Conservationist Belinda Wright has been working tirelessly for India’s wildlife for over 35 years, through her organisation the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) she has played a huge role in the preservation of the country’s tigers, and is one of the reasons that Bengal tigers still exist in India today. She spoke to Mongabay.com about her life works to save the species and what is still to be done to pull the Bengal tiger back from the brink of extinction.

India’s Tigers

Wild tiger numbers have plummeted by more than 97% worldwide over the last 100 years mainly due to illegal poaching for the black market in tiger skins, bones and organs. Despite having 39 tiger reserves and 663 protected areas there are estimated to be as few as 1,400 living wild in India, with some experts putting the number closer to 800.

Recognising the dramatic decline of its most charismatic animal the Indian government is now taking radical steps to prevent the Bengal tiger from going extinct. The key threats to the big cat of poaching, illegal logging and habitat loss and the mushrooming tourist trade are all being tackled in a concerted effort to halt the tiger’s demise.

In the first 5 months of 2010 21 tiger deaths have been recorded, 11 of these were from poaching – for a species of dwindling numbers every animal counts.

Tigers and the WPSI

For the past 15 years the WPSI has working with the Indian government to turn around the country’s growing wildlife crisis, providing information and support to government authorities in the areas of illegal wildlife trade, poaching, and the increasing problem of human-wildlife conflict and supporting conservation field projects.

One of the organisations most successful endeavours has been their anti-poaching and illegal wildlife trade programme. Using a network of field in investigators the programme keeps enforcement authorities informed on the actions of wildlife criminals, assisting in the arrests of hundreds throughout India and the seizure of wildlife products, especially tiger parts. A constantly updated Wildlife Crime Database, that has records of over 16,500 incidences of wildlife crime and the details of more than 12,900 alleged wildlife criminals, is another tool that has proved vital in exposing the extent of poaching and trade in India. At the same time the database has played an important role in the development of conservation strategies.

“We also conduct Wildlife Law Enforcement Workshops” said Wright.

“So far, we have hosted nearly 190 workshops and provided training to more than 7,800 forest and police officers in 17 states across India. We have given specialist presentations to institutions such as the National Police Academy, the Indian Institute of Criminology, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Customs and Excise, the Wildlife Institute of India, and various enforcement training centers.”

Involving human communities

Belinda Wright is also very aware of the role that humanitarian issues play in conservation and involves local people throughout many of WPSI’s activities.

“Our on-ground projects reflect this. We always hire local staff, and endeavour to create income-generating activities among the local communities to reduce pressure on the forests and wildlife. Through our Community Outreach Program in the Sundarbans, for instance, we have supported the development of a range of livelihood activities to help reduce people’s dependency on the forests.”

WSPI has also supported micro-credit schemes that provide self-help groups for women of the Sundarbans, enabling them to generate incomes for their families through the running of mangrove plantation nurseries and the creation of silk embroidery. In addition this programme the WSPI gives communities access to healthcare and education, informing people about the importance of protecting their environment and local wildlife.

“It is really heartening to see that where we have been able to effectively combine conservation and humanitarian activities, the local communities have started to view their wildlife as an asset rather than as a threat. The understanding that they cannot survive without their forests is palpable, and some people have even begun to undertake their own conservation activities.” Said Wright.

Demand for tiger parts

One of the biggest challenges to tiger conservation comes from the demand for tiger parts on the Chinese market. The WSPI works closely with the Indian government to prevent poaching from occurring and halting the illegal trade in wildlife. Despite their best efforts however India’s wildlife continues to suffer a steady decline.
“Although we have good wildlife laws and policies, they are not implemented effectively. Enforcement has also not moved with the times.” Said Wright.

“What we need now is professional, intelligence-led enforcement. Without this we cannot hope to stop the poaching mafias that empty our forests often with impunity, and the well-organized traders and smugglers that control the trade in tiger and other wildlife parts across international borders.”
Wright admits however that until China agrees to maintain its 1983 ban on the use of tiger bone in tradition Chinese medicine the most that India can do is focus its efforts on keeping the tigers alive, something the appropriate implementation of the country’s wildlife laws would go a long way to achieve.

“We must also deal with three other critical issues of habitat loss, man-animal conflict, and good leadership in the field. There is now a lot more awareness of these problems and the Indian Government is providing the funds and taking big steps to address these issues.” added Wright.

What the public can do

Wright believes that if people keep talking about the tiger, ensure they are not forgotten and make it clear that they care about the animal’s survival there is still hope for the big cat.

“India, and the other 14 tiger range countries, need to know that this is a critical issue and that the eyes of the world are watching them.”

“China, in particular, needs to understand that saving wild tigers is an important global issue and that it is imperative that China takes five urgent steps: (i) publicly declare that the 1993 ban on the use of tiger bones for traditional Chinese medicine is permanent, (ii) destroy all its stockpiles of tiger parts, as India has done, (iii) phase out tiger farms, (iv) send a strong message to consumers that the use of skins and other tiger parts will not be tolerated, and (v) enforce the law.”

Keeping yourself informed, putting pressures on your government to be aware of the issues, and donating money to the tiger conservation movement are all ways that people can be sure of keeping this critical issue alive in the hearts and minds of governments and wider society.

“It is essential that we all work together to save what is undoubtedly the most charismatic animal on this planet. If we fail, the world will be a much, much poorer place, and indeed future generations will condemn us for letting this glorious animal slip through our fingers”.

Despite the daunting work still to be done to secure the survival of the Bengal tiger Wright remains optimistic that the tides may yet turn and save this magnificent animal.
“All hope is not lost for the tiger. Tigers are resilient and good breeders. If we can secure their protection, good prey densities and inviolate space for these incredible big cats, India can certainly sustain a much larger tiger population.”

See http://news.mongabay.com/2010/0606-bhalin_belinda_wright_tigers.html for the full article.