The Diminishing Pugmarks

February 19, I am one year old in the Blogging World today. The day I posted the first entry on my Blog, The tiger count in the country was estimated about 3500-5000 (Approx). But after the 2007 census, a mere 1500 wild cats roam free in India.. 1411 to be more precise..

The very first post on my blog was “Is capital punishment enough for people involved in Poaching”. Every one had a different view. Some felt it is the correct punishment but some on the other hand felt that poachers should be fed to the tigers. Here are the views of a few people about this. Click here

I personally feel that people involved in poaching should be hanged. But sometimes I feel that tigers should also be given a chance to deal with these killers the way they want. Not just feeding them but throwing them to hungry predators. But I know this is next to impossible. According to the Official figures the population rose from 3508 in 1997 to 3642 in 2002. But in 2008 there is a fall of 60%. The figures of 2007 shows that only 1411 tigers are left in the country known as "The Land Of Tigers".

There are several methods for Tiger Census. Prey density estimation, radio telemetry, digital photography of pugs, camera trapping method, Identification using DNA from Tiger droppings and the very famous Pugmark Method. Camera trapping method is not practical especially where there are 1 or 2 Tigers per 100 sq. kms. This method was confined to a few major tiger habitats. The Final figure was an outcome of the new and advanced techniques used in 2007 census.

Encroachment by humans in their natural habitat and poaching are the prime reasons for the fall. Relocation and Resettlement is only done on papers and is never taken seriously.

How long are we going to remember these figures? It is quite possible that some might think about this issue after the next census. Wouldn’t it be a little too late? A decline of 60% in a decade makes the picture very clear. There is still hope if saving tigers is taken as a priority.

The World would not be as Beautiful as it is, Without Tigers…. !!!!

BATTLE TO SAVE THE TIGER..

Another Sariska in the making…. ??
The Orissa Government claims that there are 101 Tigers in Simlipal National Park. While the official figure of the census has reported the presence of not more than 30 tigers in the park. This clearly proves that the Government has failed in tiger conservation.

A couple of days after the Chief Minister of Orissa denied the figures of the report, NDTV had posted pictures that clearly show poachers in the core area of the park. Poachers were armed with bows and arrows and had dogs along with them. No one is allowed in the core area of a protected forest and it is to be heavily patrolled. The photograph clearly show that there is absolutely no patrolling in the forest.

Is this the making of another Sariska.. ??

I DO NOT HOLD ANY RIGHTS OF THE PHOTOS USED IN THE POST.
Photograph of Poachers in Orissa taken from NDTV.
I THANK THE OWNERS FOR ALL THE PHOTOGRAPHS.

Mera Bharat Mahaan and still going Strong..

Independent India is 60 years old........
15th August 1947 - 15th August 2007.

Where do we find ourselves 60 years after Independence..

Developing ?? For sure.. but not in all aspects..
Lets see.. Where do we stand.. ??

What India had in 1947? There were a few universities and research laboratories. But there were spirited and visionary scientists Mahalonwis, Bhabha, Sarabhai, Saha, Sahani, Randhawa who had big plans for the poor nation. Jawharlal Nehru, Indira and Rajiv Gandhi, Atal Bihari Bajpayee, Manmohan Singh provided tremendous boost to indigenous scientific research and technological development.



India did not produce a rifle or a tank or an aircraft in 1947. We had to beg for arms and ammunition during the Chinese incursion in 1962. Indigenous missiles, frigates, warships, tanks were a distant dream. And where we have reached today? India has a powerful battery of missiles. We can produce our own tanks and air crafts. India has also developed a supersonic multirole fighter aircraft named Tejas. The project was originally known as the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).
The Smiling Buddha was the first nuclear test explosion by India on May 18, 1974 at Pokhran. It was also the first confirmed nuclear test by a nation outside the permanent five members of the United Nations Security Council.

Pokharan-II refers to test explosions of five nuclear devices, three on 11 May and two on 13 May 1998, conducted by India at the Pokhran test range. The test was conducted when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government was in power with Atal Bihari Vajpayee as Prime Minister. These nuclear tests resulted in a variety of sanctions against India by a number of major states. Shakti was the codename for Pokhran-II.





India faced a scarcity of milk in 1947. Operation Flood was a rural development programme started by India's National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in 1970. One of the largest of its kind, the programme objective was to create a nationwide milk grid.It resulted in making India one of the largest producer of milk and milk products, and hence is also called the White Revolution of India. It also helped reduce malpractices by milk traders and merchants. This revolution followed the Green Revolution and helped in alleviating poverty and famine levels from their dangerous proportions in India during the era Thanks to the success of "operation flood" and dairy co-operatives.

Today India is one of the world' s largest food producer. The breakeven point was reached in 1966-67 after the Green Revolution. By the late 1970s, the Green Revolution raised rice yields in India by 30 percent and bought India the vital time to curb its population growth without suffering a recurrence of the devastating famines of the 1940s. In production of fruits and vegetables India has been among the top three nations for the past decade. Our only competitors are China and Brazil.



No one could have ever thought of India being an IT Power in 1947. Today Indians hold important positions in the Global IT industry. NRI venture capitalists are well established in the Silicon valley. IT firms like TCS, Infosys and Wipro are global brands.




The economic condition has also grown immensely. Sensex up at an all time high of 15000 points.Rupee appreciation forced the Dollar to a 10 year LOW. We are a fast growing economy.

In 1977 there was uncertainty over Colour-Television. After Rajiv Gandhi took over the prime ministership in 1984 the whole picture changed.
Global telecom giants consider India as one of the top five fastest growing market for mobiles. The number of mobile handsets in India may soon cross over hundred million.


After being granted Test status in 1932, India continued to play the role of whipping boys of cricket for another 20 years. Then in 1952, India humbled the mighty English in Madras and have never looked back since. During the 1980s, players such as Kapil Dev, Ravi Shastri and Krish Srikanth came into reckoning and India thrashed the formidable West Indians to win the World Cup in 1983.

With Players like Sachin Tendulkar and Anil Kumble Indian Cricket team can give any opponent a run for their money. BCCI is the richest Cricket Board in the World.

From Vijay Amritraj to the latest sensation Sania Mirza, A variety of such player adorn the collection of Indian Tennis. Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupati are also the highlights of our proud collection.
Narain Karthikeyan became the first Indian driver to test and race in Formula 1. He became the first ever indian to drive in the formula 1 testing for Jaguar racing team in 2001. Impressed by his performance he was then offered a test drive by Jordan-Honda at Silverstone in September. Presently he is a Test Driver for the Williams Racing Team.

Viswanathan Anand is an Indian chess grandmaster and former FIDE world champion. Anand is one of only four players in history to break the 2800 mark on the FIDE rating list and he has been among the top three ranked players in classical time control chess in the world continuously since 1997.



Growing and Growing Quite Well..


But when it comes to our National Animal.. Panthera tigris..

There is nothing that can be said clearly..
1947…. A free Nation…. India has 92 National Parks and 28 Tiger Reserves. A country known as the Land of Tigers.

Every possible security is given to the animals here. Still everyday we read news about poaching and poachers being arrested. They are the biggest threat to our forests. Cases of killing Tiger for Skin, Teeth has been increasing day by day. Tiger skin and other body are being smuggled outside and the money involved is very large.

The number of tigers has fallen to just 1500 in 2007. The ongoing estimations indicates that only 1300-1500 tigers are left in the country. This was announced by Valmik Thapar(Tiger Conservationist) . Wildlife Institute of India indicated the presence of not more than 1500 tigers in India. The WII would be coming up with the final report and figures by the end of this year.




If this rate of killing continues we wont be able to see Tigers in the near future..
Our National animal would only exist in Pictures and Books..

This may not be the only problem our country is going through.. Still it is a major issue that cannot be overlooked..

We are harming ourselves..

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Let the Tiger Live..
Save the Tiger..

Wishing Everyone a Very Very Happy Independence Day..
Proud to be an Indian

Regards..
A.W

All views expressed here are my own. Information, Photos and Figures were gathered by me from the Internet. I do not hold any rights for the Photos.