Indian Tigers Extinct In Wild Within 15 Years - Numbers In "Freefall"

[hatrack]

The chance of holidaymakers seeing an Indian tiger in the wild has almost disappeared, according to a nationwide wildlife survey which reveals that the country's tiger population has halved in four years.

The survey estimates current numbers to be about 1,500 - down from 3,642 counted during the last census in 2002. It predicts that the tiger could have disappeared from India within 15 years. It is the most serious crisis yet to face the world's most charismatic carnivore. However, the Indian government is reluctant to acknowledge the extent of the danger.

The findings of the survey - the first rigorous monitoring to be conducted by independent experts, under the auspices of the Wildlife Institute of India - have yet to be recognised by Project Tiger, the official government body set up to protect the species.

The issue was due to be raised last month raised at a meeting of the National Board for Wildlife, chaired by the prime minister, Manmohan Singh, but conservationists allege it was cancelled under pressure from the ministry of environment and forests. From every tiger reserve across the country comes evidence that the population is in freefall. Simlipal, in Orissa, was one of the first reserves to be established by Project Tiger in the 1970s. Four years ago, according to the 2002 census, it could boast of 99 tigers. Today, no more than eight survive.

EDIT

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/main.jhtml?xml=/travel/2006/05/20/etnewstiger.xml

[Deja Q]

1. Too many people want tiger-skin rugs?

Global warming, human greed, humans taking all the food for themselves, whazzup?