A NATIONAL SHAME

Premier tiger reserves and tiger havens are becoming empty of their prime denizens. Recently a tiger census put the population of the big cat to naught, in Panna National Park, Madhya Pradesh. After Sariska in Rajasthan, this is the second protected tiger reserve to have lost its resident tiger population. Tiger conservationsits are shocked and alarmed at this discovery, however contradicted by the political brigade. The news came in after Two female tigers were to be translocated to the park. Ironically, the park had been awarded with excellence as 'The Best Maintained Tourist Friendly National Park of the Country' by the Ministry of Tourism Govt. of India on 25th Jan 2007 .

India already has its share of extinctions with the Indian cheetah last reported in 1973-74. Illegal poaching, habitat destruction, diseases, etc. looms over the big cats fate. The tigers are believed to be the best index in judging a healthy habitat and ecosystem. Since they form the apex of the food chain pyramid, a large population indicates abundant fauna on the lower rungs, and dwindling numbers could well be alarming for a dying ecosytem.