forest is also a great idea.
Raise the voice against the projects that can seriously impact the already decreasing tiger population. The big corporations will eventually have to come down if a voice strong enough was created. Raising the issue and concerns regarding the tiger population with the government can also be helpful.
Project Tiger
Tiger Conservation has become the most crucial project for India and other countries for numerous reasons.
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi initiated a conservation program called ‘Project Tiger’ in 1973 in Jim Corbett Park, Uttarakhand to save the tigers from becoming endangered.
The aim of this project was to create a safe and ideal environmental condition for the survival and growth of tigers and their prey.
The project started with nine tiger reserves and today there are 50 reserves across the country. Nagarjuna Sagar is the largest tiger reserve in India.
Over the years, this project has been able to identify and eliminate the factors responsible for the decline of the tiger population in the country and successfully saved tigers to a large extent. Other than conservation, the aim of Project Tiger is to aid and facilitate the breeding of tigers within a safe environment and transport them to other forests so that their population can be scaled up.
Problems of Project Tiger
The Tiger Project was very successful in its endeavor and the population of the tigers increased up to 3500 tigers in the year 1990 from 1200 tigers in 1973. However, due to illegal poaching, the number drastically dropped. The project was not able to keep pace with the rapid changes and development.
In 2006, the National Tiger Conservation Authority resumed the responsibility of implementation of Project Tiger to protect the endangered tigers. Many other NGOs have supported this government project by implementing many conservation activities to protect tiger habitats, mitigate tiger-human conflict, tackle wildlife crime, monitor tiger population, raise awareness and improve the livelihood of people living near the tiger reserves.
Many social campaigns were launched to create awareness about the alarming state of tigers in the country. Well-known celebrities became the face of these campaigns to attract the public for this national cause.
Tiger is an iconic species and yet it is slowly getting extinct. There could be possibilities that our future generation never gets to see tigers in real life but only in pictures. So it is important that citizens of India become aware of this and take all preventive measures to save this species.
Conclusion
The short and long versions of the essay on Save Tiger in English will help you understand the important points to be included. Learn from these samples and compile essays on this topic on your own.
FAQs on Save Tiger Essay: Why Tigers Matter and How to Help
1. Why is it critically important to save tigers?
Saving tigers is crucial because they are an apex predator and an indicator species, meaning their presence signals a healthy ecosystem. Tigers help maintain the balance of their environment by controlling the population of herbivores like deer and wild boar. This prevents overgrazing, which in turn protects forests from degradation. A healthy forest ecosystem, supported by tigers, provides essential resources for humans, including clean air and fresh water.
2. What are the primary threats that have made tigers an endangered species?
Tigers face several severe threats, primarily due to human activities. The most significant ones include:
- Habitat Loss and Fragmentation: Deforestation for agriculture, industries, and urbanisation destroys the forests where tigers live, hunt, and breed, forcing them into smaller, isolated areas.
- Poaching and Illegal Wildlife Trade: Tigers are illegally hunted for their skin, bones, and other body parts, which are in high demand in the international black market for traditional medicines and decorative items.
- Human-Wildlife Conflict: As their natural habitats shrink, tigers may come into contact with human settlements and prey on livestock, leading to retaliatory killings by local communities.
3. What is 'Project Tiger' and what are its main objectives?
Project Tiger is a major wildlife conservation initiative launched in India in 1973 by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Its primary objective is to ensure the survival and maintenance of the tiger population in their natural habitats. The project aims to create protected tiger reserves, eliminate threats like poaching, restore habitats, and monitor the tiger population to foster their growth and safeguard them from extinction.
4. As a student, what are some practical ways to help in tiger conservation?
Even as a student, you can make a significant contribution to saving tigers. Here are a few ways:
- Raise Awareness: Educate your friends, family, and community about the importance of tigers and the threats they face. Use school projects, social media, and presentations to spread the message.
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Consuming less and recycling more helps reduce the pressure on forests for resources like paper, which in turn protects tiger habitats.
- Support Ethical Tourism: If you visit a tiger reserve, ensure it follows ethical and non-intrusive practices that prioritise the well-being of the animals.
- Say No to Illegal Products: Never purchase products made from any part of an endangered animal, including tigers.
5. What key points should be covered when writing an essay on 'Save Tiger'?
A well-structured essay on 'Save Tiger' should include several key components. Start with an introduction explaining why the tiger is a magnificent animal and its importance in the ecosystem. The body paragraphs should detail the primary threats like habitat loss and poaching, explain the role of conservation efforts like Project Tiger, and discuss the consequences of their extinction. Finally, the conclusion should summarise the issue and end with a strong call to action, highlighting the collective responsibility of humans to protect this iconic species.
6. How does protecting a single tiger indirectly help in the conservation of an entire forest?
Protecting a single tiger has a cascading positive effect on its entire habitat. Since a tiger requires a large territory with a healthy prey base to survive, safeguarding one tiger means protecting its entire domain—which can span many square kilometres of forest. This protection prevents deforestation, illegal mining, and encroachment in that area. By controlling herbivore populations, the tiger prevents overgrazing, allowing the forest's vegetation to thrive. This creates a 'tiger-powered' conservation model where protecting one species saves the whole ecosystem it depends on.
7. Why are tigers often referred to as a 'keystone species'?
A keystone species is an organism that has a disproportionately large effect on its natural environment relative to its abundance. The tiger is a perfect example because, as the top predator, its presence or absence drastically changes the ecosystem. By preying on herbivores, tigers control their numbers and grazing behaviour. If tigers were removed, the herbivore population would explode, leading to the destruction of vegetation. This would impact smaller animals, birds, and even the flow of rivers, causing the entire ecological structure to collapse.
8. How is the conservation of tigers linked to securing fresh water for millions of people?
The link between tigers and fresh water lies in their habitat. Most major tiger habitats in Asia are located in vast forest areas that act as crucial watersheds. These forests absorb monsoon rains, regulate groundwater levels, and are the source of many major rivers that provide fresh water to millions of people downstream. By protecting these 'tiger forests' from deforestation and degradation, we are also inherently protecting the natural systems that ensure a continuous and clean water supply for human communities.
