Tiger, as a large predator, plays an important role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. These ecosystems provide fresh water, food, and health to both nature and people. Securing tiger habitats could help in protecting at least nine major watersheds that regulate and supply fresh water to over 800 million people in Asia.
Every year on July 29, the world celebrates International Tiger Day. The goal of the day is to raise awareness about the importance of tiger conservation among individuals, organizations, and governments.
International Tiger Day 2022: History
Surprisingly, by 2010, the global tiger population had dropped to an all-time low of 3200. This prompted many countries to take immediate action to protect big cats. Global Tiger Day was proposed for the first time in 2010 at the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit in Russia. Many countries agreed to sign an agreement to protect tigers. Among these countries were thirteen tiger range countries such as India, Russia, and China.
At the Saint Petersburg Summit, the countries agreed to a resolution to double the number of tigers by 2022, which is also the Chinese year of the tiger. This project is known as TX2 according to the World Wide Fund for Nature. This is currently considered the most ambitious conservation goal for any wild species.
International Tiger Day 2022: Theme
It is thought that ensuring the tiger's future entails much more than simply saving an iconic species. Surprisingly, tigers are only found in 13 countries, with India accounting for 70% of the population. Every year, the day is celebrated with a different theme, and this year's theme is "India launches Project Tiger to revive the tiger population." Last year, the theme of the day was "Their Survival is in Our Hands."
World Tiger Day 2022: Quotes
"Tiger is a symbol of beauty, bravery, strength, and Nationality so save the Tiger. Save the Nation Pride." – Uzma
"We must protect tigers from extinction. Our planet's future depends on it." - Michelle Yeoh
Project Tiger:
The Government of India launched the tiger conservation programme 'Project Tiger' on April 1, 1973. The project's goals include ensuring a viable population of Bengal tigers in their natural habitats, preventing extinction, and preserving biologically significant areas as a natural heritage.
The main accomplishments of this project are excellent habitat recovery and an increase in the tiger population in the reserve areas, from 268 in 9 reserves in 1972 to 1576 in 27 reserves in 2003. India now has approximately 2,967 wild tigers, which means expanding its forest cover by more than 10 million hectares to over 81 million hectares and adding more tiger reserves to its current total of 51.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, approximately 95 percent of the tiger population has declined in the last 150 years. As a result, the goal of this day is to encourage everyone to take appropriate action to save the wild cats.
Several nations have taken critical steps to reduce poaching, habitat loss, illegal wildlife trade, and human-animal conflicts as the number of tigers declines. These measures have had a positive impact on tiger conservation in many countries.
On this day, people hold seminars and hold more and more discussions in order to get more people involved in the cause of saving tigers. They also make contributions to organisations that work to protect tigers.
We must group together in order to keep the tiger alive. International Tiger Day Day!!
