Save the stripes

BY K. FARHANA ROY
VELAMMAL VIDYALAYA VANAGARAM
TAMILNADU
Role of tigers in ecosystem
The tiger is at the top of the food
chain in the wild and thus plays a
critical role in the overall function
of the ecosystem. Tigers are also a
vital link in maintaining the rich
biodiversity of nature. If we
successfully protect just one tiger,
we also protect around 25,000
acres of forest
Role of tigers in ecosystem
• Tertiary consumers are the top
predators and keep the ecosystem in
balance as a keystone species.
• Tigers feed on secondary consumers,
like wild boar, or even black bears. The
secondary consumers feed on grazing
animals, like local deer and bison. The
deer and bison eat the producers, such
as small grasses and shrubs. Tigers are
an endangered species due to threat
from humans, like illegal hunting and
destruction of their habitat.
Habitat of a tiger
• Tigers are found in amazingly
diverse habitats: rain forests,
grasslands, savannas and even
mangrove swamps.
Unfortunately, 93% of historical
tiger lands have disappeared
primarily because of expanding
human activity. Saving tigers
means saving forests that are
vital to the health of the planet
Species of tiger
• There are two subspecies of tiger,
commonly referred to as the
continental tiger and the Sunda island
tiger. All remaining island tigers are
found only in Sumatra, with tigers in
Java and Bali now extinct. These are
popularly known as Sumatran tigers.
The continental tigers currently
include the Bengal, Malayan,
Indochinese, and Amur (Siberian)
tiger populations, while the Caspian
tiger is extinct in the wild. The South
China tiger is believed to be
functionally extinct. These tigers need
our help.
Can a forest exist without tigers?
S
• 4 countries where tiger numbers are growing, and the people making it happen.
• Think of a tiger. What do you see?
• Fire red and dense black stripes, a predator’s shadow hidden out of
sight? A cultural icon, a symbol of power? The character of the book
you read as a child, the pattern on your shirt, an endangered
animal.
• The tiger is all of these things, and so much more to many. But even
for those without a personal connection to this elusive big cat, the
world as we know it would fall apart if tigers disappeared. As a
keystone species, without them, entire ecosystems could collapse.
Without them, countless other species could vanish forever. Without
them, we could lose some of the forests that give us the very air we
breathe, and the watersheds that bring us clean water to drink.
• In 2010, the decision was made: a world without tigers was not an
option. They had been pushed to the brink of extinction and their
numbers were at an all time low. It was time to act.
• That year marked the beginning of one of the biggest single species
conservation commitments in history: to double the global wild tiger
population by 2022, an initiative that became known as TX2.
Governments, communities, organisations and businesses came
together to secure the future of our planet’s most iconic big cat. To
save them, and to save ourselves and our planet.
Why should we 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.
What can we do to conserve tigers?
• 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.
What can we do to conserve 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