History and importance of International Tiger DayÂ
International Tiger Day
International Tiger Day is celebrated on July 29 every year.
It has been celebrated since its inception at the St. Petersburg Tiger Summit in 2010.
The main purpose of this day is to highlight the drastic decline in tiger population pushing them to the brink of extinction.
The International Tiger Day aims to create awareness about the crucial efforts of tiger conservation.
India is home to a large percentage of the world’s tigers. According to the latest National Tiger Census
India now has at least 3,167 tigers. In the 2018 tiger census, this figure was 2,967.
The tiger is a wild animal that has attracted environmentalists and wildlife photographers for ages
The Sundarbans is the world’s largest forest bordering India and Bangladesh.
The magnificent Royal Bengal tigers found here have evolved to survive in this environment.
Apart from the Royal Bengal tiger, you can also spot the endangered Irrawaddy dolphins.
Best time to visit: September – March.
History of International Tiger Day
Wild tiger populations have declined by about 95% since the beginning of the 20th century.
It is estimated that there are about 3,900 tigers in the wild now.
Each tiger has unique stripes like a fingerprint which help us identify individuals in the wild.
Sadly there are more tigers in captivity than are left in the wild.
The tiger is officially classified as endangered by the IUCN.