Along with the Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and football team captain Bhaichung Bhutia, many well known personalities have come together to support the campaign through the electronic media.
This is the first time an Indian private company has taken upon a campaign such as this. [break] Titled “Save Our Tigers,” Aircel’s initiative, on the occasion of Year of the Tiger 2010, sets an example for other private companies to take on the role of protecting tigers. It goes to show that besides conservation groups, private companies too can do something for the campaign.
Numerous advertisements have been creating awareness in India about the critical condition of its remaining 1,401 tigers. The advertisements call upon individuals to take a step to protect tigers, and their inputs can be as simple as writing a blog to express their concerns.
It is not just in neighboring India, but several multinational companies worldwide have alo been pushing for awareness of conserving tigers in their own ways.
A favorite of the youth, Converse has come out with a tiger logo for their shoes. On the other hand, Nike, which is popular among sport stars, has produced tiger-stripped shoes. Tigers have found a space in several clothing companies as well, and even at jewelry stores which have fashioned gold tigers.
In China, the well-known Tiger Beer has redesigned it’s logo for this special year. Brand conscious people can now sport their favorite brands along with the message of the need to conserve tigers.
But the scene in Nepal is not quite the same.
According to Country Representative WWF Nepal, Anil Manandhar, it will be difficult to conserve species in danger without the support of the local communities and private sectors. With renowned brands taking part in the effort to raise awareness, Manandhar added, “This is an opportunity for big businesses in Nepal to take part in such campaigns as well.”
With poaching leading to the fall in number of tigers worldwide, Year of the Tiger 2010 officially kicked off on February 14, 2010, on the beginning of the Chinese New Year. In the Chinese calendar, the Year of the Tiger comes once in 12 years.
Experts have warned that if conservation is not given full priority, tigers will disappear from the face of the Earth in the next 12 years. Year of the Tiger 2010 has, therefore, been stamped as an important year.
However, tiger conservation in Nepal lacks the support of the government.
“Without the help of international agencies, conversation is tough in Nepal, and so far, private local companies haven’t shown any interest,” informed Megh Bahadur Pandey of Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conversation (DNPWC).
Reports revealed in August 2009, showed that were 121 adult Royal Bengal tigers in Nepal. The survey was conducted from November 2008 to March 2009 with the help of 300 preinstalled cameras, in Parsa and Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserves and Chitwan and Bardia National Parks. The 2001 records show that there were 123 tigers then. The population of tigers is shrinking more in the western parts of the Nepal.
Nonetheless, a report made public yesterday, July 29, on the occasion of World Tiger day, by DNPWC has shed some positive light on the number of tigers. Over the past one year, the number has risen to 155 adult tigers, with 121 tigers in Chitwan National Park (CNP) alone.
The evaluation done by Jhamak Karki, under-secretary of CNP Warden Office, Shanta Jnawali of National Trust for Nature Conservation and Ghanashyam Gurung of WWF-Nepal, included the Chure region as well which was not incorporated in the tiger census of 2008-2009.
The country’s goal, however, is to raise the number of tigers to 250 within the next decade and besides printing posters, little has been done for Year of the Tiger 2010. The 10-year-old plan of extending the area of Bardia National Park by double to increase the habitat of tigers, however, has been finally announced. An area of 894 sq kilometers in the neighboring Banke District added to its 968 sq kilometer area will make Bardia National Park the largest in the country.
A five-year budget plan of Rs 270 million was made after a study done with the help of WWF Nepal in 2000. Because Banke serves as a good habitat for tigers, the World Bank and other international organizations have shown interest in supporting the cause.
In May 2010, Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio had come to Nepal as part of the “Save Tigers Now” campaign of WWF America. The actor, who arrived in May 22 with a crew of 15, left for Nepalgunj directly and flew to Bardia, where he stayed for the next two days. The visit was kept confidential. The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation is working with conservation organizations to double the number of Royal Bengal tigers by the year 2022.
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