August 7th, 1997
Gland, Switzerland -- The Indian Parliament's urgent appeal for the
conservation of the tiger is a sign of hope for the survival of the large cat
and should be responded to with energetic actions, WWF-World Wide
Fund For Nature said today. The appeal to the Indian Prime Minister was
made on the eve of the 50th anniversary of India's independence
"WWF is delighted with this initiative and wholeheartedly supports the
sentiments expressed by the elected representatives of the people of
India," said Dr. Christopher Hails, Programme Director at WWF
International. "For too long we have felt there has not been sufficient
political drive to support the conservation of the tiger and its habitat, and
we hope the Indian Prime Minister will match this important move with
equally important actions."
The "Tiger Appeal", signed by 320 Members of Parliament (including two
former Prime Ministers) was delivered to Prime Minister Inder Kumar
Gujral on 5 August 1997 after being signed during the monsoon session
of Parliament on 29 and 30 July. It says:
"The tiger is the greatest symbol of the natural heritage, not just in India,
but in the world. We urgently appeal to you to initiate new and immediate
reforms in the mechanisms of administration, funding and enforcement in
order that the tiger and its habitat can be saved across the length and
breadth of the country.
"Prime Minister, the future of the tiger lies in your hands. Its extinction will
herald a downward spiral of ecological decay which can only escalate
the misery of millions. There is not a moment to lose. We ask you to
please demonstrate your concern and take action now."
The appeal, said Dr. Hails, "accurately identifies the three most important
areas for change --administration, funding and enforcement-- to ensure
that the concerned agencies in India can speedily be provided with the
necessary funds and authority to conduct their job effectively."
With about 2,500 to 3,750 individuals, India is home to more than half of
the world's remaining wild tigers. WWF became involved with tiger
conservation starting in the 1960's, and since the inception of India's
Project Tiger in the early 1970's it provided around US$1 million to the
project. But a new threat to the tiger emerged in the early 1990's in the
form of poaching for, and illegal trade in, tiger parts. Simultaneously, the
cat's habitat and prey base --its source of nutrition-- are being subjected
to mounting demographic pressures.
"The Parliamentarians' intervention is a significant step, for without active
political interest and commitment, conservation of wildlife and of the tiger
in particular would be difficult, if not impossible, in a large democracy like
India," said Dr. Hails. "We would be pleased to enter into discussions to
decide how best we can support new initiatives which emerge from this
appeal."
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For more information, please contact Shekhar Nambiar at WWF-India, tel.
+91 11 469 3744, or Javier Arreaza Miranda at WWF International, tel.
+41 22 364 9550.