International Tigers Day: CFC’s conversation with Tiger Expert- Ecologist Dr Ramakrishnan

By Aayushi Sharma

Tigers, a keystone species, help maintain the balance of ecosystems and promote biodiversity. Economically, they boost ecotourism and sustainable development. Socially and culturally, tigers are integral to national identity and local traditions. Environmentally, tiger conservation aids in climate change mitigation and the preservation of essential ecosystem services.

This International Tigers Day, CFC India had an interaction with, Dr. Uma Ramakrishnan, Senior Ecologist and Professor at National Center for Biological Sciences. Notably, Dr Ramakrishnan has worked on the genetics of the Tiger population in India.

“Tiger Population is not recovered in all the parts of the country. In Eastern India, areas like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal there is a lot of scope for tiger recovery. While the states like Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra have seen good recovery,” said Dr Ramakrishnan.

Here’s the interview:

Here are some insights from the conversation with the Expert:

• Clearing of forests for agriculture, urbanization, and infrastructure development reduces the natural habitat of tigers. The expansion of human settlements and activities into tiger habitats leads to habitat fragmentation, which isolates tiger populations and reduces their ability to find mates and prey.
• The Importance of Prey for Tiger Survival: Tigers are dependent on prey. They rely primarily on large ungulates such as deer, wild boar, and other herbivores for sustenance. These prey species provide the necessary nutrition that supports the growth, reproduction, and overall health of tiger populations. A healthy prey base ensures that tigers can hunt effectively, maintain their energy levels, and care for their young. Without an adequate prey population, tigers are forced to expand their territories, increase hunting efforts, and, in some cases, encroach on human settlements in search of food, leading to human-wildlife conflicts. In areas with low prey density, tigers may need to travel greater distances to find food, which increases the risk of encountering humans and getting killed either in accidents or through retaliatory actions. Climate change is affecting the abundance and distribution of prey species.

• Rise in Temperature: Warmer temperatures can shift vegetation zones, potentially expanding suitable habitats for tigers into previously cooler regions. For example, in the Indian subcontinent, increased temperatures and changing monsoon patterns could alter forest compositions, potentially making some areas more conducive to supporting tiger populations.
• Since tigers are a keystone species, meaning their presence or absence has significant impacts on their ecosystems. Efforts to restore degraded habitats enhance their capacity to support wildlife.

• Importance of protected areas: Protected areas can serve as models for sustainable resource management, demonstrating how to balance conservation with the sustainable use of natural resources. Biodiverse ecosystems are generally more resilient to climate change. By expanding protected areas, India can enhance the resilience of its ecosystems, ensuring they continue to provide essential services despite climatic changes. Protected areas can act as buffers against extreme weather events, such as floods and storms, by stabilizing soil and reducing runoff. This is particularly important in the face of increasing climate variability and extreme events.
• Negative Externalities: We are getting a lot of free stuff from the environment. And we forget it’s free until it collapses. That is when we complain that we have to support it. It’s only when it collapses that you pay a price, until it doesn’t you’re enjoying its free services. The one thing that can surely mitigate the impact of climate change on India is biodiversity conservation. 

Image Source:

Banner Image by Waldemar: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-tiger-and-cub-lying-down-on-grass-2541239/

Photo by Deep Rajwar https://www.pexels.com/photo/tiger-lying-on-puddle-of-water-3985635/