Global News - October 2007

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Indian tigers 'on the brink of extinction'

Wed 31 October 2007 14:45 UK — Asia,Big Cats

The prime minister of India is set to be told that poaching and habitat destruction have brought tigers to the brink of extinction in the country.

India's National Wildlife Board will meet with prime minister Manmohan Singh tomorrow (November 1st) and brief him about the plight of the nation's tigers.

It is expected that experts will tell Mr Singh that fewer than 1,300 tigers survive in the wild in India.

Valmik Thapar, a tiger expert and member of the National Board of Wildlife, told the Independent newspaper that "that size of a population is scientifically not viable".

He is reported to have added: "But in the real world you have to try as hard as you can."

According to the report, experts believe that poachers are killing tigers in India at a rate of one per day.

The National Wildlife Board will tell Prime Minister Singh that drastic action is needed if the creatures are to survive.

Recently, officials in China revealed that a rural farmer had captured images of a species of tiger which was previously thought to be extinct.

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