Anyway I leave this for the more erudite conservationist of which thankfully there is no dearth in this country and outside . And it is to this very group that the the animal now leans on for its survival in the wild today.
The apathetic politician and the greed filled tradesman,who unfortunately wield the maximum clout in policy and administrative matters, some callous beaurocrats/administrators and the uncaring public(not all) who often question our zeal for the concern of the survival of this species augur no hope.Hope for the future of many such endangered species breathing their last on this earth.

Tiger Conservation Programme is a unique in India . As has come to light in recent times disease among tiger has become an important cause for decline in tiger population in our country. From recent studies we now know that there are some diseases which can be transmitted to tiger from diseased prey or from carrier animals for example anthrax, tuberculosis, hydatidosis, rabies, etc. Wildlife health monitoring and disease investigation should be an essential component of tiger conservation programme, but has not been given its due importance so far.

In recent years several deaths have been reported from different parts of the country. Some of them are summarized below:

1966 Panna National Park, Panna Tiger - 2, Van Vihar National Park, Bhopal Tiger - 2 Leopards - 3,
1977 Madhav National Park Tiger - 2, Leopards - 1, Tiger cub - 3, Gwalior Zoo Tiger - 1
1998 Corbett Tiger Reserve Tiger- 3, Dudhawa National Park Tiger - 2, Rajaji National Park Tiger - 2, Sariska Tiger Reserve Tiger - 2, Lucknow Zoo Tiger - 2,
1999 Indore zoo Tiger - 1,

These are the data known to us from protected areas, since 1996. However, we are unaware of numbers of deaths in unprotected areas which by all means are neglected. Of the above mentioned deaths we know the cause of death in only two places i.e at Van Vihar National Park and Madhav National Park in M.P., The cause was a deadly virus. The disease was later recognized as Feline Panleucopenia.

Feline Panleucopenia (FPL) is an acute contagious viral disease affecting tigers and leopards and other closely related animals, characterized by enteritis and marked reduction in othe number of leucocytes. The disease was first reported by Kirk in 1925. Quite recently the disease was responsible for the death of 900 lions at Serengeti National Park in Africa and 19 lions in Japan.

In India few mortalities have been reported among tigers and leopards with similar clinical symptoms. But the cause of death was not confirmed, and in most of the cases the death remained a mystery.

The FPL is a DNA virus, and resistant to low pH and also to heat. The virus can survive for a long period outside the host body under suitable environment. The disease is transmitted from infected cats to tigers and leopards. The infected animals may excrete the virus in faeces for two months and in few cases for twelve months. Animals recovered from the disease may serve as reservoir of infection for long period. The clinical symptoms of FPL in big cats are similar to those in domestic cats.

In acute from of the disease there is a sudden onset of symptoms like high rise of temperature off feed and depression. Fever may persist for few days then return to normal, with a recurrence. In acute form of the disease infected animal die suddenly within 48 hrs. The characteristic signs of the disease are vomiting, diarrohea and severe dehydration. The vomit is bilestained and faeces contains blood. The disease can be diagnosed by clinical signs and serological tests, and confirmed demonstration of inclusion bodies in the enterocytes, lymph tissue and liver cells.

The FPL can cause 100% morbidity and 60-90 per cent mortality. The number of deaths of tigers referred to above in which the cause of the was not confirmed, can be suspected for FPL. Therefore, it is essential to know the exact cause of death in each mortality, to prevent the spread of disease in other susceptible animals and also to different areas of the country. Hence it has become imperative for good wildlife health monitoring and disease diagnostic laboratories to be set up in the country.

And the Regional Centre of Indian Wildlife Health Cooperative be located at, Veterinary College, Jabalpur. The Centre has shown its diagnostic capability and utility in the recent past.

For effective tiger conservation programme, I personally strongly recommend periodical health monitoring and disease surveillance programme for tigers, both in free ranging and also in captivity, by wildlife health experts in different parts of the country.

Recent newspaper reports the death of a large number of peacocks in the backward district of Morena in M.P.Around forty peacocks are supposed to have died after consuming food grains in Morena.It is assumed the grains were laced with insecticides.
It is a regular practice among the farmers to protect their seeds and farm outputs with these deadly chemicals in the country.

How many rare and endangered species specially birds,reptiles and amphibians,we are loosing everyday to this menace remains uncharted till this date.
What damage they cause to humans in the long run is still not very well known.In our efforts to enhance the production of food grains to feed such large ever burgeoning population of this country,we have disregarded the dangerous effects of this deadly chemicals in toto.

What are the regulations governing the use of these deadly chemicals this writer is unaware of.And if there are any.Are they being implemented as per rules in this country? Who knows?.
After the epidemics which has just come to the limelight the incidence of death related to poisoning both unintentional and intentional are surfacing quite often here and there.

This menace is the silent killer which creeps unnoticed causing untold damage,that may even surface years later.
It is obvious that it should be considered as threatening as poaching and habitat destruction before its too late.

For greater details please contact the Petitioners or Editor at : tigris@vsnl.com