Symposium on Conservation of Tiger – the National animal of India:
The Mahabharat, 400BCE, Udyogaparva, says
“Do not cut down the forest with its tigers, and do not banish the tigers from the forest.The tiger perishes without the forest, and the forest perishes without its tigers”
Tiger, though our national animal, is facing a serious threats to their survival. So far 3 sub-species of tiger have become extinct from the face of the earth. Tiger occupies a unique place in our eco-system, biodiversity and ecology for being at the top of the food chain. They are inevitable for conserving our forests and ecological balance. In-spite of serious conservation efforts, tigers in India continue to be in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and are still facing various threats to their existence.
The issue is “if we can’t save our national animal, whom can we save”
The Symposium could consider and discuss some of the following topics:
- Man - animal conflict: Conservation measures/ efforts to avoid the same.
- Pilgrimage inside core and buffer areas of tiger habitat.
- Tourism inside core and buffer areas of tiger habitat.
- Advantages of declaration of an area as Tiger Reserve.
- Conversation issues in tiger habitat forest areas outside the protected area network, especially in Western Ghats in Kerala.
- Legal issues pertaining to Tiger Conservation and Tiger Reserves.
- Issues of Waynad - where it is part of other contiguous tiger Reserves like Bandipur, Nagarhole and Mudumalai, but not declared a tiger reserve till date.
- Tribal settlements vs Conservation.
The Symposium is proposed as a two day event starting on 5-02-2016 (Friday) (from 5.30 pm to 8.30 pm) and on 06-02-2016 (Saturday) (from 9.30 am to 1.00 pm).
DAY 1: 05-02-2016 (5.30 pm to 8.30 pm)
Honourable Mr. Justice Thottathil Radhakrishnan has agreed to inaugurate the National Symposium on 5-2-2016 at 5.30 pm. This will be followed by a 40 minute film “The Truth about Tigers”
Mr. Shekar Dattatri and Mr. Praveen Bhargav, two of the most renowned and eminent experts in the field, are the chief speakers/ resource persons for the symposium. They will be experts for panel interaction and discussion after the film show.
DAY 2: 06-02-2016 (9.30 am to 1.00 pm)
On the second day, there will be two sessions on the relevant topics of conservation. Each Session will have short film followed by expert panel interaction and discussion. One or two experts, of whom, at least one from Kerala will also participate in the session on the second day.
Resource Personnel:
- Shekhar Dattatri is renowned wildlife film maker and tiger conservation expert, who has been recognized by the world’s leading broadcasters like Discovery Channel, National Geographic, and BBC National History Unit and the winner of several international and national awards starting from 1987.
- Praveen Bhargav is renowned wildlife conservation expert and Managing Trustee of the Wildlife First. He was member of National Board of Wildlife and carried out field appraisals of Tiger Reserves for the National Tiger Conservation Authority. He is the recipient of several awards, recognitions and honors at the international and national level. ‘Times of India’ has placed him in their list of 25 future leaders published in 2012.
PARTICIPATION: Register HERE to participate in the symposium. Registration is free and all the participants will be awarded participation certificates. Participation is limited to the first 120 registrants only. Participants are expected to research upon the ways to save tigers before its too late!