Summer, 1997
| Brief History | Philosophy and Goals | The Wildlife Protection Society of India |
| Belinda Wright | Ashok Kumar | The International Trust for Nature Conservation |
| Notes from the Field | Conclusions |
Dear Online Friends:
As Chairman of The Fund For The Tiger it is a pleasure for me to send you our first annual Newsletter.
I hope this will prove informative as to the istory, scope, and activities of The Fund For The Tiger.
Brief History of The Fund for the Tiger
In 1978 I was blessed with a unique experience. One afternoon I found myself in Royal Chitwan National Park, Nepal, getting off an elephant, walking through 20 ft. high grass and coming face to face with a 350 pound Bengal tigress. Though she was sedated, her eyes were open, staring at me, and her breathing was loud and heavy. The afternoon was spent helping research scientist David Smith cool her down with water, taking vital measurements, and fitting her with a radio collar for future tracking. We sat on the elephants, late into the night, until she could safely get up and stumble into the forest.
It was not until 1991 that I realized the power the tiger held on my psyche. I began hearing stories of a new and insidious threat to tiger populations in India and Nepal. For the first time I heard about tigers being killed for their bones. This information came from respected wildlife and conservation experts as well as published reports from conferences in India. Some famous tiger reserves had suffered near catastrophic losses in just two years. Indeed, the great tiger reserves of India and Nepal had become shopping malls to satisfy a market based on ancient Chinese medicinal practices and customs.
In 1993 I spent the afternoon with a brave and dedicated Deputy Warden at Chitwan. We talked about the poaching threat to the tigers and visited some miscreants in the local jail who been caught in a sting operation trying to sell tiger bones and rhino horns. I decided to do something to help.
In 1994 I started the Save the Tiger fund raising trip with Mountain Travel/Sobek. This has proven highly successful and next March will be the fifth trip of this series. The money raised from that first trip had a very positive effect in helping the anti-poaching campaign in Chitwan. When I saw how effective a relatively small amount of money could be when given to the right people for the right project, I decided to expand my base of support and establish an independent organization to help block the tiger's path to extinction.
The Fund For The Tiger was incorporated in the State of California as a non-profit organization on August 25, 1995. The Internal Revenue Service granted tax exempt public charity status on March 5, 1996 and the California State Franchise Tax Board followed with a tax exempt ruling on May 10, 1996. I am pleased and grateful for the assistance of two highly experienced people who have joined The Fund as Board of Directors- Erica Stone, Executive Director of the American Himalayan Foundation and Larry Habegger, Editor of the Travelers' Tales book series.
Philosophy, Goals, and Projects:
There are many long range problems facing the tiger and other endangered species throughout Asia and the world-economic development, population pressure, loss of habitat, and lack of political will in tiger habitat countries. The most immediate threat to the tiger, however, is poaching to satisfy the market for traditional Chinese medicinal products. It is in support of efforts to stop this immediate threat that The Fund For The Tiger is dedicated.
A vast number of environmental groups and organizations do varied degrees of good work worldwide-some with much greater scope and resources than The Fund would ever wish to contemplate. But along with this greater size come increased costs and overhead expenses.
I am pleased to report that in 1996, our first full year of operation, The Fund had receipts of $30,291.04. With the exception of initial professional legal fees for the establishment of The Fund, our operating expenses were $665.76 consisting of postage, printing costs, and miscellaneous supplies. There are no salaries, office rent or travel expenses. The Fund will stay small, focused, and effective.
In 1996 we made grants to assist tiger conservation efforts in India and Nepal through the Wildlife Protection Society of India and the International Trust for Nature Conservation in Nepal. Both have non-profit charity status in their respective countries and are run by highly respected, trusted, and well known experts in the field of tiger and wildlife conservation. Peter Jackson, Chairman of the Cat Specialist Group of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), wrote to The Fund, "keep up the good funding...you are helping the right people."
The Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) was founded in 1994 by Belinda Wright and Ashok Kumar. They are a very hard hitting and aggressive non-governmental organization working at ground zero to save the tiger in India. Their activities are extensive but The Fund has specifically sought to help their 'Investigation into Poaching and Illegal Trade of Wild Tigers in India.' This project includes the funding of information networks, conducting sting operations, follow-ups in the legal system where arrests and convictions are possible, investigating all tiger poaching incidents, and most importantly, helping to support anti-poaching efforts which will prevent the killing of tigers. They have had some notable successes, to name but a few:
Belinda Wright was born and raised in India and most of her life has been dedicated to wildlife and tigers. In the golden years of the tiger she was a documentary filmmaker, photographer for National Geographic, and made the Emmy award winning National Geographic special, "Land of the Tiger." She now dedicates her life to saving the tiger in India. Her latest work, Through the Tiger's Eyes (Ten Speed Press), chronicles her early work for National Geographic and her recent work with WPSI. The photographs are spectacular.
Ashok Kumar has spent his life working in Indian forestry and wildlife affairs. Prior to forming the WPSI with Belinda, he was the Director of Traffic India and referred to in an ABC special on tigers as 'India's number one wildlife cop.'
Ashok has written to The Fund..."your contributions have enabled us to collect valuable information on the clandestine trade in tiger parts. Using this we were able to carry out a number of undercover operations in collaboration with enforcement authorities during which wildlife traders were apprehended and tiger parts seized."
The International Trust for Nature Conservation in Kathmandu (ITNC) works closely with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation under the Ministry of Forests. Funds are allocated on an 'as need' basis to help finance specific projects, whether it be anti-poaching units; information networks; the giving of rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those trafficking in endangered and protected species; or periodic tiger counts which are invaluable in ascertaining which tiger habitats are healthy and which are most in need of protection. ITNC Trustee is Dr. Charles McDougal, a longtime resident of Nepal, Smithsonian Research Associate for tiger monitoring in Nepal, and world renowned as THE tiger expert in Nepal. My initial funding helped on all the above projects. Currently all tiger counts and rewards are financed by The Fund. McDougal has written to The Fund in his yearly report, "thanks to your assistance Nepal has a better knowledge of the status of its tigers than any other country in Asia."
We are currently working with McDougal to set up the first anti-poaching unit to protect the tigers at Sukla Phanta National Park in the far western corner of Nepal. Sukla Phanta has been hit by at least three known tiger killings in 1997 and, with only 16 resident adult tigers, it urgently needs protection.
In March/April of 1997 I was fortunate to visit 5 major tiger reserves in India and Nepal as part of tours that I led independent of The Fund.
Bandhavgarh National Park in the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India is a beautiful tiger reserve surrounding a nine hundred foot high plateau which was once an ancient fortress. It's difficult to get an accurate reading on the health of its tiger population or any organized protection efforts. Local naturalists insist their tiger populations are in reasonably good shape and there does seem to be co-operative group effort among local lodge operators, naturalists, and park officials when poachers are found to have entered the park. The star attraction is Sita and her three new cubs. Sita is on her 6th litter and we were able to photograph them frolicking in the Chakardhara meadow. A large male, affectionately called Charger for his fondness for charging land rovers and elephants, is also seen with frequency. A National Geographic photo team headed by Michael Nichols has been at Bandhavgarh the past two years. He has shot over 1800 rolls of film covering the tiger story around the world. Look for his work in the December 1997 issue of National Geographic- a major story to coincide with the upcoming 'Year of The Tiger.'
Corbett National Park in the Himalayan foothills of Uttar Pradesh, India, is a vast forested park named after the famous hunter of man-eating tigers - Jim Corbett. Though it has a well protected and controlled inner core there are poaching problems on the periphery- especially from infamous towns like Ramnagar. I had the opportunity to spend several evenings talking with Park Director Gautam and Honorary Warden Brijendra Singh. I was impressed with their commitment to a hands-on approach and physical presence in the park, whether it be in planning a sting operation to lure out known wildlife smugglers or adjudicating a dispute with nomads camping on the park boundaries. There is little help from the government and the forest guards need better equipment to combat the poachers. I've asked the WPSI to explore how The Fund may help. I saw no tigers at Corbett, but on one long elephant ride with the pistol-packing Gautam, we heard many alarm calls and saw herds of wild elephants roaming the vast open grasslands.
Royal Bardia National Park in Western Nepal sits along the flood plain and riverine forests of the great Karnali River. It is isolated from all other tiger reserves but a tiger count in 1995 found 22 resident females and 10 resident males. The rhino population, once extinct in Bardia, was brought back to life by a relocation effort from Chitwan. Wild elephant populations are increasing in Bardia and they seem to be causing some disruption in the resident tiger and rhino populations. This will have to be monitored as well as the potentially disastrous effect of the proposed hydroelectric dam on the Karnali River. I had only one tiger sighting in Bardia but wild elephants were seen up close (including the gargantuan Raja Gaj- claimed by some to be the largest Asian elephant on record) and there was a very rare sighting of two leopards in a tree not 100 yards from the Lodge.
Royal Chitwan National Park in Central Nepal was the first of the great wildlife reserves set aside in Nepal. Established in 1973, it is connected to other tiger habitats- Parsa to the East and Valmiki in India to the South East. Last count monitored by McDougal found a total of 48 resident adults in the Chitwan and Parsa regions and work needs to be done to co-ordinate with India's Valmiki Tiger Reserve to maintain a viable and protected corridor.
A survey in 1991 of one tiger population monitored by McDougal revealed nearly 40% losses to poachers during the years 1989-1991. That there now is a healthy and viable tiger and rhino population in Chitwan is due to an excellent anti-poaching effort begun in the early 1990's by Nepalese authorities. In 1995-96 there were 11 recorded cases of arrests in and around the Chitwan area in which all rewards were paid by The Fund. There were three documented cases (and several other deaths most suspicious) of tiger poaching in 1996.
I had some excellent tiger sightings in Chitwan this year. One tigress, known as Bhimle Pothi, crossed the road at twilight and sat in the grass staring back at us as we pulled up in the open land rover. The next day I saw a log in a small oxbow lake which resembled a tiger's face. This wishful hallucination has happened many times but as we drove closer the log turned out to be a cub swimming to the distant shore who then scampered over a log and into the deep bamboo jungle.
Ranthambhore National Park in Rajasthan, India, once a jewel in the golden years of the tiger under India's Project Tiger, today sits sadly as a shadow of its former self. During my brief visit, the forest guard checkposts were all empty except one which was being used as a 'rest stop' by a group of tourists. The entrance gates seemed unofficial, in disrepair, and were reputed to be 'porous' through the night. Groups of poachers ran into the woods to hide from our vehicle- all carrying axes for cutting precious wood. Population pressure from without, and even some corridors within, seems overwhelming. It seemed strange to me that it was the dramatic losses of tigers at Ranthambhore that so alarmed the world in 1991 yet so very little is being done to prevent the last tiger from disappearing from it's spectacular fortress, lakes, and forests. Yet there is hope.
I spent my time driving around the park with Belinda Wright and Fateh Singh Rathore. Fateh, former Field Director at Ranthambhore, was instrumental in creating Ranthambhore when it was a model for success. He has petitioned for permission to set up Tiger Watch, an anti-poaching organization which will patrol the periphery and have government approval. I asked Fateh how many tigers he thought were left. "Six, maybe eight," he said sadly, "but some cubs have been seen." His eyes twinkled. Tigers are resourceful, resilient, and reproduce well. If protected and left alone they will come back!
The following morning, Belinda, Fateh, and I were driving down a dusty lane and came upon several vehicles. They gestured frantically for us and, in a gesture of respect, all moved out of the way so Fateh could come forward. There, on the road, a massive tiger was resting in the shade. This was the Bakola tiger, thought to be about 500 pounds. He took one look at us, got up, walked a few yards down the road, then turned into a meadow only to lay down in the open as if to pose for us. I don't know if my camera or my heart was making more noise. After about 15 minutes he got up, walked toward our jeep, and gave us a disdainful glance of annoyance as he passed in front of the right bumper. We sat for a moment in silence. I looked over at Belinda and she had tears in her eyes. "THAT'S why we can't give up!" she whispered as the Bakola tiger melted into the forest.
If there was ever a time for the 'last stand' for the tigers of Ranthambhore it is now. If Fateh Singh and Tiger Watch can get something effective going, The Fund would be pleased to help.
In conclusion, The Fund For The Tiger in 1997 is committed to several worthy and important projects. In Nepal, we are committed to the funding of the periodic and ongoing tiger counts; to the distribution of rewards; and are hopeful that we can help establish the first anti-poaching unit at Sukla Phanta National Park. In India, we are anxious to help at Ranthambhore and Corbett as well as maintaining a continuing commitment to the important work being done by the Wildlife Protection Society of India.
I will bring you up to date on these projects when I write again at the end of the year. If you wish to help in any way, please send your tax deductible contribution to The Fund For The Tiger, P.O. Box 2, Woodacre, California 94973.
Sincerely,
Brian K. Weirum
Chairman
The Fund For The Tiger
Page last updated February 14, 1999
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