Basu meets PM Makes out state's case Tiger Dimming counts New Governor Viren Shah is new governor for Bengal

The Royal Bengal Tiger is under attack. Statistics have revealed that the tiger, which has found its place and fame in literature as well as the psyche of the people of many lands, is facing a major crisis and there are only 7,770 tigers left though the figure was as high as one lakh at the turn of this century. Three types of the eight normally found in this country have already become extinct. This is a matter of serious concern since the tiger can be found only in some areas of Sumatra, Vietnam, China and Russia apart from our country.

According to experts, the main problem has been encroachment on tiger land; while a tiger needs need at least 25 kilometres to move around, the country cannot provide the animal that much space and the pressure on land is increasing every day. Thus Project Tiger has not been able to achieve any level of success though it may be some relief to hear that the tiger population in the Sunderbans Tiger Project has not dwindled like that in other areas like Sariska and Panna.