Saving the endangered Tiger

Staff reporter

The country marked the Global Tiger Day this year on July 29 with various publication releases and other issues related to the majestic cat which is fast become an endangered species in our planet.

The Department of Forests and Park Services (DoFPS), MoFAS and WWF-Bhutan along with conservation partners Bhutan For Life , RSPN Bhutan , Bhutan Ecological Society, Bhutan Foundation, UNDP Bhutan, GNHC observed the Global Tiger Day as a way to raise awareness about this magnificent but endangered big cat.

Lyonpo Yeshey Penjor, the minister for Ministry of Agriculture and Forests graced the occasion as the chief guest. During the event DoFPS launched the Second Nation-wide Tiger Survey 2021-2022, Community-Based Gewog Tiger Conservation Funds and two publications.

Every year on 29th July, Global Tiger Day is celebrated to raise awareness for tiger conservation. Wild tigers have a crucial place in our landscapes and biodiversity as they can be an indicator of the state of habitats and when we protect them, tigers also protect the balanced ecosystem across its range.

In Bhutan, UN states that problems arise when tigers kill livestock, causing farmers to lose their livelihoods. UNEP’s Vanishing Treasures programme is working closely with the Bhutan Tiger Centre to find peaceful solutions for the country’s hardy farmers and herders of cattle and yaks,

Further, evidence is showing that given the correct environment, tiger populations can increase and we have witnessed that. With the use of science and technology, best practice, involvement of local people and investment, conservation actions are having a positive impact.

For generations, the Royal Bengal tiger has symbolized power and prosperity in Bhutan. Wild tiger populations, however, have plummeted by 97 per cent over the past century – the IUCN Red List estimated that, in 2015, between 2150 and 3160 tigers remained.

While a recent rise in the population is cause for optimism, tigers remain threatened by habitat destruction, poaching, and in Bhutan, by the conflict between humans and the big cats.