बुधवार, 16 सितंबर 2009

प्रकृति की पीड़ा कौन सुनेगा


जल, जंगल और जमीन, इन तीन तत्वों के बिना प्रकृति अधूरी है। विश्व में सबसे समृद्ध देश वही हुए हैं, जहाँ यह तीनों तत्व प्रचुर मात्रा में हों। हमारा देश जंगल, वन्य जीवों के लिए प्रसिद्ध है। सम्पूर्ण विश्व में बड़े ही विचित्र तथा आकर्षक वन्य जीव पाए जाते हैं। हमारे देश में भी वन्य जीवों की विभिन्न और विचित्र प्रजातियाँ पाई जाती हैं। इन सभी वन्य जीवों के विषय में ज्ञान प्राप्त करना केवल कौतूहल की दृष्टि से ही आवश्यक नहीं है, वरन यह काफी मनोरंजक भी है। भूमंडल पर सृष्टि की रचना कैसे हुई, सृष्टि का विकास कैसे हुआ और उस रचना में मनुष्य का क्या स्थान है? प्राचीन युग के अनेक भीमकाय जीवों का लोप क्यों हो गया और उस दृष्टि से क्या अनेक वर्तमान वन्य जीवों के लोप होने की कोई आशंका है?मानव समाज और वन्य जीवों का पारस्परिक संबंध क्या है? यदि वन्य जीव भूमंडल पर न रहें, तो पर्यावरण पर तथा मनुष्य के आर्थिक विकास पर क्या प्रभाव पड़ेगा? तेजी से बढ़ती हुई आबादी की प्रतिक्रिया वन्य जीवों पर क्या हो सकती है आदि प्रश्न गहन चिंतन और अध्ययन के हैं।इसलिए भारत के वन व वन्य जीवों के बारे में थोड़ी जानकारी आवश्यक है, ताकि लोग भलीभाँति समझ सकें कि वन्य जीवों का महत्व क्या है और वे पर्यावरण चक्र में किस प्रकार मनुष्य का साथ देते हैं।
साथ ही यह जानना भी आवश्यक है कि सृष्टि-रचना चक्र में पर्यावरण का क्या महत्व है। पहले पेड़ हुए या गतिशील प्राणी? फिर सृष्टि-रचना की क्रिया में हर प्राणी, वनस्पति का एक निर्धारित स्थान रहा है। इस सृष्टि-रचना में मनुष्य का आविर्भाव कब हुआ? प्रकृति के इस चक्र में विभिन्न जीव-जंतुओं में क्या कोई समानता है? वैज्ञानिक दृष्टि से उसको कैसे समझा जाए, जिससे हमें पता चले क‍ि आखिर किसी प्रजाति के लुप्त हो जाने से मानव समाज और पर्यावरण पर क्या प्रभाव पड़ सकता है, क्योंकि आखिर हम भी एक प्रजाति ही हैं। आज हमें सबसे ज्यादा जरूरत है पर्यावरण संकट के मुद्दे पर आम जनता को जागरूक करने की। पर्यावरण, वन्य जीव-जंतुओं और मानव समाज का सीधा रिश्ता आम आदमी की समझ के मुताबिक समझने के लिए इसे वैज्ञानिक दृष्टि से देखना भी आवश्यक है। जीव-जंतुओं व जंगल का विषय है तो बड़ा 'क्लिष्ट', पर है उतना ही रोचक। इसे समझने के लिए सबसे पहले खुद पर पड़ रहे पर्यावरण के प्रभाव को जानना महत्वपूर्ण है।दिनोदिन गम्भीर रूप लेती इस समस्या से निपटने के लिए आज आवश्यकता है एक ऐसे अभियान की, जिसमें हम सब स्वप्रेरणा से सक्रिय भागीदारी निभाएँ। इसमें हर कोई नेतृत्व करेगा, क्योंकि जिस पर्यावरण के लिए यह अभियान है उस पर सबका समान अधिकार है।तो आइए हम सब मिलकर इस अभियान में अपने आप को जोड़ें। इसके लिए आपको कहीं जाने या किसी रैली में भाग लेने की जरूरत नहीं, केवल अपने आस-पड़ोस के पर्यावरण का अपने घर जैसा ख्याल रखें जैसे कि - * घर के आसपास पौधारोपण करें। इससे आप गरमी, भूक्षरण, धूल इत्याद‍ि से बचाव तो कर ही सकते हैं, पक्षियों को बसेरा भी दे सकते हैं, फूल वाले पौधों से आप अनेक कीट-पतंगों को आश्रय व भोजन दे सकते हैं।
शहरी पर्यावरण में रहने वाले पशु-पक्षियों जैसे गोरैया, कबूतर, कौवे, मोर, बंदर, गाय, कुत्ते आदि के प्रति सहानुभूति रखें व आवश्यकता पड़ने पर दाना-पानी या चारा उपलब्ध कराएँ। मगर यह ध्यान रहे क‍ि ऐसा उनसे सम्पर्क में आए बिना करना अच्छा रहेगा, क्योंकि अगर उन्हें मनुष्य की संगत की आदत पड गई तो आगे चलकर उनके लिए घातक हो सकती है।पर्यावरण पर बड़ी-बड़ी बातें करने से पहले हमें कुछ आदतें अपनाना होंगी व उनका पालन करना होगा, क्योंकि स्थितियाँ बदलने की सबसे अच्छी शुरुआत स्वयं से होती है।

बाघों के लिए वीआईपी सुरक्षा कवच

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बढ़ते शहरीकरण, सिकुड़ते वनों और शिकारियों से बचाने के लिए बाघों को सुरक्षित रखने की योजना के तहत अब अत्याधुनिक हथियारों से सुसज्जित ‘टाइगर प्रोटेक्शन फोर्स’ का गठन कर ‘जंगल के राजा’ को वीआईपी सुरक्षा दी जायेगी।प्रदेश के मुख्य वन्य जीव संरक्षक बी के पटनायक ने बताया कि बाघों को संरक्षण प्रदान करने के लिए केन्द्र सरकार की मदद से‘बाघ संरक्षण बल’(टाइगर प्रोटेक्शन फोर्स- टीपीएफ) का गठन किया जा रहा है।पटनायक ने बताया कि टीपीएफ के गठन की प्रक्रिया शुरु कर दी गयी है। इसके लिए केन्द्र सरकार से 93 लाख रुपए की स्वीकृत भी मिल गयी है। उन्होंने यह भी बताया कि टीपीएफ से जुड़े कर्मचारियों का वेतन सहित पूरा खर्च केन्द्र वहन करेगा।उन्होंने बताया कि टीपीएफ को बाघ संरक्षित क्षेत्र में ही तैनात किया जायेगा। इसके लिए गठित एक कम्पनी में एक डिप्टी कमाडेंट, तीन उपनिरीक्षक, 63 आरक्षी तथा 90 सिपाही होंगे।उत्तर प्रदेश के दुधवा, किशनपुर (लखीमपुर खीरी जिला) तथा बहराइच के कतर्नियाघाट तीनों बाघ संरक्षित क्षेत्र हैं जिनका विस्तार 1362 वर्ग किमी क्षेत्र में है। यहाँ वर्ष 2005 में हुई गणना में 164 बाघ पाए गए थे।दुधवा नेशनल पार्क के सहायक फील्ड निदेशक वी पी सिंह ने बताया कि वर्ष 2005 में वीडियोग्राफी के आधार पर बाघों की गणना की गई थी। इस गणना में दुधवा क्षेत्र में 77, किशनपुर में 29 और कतर्नियाघाट में 58 बाघों के पाये जाने की पुष्टि हुई थी।उल्लेखनीय है कि प्राप्त आँकड़ों के आधार पर पिछले दो दशकों मे उत्तर प्रदेश में बाघों में संख्या में आश्चर्यजनक कमी दर्ज की गयी है। यहाँ वर्ष 1989 में 735 बाघ थे, वहीं वर्ष 2001, 2002 में बाघों की संख्या घटकर मात्र 284 रह गयी। वर्ष 2005 की गणना के बाद बाघों की संख्या 164 रह गयी है। एक वरिष्ठ वन अधिकारी ने बताया है कि केन्द्र सरकार ने बाघों की घटती संख्या को गंभीरता से लेते हुए उत्तर प्रदेश के टाइगर रिजर्व क्षेत्रों में बाघों की सुरक्षा के लिए अत्याधुनिक हथियारों से लैस टीपीएफ के गठन का निर्णय किया। जिन राज्यों में बाघ पाए जाते हैं वहाँ भी ऐसे बल गठित करने के निर्देश दिये गये हैं।सूत्रों ने बताया कि इस बल में युवा वन कर्मियों की तैनाती नये सिरे से की जाएगी और उन्हें अत्याधुनिक हथियार दिए जाएँगे। कार्य बल एक अलग किस्म का बल होगा जो सिर्फ बाघों को अत्याधुनिक तरीके से सुरक्षा देगा।सूत्रों ने बताया कि प्रदेश में बहराइच के सोहलवें संरक्षित वन प्रभाग को भी टाइगर रिजर्व क्षेत्र बनाने का प्रस्ताव विचाराधीन है।सूत्रों के अनुसार इस योजना को लागू करने के लिए हाल में ही उत्तर प्रदेश सरकार तथा वन विभाग के अधिकारियों के बीच एक बैठक हुई थी। प्रदेश सरकार ने योजना को अमली जामा पहनाने के लिए अपना मन बना लिया है।उन्होंने बताया कि बाघों की सुरक्षा के लिए जो घेरा बनाया जाएगा, उसमे तैनात सुरक्षा कर्मियों को अत्याधुनिक राइफल और नाइन एम एम पिस्टल सहित अन्य हथियार दिए जाएँगे।

उत्तरी खीरी संरक्षित क्षेत्र में शामिल


देश में बाघों की घटती संख्या को ध्यान में रखते हुए बाघों के संरक्षण के लिए शुरू की गई 'टाइगर परियोजना' को बढ़ावा देने वाले एक महत्वपूर्ण निर्णय में उत्तरप्रदेश सरकार ने 150 किमी लम्बे और 25 किमी चौड़े दुधवा राष्ट्रीय उद्यान से सटे उत्तरी खीरी इलाके को 'संरक्षित क्षेत्र' में शामिल करने की सहमति दे दी है।जिला वन संरक्षक कार्तिक कुमार सिंह ने बताया कि राज्य सरकार ने उत्तरी खीरी इलाके को दुधवा पार्क के 'बफर जोन' में शामिल करने की सहमति दे दी है और इस बाबत एक विस्तृत परियोजना शासन की सहमति के लिए भेजी जा चुकी है।उन्होंने बताया कि 'बफर जोन' में शामिल होने के बाद उत्तरी खीरी इलाके में लोगों की आवाजाही पर पांबदी लगाई जाएगी। तीन हजार किमी लम्बे क्षेत्र में फैला उत्तरी खीरी न सिर्फ दुधवा बल्कि कई और संरक्षित क्षेत्रों के मध्य में है जिसमें नेपाल का शुक्ला फैन्टा वन्य जीव संरक्षित क्षेत्र, बहराइच में स्थित कतर्निया घाट प्रस्तावित टाइगर रिजर्व और किशनपुर संरक्षित क्षेत्र शामिल है।दुधवा राष्ट्रीय उद्यान के उप क्षेत्रीय निदेशक पीपी सिंह ने बताया कि उत्तरी खीरी मंडल में वन्य जीवों जिसमें चीते, गैंडे, तेंदुए और हाथी शामिल हैं के आवागमन को ध्यान में रखते हुए नया 'बफर जोन' बनाने का निर्णय किया गया था।उन्होंने बताया 'बफर जोन' में शामिल होने के बाद उत्तरी खीरी का क्षेत्र प्रोजेक्ट टाइगर के अन्तर्गत भी आ जाएगा जिससे वहाँ पाए जाने वाले वन्य जीवों के संरक्षण में ज्यादा सहूलियत होगी।जिला वन्य संरक्षण अधिकारी सिंह का कहना है कि पर्यटन विभाग ने भी इस परियोजना में अपनी दिलचस्पी दिखाई है और एक विस्तृत रिपोर्ट माँगी है।वन्य जीव संरक्षण से जुड़े पर्यावरणविद् विजय प्रकाश सिंह का कहना है कि 'बफर जोन' बन जाने से उत्तरी खीरी इलाके में अतिक्रमण की समस्या दूर हो जाएगी। इससे वन्य जीवों को खतरा पैदा होता है।वन विभाग के अधिकारियों के अनुसार संरक्षित क्षेत्रो को दो भागों मे बाँटा जाता है जिसमें से एक 'कोर जोन' और दूसरा 'बफर जोन' कहलाता है।'कोर जोन' में किसी भी तरह की गतिविधि की मनाही होती है जबकि 'बफर जोन' में मनुष्यों के आवागमन और किसी भी तरह के अतिक्रमण पर पाबंदी रहती है।

रविवार, 13 सितंबर 2009

Bengal florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis)

Facts
Previously known as:
Eupodotis bengalensis
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Gruiformes
Family
Otididae
Genus
Houbaropsis (1)
Size
Male length: 64 cm
(2)Female length: 68 cm (2)Male weight: 1250 – 1700 g (2)Female weight: 1700 – 2250 g (2)
Status
Classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List
(1), and listed on Appendix I of CITES (3).
Description
A highly threatened and rare bird
(4), the Bengal florican is the size of a large duck (5), with mostly black plumage (6). Males have predominantly white wings, that are conspicuous when tucked against their black bodies or when in flight (5). Elongated black feathers on the head, neck and back, which are fluffed during the male's elaborate aerial displays, gives the bird a somewhat mop-like appearance (5). The plumage of female Bengal floricans does not form such a stark contrast as that of the male; they have more buff-brown plumage (2) (6), and a patch of white on the wing is seen only in flight (5). Females are also larger than males (5). Two subspecies of the Bengal florican are recognised; Houbaropsis bengalensis blandini is typically larger than Houbaropsis bengalensis bengalensis (2).
Range
There are two distinct populations of the Bengal florican. The
subspecies H. b. bengalensis occurs in the Indian subcontinent, ranging along the border of Nepal with India and into lowland north-eastern India (2). H. b. blandini, however, occurs in Southeast Asia, in southern Cambodia and southern Vietnam (2). Over two-thirds of the global population of Bengal floricans breed on the seasonally flooded grasslands of the Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia (7).

View a distribution map for this species at UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.
Habitat
The Bengal florican is an inhabitant of flat, moist grassland, which may be scattered with shrubs and bushes
(2). The most suitable habitat has areas of short grassland interspersed with patches of taller grassland (8). This provides both the short grass favoured by males for foraging and displaying, and the tall grass which is sought out during the hotter parts of the day, and where females are thought to spend most of their time (8).
Biology
The Bengal florican, although a capable flier, is most often seen walking or running along the ground
(5). It has a varied diet, feeding on insects, grasshoppers, beetles, ants, occasionally lizards and small snakes, and grasses, flowers, shoots, berries and seeds (2) (5). The proportion of these various food items varies depending on their availability, so that plant matter dominates in winter and spring, while invertebrate prey becomes more important in summer (2).
Like many birds in the Otididae family
(9), male Bengal floricans perform elaborate displays during the breeding season (5), which extends from March to June (2). Within a patch of short grass in the centre of their territory the male will fly three to four metres into the air, descend, and then rise again before diving to the ground. This exaggerated flying display is accompanied by chik chik chik calls and loud wing clapping (5). In addition to these striking aerial shows, which are typically performed at dawn and dusk (5), a standing display with its neck feathers fluffed up, and a walking and head pumping display are also part of the Bengal florican's courtship repertoire (5).
In contrast to the exhibitionist behaviour of the males, female Bengal floricans are far more secretive, visiting a male territory only briefly to breed and forage
(5). Females lay one to two eggs directly onto a scrape in the ground, situated amongst thick grass (2) (5). The glossy, olive-green eggs, flecked with purple-brown, are incubated for 25 to 28 days by the female (2). The male provides no care for the chicks, which are capable of walking, running, and feeding themselves shortly after hatching (5).
Threats
The most significant threat to the Bengal florican is the loss and alteration of its grassland habitat. Grasslands throughout its range are threatened by drainage, conversion to agriculture, overgrazing, heavy flooding, and inappropriate cutting and burning regimes
(6). The Tonle Sap grasslands, an extremely important area for breeding Bengal floricans, have declined by 60 percent since the late 1990s, with the intensification of rice cultivation playing a significant role in this loss in recent years (7). However, not all human activity should be looked upon as negative, as many grasslands, in the absence of large native herbivores, rely on activities such as grazing and burning for their existence (7). Unfortunately, reaching the correct balance of human activities is not an easy task, and the management of many grasslands, even those within protected areas, results in habitat unsuitable for the Bengal florican (8).
Hunting for sport and food may have also played a part in the decline of the Bengal florican, and remains a threat to this Critically Endangered species, particularly in Cambodia
(6).
Conservation
The Bengal florican occurs in a number of protected areas, including the Royal Chitwan National Park and Royal Bardia National Park in Nepal
(8), Dudwa National Park in India, and possibly in Tram Chim National Park, Vietnam, and Ang Trapeang Thmor Sarus Crane Conservation Area in Cambodia (6). Within some of these areas, efforts are underway to maintain the valuable grasslands, such as uprooting woody vegetation (8), and a schedule of controlled fires and the collection of cut grass by locals for thatch (8) (10). This will help create more suitable habitat for the Bengal florican (8), provided that burning and cutting is carried out before the breeding season, otherwise these activities could be detrimental to the eggs or young birds (4) (10). The worrying loss of grassland habitat in the Tonle Sap led to the designation, in 2006, of 310 square kilometres of land as Integrated Farming and Biodiversity Areas. Within these areas, large scale habitat conversion is forbidden but extensive traditional use is encouraged (7).
These are laudable measures, but more conservation efforts may be required for this bird as it teeters on the edge of extinction. BirdLife International, the global bird conservation organisation, recommends that further research, surveys, grassland management and the extension and improvement of protected areas, are required to improve the status of the rare Bengal florican
(6).

शुक्रवार, 28 अगस्त 2009

मंगलवार, 25 अगस्त 2009

क्या है बाघ इसे भी जानिए


बाघ जंगल में रहने वाला मांसाहारी स्तनपायी स्तनपायी पशु है। यह अपनी प्रजाति में सबसे बड़ा और ताकतवर पशु है। यह तिब्बत श्रीलंका और अंडमान निकोबार द्वीप-समूह को छोड़कर एशिया के अन्य सभी भागों में पाया जाता है। यह भारत नेपाल भूटान कोरिया अफगानिस्तान और इंडोनेशिया में अधिक संख्या में पाया जाता है। इसके शरीर का रंग लाल और पीला का मिश्रण है। इस पर काले रंग की पट्टी पायी जाती है। वक्ष के भीतरी भाग और पाँव का रंग सफेद होता है। बाघ १३ फीट लम्बा और ३०० किलो वजनी हो सकता है। बाघ का वैज्ञानिक नाम पेंथेरा टिग्रिस है। यह भारत का राष्ट्रीय पशु भी है। बाघ शब्द संस्कृत के व्याघ्र का तदभव रूप है।
इसे वन, दलदली क्षेत्र तथा घास के मैदानों के पास रहना पसंद है। इसका आहार मुख्य रूप से (हिरण) (अब तक बनाया नहीं)" सांभर चीतल (अब तक बनाया नहीं)" चीतल जंगली सूअर, भैंस जंगली हिरण और के पालतू पशु" हैं। अपने बड़े वजन और ताकत के अलावा बाघ अपनी धारियों से पहचाना जा सकता है। बाघ की सुनने, सूँघने और देखने की क्षमता तीव्र होती है। धारीदार शरीर के कारण शिकार का पीछा करते समय वह झाड़ियों के बीच इस प्रकार छिपा रहता है कि शिकार उसे देख ही नहीं पाता। बाघ बड़ी एकाग्रता और धीरज से शिकार करता है। यद्यपि वह बहुत तेज रफ्तार से दौड़ सकता है, भारी-भरकम शरीर के कारण वह बहुत जल्द थक जाता है। इसलिए शिकार को लंबी दूरी तक पीछा करना उसके बस की बात नहीं है। वह छिपकर शिकार के बहुत निकट तक पहुँचता है और फिर एक दम से उस पर कूद पड़ता है। यदि कुछ गज की दूरी में ही शिकार को दबोच न सका, तो वह उसे छोड़ देता है। हर बीस प्रयासों में उसे औसतन केवल एक बार ही सफलता हाथ लगती है क्योंकि कुदरत ने बाघ की हर चाल की तोड़ शिकार बननेवाले प्राणियों को दी है। बाघ सामान्यतः दिन में चीतल, जंगली सूअर और कभी-कभी गौर के बच्चों का शिकार करता है। बाघ अधिकतर अकेले ही रहता है। हर बाघ का अपना एक निश्चित क्षेत्र होता है। केवल प्रजननकाल में नर मादा इकट्ठा होते हैं। लगभग साढ़े तीन महीने का गर्भाधान काल होता है और एक बार में २-३ शावक जन्म लेते हैं। बाघिन अपने बच्चे के साथ रहती है। बाघ के बच्चे शिकार पकड़ने की कला अपनी माँ से सीखते हैं। ढाई वर्ष के बाद ये स्वतंत्र रहने लगते हैं। इसकी आयु लगभग १९ वर्ष होती है।
बाघ एक अत्यंत संकटग्रस्त प्राणी है। इसे वास स्थलों की क्षति और अवैध शिकार का संकट बना ही रहता है। पूरी दुनिया में उसकी संख्या ६,००० से भी कम है। उनमें से लगभग ४,००० भारत में पाए जाते हैं। भारत के बाघ को एक अलग प्रजाति माना जाता है, जिसका वैज्ञानिक नाम है पेंथेरा टाइग्रिस टाइग्रिस। बाघ की नौ प्रजातियों में से तीन अब विलुप्त हो चुकी हैं। ज्ञात आठ किस्‍मों की प्रजाति में से रायल बंगाल टाइगर उत्‍तर पूर्वी क्षेत्रों को छोड़कर देश भर में पाया जाता है और पड़ोसी देशों में भी पाया जाता है, जैसे नेपाल, भूटान और बांगलादेश भारत में बाघों की घटती जनसंख्‍या की जांच करने के लिए अप्रैल प्रोजेक्‍ट टाइगर" बाघ परियोजना) शुरू की गई। अब तक इस परियोजना के अधीन बाघ के २७ आरक्षित क्षेत्रों की स्‍थापना की गई है जिनमें ३७,७६१ वर्ग कि.मी. क्षेत्र शामिल है।
इतिहास
भारतीय बाघ अपने प्राकृतिक आवास में
बाघ के पूर्वजों के में रहने के निशान मिले हैं। हाल ही में मिले बाघ की एक विलुप्त उप प्रजाति के से पता चला है कि बाघ के पूर्वज मध्य चीन से भारत आए थे। वे जिस रास्ते से भारत आए थे कई शताब्दियों बाद इसी रास्ते को रेशम मार्ग" सिल्क रूट) के नाम से जाना गया। आक्सफोर्ड यूनिवर्सिटी और अमेरिका में एनसीआई लेबोरेट्री आफ जीनोमिक डाइवर्सिटी के वैज्ञानिकों के मुताबिक में विलुप्त हो जाने वाले मध्य एशिया के कैस्पियन बाघ व रूस के सुदूर पूर्व में मिलने वाले साइबेरियाई या एमुर बाघ एक जैसे हैं। इस खोज से यह पता चलता है कि किस तरह बाघ मध्य एशिया और रूस पहुंचे। आक्सफोर्ड के वाइल्ड लाइफ रिसर्च कंजरवेशन यूनिट के एक शोधकर्ता कार्लोस ड्रिस्काल के अनुसार विलुप्त कैस्पियन और आज के साइबेरियाई बाघ सबसे नजदीकी प्रजातियां हैं। इसका मतलब है कि कैस्पियन बाघ कभी विलुप्त नहीं हुए। अध्ययन के हवाले से कहा गया है कि ४० साल पहले विलुप्त हो गए कैस्पियन बाघों का ठीक से अध्ययन नहीं किया जा सका था। इसलिए हमें डीएनए नमूनों को फिर से प्राप्त करना पड़ा। एक अन्य शोधकर्ता डा. नाबी यामागुची ने बताया कि मध्य एशिया जाने के लिए कैस्पियन बाघों द्वारा अपनाया गया मार्ग हमेशा एक पहेली माना जाता रहा। क्योंकि मध्य एशियाई बाघ तिब्बत के पठारी बाघों से अलग नजर आते हैं। लेकिन नए अध्ययन में कहा गया है कि लगभग १० हजार साल पहले बाघ चीन के संकरे गांसु गलियारे से गुजरकर भारत पहुंचे। इसके हजारों साल बाद यही मार्ग व्यापारिक सिल्क रूट के नाम से विख्यात हुआ।

शेर या बाघ? या दोनों ही??!!

आईये मिलिए दुनिया की सबसे बड़ी बिल्ली, या कहें बिल्लौटे से, जिसका नाम है हरक्यूलिस। शेर पिता और बाघ माँ की दोगली संतान हरक्यूलिस एक लाईगर(Liger) है और उसका नाम हरक्यूलिस बिलकुल सही है। तीन वर्ष की आयु वाले इस लाईगर की लंबाई 10 फ़ीट है और इसका वज़न करीब 500 किलोग्राम है।
अमेरिका के मिआमी शहर स्थित इंस्टीटूट ऑफ़ ग्रेटली एनडेन्जर्ड एण्ड रेअर स्पीशीस(Insititute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species) में रहने वाले हरक्यूलिस एक बार में लगभग 100 पौंड(तकरीबन 45 किलोग्राम) माँस खा सकता है।
50 मील प्रति घंटे से भागने की क्षमता रखने वाले हरक्यूलिस को तैरना भी पसंद है। उसकी यह पसंद ज़ाहिर है बाघ माँ के कारण है क्योंकि शेर तो पानी में जाने से डरते हैं। हरक्यूलिस का जन्म इंस्टिटूट में शेरों और बाघों के एक ही बाड़े में रहने के कारण हुआ जब इंस्टिटूट वालों की निगाह में आए बिना हरक्यूलिस के पिता उसकी माँ की ओर आकर्षित हुए, क्योंकि अन्यथा जंगल के माहौल में तो शेर और बाघ के संबन्ध बनना लगभग असंभव है क्योंकि ये दोनों जातियाँ एक दूसरे की क्षत्रु होती हैं। वैसे भी मूलतः शेर अफ़्रीका में होते हैं और बाघ एशिया में, इसलिए इस कारण भी इनका आपस में कोई नाता नहीं बनता।
लेकिन हरक्यूलिस अपनी तरह का एकलौता प्राणी नहीं है। शेर और बाघ की दोगली संताने पिछले 50 वर्षों में कई बार उत्पन्न कराई गई हैं और हरक्यूलिस दुनिया में मौजूद कुछ लाईगरों में से एक है।

इस तरह नहीं बचेगें बाघ

देश में हर साल टाइगर प्रोजेक्ट के नाम पर करोड़ों रुपए खर्च किए जाते हैं बावजूद इसके बाघों की संख्या खतरनाक तरीके से घटती जा रहा है. पिछले चार सालों के दरमां एक अरब 96 करोड़ का पैकेज बाघ संरक्षण के लिए जारी किया जा चुका है. लेकिन हकीकत हमारे सामने है. वर्ष 2001-2002 में हुई गणना में देश में 3652 बाघ होने के दावे किए गये. ताजा गणना में 60 प्रतिशत से अधिक की कमी के साथ इनकी संख्या 1500 के आस-पास बताई गई मगर मौजूदा हालातों को देखते हुए यह बिल्कुल नहीं कहा जा सकता कि देश में इतने बाघ भी बचे होंगे. मध्यप्रदेश, छत्तीसगढ़, आंध्र प्रदेश, महाराष्ट्र, राजस्थान, उडीसा, झारखंड में कुल 601 बाघ बचे हैं जिनमें से 300 सिर्फ मध्यप्रदेश में ही हैं. 2004 के दौरान मध्यप्रदेश में इनकी संख्या 700 के करीब हुआ करती थी. पर अब यहां के टाइगर रिजर्वों की हालत भी कुछ खास ठीक नहीं चल रही. पन्ना का सच सामने आ चुका है, कान्हा में भी स्थिति बिगड़ती जा रही है. बीते कुछ दिनों में यहां दो बाघों की रहस्यमय तरीके से मौत ने कई सवाल खड़े कर दिए हैं. पर्यावरण एवं वन मंत्रालय ने 2002 में जो रिपोर्ट जारी की थी उसमें कान्हा में बाघों की संख्या 131 बताई गई थी लेकिन 2006-07 तक पहुंचते-पहुंचते यह आंकड़ा 89 तक सिमट गया और अब ऐसी आशंका है कि यहां भी ज्यादा बाघ नहीं बचे हैं. हाल ही में शिकार की कुछ घटनाओं से बाघ संरक्षण के नाम पर किए जा रहे राज्य स्तरीय बड़े-बड़े दावों की असलीयत सामने आ चुकी है. बाघ सरंक्षण के प्रति सरकार की गंभीरता का अंदाजा इस बात से लगाया जा सकता है कि फॉरेस्ट गार्ड के बहुत से पद अब भी खाली पड़े हैं. सच तो यह है कि वन एवं पर्यावरण विभाग इस चुनौती से निपटने के लिए बिल्कुल भी तैयार नहीं है. कर्मचारियोंको न तो पर्याप्त ट्रेनिंग दी जाती है और न ही उनके पास पर्याप्त सुविधाएं हैं. शिकारी अत्याधुनिक हथियारों का प्रयोग कर रहे हैं जबकि वन्य प्राणियों की हिफाजत का तमगा लगाने वालों के पास वो ही पुराने हथियार हैं. हालात ये हो चले हैं कि अधिकतर अधिकारी महज अपनी नौकरी बचाने के लिए काम कर रहे हैं. उनमें न तो वन्यजीवों के प्रति कोई संवेदना है और न ही काम के प्रति कोई लगाव. यही कारण है कि रोक के बावजूद बाघों का शिकार बड़े पैमाने पर जारी है. संगठित आपराधिक गिरोह वन्यजीवों की खाल की तस्करी में लगे हुए हैं. थोड़े से पैसे के लिए कहीं-कहीं वन विभाग के लोग भी इनकी मदद में शरीक हो जाते हैं. बाघों को बचाने के लिए स्वयं प्रधानमंत्री मनमोहन सिहं पहल कर चुके हैं. कई समीतियां बनाई गईं हैं, कई प्रोजेक्ट चलाए गये हैं मगर इस दुर्लभ प्राणी के अस्तित्व की टूटती डोर को थामने वाले सार्थक नतीजे अब तक सामने नहीं आ पाए हैं. जंगलों का सिमटना और उसमें मानवीय दखलंदाजी बदस्तूर जारी है. नतीजतन बाघों की रिहाइश वाले इलाकों में ही बाघों की संख्या घटती जा रही है. जंगल में पर्याप्त भोजन का आभाव हो चला है जिसके चलते बाघ गांवों का रुख कर रहे हैं और क्रूर इंसान के हाथों मारे जा रहे हैं. महज चंद दिनों में ही इसके बहुत से मामले सामने आ चुके हैं. उत्तर प्रदेश में दो बाघों को मारने की कोशिश चल रही है क्योंकि भूख की तड़पन में उनसे मानव का शिकार हो गया, वन विभाग खुद मोर्चा संभाला हुआ है. जंगल के राजा को जंगल में घेरकर मारने की कवायद से जंगल के बाशिंदे सहमे हुए हैं. कुछ समय पहले कुछ चीतों को भी मानव के हाथों मौत मिली थी, उनका कसूर भी इतना था कि वो भूख बर्दाश्त नहीं कर पाए और बस्तियों की तरफ रुख कर बैठे. बाघ जंगल से बाहर आते हैं तो लोगों द्वारा मार दिए जाते हैं. जंगल में रहते हैं तो शिकारियों का शिकार बन जाते हैं. संरक्षण ग्रहों में संरक्षण के नाम पर उनकी जिंदगी से जुआ खेला जा रहा है. ऐसे में सवाल यह उठता है कि आखिर यह प्राणी बचे तो कैसे. सरकार भले ही इस बात को स्वीकार न करे मगर सच यही है कि जितनी तेजी से बाघों के घर सुरक्षित करने की योजनाएं परवान चढ़ी, जंगलों को टाइगर रिजर्व घाषित किया गया. उतनी ही तेजी से बाघ तस्करों के लालच और सरकार की सुस्ती का शिकार होते गये. जितनी तेजी से देश में बाघों की संख्या घट रही है उससे वो दिन दूर नहीं जब हमें राष्ट्रीय पशु के लिए किसी और जानवर को चुनना होगा. एक संस्था ने हाल ही में ऐसा कैंपेन चलाकर बाघों के मिटते अस्तित्व की तरफ ध्यान खींचने की कोशिश की है लेकिन उसकी यह कवायद कोई खास असर छोड़ पाएगी इसकी संभावना कम ही दिखाई पड़ती है. क्योंकि एक आम आदमी से लेकर देश की सर्वोच्च कुर्सी पर बैठा व्यक्ति भी इस बात से अच्छी तरह वाकिफ है कि बाघ विलुप्ती के कगार पर हैं. लेकिन फिर भी बाघ सरंक्षण के नाम पर जुबान जमा खर्ची के अलावा कुछ नहीं किया जा रहा. इस दिशा में ठोस और गंभीर कदम उठाने की दरकार अब भी कायम है.

दुनिया भर के सिंहों पर विलुप्त होने का खतरा

दुनिया में शेर मात्र अफ्रीका और भारत में ही पाये जाते हैं, और इन पर विलुप्त होने का खतरा मंडराने लगा है.अफ्रीका के केन्या के मसाईमारा जंगल में करीब 2000 शेर बचे हैं और केन्या वाइल्डलाइफ़ सर्विस की मानें तो अगले 20 साल के अंदर ये सभी शेर विलुप्त हो सकते हैं. इसकी वजह है शिकार की कमी, लोगों द्वारा जहर देना, जंगलों में मानव की घुसपैठ, वातावरण में बदलाव और बीमारियां 2002 में केन्या में शेरों की संख्या 2749 थी जो अब घट कर 2000 के आसपास रह गयी है, जो कि चिंता का विषय है केन्या के लिए सिहं सम्मान का विषय रहे हैं. वे वहा के जनजीवन का हिस्सा हैं और पर्यटन का मुख्य आकर्षण भी जिससे केन्या को अच्छा राजस्व प्राप्त होता है.इसलिए शेरों की संख्या में कमी केन्या के लिए काफ़ी चिंताजनक है.दूसरी तरफ़ ऐशयाई सिंह मात्र भारत में गुजरात के गीरनार अभ्यारण में पाये जाते हैं.यहां इनकी संख्या करीब 250 के आसपास की है इनमें से कुछ सिहों को मध्यप्रदेश के कुना जंगल में स्थलांतरित करने की मांग अरसे से उठ रही है इसकी वजह यह बताई जाती है कि सिह एक ही स्थान पर रहें तो महामारी तथा अन्य कारणों की वजह से उनके खत्म होने की आशंका बनी रहती है इसलिए सिंहो को मध्यप्रदेश के कुना जंगल में भी स्थलांतरित करना चाहिए जो कि गीर जंगल से अधिक घना भी है. लेकिन सिंह चूंकि गुजरात के जनमानस से भावनात्मक रूप से जुड़े हए हैं, इसलिए गुजरात सरकार सिंहों के कुछ जोड़ों को मध्यप्रदेश स्थलांतरित करने के पक्ष में नहीं है.

सोमवार, 27 जुलाई 2009

बुधवार, 22 अप्रैल 2009

लखीमपुर-खीरी से शुरू हो गया ब्लैक टाईगर सांध्य दैनिक

लखीमपुर-खीरी से शुरू हो गया
ब्लैक टाईगर
सांध्य दैनिक
२२.०४.२००९ अंक २७
यू.पी के सभी शहरों में
संवाददाताओं
की आवश्यकता है
संपर्क :
mo. ९४१५१६६१०३

सोमवार, 23 मार्च 2009

लखीमपुर से शीघ्र प्रकाशित सांध्य दैनिक

यू पी के जिला लखीमपुर के सुधी पाठकों की जरूरत को देखते हुए
सांध्य दैनिक ब्लैक टाइगर
का प्रकाशन यथाशीघ्र किया जा रहा है ।
इसके लिए आप सभी प्यार व सहयोग देकर हमें आगे बड़ने का अवसर प्रदान करें ।
साथ में सामायिक लेख एवं रचनाएँ भी सादर आमंत्रित हैं ।
हमारा पता

$ लखीमपुर-
पुराना सेल्स टैक्स आफिस
आनंद टाकिज रोड
मो० ९७९२४६९५११
$ गोलागोकर्णनाथ-
मेला मैदान
पंजाबी मार्केट
मो० ९६२८४८८५१९
$ पलियाकलां-
पालिका काम्प्लेक्स
नगर पालिका रोड
मो० ९१९८१९६२३७
ई-मेल पता-E-mail : dailyblacktiger@gmail.com

गुरुवार, 12 मार्च 2009

शुक्रवार, 6 मार्च 2009

तेदुआ के बच्चे [दुदवा नॅशनल पार्क]

दुदवा नॅशनल पार्क में तेदुआ के बच्चे

बुधवार, 4 मार्च 2009

टाईगर प्रोफाइल


Subspecies

Bengal tiger
There are nine recent subspecies of tiger, three of which are extinct. Their historical range (severely diminished today) ran through Bangladesh, Siberia, Iran, Afghanistan, India, China, and southeast Asia, including some Indonesian islands. The surviving subspecies, in descending order of wild population, are:
The Bengal tiger or the Royal Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is found in parts of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Burma. It lives in varied habitats: grasslands, subtropical and tropical rainforests, scrub forests, wet and dry deciduous forests, and mangroves. Males in the wild usually weigh 205 to 227 kg (450–500 lb), while the average female will weigh about 141 kg.[17] However, the northern Indian and the Nepalese Bengal tigers are somewhat bulkier than those found in the south of the Indian Subcontinent, with males averaging around 235 kg (518 lb).[18] While conservationists already believed the population to be below 2,000,[19] the most recent audit by the Indian Government's National Tiger Conservation Authority has estimated the number at just 1,411 wild tigers (1165–1657 allowing for statistical error), a drop of 60% in the past decade.[20] Since 1972, there has been a massive wildlife conservation project, known as Project Tiger, to protect the Bengal tiger. The project is considered as one of the most successful wildlife conservation programs[citation needed], though at least one Tiger Reserve (Sariska Tiger Reserve) has lost its entire tiger population to poaching.[21]

Indochinese tiger
The Indochinese tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti), also called Corbett's tiger, is found in Cambodia, China, Laos, Burma, Thailand, and Vietnam. These tigers are smaller and darker than Bengal tigers: Males weigh from 150–190 kg (330–420 lb) while females are smaller at 110–140 kg (242–308 lb). Their preferred habitat is forests in mountainous or hilly regions. Estimates of the Indochinese tiger population vary between 1,200 to 1,800, with only several hundred left in the wild. The largest current population is in Malaysia, where illegal poaching is strictly controlled, but all existing populations are at extreme risk from habitat fragmentation and inbreeding. In Vietnam, almost three-quarters of the tigers killed provide stock for Chinese pharmacies.

Malayan tiger
The Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris malayensis), exclusively found in the southern part of the Malay Peninsula, was not considered a subspecies in its own right until 2004. The new classification came about after a study by Luo et al. from the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity Study,[22] part of the National Cancer Institute of the United States. Recent counts showed there are 600–800 tigers in the wild, making it the third largest tiger population, behind the Bengal tiger and the Indochinese tiger. The Malayan tiger is the smallest of the mainland tiger subspecies, and the second smallest living subspecies, with males averaging about 120 kg and females about 100 kg in weight. The Malayan tiger is a national icon in Malaysia, appearing on its coat of arms and in logos of Malaysian institutions, such as Maybank.

Sumatran tiger
The Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is found only on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, and is critically endangered.[23] It is the smallest of all living tiger subspecies, with adult males weighing between 100–140 kg (220–308 lb) and females 75–110 kg (154–242 lb).[24] Their small size is an adaptation to the thick, dense forests of the island of Sumatra where they reside, as well as the smaller-sized prey. The wild population is estimated at between 400 and 500, seen chiefly in the island's national parks. Recent genetic testing has revealed the presence of unique genetic markers, indicating that it may develop into a separate species,[specify] if it does not go extinct.[25] This has led to suggestions that Sumatran tigers should have greater priority for conservation than any other subspecies. While habitat destruction is the main threat to existing tiger population (logging continues even in the supposedly protected national parks), 66 tigers were recorded as being shot and killed between 1998 and 2000, or nearly 20% of the total population.

Siberian Tiger
The Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica), also known as the Amur, Manchurian, Altaic, Korean or North China tiger, is confined to the Amur-Ussuri region of Primorsky Krai and Khabarovsk Krai in far eastern Siberia, where it is now protected. Considered the largest subspecies, with a head and body length of 190–230 cm (the tail of a tiger is 60–110 cm long) and an average weight of around 227 kg (500 lb) for males,[26] the Amur tiger is also noted for its thick coat, distinguished by a paler golden hue and fewer stripes. The heaviest wild Siberian tiger on record weighed in at 384 kg,[27] but according to Mazak these giants are not confirmed via reliable references.[14] Even so, a six-month old Siberian tiger can be as big as a fully grown leopard. The last two censuses (1996 and 2005) found 450–500 Amur tigers within their single, and more or less continuous, range making it one of the largest undivided tiger populations in the world.

South China tiger
The South China tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis), also known as the Amoy or Xiamen tiger, is the most critically endangered subspecies of tiger and is listed as one of the 10 most endangered species in the world.[28][clarification needed] It will almost certainly become extinct.[citation needed] One of the smaller tiger subspecies, the length of the South China tiger ranges from 2.2–2.6 m (87–104 in) for both males and females. Males weigh between 127 and 177 kg (280–390 lb) while females weigh between 100 and 118 kg (220–260 lb). From 1983 to 2007, no South China tigers were sighted.[29] In 2007 a farmer spotted a tiger and handed in photographs to the authorities as proof.[30][29] In 1977, the Chinese government passed a law banning the killing of wild tigers, but this may have been too late to save the subspecies. There are currently 59 known captive South China tigers, all within China, but these are known to be descended from only six animals. Thus, the genetic diversity required to maintain the subspecies may no longer exist. Currently, there are breeding efforts to reintroduce these tigers to the wild by 2008.

Extinct subspecies

A hunted down Balinese tiger.
The Balinese tiger (Panthera tigris balica) was limited to the island of Bali. They were the smallest of all tiger subspecies, with a weight of 90–100 kg in males and 65–80 kg in females.[14] These tigers were hunted to extinction—the last Balinese tiger is thought to have been killed at Sumbar Kima, West Bali on 27 September 1937; this was an adult female. No Balinese tiger was ever held in captivity. The tiger still plays an important role in Balinese Hinduism.

A photograph of a Javan tiger.
The Javan tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica) was limited to the Indonesian island of Java. It now seems likely that this subspecies became extinct in the 1980s, as a result of hunting and habitat destruction, but the extinction of this subspecies was extremely probable from the 1950s onwards (when it is thought that fewer than 25 tigers remained in the wild). The last confirmed specimen was sighted in 1979, but there were a few reported sightings during the 1990s.[31][32] With a weight of 100-141 kg for males and 75-115 kg for females, the Javan tiger was one of the smaller subspecies, approximately the same size as the Sumatran tiger[citation needed]

Caspian tiger
The Caspian tiger or Persian tiger (Panthera tigris virgata) appears to have become extinct in the wild in the late 1950s,[33][34] with the last reliable sighting in 1968, though it is thought that such a tiger was last shot dead in the south-eastern-most part of Turkey in 1970. Historically, it ranged through Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, the former Soviet Union, and Turkey.[33] The Caspian tiger was a large subspecies and reached nearly the dimensions of the Bengal Tiger. The heaviest confirmed weight of a male was 240 kg. The ground colour was comparable to that of the Indian subspecies, but differed especially in the tight, narrow, striping pattern. The stripes were dark grey or brown, rather than black. Especially during the winter, the fur was relatively long. The Caspian tiger was one of two subspecies of tiger (along with the Bengal) that was used by the Romans to battle gladiators and other animals, including the Barbary Lion. The Romans traveled far to capture exotic beasts for the arena. There are still occasional reported sightings of the Caspian Tiger in the wild.[34]

Hybrids
Further information: Panthera hybrid, liger and tigon
Hybridization among the big cats, including the tiger, was first conceptualized in the 19th century, when zoos were particularly interested in the pursuit of finding oddities to display for financial gain.[35] Lions have been known to breed with tigers (most often the Amur and Bengal subspecies) to create hybrids called ligers and tigons.[36] Such hybrids were once commonly bred in zoos, but this is now discouraged due to the emphasis on conserving species and subspecies. Hybrids are still bred in private menageries and in zoos in China.
The liger is a cross between a male lion and a tigress.[37] Because the lion sire passes on a growth-promoting gene, but the corresponding growth-inhibiting gene from the female tiger is absent, ligers grow far larger than either parent. They share physical and behavioural qualities of both parent species (spots and stripes on a sandy background). Male ligers are sterile, but female ligers are often fertile. Males have about a 50% chance of having a mane, but, even if they do, their manes will be only around half the size of that of a pure lion. Ligers are typically between 10 to 12 feet in length, and can be between 800 and 1,000 pounds or more.[37]
The less common tigon is a cross between the lioness and the male tiger.[38]

Colour variations

White tigers

A pair of white tigers at the Singapore Zoo
Main article: White tiger
There is a well-known mutation that produces the white tiger, technically known as chinchilla albinistic,[39] an animal which is rare in the wild, but widely bred in zoos due to its popularity. Breeding of white tigers will often lead to inbreeding (as the trait is recessive). Many initiatives have taken place in white and orange tiger mating in an attempt to remedy the issue, often mixing subspecies in the process. Such inbreeding has led to white tigers having a greater likelihood of being born with physical defects, such as cleft palates and scoliosis (curvature of the spine).[40][41] Furthermore, white tigers are prone to having crossed eyes (a condition known as strabismus). Even apparently healthy white tigers generally do not live as long as their orange counterparts.
Recordings of white tigers were first made in the early 19th century.[42] They can only occur when both parents carry the rare gene found in white tigers; this gene has been calculated to occur in only one in every 10,000 births. The white tiger is not a separate sub-species, but only a colour variation; since the only white tigers that have been observed in the wild have been Bengal tigers[43] (and all white tigers in captivity are at least part Bengal), it is commonly thought that the recessive gene that causes the white colouring is probably carried only by Bengal tigers, although the reasons for this are not known.[44][45] Nor are they in any way more endangered than tigers are generally, this being a common misconception. Another misconception is that white tigers are albinos, despite the fact that pigment is evident in the white tiger's stripes. They are distinct not only because of their white hue; they also have blue eyes and pink noses.

Golden tabby tigers

A rare strawberry tiger at Buffalo Zoo
Main article: Golden tabby
In addition, another recessive gene may create a very unusual "golden tabby" colour variation, sometimes known as "strawberry". Golden tabby tigers have light gold fur, pale legs and faint orange stripes. Their fur tends to be much thicker than normal.[46] There are extremely few golden tabby tigers in captivity, around 30 in all. Like white tigers, strawberry tigers are invariably at least part Bengal. Both white and golden tabby tigers tend to be larger than average Bengal tigers.

Other colour variations
There are also unconfirmed reports of a "blue" or slate-coloured tiger, and largely or totally black tigers, and these are assumed, if real, to be intermittent mutations rather than distinct species.[39]

Biology and behaviour

Territorial behavior
Tigers are essentially solitary and territorial animals. The size of a tiger's home range mainly depends on prey abundance, and, in the case of male tigers, on access to females. A tigress may have a territory of 20 square kilometres while the territories of males are much larger, covering 60–100 km2. The ranges of males tend to overlap those of several females.

Tigers for the most part are solitary animals
The relationships between individuals can be quite complex, and it appears that there is no set "rule" that tigers follow with regards to territorial rights and infringing territories. For instance, although for the most part tigers avoid each other, both male and female tigers have been documented sharing kills. For instance, George Schaller observed a male tiger share a kill with two females and four cubs. Females are often reluctant to let males near their cubs, but Schaller saw that these females made no effort to protect or keep their cubs from the male, suggesting that the male might have been the father of the cubs. In contrast to male lions, male tigers will allow the females and cubs to feed on the kill first. Furthermore, tigers seem to behave relatively amicably when sharing kills, in contrast to lions, which tend to squabble and fight. Unrelated tigers have also been observed feeding on prey together. The following quotation is from Stephen Mills' book Tiger, as he describes an event witnessed by Valmik Thapar and Fateh Singh Rathore in Ranthambhore:[47]
A dominant tigress they called Padmini killed a 250-kg (550-lb) male nilgai - a very large antelope. They found her at the kill just after dawn with her three 14-month-old cubs and they watched uninterrupted for the next ten hours. During this period the family was joined by two adult females and one adult male - all offspring from Padmini's previous litters and by two unrelated tigers, one female the other unidentified. By three o'clock there were no fewer than nine tigers round the kill.

A tiger is capable of jumping to almost twice its height.
When young female tigers first establish a territory, they tend to do so fairly close to their mother's area. The overlap between the female and her mother's territory tends to wane with increasing time. Males, however, wander further than their female counterparts, and set out at a younger age to eke out their own area. A young male will acquire territory either by seeking out a range devoid of other male tigers, or by living as a transient in another male's territory, until he is old and strong enough to challenge the resident male. The highest mortality rate (30-35% per year) amongst adult tigers occurs for young male tigers who have just left their natal area, seeking out territories of their own.[48]
Male tigers are generally more intolerant of other males within their territory than females are of other females. For the most part, however, territorial disputes are usually solved by displays of intimidation, rather than outright aggression. Several such incidents have been observed, in which the subordinate tiger yielded defeat by rolling onto its back, showing its belly in a submissive posture.[49] Once dominance has been established, a male may actually tolerate a subordinate within his range, as long as they do not live in too close quarters.[48] The most violent disputes tend to occur between two males when a female is in oestrus, and may result in the death of one of the males, although this is actually a relatively rare occurrence.[50][48]
To identify his territory, the male marks trees by spraying of urine and anal gland secretions, as well as marking trails with scat. Males show a grimacing face, called the Flehmen response, when identifying a female's reproductive condition by sniffing their urine markings.
Tigers have been studied in the wild using a variety of techniques. The populations of tigers were estimated in the past using plaster casts of their pugmarks. This method was found faulty[51] and attempts were made to use camera trapping instead. Newer techniques based on DNA from their scat are also being evaluated. Radio collaring has also been a popular approach to tracking them for study in the wild.

Tiger dentition. The large canines are used to make the killing bite, but they tear meat when feeding using the carnassial teeth

Hunting and diet
In the wild, tigers mostly feed on larger and medium sized animals. Sambar, gaur, domestic buffalo, chital, boar, and nilgai are the tiger's favored prey in India. Sometimes, they also prey on leopards, pythons, sloth bears and crocodiles. In Siberia the main prey species are Mandchurian elk, wild boar, Sika Deer, Moose, roe deer, and musk deer. In Sumatra Sambar, Muntjac, wild boar, and Malayan Tapir are preyed on. In the former Caspian tiger's range, prey included Saiga Antelope, camels, Caucasian Wisent, yak, and wild horses. Like many predators, they are opportunistic and will eat much smaller prey, such as monkeys, peafowls, hares, and fish.
Adult elephants are too large to serve as common prey, but conflicts between tigers and elephants do sometimes take place. A case where a tiger killed an adult Indian Rhinoceros has been observed.[52] Young elephant and rhino calves are occasionally taken. Tigers also sometimes prey on domestic animals such as dogs, cows, horses, and donkeys. These individuals are termed cattle-lifters or cattle-killers in contrast to typical game-killers.[53]
Old tigers, or those wounded and rendered incapable of catching their natural prey, have turned into man-eaters; this pattern has recurred frequently across India. An exceptional case is that of the Sundarbans, where healthy tigers prey upon fishermen and villagers in search of forest produce, humans thereby forming a minor part of the tiger's diet.[54] Tigers will occasionally eat vegetation for dietary fiber, the fruit of the Slow Match Tree being favoured.[53]

A South China tiger of the Save China's Tigers project with his blesbuck kill
Tigers usually hunt at night.[55] They generally hunt alone and ambush their prey as most other cats do, overpowering them from any angle, using their body size and strength to knock large prey off balance. Even with their great masses, tigers can reach speeds of about 49-65 kilometres per hour (35-40 miles per hour), although they can only do so in short bursts, since they have relatively little stamina; consequently, tigers must be relatively close to their prey before they break their cover. Tigers have great leaping ability; horizontal leaps of up to 10 metres have been reported, although leaps of around half this amount are more typical. However, only one in twenty hunts ends in a successful kill.[56]

Tigers' extremely strong jaws and sharp teeth make them superb predators.
When hunting large prey, tigers prefer to bite the throat and use their forelimbs to hold onto the prey, bringing it to the ground. The tiger remains latched onto the neck until its prey dies of strangulation.[57] By this method, gaurs and water buffalos weighing over a ton have been killed by tigers weighing about a sixth as much.[58] With small prey, the tiger bites the nape, often breaking the spinal cord, piercing the windpipe, or severing the jugular vein or common carotid artery.[59] Though rarely observed, some tigers have been recorded to kill prey by swiping with their paws, which are powerful enough to smash the skulls of domestic cattle,[53] and break the backs of sloth bears.[60]
During the 1980s, a tiger named "Genghis" in Ranthambhore National Park was observed frequently hunting prey through deep lake water,[61] a pattern of behaviour that had not been previously witnessed in over 200 years of observations. Moreover, he appeared to be extraordinarily successful for a tiger, with as many as 20% of hunts ending in a kill.

Reproduction

A Siberian tigress with a cub at Buffalo Zoo.
Mating can occur all year round, but is generally more common between November and April.[62] A female is only receptive for a few days and mating is frequent during that time period. A pair will copulate frequently and noisily, like other cats. The gestation period is 16 weeks. The litter size usually consists of around 3–4 cubs of about 1 kg (2 lb) each, which are born blind and helpless. The females rear them alone, sheltering them in dens such as thickets and rocky crevices. The father of the cubs generally takes no part in rearing them. Unrelated wandering male tigers may even kill cubs to make the female receptive, since the tigress may give birth to another litter within 5 months if the cubs of the previous litter are lost.[63] The mortality rate of tiger cubs is fairly high - approximately half do not survive to be more than two years old.[64]
There is generally a dominant cub in each litter, which tends to be male but may be of either sex.[65] This cub generally dominates its siblings during play and tends to be more active, leaving its mother earlier than usual. At 8 weeks, the cubs are ready to follow their mother out of the den, although they don't travel with her as she roams her territory until they are older. The cubs become independent around 18 months of age, but it is not until they are around 2–2½ years old that they leave their mother. Females reach sexual maturity at 3–4 years, whereas males reach sexual maturity at 4–5 years.[66]
Over the course of her life, a female tiger will give birth to an approximately equal number of male and female cubs. Tigers breed well in captivity, and the captive population in the United States may rival the wild population of the world.[67]

Interspecific predatory relationships

Tiger hunted by wild dogs as illustrated in Samuel Howett & Edward Orme, Hand Coloured, Aquatint Engravings, Published London 1807
Tigers may kill such formidable predators as leopards, pythons and even crocodiles on occasion,[68][69][70] although predators typically avoid one another. When seized by a crocodile, a tiger will strike at the reptile's eyes with its paws.[53] Leopards dodge competition from tigers by hunting in different times of the day and hunting different prey.[52] With relatively abundant prey, tigers and leopards were seen to successfully coexist without competitive exclusion or inter-species dominance hierarchies that may be more common to the savanna.[71] Tigers have been known to suppress wolf populations in areas where the two species coexist.[72][73] Dhole packs have been observed to attack and kill tigers in disputes over food, though not usually without heavy losses.[60] Siberian tigers and brown bears can be competitors and usually avoid confrontation; however, tigers will kill bear cubs and even some adults on occasion. Bears (Asiatic black bears and brown bears) make up 5-8% of the tiger's diet in the Russian Far East.[14] Some bears emerging from hibernation will try to steal tigers' kills, although the tiger will sometimes defend its kill. Sloth bears are quite aggressive and will sometimes drive younger aged tigers away from their kills, although in most of cases Bengal tigers prey on sloth bears.[14] However, for the tiger, even bears of the same size are a force to be reckoned with when confronted head on. There is an opinion that the brown bear/tiger conflict can eliminate the weakest animals from both populations.

Habitat

A tiger swimming at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey.
Typical tiger country has three main features: It will always have good cover, it will always be close to water and plenty of prey. Bengal Tigers live in all types of forests, including Wet, Evergreen, semi-evergreen of Assam and eastern Bengal; the mangrove forest of Ganges Delta; The deciduous forest of Nepal and thorn forests of the Western Ghats. Compared to the lion, the tiger prefers denser vegetation, for which its camouflage is ideally suited, and where a single predator is not at a disadvantage compared to a pride. Among the big cats, only the tiger and jaguar are strong swimmers; tigers are often found bathing in ponds, lakes, and rivers. Unlike other cats, which tend to avoid water, tigers actively seek it out. During the extreme heat of the day, they are often to be found cooling off in pools. Tigers are excellent swimmers and can swim up to 4 miles. Tigers are often to be found carrying their dead prey across lakes.

Conservation efforts
Main article: Tiger conservation

Tiger headcount in 1990
Poaching for fur and destruction of habitat have greatly reduced tiger populations in the wild. A century ago, it is estimated there were over 100,000 tigers in the world but the population has dwindled to between 7,000 and 5,000 conservation reliant tigers.[74] Some estimates suggest the population is even lower, with some at less than 2,500 mature breeding individuals, with no subpopulation containing more than 250 mature breeding individuals.[75] The threat of extinction is mitigated somewhat by the presence of some 20,000 tigers currently in captivity, although parts of the captive population, such as the 4-5,000 animals in China's commercial tiger farms, are of low genetic diversity.

India
Main article: Project Tiger
India harbors the largest population of wild tigers in the world, along with one of the highest human populations. A major concerted conservation effort known as Project Tiger has been underway since 1973, spearheaded by Indira Gandhi. The fundamental accomplishment has been the establishment of over 25 well-monitored tiger reserves in reclaimed land where human development is categorically forbidden. The program has been credited with tripling the number of wild Bengal tigers from roughly 1,200 in 1973 to over 3,500 in the 1990s, though the reports of the Indian government are occasionally met with some skepticism.[citation needed] A recently passed tribal Bill, which allows tribal populations to reside inside designated tiger sanctuaries, may have impacts on the continuing success of the program.[citation needed]
A tiger census carried out over 2007, whose report was published on February 12, 2008 stated that the wild tiger population in India has come down to approximately 1,411. It is noted in the report that the decrease of tiger population can be attributed directly to poaching.[76]

Russia
The Siberian tiger was on the brink of extinction with only about 40 animals in the wild in the 1940s. Under the Soviet Union, anti-poaching controls were strict and a network of protected zones (zapovedniks) were instituted, leading to a rise in the population to several hundred. Poaching again became a problem in the 1990s, when the economy of Russia collapsed, local hunters had access to a formerly sealed off lucrative Chinese market, and logging in the region increased. While an improvement in the local economy has led to greater resources being invested in conservation efforts, an increase of economic activity has led to an increased rate of development and deforestation. The major obstacle in preserving the species is the enormous territory individual tigers require (up to 450 km2 needed by a single female).[13] Current conservation efforts are led by local governments and NGO's in consort with international organizations, such as the World Wide Fund and the Wildlife Conservation Society.[13] The competitive exclusion of wolves by tigers has been used by Russian conservationists to convince hunters in the Far East to tolerate the big cats, as they limit ungulate populations less than wolves, and are effective in controlling the latter's numbers.[77] Currently, there are about 400-550 animals in the wild.

Tibet
In Tibet, tiger and leopard pelts have traditionally been used in various ceremonies and costumes. In January 2006 the Dalai Lama preached a ruling against using, selling, or buying wild animals, their products, or derivatives. It has yet to be seen whether this will result in a long-term slump in the demand for poached tiger and leopard skins.[78][79][80]

Rewilding
The first attempt at rewilding was by Indian conservationist Billy Arjan Singh, who reared a zoo-born tigress named Tara, and released her in the wilds of Dudhwa National Park in 1978. This was soon followed by a large number of people being eaten by a tigress who was later shot. Government officials claim that this tigress was Tara, an assertion hotly contested by Singh and conservationists. Later on, this rewilding gained further disrepute when it was found that the local gene pool had been sullied by Tara's introduction as she was partly Siberian tiger, a fact not known at the time of release, ostensibly due to poor record-keeping at Twycross Zoo, where she had been raised.[81][82][83][84][85][86][87][88][89][90]

Save China's Tigers
Main article: Save China's Tigers
The organisation Save China's Tigers, working with the Wildlife Research Centre of the State Forestry Administration of China and the Chinese Tigers South Africa Trust, secured an agreement on the reintroduction of Chinese tigers into the wild. The agreement, which was signed in Beijing on 26 November 2002, calls for the establishment of a Chinese tiger conservation model through the creation of a pilot reserve in China where indigenous wildlife, including the South China Tiger, will be reintroduced. A number of Chinese tiger cubs will be selected from zoos in China and sent to a 300 square kilometer reserve near the town of Philippolis in South Africa, where they will be taught to hunt for themselves. The offspring of the trained tigers will be released into the pilot reserves in China, while the original animals will stay in South Africa to continue breeding.[91] A second Chinese tiger rehabilitation project is also being run in Fujian, China.[92]
China will conduct the work of surveying land, restoring habitat and prey within the pilot reserve.[91]

Relation with humans

Tiger hunting on elephant-back, India, early 19th Century

Tiger as prey
Main article: Tiger hunting
The tiger has been one of the Big Five game animals of Asia. Tiger hunting took place on a large scale in the early nineteenth and twentieth centuries, being a recognised and admired sport by the British in colonial India as well as the maharajas and aristocratic class of the erstwhile princely states of pre-independence India. Tiger hunting was done by some hunters on foot; others sat up on machans with a goat or buffalo tied out as bait; yet others on elephant-back.[93] In some cases, villagers beating drums were organised to drive the animals into the killing zone. Elaborate instructions were available for the skinning of tigers and there were taxidermists who specialised in the preparation of tiger skins.

Man-eating tigers
Main article: Man-eating tigers

Stereographic photograph (1903) of a captured man-eating tiger in the Calcutta zoo; the tiger had claimed 200 human victims.
Although humans are not regular prey for tigers, they have killed more people than any other cat, particularly in areas where population growth, logging, and farming have put pressure on tiger habitats. Most man-eating tigers are old and missing teeth, acquiring a taste for humans because of their inability to capture preferred prey.[94] Almost all tigers that are identified as man-eaters are quickly captured, shot, or poisoned. Unlike man-eating leopards, even established man-eating tigers will seldom enter human settlements, usually remaining at village outskirts.[95] Nevertheless, attacks in human villages do occur.[96] Man-eaters have been a particular problem in India and Bangladesh, especially in Kumaon, Garhwal and the Sundarbans mangrove swamps of Bengal, where some healthy tigers have been known to hunt humans. Because of rapid habitat loss due to climate change, tiger attacks have increased in the Sundarbans.[97]

Traditional Asian medicine

Instructions for tiger skinning
Many people in China have a belief that various tiger parts have medicinal properties, including as pain killers and aphrodisiacs.[98] There is no scientific evidence to support these beliefs. The use of tiger parts in pharmaceutical drugs in China is already banned, and the government has made some offenses in connection with tiger poaching punishable by death. Furthermore, all trade in tiger parts is illegal under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and a domestic trade ban has been in place in China since 1993. Still, there are a number of tiger farms in the country specializing in breeding the cats for profit. It is estimated that between 4,000 and 5,000 captive-bred, semi-tame animals live in these farms today.[99][100]

As pets
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums estimates that up to 12,000 tigers are being kept as private pets in the USA, significantly more than the world's entire wild population.[101] 4,000 are believed to be in captivity in Texas alone.[101]
Part of the reason for America's enormous tiger population relates to legislation. Only nineteen states have banned private ownership of tigers, fifteen require only a licence, and sixteen states have no regulations at all.[101]
The success of breeding programmes at American zoos and circuses led to an overabundance of cubs in the 1980s and 1990s, which drove down prices for the animals.[101] The SPCA estimate there are now 500 lions, tigers and other big cats in private ownership just in the Houston area.[101]
In the 1983 film Scarface, the protagonist, Tony Montana, aspires to obtaining all the exterior trappings of the American Dream, which in the character's opinion included keeping a pet tiger on his property

19th century painting of a tiger by Kuniyoshi Utagawa

Cultural depictions
The tiger replaces the lion as King of the Beasts in cultures of eastern Asia,[102] representing royalty, fearlessness and wrath.[103] Its forehead has a marking which resembles the Chinese character 王, which means "king"; consequently, many cartoon depictions of tigers in China and Korea are drawn with 王 on their forehead.[citation needed]

Hodori, the mascot of the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.
Of great importance in Chinese myth and culture, the tiger is one of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals. Also in various Chinese art and martial art, the tiger is depicted as an earth symbol and equal rival of the Chinese dragon- the two representing matter and spirit respectively. In fact, the Southern Chinese martial art Hung Ga is based on the movements of the Tiger and the Crane. In Imperial China, a tiger was the personification of war and often represented the highest army general (or present day defense secretary),[103] while the emperor and empress were represented by a dragon and phoenix, respectively. The White Tiger (Chinese: 白虎; pinyin: Bái Hǔ) is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations. It is sometimes called the White Tiger of the West (西方白虎), and it represents the west and the autumn season.[103]

The Hindu goddess Durga riding a tiger - painting in Orissa, India.
In Buddhism, it is also one of the Three Senseless Creatures, symbolizing anger, with the monkey representing greed and the deer lovesickness.[103]
The Tungusic people considered the Siberian tiger a near-deity and often referred to it as "Grandfather" or "Old man". The Udege and Nanai called it "Amba". The Manchu considered the Siberian tiger as Hu Lin, the king.[16]

Sala fighting the tiger, the symbol of Hoysala Empire at Belur, Karnataka, India.
The widely worshiped Hindu goddess Durga, an aspect of Devi-Parvati, is a ten-armed warrior who rides the tigress (or lioness) Damon into battle. In southern India the god Aiyappa was associated with a tiger.[104]
The weretiger replaces the werewolf in shapeshifting folklore in Asia;[105] in India they were evil sorcerers while in Indonesia and Malaysia they were somewhat more benign.[106]
The tiger continues to be a subject in literature; both Rudyard Kipling, in The Jungle Book, and William Blake, in Songs of Experience, depict the tiger as a menacing and fearful animal. In The Jungle Book, the tiger, Shere Khan, is the wicked mortal enemy of the protagonist, Mowgli. However, other depictions are more benign: Tigger, the tiger from A. A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh stories, is cuddly and likable. In the Man Booker Prize winning novel "Life of Pi," the protagonist, Pi Patel, sole human survivor of a ship wreck in the Pacific Ocean, befriends another survivor: a large Bengal Tiger. The famous comic strip Calvin and Hobbes features Calvin and his stuffed tiger, Hobbes. A tiger is also featured on the cover of the popular cereal Frosted Flakes (also marketed as "Frosties") bearing the name "Tony the Tiger".

A toy showing a tiger pouncing on a redcoat (British soldier). This belonged to Tippu Sultan who was popularly known as the Tiger of Mysore.

Tigers on the coat of arms of Malaysia.
The Tiger is the national animal of Bangladesh, Nepal, India[107] (Bengal Tiger)[108] Malaysia (Malayan Tiger), North Korea and South Korea (Siberian Tiger).

World's favourite animal
In a poll conducted by Animal Planet, the Tiger was voted the world's favourite animal, narrowly beating man's best friend, the dog. More than 50,000 viewers from 73 countries voted in the poll. The tiger received 21 percent of the vote, the dog 20, the dolphin 13, the horse 10, the lion 9, the snake 8, followed by the elephant, the chimpanzee, the orangutan and the whale.[109][110][111][112]
Animal behaviourist Candy d'Sa, who worked with Animal Planet on the list, said: "We can relate to the tiger, as it is fierce and commanding on the outside, but noble and discerning on the inside".[109]
Callum Rankine, international species officer at the World Wildlife Federation conservation charity, said the result gave him hope. "If people are voting tigers as their favourite animal, it means they recognise their importance, and hopefully the need to ensure their survival," he said.[109]

Gallery

Picture of Felis tigris (Panthera tigris) subspecies unknown

Dervish with a lion and a tiger. Mughal painting, c. 1650

Bengal tiger

Sumatran tiger

Siberian Tiger

Bengal tiger cooling off at Bandhavghar, India

Vibrissae of a Tiger at Chester Zoo

Captive Bengal tiger at the Bannarghetta National Park, इंडिया

[साभार विकिपीडिया]