Project Tiger

An alarming reversal in tiger numbers:

Once Mrs. Ghandi was no longer in Government conservation of endangered species assumed a lesser importance. By the end of the 1980s, protections that had been put in place were fraying at the edges:

Politicians listened more to the local farmers who wanted to clear forests and convert them for agricultural use.

Buffer zones and access routes were encroached upon and forest areas once more fell to the axe.

Habitat loss caused a reduction in prey animals. These were also killed by the native people for food.

Poachers accelerated this loss through snaring, shooting and poisoning. Body parts were illegally exported to China for use in traditional folk medicines.

Along with these things the population of India had increased by 300 million people since the inception of Project Tiger. Livestock numbers rose by 100 million animals.

It was almost inevitable that in the face of these renewed threats tigers would once again begin to vanish at an alarming rate.

Project Tiger - Page 1&2: Development Of Project Tiger | 3: Initial Successes | 4: An Alarming Reversal |
5: Project Tiger Today

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