Increasing man-animal conflict, destruction of natural habitats, decline in the numbers of herbivorous animals and climate changes are the main reasons behind the sharp decline of tigers and other carnivorous animals.
Experts opined this at the Wild Animal Week observed jointly by the Orissa Environment Society
(OES) and the Elephant Foundation Trust (EFT) here on Sunday.
While there were over one lakh cheetah living in the world a hundred year ago, now the number has come down to mere 7,000 and the animal was almost extinct in India by the time it achieved Independence.
Similarly, the number of tigers has decreased from over one lakh to 3,890, including 2,226 in India, during the period. Lions’ population has also decreased sharply from 2 lakh to 20,000.
From a study, it is revealed that a couple of tigers provide benefits worth Rs 520 crore during their lifespan to the ecology, which is more that Rs 450 spent of the Mangalajana.
“In view of all these, all Government and private organisations and individuals should be committed for protection of the tigers and other animals. Especially, industrial houses should undertake a programme to protect wild animals akin to CSR activities as their establishments have led to destruction of natural habitats,” they opined.
The programme held under chairmanship of OES president Dr Sundar Narayan Patro was graced by Nalco CMD TK Chand, PCCF Dr Debabrata Swain and
PCCF, Nandankanan Zoological Park Director Dr Harishankar Uppaddhyaya and Additional PCCF P Krishna Mohan as guests.
They spoke on various aspects of conservation of wild animals and stress on creation of public awareness in this regard.
At the outset, OES secretary Dr Jayakrushna Panigrahi delivered welcome address. Trust president Dr Rajanikant Jena and former forest conservator Jitashatru Mohanty spoke on the subject of discussion.
On the occasion, Nandankanan Zooligical Park Deputy Director Kamal Lochan Purohit, Deogarh’s Lalit Mohan Sahoo and Ganjam’s Loknath Acharya were felicitated.
The seminar ended with a vote of thanks proposed by Er Prakash Chandra Jena.