Mission Save Tiger: A Conservation Initiative for Saving the Tiger

The presence of tigers represents a healthy and sound ecosystem. In order to conserve the entire wilderness of the ecosystem, the conservation of tigers is the key. Saving the wild tiger is not possible at an individual level. It requires collective efforts and community participation. At the Hindrise Social Welfare Foundation, we are forming a community to preserve the tigers and raise a voice for improving tiger habitats in India. Through Mission save Tiger, we aim to create a better environment for the tigers of our country and maintain their number.

Tiger is known as the heart and soul of the jungle in India. There is a rapid disappearance of tigers from the wild. Even though the situation is much better in India when compared on a global level, there is a need to run awareness campaigns and organize programs to make people familiar with the need of protecting tigers and preserving the lifeline of the forest. Conservation of wildlife is vital for maintaining the life support system and establishing a line of balance in the ecosystem.

On the occasion of International Tiger Day this year (29 July 2021), PM Narendra Modi Ji said that India is all set to ensure a safe habitat for our tigers and cultivate a tiger-friendly ecosystem. In addition to this, he threw light on the fact that India is a residential abode to 51 tiger reserves established across 18 states. A rise in the tiger population was witnessed in the last tiger census of 2018. Furthermore, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji stated that India has accomplished the goal of doubling the population of tigers before the schedule of the St. Petersburg proclamation on the conservation of tigers.

Facts and Latest Updates

51 tiger reserves are present in India across 18 states.
India’s tiger population stands at 2967. It is almost 70% of the global tiger population.
India is consistently working with 13 tiger range nations towards nourishing the tiger.
India recorded over 100 tiger deaths in 2020.
Above 1,000 tigers are living outside the boundaries of tiger reserves in India.
The Central Government has approved the 51st tiger reserve for India in Tamil Nadu, India.
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change has approved the 52nd tiger sanctuary for India in Rajasthan. Ramgarh Vishdhari Wildlife Sanctuary is the name of India’s 52th & newest tiger reserve.
Four tiger reserves of Assam, namely Manas, Nameri, Kaziranga, and Orang tiger reserve, have received accreditation of Conservation Assured Tiger Standards (CATS).
14 Indian tiger reserves have attained Global Tiger Standards Accreditation.
In the NTCA safety index, Similipal tiger reserve jumps and stand at the second position.

Mission Save Tiger: Why should we Conserve and Save Tigers?

Saving and preserving the tigers is somehow concerned with ecosystem conservation. Tigers play a crucial role in boosting the health of the ecosystem. They constitute the prime carnivores in the environment and is at the summit of the food chain. The elimination of a top carnivore from the existing ecosystem can have a significant impact on the relative excess of herbivore species within a society. Along with other principal carnivores as a leopard, it functions as a command mechanism for herbivores or consumers.

The dependency of living forms on one another in a food chain is apparent as the wild tiger relies upon herbivores for its survival and fulfilling its needs where he maintains their population, which in turn hinders the grasslands from being overgrazed. The herbivores are dependent upon the producers as herbs, shrubs, grasses, fungi algae, and big trees for survival, and they eventually maintain a balance in vegetation by keeping a check on the extent of vegetation or flora. Birds are known for surviving on shrubs, herbs, and trees on fruits as well as nectar and in turn act as agents of seed dispersal for them in order to disperse the population of the floral components in an ecosystem. Hence all life forms entailing tigers are interconnected with each other in the prevailing ecosystem, and their continuation depends upon how sound the ecosystem is.

Given below are the topmost five reasons that will help you know why it’s important to save the tiger and why we are initiating Mission Save Tiger in India-

Mission Save Tiger: Safeguards Genetic Diversity

Tiger is regarded as umbrella species across the world. Conservation of tigers ensures the preservation of the significant number of flora as well as fauna and the conservation of the entire ecosystem.
Therefore, at the Hindrise Social Welfare Foundation, we will be conducting a Tiger Protection & Conservation Program under the Mission Save Tiger initiative in order to protect as well as save a considerable number of species.
However, despite knowing the benefits, poachers are killing the tigers for their own commercial benefits and economic gains.
The news of the declining number of tigers has pushed us to come up with Mission Save Tiger in line with the government plans for tiger protection.
It's not wrong to say that in an environment where tigers face difficulty in survival, things become complicated and complex for the entire ecosystem.
A healthy community of tigers preserves all the remains associated with our natural ecosystems.

Plays a Substantial Role in Mitigating Climatic Changes

Tigers are responsible for portraying a vital role in mitigating climate change.
As compared to any other forest in any region, Tiger landscapes are known for storing more Carbon.
Protected as well as conserved forests in the tiger reserve in Asia are widely known for being the most active and efficient carbon stores throughout the world.
A wholesome tiger population resides in large forests – which are nothing but the usual sinks of Carbon.
The more tigers we can preserve and protect, the more robust reserves we have, the larger is our nationwide carbon sink.
Consequently, a tiger must be authorised to carbon credits in the form of security.

Mission Save Tiger: Supports and Boosts Livelihoods

The tourism sector has emerged in no time as one of the rapidly thriving industries.
On the travel and eco-tourism front, the growth has been phenomenal as the tiger is a star attraction that pulls not only Indian tourists but also draws the attention of international tourists.
Travellers across the world visit India to get a glimpse of the heart & soul of the jungle, Tiger, and several visitors become frequent visitors as well.
There is a spark in the eyes of a canter who get the opportunity to sight a tiger in a National park, and the same spark is missing in the eyes of a canter who miss getting a glimpse of a tiger at the National park.
Eventually, it impacts the tourist influx, thereby impacting the lives of travel and tour companies and tour guides.
A salubrious tiger population will support as well as boost livelihood.

Brings Rain

A tiger is a protector, guardian, saviour, as well as an indicator of a healthy flourishing forest.
Tigers are apex predators.
Their mere presence indicates a strong, blooming, and vast ecosystem.
Their survival is not a matter of concern as they can live in any environment, and they won’t get affected by human activities taking place around them.
They prefer to stay in a vast forest surrounding.
The climate is likely to be regulated by the topography of the land when such vast areas receive protection.
On the one hand, a healthy and living tiger brings rain and happiness.
On the other hand, a dead tiger brings devastation and suffering.
Here, the suffering is concerned with the suffering of the entire ecosystem.

Mission Save Tiger: Other Reasons why saving tigers is Important

A Cultural Icon for a Major Chunk of Indian Population

In the cultural history of India, tigers are symbolically embedded for centuries. Tiger has been glorified and valued in children books, Indian scriptures and ancient tales. The felines are engraved in the areas where they shine.

Mission Save Tiger: Economic Benefits for Communities

Conservation of these fierce wildlife brand ambassadors caters to numerous financial benefits in the long run. Tiger reserves are an excellent support system for human life by extending protection to agricultural lands as well as fish nurseries and increasing the availability of pure and clean drinking water and water fit for irrigation. It's not wrong to say that tigers are a blessing in disguise for the Indian economy. Therefore, the

Mission Save Tiger: Key Strategies concerning Protection & Conservation of Tiger

The critical strategies concerning protection as well as conservation of tigers under Mission save Tiger are mentioned below-

Encouraging tiger-friendly policies through Mission save Tiger
Banning the trade of tigers
Absolute restriction on poaching
Protection of habitats is the key under Mission Save Tiger
Reducing human-tiger conflict through Mission save tiger
Monitoring tiger numbers and possible threats for them
Raising awareness about the importance of saving tigers through Mission Save Tiger
Organizing "Save Tiger Campaign" on a weekly or monthly basis
Conducting scientific research and analyzing reports, and imparting knowledge regarding conservation strategies
Posting articles and blogs to create awareness under Mission save Tiger
Social media campaigns
Constructing a safe environment for tigers when human beings won't be able to harm them

What will happen if the Tigers go Extinct?

If the tigers go extinct and if there will be a massive decline in their overall numbers, the population of herbivorous animals will increase up to a great extent. The rapidly growing population of herbivorous animals will put natural vegetation in danger. Eventually, the balance in the ecosystem will be disturbed, and the natural flow of the ecosystem will be hampered.

In Mauritius, when the Dodos went extinct, one species of Acacia tree ended regenerating effectively. So when any of the species goes extinct, it omits behind a mark, which alters the intact ecosystem. Another significant reason why we must proceed ahead to save as well as preserve the tiger is that our forests are usually water catchment zones.

Hence, it’s not just about protecting a beautiful animal and saving an innocent life. It is about ensuring that we survive a little longer as the forests are responsible for rendering ecological services such as water, pollination, clean air, temperature moderation etc.

At the Hindrise Social Welfare Foundation, we are all set to raise awareness regarding the benefits of tigers for the environment as well as for the ecosystem and devising strategies through which we can maximize the number of tigers in India. In the current scenario, the Indian government is also concerned about tiger protection and conservation, and we believe that working in line with their goals will help us achieve our joint goals.

National Tiger Conservation Authority

National Tiger Conservation Authority is a legitimate & recognized body that operates under the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change. It was formed under provisions associated with the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 with a major focus on strengthening tiger conservation.

Under the ambit of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, NTCA (National Tiger Conservation Authority) has been fulfilling its mandate in order to encourage tiger conservation within the boundaries of the nation by retaining an oversight via advisories/set of guidelines, running conservation initiatives based on tiger status appraisal, and recommendations of notably constituted committees. ’Project Tiger’ is a Central Government-sponsored initiative providing funding support to tiger range areas and states for conservation & protection of tigers in tiger reserves and saving tigers from getting extinct.

Role of Hindrise Social Welfare Foundation in Conservation of Tiger under Save Tiger Mission

Through Mission save Tiger initiative, Hindrise Social Welfare Foundation is endeavouring to protect the tigers as well as their habitats. We are creating awareness concerning the conservation of tiger and relevance of tiger in current scenario for maintaining the balance in the ecosystem. In addition to this, we are working on the development of tiger-based projects that will primarily revolve around the conservation of ecosystem by conserving the tigers. Under Mission Save Tiger, we are bringing local people on board as community participation is the best way to maximize awareness and let our mission reach up to the maximum number of people. Our goal is in line with the objective of the Central Government regarding increasing the number of tigers in India.

Our work revolves around the following core areas-

Research and Monitoring Work
We are striving to perform research and monitoring activities as it is one of the crucial aspects in tiger conservation. Research & Monitoring work is helpful in tracking the movement of tigers within the protected zone and outside the horizons of protected areas as well.
Conduct Capacity Building Programmes
Under Mission Save Tiger, we are conducting capacity building programmes on a regular basis in order to enhance the understanding of laws pertaining to wildlife and tiger conservation. We are taking lead in this direction. Through capacity building workshops, we are planning to give more power to our tiger conservation efforts.
Environmental Awareness and Knowledge
We are imparting environmental knowledge via environment education classes and raising awareness via various programmes and workshops. Creating environmental awareness as well as knowledge is important in the current scenario. We encourage the participating of local communities to organize environment protection awareness activities in different parts of India. These awareness exercises will be targeted at schools, colleges, awareness camps, and other significant platforms. We will be striving to discourage poaching activities and save maximum lives. Through stakeholders in the tourism sector, we are planning to encourage eco-friendly and wildlife supportive practices.
Encouraging the Active Participation of Local Communities
Through Mission save Tiger, we are all set to encourage the active participation and involvement of local communities in tiger protection and conservation activities. We are planning to reduce dependency on forest, promoting sustainable livelihoods, and boosting local support concerning conservation of tigers. Community participation will play the role of a catalyst in accomplishing our goals associated with Mission Save Tiger.
Policy & Advocacy Work
Our policy and advocacy work is helpful in promoting long term change via implementation as well as adoption of appropriate policies by state as well as central government.

Be a part of our revolutionary Mission save Tiger initiative and help us develop a better living environment full of security and bliss for our tigers.