Chamarajanagar (Karnataka): There is no end to the superstitious beliefs Chinese people have. Today, these superstitious beliefs and conflict between wildlife and human threatening the very existence of tigers, considered as the king of the forest.
In China, people believe that tiger skin, teeth, and bones have medicinal values. This resulted in a spike in the hunting of tigers. There is a huge demand for teeth, bone and skin of tigers in China which results in huge hunting of tigers in China.
According to Chamarajanagar CCF Manoj Kumar, between 1994-2000, in India, 226 tiger skin and 1,007 kilograms of bones have been seized. In the international market, tiger skin has Rs.20,000 value and in our country, hunters sale them for Rs.5,000 to 10,000.
PC:- Venugopal, Wildlife Photographer Chinese superstitious beliefs: In China, people have many superstitious beliefs associated with tiger organs. They prepare various medicines using them. It has become a big headache for the international community.
"For example, tiger fat is used as a medicine for the vomiting, dog bite and the children's poor health. Tiger meat is used for energy, malaria fever, various mental health issues, etc. Tiger tail is used for skin problems. The meat around the stomach area of the tiger is used for various digestion related problems. This is followed in a few northern states also," Kumar said.
PC:- Venugopal, Wildlife Photographer Tiger bone is used for the bone fracture, ulcer, for black magics, waist pain, to infuse confidence etc. Tiger brain is used to make people active from laziness, for pimples, etc. Tiger nail is used to infuse confidence among people besides to ensure that children will not get scared, etc.
PC:- Venugopal, Wildlife Photographer PC:- Venugopal, Wildlife Photographer "Along with this tiger, meat is used to prepare Viagra. This resulted in a huge surge in the demand for the tiger meat. This belief is now spreading like wildfire across the Karnataka. Following this, the trafficking is increasing day by day. Along with these nails, skin, the meat of other wild animals are also in huge demand in the global market," Kumar said.
"In the olden days, hunting was done for entertainment. Today, in the name of superstitious beliefs wild animals are killed. Along with this human-wildlife conflict is also threatening the tigers. The snare is used to kill the tigers. Adding to the poison-laced meat is kept to kill wild animals. All these are happening in the buffer zones. Shrinking forest areas and increasing commercial activities in the buffer zones are also causing a danger to all wild animals," he said.
PC:- Venugopal, Wildlife Photographer "Along with controlling the hunting, the forest department shall create awareness on various issues. For example, a few people set the Bandipur and Gopalaswamy forest area in fire fearing tiger will come to the village. Clear rules and awareness and removal of encroachment can only save our wild animals. Tiger is a symbol of sustainable development. If tigers saved it will reflect healthy ecology. Today number of captive tigers in zoos are more in number compared to their natural habitats," he added.
Notably, at the international level also, wild meat market concept shall be abolished. If we can save the tigers in the forest, our life will become beautiful. Else, we will also disappear along with tigers.
ALSO READ:3 tigers present in Jharkhand's Palamau Reserve: Officials
