Thiger Khat!!!!!

The tiger (Panthera tigris) is a mammal of the Felidae family, the largest of four "big cats" (others being lion, lepord and jaguar) in the Panthera genus. Native to much of eastern and southern Asia, the tiger is an apex predator and an obligate carnivore (an animal that must eat meat in order to thrive). Tigers are up to 4 metres (13 feet) in total length and weighing up to 300 kg (660 pounds). Tigers live for 8-10 years in the wild and 26 years in captivity.

India holds over half the world's tiger population, Which rightfully makes it our national animal. However the number of these cats have fallen down by nearly 50%, from 3642 in 2001 to 1141 in 2007. Many of the tiger populations, particularly those outside protected reserves, are fragmented, suffer from intense poaching pressure, a dwindling prey base and over-used habitat. Most of the poaching is done for extremely valuable tiger skins, bones and body parts which are beleived to have medicinal properties.

Most if the reported tiger killings exclude the ones which were 'found dead' (most of them without skulls in their bodies). 27 tigers killings were reported in 2007 (thats 2% of the current population, in human terms it will be like killing nearly 26lac people per year )

For a country already plagued by so many grave problems, tiger killings may seem like a non entity to many, however the strongest argument I can make here is that, its India which is capable of providing the best and the biggest habitat for these royal beasts. Thus we are technically responsible if the future generations of the world have to visit museums and not zoos or scanturies to meet the 'Thiger Khat'!!!!

And this goes to the world's most favourite animal (according to the poll conducted by animal planet)

TIGER, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder and what art
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand and what dread feet?

When the stars threw down their spears,
And water'd heaven with their tears,
Did He smile His work to see?
Did He who made the lamb make thee?
Tiger Tiger burning bright