The Hindu : National : Tiger experts write to Manmohan

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Wednesday, Jun 06, 2007
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Tiger experts write to Manmohan

Staff Reporter

Urgent action sought to save the national animal

NEW DELHI: On World Environment Day, a coalition of over 140 tiger experts, non-government organisations and prominent citizens sent an open letter to the Prime Minister expressing the critical need to act immediately to save the national animal.

Pointing out that recent government monitoring studies confirmed what conservationists have been saying for years about the declining tiger population, the members demanded urgent action to halt the animal's slide to extinction. "It is likely that there are less tigers in India now than there were when Project Tiger was set up in 1973. Clearly the present system is failing,'' said a Wildlife Protection Society of India member.

Intervention

The signatories have requested the Prime Minister's intervention in making the wildlife management system effective, professional and more accountable. "Today's scenario demands a change in the system. Our forests and wildlife can no longer be successfully managed by a department that was set up for commercial forestry, a body which is closed to changing ideas and new knowledge,'' noted a member of the coalition.

The signatories noted that it was time the Central and State Governments recognised the crucial importance of wildlife to the well being of the country and requested the Prime Minister to give nature the status it deserved.

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