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The military dictatorship of Myanmar (formerly Burma) proudly announced in August that it was doing its part to save the tiger and its habitat in this
Year of Tiger. The entire remote Hukawng Valley, about the size of Vermont, was designated a protected tiger area by adding over 4,000 sq. miles, welcome news to conservationists struggling to save the world's remaining 3,200 wild tigers. The reserve was established in 2001 with the help of the Wildlife Conservation Society based at the Bronx Zoo. Dr. Alan Rabinowitz of
Panthera, a big cat conservation society, led the first biological expedition into the area in 1999. He said, "The reserve offers one of the most important stretches of tiger habitat in the world."
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| credit: KDNG |
The good news did not last. A powerful tycoon, U Htay Myint, moved into the valley with heavy equipment to clear cut forest and destroy tiger habitat just five years after the reserve was established. His company, Yuzana, has close ties to the ruling military, and it was granted 200,000 acres in the Hugawng Valley to plant sugar cane and tapioca. A report issued by a civil action group, Kachin Development Networking Group, says the clear cutting and burning is making a mockery of the reserve's protected status. All that is left of the conservation effort are barren, flat fields and signposts that once marked animal corridors and no hunting zones [photos]. Indigenous farmers as well as tigers and other endangered animals are being displaced. Seven villages are located in the project area with an estimated population of 5,000. Despite the reality of the devastation, Myanmar plans to present its tiger recovery plan which it claims will double the country's tiger population by 2022 at the international tiger summit to be held in St. Petersburg, Russia in November.
There are more tigers in captivity in the United States (5,000) than exist now in the wild. If you want to do something real
to help tigers and other members of the big cat genus,
Panthera, go to
Panthera.org, watch this
moving video, and then donate. You will know that your contribution goes directly to scientific field work to save magnificent animals that deserve a future on our planet.
