Okay folks! We all know, we need to save tigers – that’s why you are at this website. We hope all of you have now become aware of the various things you can do to save tigers. Many of you may also be having some more ideas. Most of you comment that the numbers are down and we got to save tigers – but, we all already know that. Right!

So, let’s stop wasting time and get productive. Don your thinking caps and let the creative juices flow. Got an idea, or a strategy? Shoot it across. Got some data and analysis – share it.

We are rewarding the best entries with:
1 book on tiger conservation;
10 t-shirts;
100 caps.

That’s 111 prizes to be won! Send in as many entries as you can think and create. Use the contact-us page to send your entries and remember to join our mailing list to get updates on this and other contests.

The entries will be judged by a panel of eminent persons and authorities related to wildlife and tiger conservation.

Please note that the ideas should be legal, non-destructive, reasonable, practical and agreeable to all stakeholders right from the forest denizens (including our dear Tiger) to the world community.

This contest open until September 30, 2010. Winners will be announced during wildlife week starting October 2, 2010.

Tiger, Tiger!
By Prof. Ashok Tiwari

Tiger, tiger, burning bright!
Dreadful is your present plight!

God’s mighty act of your creation
Filled Blake’s mind with fascination!
You are our national animal,
No other creature is you equal.
In deep forests you’re no longer found.
Your roars there no longer resound.
You are Goddess Durga’s mount,
All this does no longer count.

Tiger, tiger, burning bright!
Dreadful is your present plight!

Now your body is your enemy!
It is seen in terms of money.
Alive, some admirers you may please,
Dead, you’re worth lakhs of rupees!
The money is such a temptation,
In hunting you where’s hesitation?
Hunting you is no great art,
A steel trap, a bullet through the heart!
Your skin ladies wear for vanity—
An act devoid of all sanity!
It adorns a tycoon’s drawing room wall
Or the floor of some palace hall.

In China your genitals, ground to powder,
Restore old men’s sexual drive and power.
Your bones are used in medicines.
Your flesh and fat cure rheumatism.
Your skull is transformed into a trophy,
Your teeth hang in charms and jewellery.

Tiger, tiger, bright as flame!
Your extinction would be our shame!
In jungles may you thrive again!
May this wish not be in vain!
Lord of beasts, long be your reign.
Your blood jungle trails never stain.
May greedy plans of poachers fail.
May they spend their lives in jail.
May posterity still get to see
Your beauty, power and majesty.

Tiger, tiger, bright as flame!
Your extinction would be our shame!

Just to let our visitors know – we are soon going to run a save tigers contest. 111 prizes would be up for grabs. While we iron out the modalities, please start thinking of what to do to save tigers or if you have already done something start documenting it – ideas, articles, photographs, drawings, games, software – anything goes!

Let the trees flourish and tigers will save themselves.

We read somewhere in the news that an educational institution spent INR 100,000 (around US$ 2,275) to adopt a tiger in a zoo for an year. First of all, a zoo is a very wrong place for a tiger to be in. Secondly, a zoo has funds allocated already to take care of the national animal.

We would rather this amount was spent on adopting trees in the villages. Each student of that school could have adopted a tree. You could adopt a tree and then look after it like your own child. Form a group and go to villages and forest fringe areas to educate people about saving nature to save tigers. Motivate the village folks, especially children for adopting trees in partnership with your group. Your group could provide moral support and other incentives to that person or child on the spot, who will actually save the tree.

You know, if you or your group have sufficient resources, you could even buy a piece of land and setup a plantation in partnership with the local folks. Why we are stressing partnership with local folks is that they are the ones who will ensure protection to the trees. Saving the trees will in turn save tigers.

Tiger Tiger burning bright,
will not let you fade out of sight,
that is my promise
and for you we will fight………

Naveen Hakhoo, JRF
JU-UCL