On July 29, the world celebrates International Tiger Day to promote the protection of the wild cat, whose population has dropped dramatically over the past 150 years—nearly 95%. The tiger has long been considered the most recognisable member of the large cat family. They are strong, gorgeous, and inspire awe and admiration in many people. Despite being loved as the lovely striped animal that is in danger of going extinct.
On this day, the world’s largest wild cat will be brought to public attention. Tigers live in a variety of habitats, including mangrove swamps, grasslands, savannas, and rain forests. 93 percent of the historical tiger habitat has been lost as a result of human activity. Saving forests also implies saving tigers, because forests are crucial to the sustainability of Earth. Tigers are solitary creatures that associate their mother with their young. Large areas, usually referred to as the home ranges, are traversed by them.
History of International Tiger Day:
A number of nations signed an agreement on July 29, 2010, at the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit in Russia. The nations agreed to spread the word about the sharp decline in tiger populations and the actions needed to prevent the extinction of the species. Not only that, but a number of tiger-populated nations also declared their intention to try to double the number of the cat.
Significance of International Tiger Day:
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) estimates that there are currently 3,900 wild cats in existence. As was previously indicated, WWF and the nations having tiger populations hope to treble their numbers to 6,000 by the following year. The significance of the day is increased by the fact that tigers were formerly seen prowling across much of Africa. However, the population and range of these animals have decreased to just about 7% due to poaching, illegal wildlife trading, and habitat loss.
The population of tigers is decreasing for the following reasons:
- Poaching and illegal trade: The tiger’s entire body is in high demand due to its lengthy lifespan.
- Habitat Loss: 95% of tigers have lost their historic home ranges as a result of human activity. They require a natural environment to survive.
- Climate Changes: The Sunderbans, a sizable mangrove forest area shared by Bangladesh and India along the Indian Ocean coast, are being completely wiped off by the rising sea levels. It is the largest Royal Bengal Tiger habitat and the only coastal mangrove tiger habitat in the entire globe.