BANGALORE: Dr George Schaller, emeritus scientist of New York Wildlife Conservation Society, also a leading wildlife biologist, was here in connection with a programme organised by director of WCS India Program and Centre for Wildlife Studies K Ullas Karanth, when The New Indian Express caught up with him for an exclusive interview. Excerpts:“Tigers are extinct in Cambodia, Vietnam, Russia, China and Myanmar. The only ray of hope is India which still has around 1,600 tigers. It is time the Indian government protects them. If tigers are still in India, credit must go to former prime minister late Indira Gandhi,” said Dr George Schaller. He added that there are hardly 3,600 tigers left in the entire world.“Tigers will exist provided there is political will and strict implementation of wildlife rules. It is heartening to note that the tiger population in India is improving, thanks to conservation. From the 1990s till date there has been an increase in the population of big cats. India has been a success story thanks to the efforts of people like Ullas Karanth,” he elucidates. Pointing out that more tigers exist in private captivity around the globe, he said: “In US, there are more than 3,500 tigers outside zoos and forests and in Russia over 7,000 tigers in people’s backyard.”“Tiger skin and bones are sought in China for medicinal purposes. Many organised gangs kill tigers and sell the products for a huge sum. It is possible to check this illegal trade provided local communities are taken into confidence. A percentage of profit earned through tourism should be given to them for their inclusion in wildlife conservation. Unfortunately, borders to China are open; poachers take this route for all illegal trade.”He said that villagers kill tigers and sell it to middlemen for a paltry sum who in turn take it to China where they get high prices, while calling for strong policing and cooperation of villagers.“In a bid to improve tiger habitat, the Chinese government has initiated several measures. More areas in forests are declared as core areas for breeding in peace. It is critical to improve tiger breeding in wild. But in last 10 years, 18 out of the 800-odd poachers arrested were convicted,” Dr Schaller said.“I hope the right steps will be taken to save the tiger; its future depends on India.”
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