On the occasion of Global Tiger Day, Susanta Nanda, an acclaimed IFS (R) officer and dedicated nature conservationist, underscored a profound truth about India’s tiger reserves: “Where tiger walks, rivers are born.” This powerful statement highlights the intricate and often overlooked connection between tiger conservation and the health of the nation’s vital water sources.
Shri Nanda, served the State for 36 years as an IFS Officer and has said that “India’s tiger reserves are not merely sanctuaries for the majestic big cats; they are expansive, protected ecosystems that encompass diverse landscapes, including critical watersheds.
As Shri Nanda on his X Platform on Global Tiger Day rightly points out, these reserves collectively safeguard over 500 rivers and streams. These waterways are the lifelines for millions of people, providing water for drinking, agriculture, and countless other human needs”.
The tiger, often referred to as an “umbrella species,” plays a pivotal role in this ecological balance. Protecting tigers necessitates the conservation of their entire habitat – the forests, grasslands, and wetlands that constitute their natural home. These habitats, in turn, act as natural sponges, absorbing rainfall, recharging groundwater, and regulating the flow of rivers and streams. When tiger habitats are healthy and intact, the entire ecosystem thrives, including the crucial water resources that originate within them.
The presence of tigers at the top of the food chain indicates a robust and healthy ecosystem. Their survival depends on the well-being of their prey base, which in turn relies on healthy vegetation and clean water. Therefore, every effort to conserve tigers has a cascading positive effect, ensuring the survival of a myriad of other species and the preservation of essential ecological services, such as water purification and climate regulation.
Shri Nanda’s call to “Pledge to conserve this umbrella species ensuring survival of the entire ecosystem” serves as a timely reminder of our collective responsibility.
Global Tiger Day is not just about celebrating the tiger itself, but about recognizing its fundamental role in maintaining the delicate balance of nature and securing the future of our planet’s biodiversity and vital natural resources, especially our precious rivers and streams. Investing in tiger conservation is, in essence, investing in the sustained health and well-being of both wildlife and human populations across India.