• About BCR
  • News
  • News @ BCR
  • Rescues
  • Issues
  • Cat Laws
Monday, March 8, 2021
  • Login
  • Register
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
No Result
View All Result
Home News World

Loving the tiger to death

BCR by BCR
September 1, 2014
in News World
0
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

Loving the tiger to death

Neha Sinha
Posted: Monday , Feb 08, 2010 at 0431 hrs

You might also like

Cub Petting Shame

Rules

GoFree

On February 14, Valentine’s Day to most, starts the Chinese Year of the Tiger. This will mean, say those watching the tiger poaching trade, that demand for wild tiger parts — the skin of a tiger tacked on a wall, and balms with tiger derivatives — will shoot up. But what does it really mean?

Last year, the World Bank, under its two-year old programme to save the world’s wild tigers — the Global Tiger Initiative — organised a meet for officials from tiger range to tackle the issue of tiger extinction. A second meet under the same GTI aegis was held for Asian (environment) ministers in Bangkok last month, a first of its kind attempt. A third meeting will be held in September in Vladivostok, Russia, for heads of states from tiger range countries. And India will hold a separate “Global Tiger Summit” in Ranthambhore tiger reserve, to talk about how tigers can be saved. The language has started to sound uncomfortably close to the rhetoric on climate change: in Thailand, a “target” of doubling tiger numbers in Asia by 2022 was adopted by the tiger range states

Apart from the conference lights, the World Bank is also attempting to provide loans for tiger conservation. India is crucial to this plan as half the world’s tigers are here: twice, the Bank has discussed proposals with the Indian government, and twice it has been turned down. In 2008, ahead of the launch of the GTI, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, then holding the environment portfolio, turned down the loan offer. This year, while the environment ministry has asked the Bank for a loan to clean the Ganga river, it has once again nixed a loan for tiger conservation.

Opinion is divided on the wisdom of India distancing itself from the GTI — but this debate has also served to sideline the real problem ailing our reserves. While many projects in general may scream bankruptcy, for tiger conservation, the real problem has been utilising the money.

Central assistance for tiger conservation projects goes to the state government, which has emerged as a bottleneck as far as budgetary expenditure goes. Consider this: of the 13 states with tiger reserves in India, only five have asked for a second instalment of funding, though the financial year will soon draw to a close. This follows a trend seen every year: tiger reserves are just not spending their money on time, and sometimes, not at all.

Now, a new system has been put in place to make funds go directly to tiger reserves, under a tripartite memorandum of understanding system. Under this funding strategy launched last year, a memorandum of understanding has to be signed between the state, the Centre and the field director for flow of funds. The funds for tiger conservation will now go to a dedicated tiger conservation fund (TCF) and not the state government. But while tiger states have signed on the dotted line, not a single state has authorised its TCF to receive money till date.

So while money is offered to India and then turned down, the real question still burns bright: what are our levels of commitment to responsibly using existing conservation money? The question here, ironically, is not of a lack of money, instead it is one of putting in place systems that square accountability with expenditure.

And what really do the Year of the Tiger, tiger campaigns by corporate honchos, cards, blogs, endless seminars and flashy joint statements mean? Nothing more than goodwill, if our tiger reserves don’t work. Several activities within our tiger reserves are cyclical, and years of work can be undone through a month of neglect. The most obvious is poaching and vigilance: tiger reserves have to ensure guards are fed, paid and given medical attention on an unflinching basis. This year, five tigers have died and one tiger skin has been seized — proof enough that new years and new conservation starts mean little for poachers.

Before India gives a nod for more fuzzy goodwill created with tigers as mascots, the Centre and states have to take a hard look at their own systems: something it can no longer afford to neglect

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/loving-the-tiger-to-death/577035/0

http://bigcatrescue.org


Tags: News World
Previous Post

In honour of the Year of the Tiger, please let Tony keep all his parts

Next Post

China marks year of tiger with drive to save biggest cat

BCR

BCR

Big Cat Rescue is Caring for Cats and Ending the Trade

Related Posts

Cub Petting Shame
Cat Laws

Cub Petting Shame

January 17, 2021
1.5k
Be Safe Out There!
How To Start A Sanctuary

Rules

March 31, 2020
118
Big Cat Rescue does bobcat rehab and release of native, Florida bobcats.
Articles by BCR

GoFree

March 29, 2020
468
Nik Tiger being Xrayed
How To Start A Sanctuary

What is a day like at Big Cat Rescue?

June 30, 2020
62
Cougars at Big Cat Rescue
Memorials

Artemis

January 28, 2020
222
Next Post

China marks year of tiger with drive to save biggest cat

Leave a Reply

  • Default Comments (0)
  • Facebook Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Help Feed Big Cats

One of the best ways to help is through general donations that can be used however it is most needed at the time.To make a general donation just click the Donate Now button below.  This is the best way to give as it has the lowest credit card processing fees and is immediate help for the cats.

Give to Big Cat Rescue

If you prefer to donate via Pay Pal, please use this link: Pay Pal

Take Action Against Abuse

Shop To Save Big Cats

More From BigCatRescue

  • Big Cat Rescue is Live 24/7 on Webcams
  • Rescue Missions
  • About Big Cat Rescue
  • Big Cat Rescue News
  • Reviews
  • Our Recent Work
  • Sanctuary FAQs
  • Big Cat TV

Sanctuary Cats

  • Jaguars
  • Leopards
  • Lions
  • Tigers
  • Bobcats
  • Canada Lynx
  • Cougars
  • Ocelots
  • Savannah Cats
  • Servals

Big Cat Information

  • Jaguars
  • Leopards
  • Lions
  • Tigers
  • Bobcats
  • Canada Lynx
  • Cougars
  • Ocelots
  • Savannah Cats
  • Servals

Ways to Help

  • Newsletter SignUp
  • Donate Now
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
  • View AMP Versioin
No Result
View All Result
  • About BCR
  • News @ BCR
  • Videos
  • Big Cat Facts
  • Cub Facts
  • Sanctuary Cats
  • Shop and Save Cats
  • Volunteer
  • Donate
  • Abuse Issues
  • Contact Us

© Copyright 2021 BigCatRescue.Org. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

SAVE & ACCEPT

Add New Playlist