Facebook Live: What Is It Going to Take to Save India’s Tigers?

India has 70 percent of the world’s tigers, but external factors threaten to undermine conservation efforts.

Already 28 tigers have been killed this year, up from 25 in 2015. (Photo: PTI)

A few days ago, a young tiger was killed while trying to cross the road in Dehradun. He was the 28th tiger killed this year, more than the number of tigers killed last year – and we’re only in the fifth month of the year.

Though India has 70 percent of the world’s tigers, external factors constantly threaten to undermine the country’s conservation efforts. Human development and mining are pushing deeper and deeper into tiger lands and poaching demands from countries – that believe tiger parts have medicinal properties – constantly put tigers in harm’s way.

Saving tigers can help save entire ecosystems, conservation experts say. (Photo: iStock)

The Quint spoke to Neha Sinha, a wildlife conservationist with the Bombay Natural History Society.

Here are some of the key points:

• Tigers are key species in an ecosystem.
  
• Saving tigers can have huge benefits for other species like deers and trees.
  
• Conservation efforts have to be made across the country
  
• Reserves are important for tigers, but it is difficult to keep tabs on the animals all the time
  
• Road construction should take into account animal needs
  
• We can each do our part to help save tigers
  

Watch the link below.