The International Tiger Forum, which started in St. Petersburg this weekend, brought together experts on endangered animals from various countries and government heads of countries, where tigers still live, in order to discuss possible solutions to tiger population decline. The draft programme on doubling tiger population was suggested during a meeting of experts on Bali Island, Indonesia this July.

During the first day of the Forum ministers of ecology of 13 countries have approved the programme on restoration of tiger population for 2011-2022. “Wild tigers are an endangered species, and their fate depends on whether we will be active or passive within next 10 years”, the document says. The programme on restoration of tiger population is the only hope for survival of these beautiful giant cats and preservation of their native landscapes.

The programme provides development of 13 national plans on helping tigers survive and flourish in countries, where tigers dwell: Russia, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar and Nepal. In next five years the programme will receive about $350 millions, and this sum doesn’t comprise funding within national plans.

As for Russia, our country will develop a network of specially protected natural areas, costing $19 million and being fulfilled within 2-10 years. These zones will be connected with ecological corridors, which will reduce anthropogenic impact on tigers and their habitat. i.e. deforestation, road construction and etc. The government will also introduce more jobs for inspectors, pay them more and provide them with necessary equipment. Moreover, about 25% of lands, where tigers dwell, will become specially protected natural areas.

According to the Russian Minister of natural resources and ecology, our country plans to increase existing population of 450 tigers to 500 giant cats and to stabilize this population. Scientists say that current population of tigers has come to stable balance with sustainable habitat and food resources.

In the middle of the 19^th century Russian Empire has hosted about 1000 tigers. However, in 1930s the population has dropped off to 40 tigers. Ban of hunting tigers, which was introduced in 1947, and establishment of specially protected natural areas helped to increase the number of tigers up to 450, this was the number of the cats in 2005.

Some statistics for the rest of the world – the world tiger population has dropped from 100 000 cats to 3 200, and they will definitely extinct, if human beings don’t come for rescue. In some regions, like Java and Bali Islands, Middle Asia and Trans-Caucasian region, there are no more tigers. In India 2 200 tigers were killed within the period of 10 years – between 1995 and 2005. Tigers suffer because of their fur and body parts, which are widely used as ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine. Tigers, living in cages, are believed to lose their “healing” properties, and that is why more and more wild tigers get killed.

Source: RIA Novosti

Anna Kizilova