On July 29th, International Tiger Day raises awareness about this magnificent but endangered big cat. Founded in 2010, the day celebrates the global goal of doubling the number of wild tigers by 2022, set by the 13 tiger range countries.
As we reach the halfway point of this ambitious goal, this year has been one of the most united and exciting Global Tiger Days yet. The #ThumbsUpForTigers campaign brought together WWF offices, organizations, celebrities, government officials, families, friends, and individuals around the globe to show tiger range countries that they are not alone in their conservation efforts.
International Tiger Day: Significance
There is no denying that tigers are the largest member of the cat family and one of the most iconic animals on earth. It is estimated that there were over 100,000 tigers roaming the earth a century ago.
According to the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), there are 3,900 wild cats in the world. There was a time when tigers roamed across most of the African continent, making the day even more important. Poaching, illegal wildlife trade, and habitat loss, however, have reduced their population and range to just about 7%. There are 51 tiger reserves in India, spread across 18 states. During the 2018 tiger census, India’s national animal showed an increase in population.
International Tiger Day is held on July 29 to raise awareness about the conservation of the wild cat, whose population has decreased by nearly 95% over the last 150 years.
Read More: 29 July in Indian and World History
International Tiger Day: History
At the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit in Russia on July 29, 2010, a number of countries signed an agreement. In order to prevent the extinction of the species, the countries pledged to raise awareness about the dramatic decline in the number of tigers.
Reasons behind the declining population of Tigers
Some of the reasons behind the declining population of Tigers are as follows:
- Poaching and illegal trade
- Habitat loss
- Climate Change.
- Several diseases are also the key factor.
- The study of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve (RTR) says that the tiger population in the park shown a loss of genetic diversity over the years.
- Degradation of Habitats
- Man-animal conflict also affects the population of big cats.
- Lack of protection infrastructure.
- Increasing tourism day by day is also one of the factors for the decline in tiger numbers.