The Vanishing Act - WWF-India

From the
CEO’s Desk
Dear Friends,
Grave concerns on the status of the tiger in India have been
raised since reports on the disappearance of tigers from Sariska
emerged in the press. Concerns are continuing to grow, given
intermittent news of poaching, capture of animal skins and
reports of trade in animal parts. Integrated in these concerns
expressed by conservationists, children, media, senior citizens
and industry groups of the country, is the tiger and its enduring
image, embedded in India’s tradition and folklore. Whilst
India takes on an increasingly significant role in the global
scenario, the bedrock for our future relies on our actions of
today: our history will relate to our present actions and our
nation-building will connect to the way we conserve our
national animal and its habitat.
India has risen to several challenges in its modern day existence;
the challenge that confronts the survival of our wildlife is,
at this juncture, just short of critical. The pressures of economic
progress have gradually reduced conservation issues to the
lowest degree; wildlife cannot for long face the pressures
inflicted on it. Protection, an imperative factor in conservation,
is falling short in implementation. The need for foresightedness
and long term planning remains underemphasized.
The current crisis – that facing the tiger as well our fauna -
in several regions of the country requires deep introspection.
Whilst crisis-led action may prevent in the short term the
‘Sariskarization’ of other reserves of the country, only profound
changes in our will to succeed will lead to long term and
positive change. Two other factors need to be stated: that
constructive action can lead to recovery and that recovery is
possible, even from the present low levels of the status of
our habitats.
On this long and tough road, we will need your support and
suggestions. The Board of Trustees of WWF-India, being
deeply concerned about recent reports of declining tiger
numbers and habitat degradation, has adopted a specific
resolution in support of the fauna of the country, particularly
the tiger and its habitat, which gives focus and direction to
our work. Support us in our efforts.
Ravi Singh
Secretary General & CEO
WWF-India
In this Issue
of Panda:
Editor: Ravi Singh
Editorial board: Sudipto Chatterjee,
Parikshit Gautam, Lima Rosalind, P.K. Sen,
Ranjit Talwar,
Consulting Editor: Sikha Ghosh
Published by:
WWF-India
172-B, Lodi Estate, New Delhi - 110 003
Tel: + 91 - 11 - 5150-4815/16
Website: www.wwfindia.org
E-mail: communications@wwfindia.net
A WWF-India publication for members.
Responsibility for views/opinions expressed
lies with the author(s).
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3
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9
14
16
18
21
‘Billy’ Arjan Singh
The Vanishing Act
5 Water Conservation
in Kanha-Achanakmar
Corridor
Bharatpur
Kids' Zone
13 Coral Reef
17
Watchdog of Our Waters
Setting Milestones and
Meeting Challenges
Ernst Mayr
Andaman and Nicobar
Islands
20 International Conference
on Education for a
Sustainable Future
20 10th Kailash Sankhala
Memorial Lecture
From the Library and
Documentation Centre
WWF - India Mission:
“The promotion of
nature conservation
and environmental
protection as the basis
for sustainable and
equitable development.”
Cover photograph:
2 year old Tigress in Kanha
National Park
Neel Gogate / WWF-India