The Tiger Trust of India is partnering with Clemson university to raise awareness about the issue of dwindling Tiger population. In this article the Tiger Trust shares information about the conference and its work

To learn more about the trust please go to http://tigertrustindia.org/

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Although India has a dwindling tiger population, but recently due to active measures taken by the Government and the enforcement agencies the tiger population seems to have settled at 1,706. The status released by the National Tiger Conservation Authority on 28^th March 2011 is based on the new monitoring method adopted by the Government. This year the tiger estimation procedure involved field data collected at the beat level, analysis of habitat using satellite data and camera trapping method. In addition to these, local communities were also involved in data collection and analysis. 

There are not one but many threats to the tiger population.  Poaching remains the biggest threat followed by illegal trade of tiger skins and bones.  Other factors precipitating the fall of tiger population is loss of forest cover, man-animal conflict, revenge killing and large scale urbanization. Of all the factors, Tiger Trust is trying hard to curb poaching by training the forest officers to lead successful prosecution against the poachers.

Tiger Trust established by Lt. Sh. Kailash Sankhla is a non-profit making organization working strenuously towards imparting core legal training to the forest officers including the front line staff, Rangers, Assistant Conservator of Forests and the DFOs. The faculty of Tiger Trust comprising of senior lawyers, environmentalists, conservationists, senior police officials, retired Judges of the High Court and vetinarary experts strongly believe that poaching and illegal skin trade can best be curbed by bringing the poachers to book.  Tiger Trust conducts legal training workshops to well acquaint the forest officers with the nuances of carrying out investigation, detection of crime, filing of complaint, collection of evidence and leading successful prosecution before the Court of law.

Tiger Trust and Clemson University have been working in close collaboration since 2003. The students of Clemson University are invited by Tiger Trust to visit national parks along with the Indian students. This cross educational program is conducted each year to sensitize the youth and create global awareness. Clemson University works under Tiger 4 Tiger initiative, a student’s lead group. Having worked closely for years, Tiger Trust and Clemson now plan to hold a national level workshop in the US inviting all such Universities having tiger as their mascot.  The main objective behind holding such a conference is to create awareness amongst the youth and the student community in the US to efficiently and expeditiously arrest the declining tiger population.

The Conference would be a joint effort of Tiger Trust and all the Universities having Tiger as their mascot. Clemson University would host the event and the activities would be presentation by four students from prominent universities including one from the host. The best students from all the universities would be screened and selected for the nature camp in India which would give them an opportunity to interact with the student community of India and have first hand experience and information about the global fragile existence of tiger in the wild. The main objective is to sensitize the youth ah the time has arrived for them to make contribution in saving this majestic animal from extinction.

The time has come when conservation cannot be restricted to the framing of policies by the government or amending the laws. Each one of us has to come forward to save the environment and this majestic animal- the Tiger. Not only the students but also the corporate, filmmakers, housewives and other professionals have to come forward to help the cause.  Schools, Universities can play a vital role in promoting awareness by organizing awareness programmes, community programmes involving people from all genres. 

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