Ecology. Results of 2020
Main environmental results of 2020
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Once upon a time, tigers inhabited vast areas of South, Central and South-East Asia. Strong, beautiful and dangerous predators were on top of the food chain and were the masters of their possessions. But human came. He cut down the forest and began to hunt for tigers, and in this battle the predator is defeated ... Now there are not more than five thousand of these beautiful animals left on the planet.
In order to tell humanity about the existing problem, in 2010 the thematic date - International Tiger Day - was approved. Now this holiday is traditionally celebrated in many countries at the height of summer, on July 29. This began at the Tiger Forum, which was held in St. Petersburg on the initiative of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology.
Tiger Forum was held in St. Petersburg, in 2010, photo WEB
12 countries (China, Malaysia, India, Thailand, Indonesia and others) took part in the discussion of the fate of tigers, where these felids are still fighting for survival. During the Forum, a global strategy for the saving of the tiger was adopted. The approved program was designed for 12 years (until 2022) and assumes an increase in the population of these animals by the end of a given period for two times.
Until recently, the situation did not develop in favor of predators - their numbers were rapidly declining all over the world. As a symbol of India, the Bengal tiger dies even there. The population, which amounted to fifteen hundred at the beginning of the century, today does not exceed five hundred.
Bengal white tiger, photo WEB
There are many reasons for this, but the main ones are deforestation and poaching. Steady demand for parts of the tiger body has not weakened for many decades. For sale are fat, bile, fangs and claws, of which adherents of Chinese folk medicine are preparing drugs of unproven effectiveness, however, no less popular in the XXI century than in the XV.
In Tibet, tiger skins are served as a traditional wedding dress and simply solemn dress. Among the Indian rich people, hunting for tigers is still popular for the sake of entertainment and sporting interest. Many farmers in this country are killing predators, trying to save livestock and protect their families. To track down and poison a tiger, an Indian peasant need one night. The resulting skin on the black market, he will be able to sell for 6000 dollars. With fair work on the farm he will not get such miney in five years ...
The number of tigers is rapidly declining around the world, photo WEB
This trend led to the fact that the tigers - the most beautiful, powerful, graceful predators - due to the fault of a small and weak man - are on the verge of extinction. Today, individual subspecies have disappeared from the face of the earth, which will never be restored.
A similar situation was observed ten years ago in Russia, where lives almost the entire world population of Amur tigers. However, the situation was quickly taken over and with the active support of WWF, government agencies and personally the president of the country, the Ussuri tigers were saved.
Amur tiger, photo WEB
Today, Russia is one of the few countries where the number of felines has not only declined, but also shows steady growth. However, it's too early to rejoice, because despite all the efforts, the organization of protected areas and the introduction of increasingly stringent laws, the fight against poaching in our country is still going on.
The Tiger Day is celebrated differently in each country. In Vladivostok, for example, this is a wonderful holiday, which has the status of an official city holiday, with a costumed procession, games, contests and concerts. In other parts of the country and around the world, thematic exhibitions, nature protection actions, charity gatherings are timed to this date. The culprits of the triumph, living in zoos, are often offered a special ration for the holiday.
In each country, the Tiger Day is celebrated in its own way, photo WEB
It is worth noting that in Russia in 2000, before the establishment of the international date, began to celebrate the Day of the Tiger in the Far East. The festival, organized on the initiative of WWF and the charitable foundation "Phoenix", falls on the last Sunday of September every year.
Victoria Romanova, Russia, Moscow
