TIGERS ARE THE MAGNEFICIENT CREATURES, THEIR EYES TELL IT ALL...
India alone supports and has become a home to more than about 70 percent of world's tiger population which was recorded as 2,967 tigers across 53 tiger reserves according to a report in 2018.
TIGERS; THEIR UNIQUENESS AND IMPORTANCE
Tigers play a very important role in maintaining the harmony of the planet's ecosystems.
They definitely are tempestuous yet calm, warm-hearted yet fearsome, courageous in the face of danger yet yielding and soft in mysterious, unexpected places. They have an infallible memory as their short-term memory lasts about thirty times longer than ours, and their recollection is made up of much more powerful brain synapses, which means that these felines do not forget as easily as humans. Tigers are known for their strong sense of hearing, their ears are capable of rotating, similar to a radar dish to detect the origins of various sounds such as high frequency sounds produced by prey in the dense forest. Securing tiger landscapes can protect at least nine major watersheds, which regulate and provide freshwater for over 800 million people in Asia. Although tiger's play such a vital role and are necessary for the overall balance of the ecosystem and the nature, they have unfortunately been listed under the endangered species category in the 1980's. There are about 4000 tigers overall in the world and their population has numerously and rapidly decreased in the last century. Several factors contribute to tigers being classified as endangered, these include poaching, illegal trade of tiger parts, loss of habitat and human-activities.
INDIAN ROYAL BENGAL TIGERS
The Royal Bengal Tigers are native to the Indian subcontinent, over many centuries they have become an important part of the Indian tradition and lore. It is the only breed of tiger in this world which inhabits mangrove forests and is found in mangroves of Sunderbans. Bengal tigers are the most numerous of all tiger species. Bengals make up the large numbers found across India, with around 3,500 wild specimens in the country. They are fast runners and can reach speeds up to 40 miles per hour. Tigers can weigh around 650 pounds with a swipe force of up to 10000 pounds. In the ancient days, they were settled in Bengal. It was back then the hunter from the royal family of the United Kingdom hunted a Bengal Tiger in Sunderbans and these tigers ended up getting the title of the Royal Bengal Tigers. Bandhavgarh National Park is known for the Royal Bengal Tigers. The density of population at Bandhavgarh is the highest known in India.
PROJECT TIGER
The government of India had launched " PROJECT TIGER" on 1st April 1973 to promote conservation of the tiger. Project Tiger has been the largest species conservation initiative of its kind in the world. The project aims at ensuring the population of tigers in its natural habitats across India. And protecting them from extinction and preserving areas of biological importance as a natural heritage that represent the diversity of ecosystems across the tiger's range in the country.
THE FIRST STEP....
There are 53 tiger reserves in India. The tiger reserves of India were set up in 1973 are governed by Project Tiger, which is administered by the National Tiger Conservation Authority. The increase in population of tigers in India played a big role in driving up global populations as well; the number of wild tigers globally rose from 3,159 in 2010 to 3,890 in 2016 according to World Wildlife Fund and Global Tiger Forum. The main goal of the state forestry departments is to operate 27,423.7 sq mi of declared reserves "to ensure maintenance of viable populations of the conservation dependent Bengal Tigers in India". The tigers are maintained for their scientific, economic, aesthetic, cultural and ecological values. And to preserve for all time areas of biological importance as a national heritage for educational purposes.
PENCH RESERVE
Pench Reserve was set up in the year 1992. It is located in the heart of India- Madhya Pradesh and covers a total are of 758 sq km. The reserved National Park is named after the river Pench , which while flowing from north to south, divides the national park in almost equal halves namely eastern and western halves. The park is just not the home to wildlife but also people, there are about 10 villages in and around the park out of which one is inside the park named Fulzari. Not always a national park, Pench was declared as a sanctuary in 1965 but in 1975, it rose to the status of a National Park., And since it is home to a huge number of tigers, it was established as a tiger reserve in 1992 and now is working under Project Tiger. Also, the beauty of this place has been mentioned in the classic " The Jungle Book" by the great Rudyard Kipling.
- PENCH RESERVE
THE UNFORGETTABLE; TIGRESS T15 (a.k.a COLLARWALI)
There is this one brave tigress, that was embedded by the forest of Pench, she was known as the mother ( Matharam) and was respected by everyone. The great collar Wali was born in 2005, her mother was known as Badi Matha was also a famous tigress. Collar Wali became the first tiger in the park to be fitted with a radio collar, which allowed her to be studied for some years. In her lifetime, she had 8 litter and birthed 29 cubs. Her contribution to making Madhya Pradesh the top state with the highest tiger population was appreciated by the forest officials even today. She alone contributed to 1 percent of the world's tiger population. She was called the queen of Pench and was the most famous tigress. She had a surprising habit of keeping herself distant from her sub- adult off-springs occasionally to let them absorb survival techniques on their own. She was a very strong and ferocious tigress. her eyes, they were mesmerizing. Photographers adored her a lot and was spotted by the tourists a couple of times and became and an admiration for the wildlife enthusiasts. She was featured in one of the most celebrated BCC documentaries 'Spy in the Jungle.'
- COLLAR WALI (T 15)
THE FLORA OF PENCH
Though Pench National Park Looks very familiar to the classic tale, it actually is more than that. The undulating topography supports a mosaic of vegetation ranging from moist sheltered valley to open, dry deciduous forest. The national park is home to flora species like Mahua, White Kulu, Salai Saja, Bijiyasal, Dhaora, Amaltas and many other. Apart from trees, the park is filled with grasslands, plants and saplings. Over 12000 species of plants have been recorded from the area.
TAKEBACKS FROM OUR NATURE
We as a whole, owe a lot to our nature, especially the young generation who have experienced not so much with wildlife and plants. They have to be encouraged to learn and experience nature at its best. Everyone must be educated with knowledge about the planet in which we live. Today's world is being overpopulated by concrete and bricks, clearing out the soil and trees. All of this will do nothing but destruction to our Mother Earth. It's time we act and do something serious about our only home. Plant a tree to help save ourselves and rescue animals that are in need of it, they need us.... we need them because that is the way of life to maintain the biological ecosystem balanced for now and always. Together with love and care, we shall make our planet the best one that ever existed.
The plants and animals need Earth as much as we need it,
Remember, you are not the only one living here ....
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