1409 left.. 2 died.. last week -- International Efforts to Protect Tigers

Central Kerala Wildlife Sanctuary Declared India's Tiger Reserve.

Parambikkulam wildlife sanctuary in central Kerala has been declared country's 38th Tiger reserve.

There are about 20 Siberian Tigers in the border area of Heilongjiang and Russia, almost 12 Bengal Tigers in southeastern Tibet and 11-16 Indochinese Tigers in southwest China.

China's State Forestry Administration issued a directive last month to boost the Protection of wild Tigers through natural habitat management, stronger law enforcement against illegal trade in Tiger parts and products, stricter regulation of captive breeding regulations.

According to the State Forestry Administration, a total of 16 Tiger Conservation Areas and 74 conservation management offices are in operation and 6,000 tigers are living in captivity.

In terms of International efforts, the Kathmandu Global Tiger Workshop was held October 09 and the First Asian Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation from January 27-30. Bringing together ministers from 15 Countries, the conference was one event in a continuum of efforts planned for 2010 that will culminate with the Heads of Government Tiger Summit in Russia in September.

Initiatives OF INDIAN Government:

1. Corbett National Park to have Tiger Protection Force from January 2010 - The Uttarakhand Government has decided to set up a specialized Tiger Protection Force to prevent poaching in the Corbett Tiger Reserve.

2. Madhya Pradesh sets up Special force to Protect Tigers - With its Tiger population dwindling sharply over the last two years, a worried MP government will deploy a Special Tiger Protection Force in its three Tiger Reserves of Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Pench National Parks.

3. Center forms Panel to assess Panna Reserve Tiger status - The Central Government has formed a committee to assess the tiger population in the Panna Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.

4. Over Rs.330 million spent this fiscal to save tigers - The central government has given states Rs.330.58 million in fiscal 2007-08 for Protection of Tigers.

5. Retired Army Personnel being recruited to save the Bengal Tigers - With their numbers reduced to as few as 1,300 in the wild, the plan will see pensioned soldiers who have returned to their villages being paid to guard wildlife sanctuaries.