This article has attracted just three responses - this one included. That is the priority we assign to our national animal. Valmik raises a valid point of co-existence. Tigers need an exclusive habitat and ecosystem where they are at the apex and not the man. Destruction of habitat or poaching tigers are at the receiving end. One thing intrigues me that in our parks and santuaries also their numbers are not growing. Is poaching so rampant? What our forest and wildlife officials are doing? I think that we should embark upon a captive breeding programme for the tigers. Because due to poaching we are losing their gene pool also. Officials seem to be at their wits end and one should not expect any miracle from them. Tigers can only be saved if there is an accountability on daily basis and not a sudden disclosure that we are down by so many as compared to the last count. This way we will keep losing this magnificient animal and will still believe in incompetent officials who paint a rosy picture till the last day of census. Try incorporate some buisness houses in this project we will see better results. I think the time has come to have 24 hour satellite surveillance on our parks and sanctuaries to nab the culprits.
