With around 3,000 wild tigers left in the world, Explore.org grants $50,000 to Tiger Watch, a nonprofit in India, to support the task force and interventions that aid in the preservation of the Bengal tiger.
Decades have been spent trying to increase their numbers, improve their chances at survival and improve their relationship with human neighbors. The WWF said, “All 13 countries where tigers still roam in the wild committed to doubling the number of tigers.”
“Tiger Watch’s primary objective [is] the conservation and protection of wildlife at Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve.” Ranthambhore National Park covers 151 square miles of “former hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur,” and today is a “major wildlife tourist attraction.” This organization focuses on research, enforced protection, “reduction of man” (such as compensating ranchers for loss of cattle to reduce retaliation on tigers), environmental protection (e.g., protecting wildlife during drought years), and training and infrastructure for the reserve and its personnel.
Endangered species that still need protection from poaching today fall into the murky waters where animal and human mix. Some animal products are steeped in aesthetic, medicinal and/or gastronomical aspects of cultures. It’s both the black market of poaching, tradition, attitude toward animal life and competition for space that drives the international resolutions that often abut cultural sensitivities and economy disaparities between resolution issuing countries and homelands of the endnagered species. Like any foreign policy, understanding the country from inside out creates lasting and effective changes.
