This world tiger’s day is celebrated yearly with the theme “Their Survival is in our hands”. The significance of this day is to create awareness of the declining tiger population and conserving tigers globally. The international day has so much importance because according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), currently, there are only 3900 wild tigers globally. From the beginning of the 20th century, around 95% of the tiger population has been lost in various activities like poaching. Thus, in the year 2010, at the St. Petersburg Declaration, tiger range countries have resolved to double the number of tigers by 2022.

Reasons For Decline In Tigers Population

Poaching and illegal trade

Poaching of tiger happens as there is a huge demand for each body part of the tiger from whiskers to its tail.

Habitat loss

The tiger habitats have encroached in a big way. Humans have cut down the forest area for purposes like agricultural lands, timber and create enough living space. The cutting of forest has led to a 93% loss of tigers’ natural habitat, hence lowering the chances of survival. It has led to the conflict between humans and tigers, competing for their own spaces.

Climate changes

 Rising sea levels are wiping out the Sundarbans, the largest tiger habitat of Royal Bengal Tigers.

Different Ways To Conserve Tigers

Conserve natural habitats

 Let us not cut down the forests for our needs. Let us help save forests hence saving the natural habitat for tigers.

Control Climate changes

 Lets us make efforts to control the climatic changes. It will not be wise of us to drive it from bad to worse. This increase in heat is melting the ice, eventually raising the sea levels. This increase in the sea levels is wiping out the Sundarbans. Controlling the climatic changes will help us save Sundarbans, the largest habitat for the Royal Bengal tigers.

Sanctuaries

Wildlife Sanctuaries are bigger spaces, and when amongst nature, tigers are much at home than being caged in a zoo. Hence encourage more sanctuaries and natural reservoirs.

About the Author: Batul Shabbir is an environmental engineering graduate and  a green blogger.