‘Tiger Matters’ throws spotlight on conservation

Tribune News Service
NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 21

Days after the killing of Tiger Avni in Maharashtra triggering a fresh round of protests over the move, the Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on Wednesday launched a conservation documentary film, “Tiger Matters”, highlighting the critical linkage between tigers, forests, river systems and humans needed to advance ecological and economic security, the film details interwoven actions to secure the future of tiger habitats and local communities.

An estimated 3,500 wild tigers remain worldwide and India is home to approximately 65 per cent of them. 

Central India — that has over 31 per cent of tigers — is the focus of the film. 

Research, under the programme, showed evidence from motion sensor cameras that there is a robust tiger population outside the boundaries of protected areas in need of protection, the organisers said in a release.

WCT president Anish Andher said, “The tiger is a keystone species and its survival is crucial to the ecological as well as the economic security of India. 

“Over 600 rivers originate or are fed by the tiger bearing forests of our country, which in turn ensures the sustainability of millions of Indians. Tiger conservation is nothing but conservation of healthy ecosystems and free flowing rivers."

“Tigers are the golden thread of biodiversity in the fabric of all our lives. The journey in conservation is a long one and we are committed to walk every step of this journey with the aim to ensure that generations after us have a healthy environment,” Dr Mary Melnyk, Environmental Security and Resilience Team Leader at USAID, said after the screening.