Tiger Cub Rescued in National Park

A tiger cub only 15-20 days old was found by wildlife rangers on a routine patrol in Jim Corbett National Park. The cub was wounded and had insects stuck to it. It was not known what injured the cub, but there has been some retaliation against lions and tigers in the area by farmers for the loss of their livestock due to big cat predation. The cub was taken to a facility where it could be nursed back to a healthy state. Then it will be determined if it is ready to be returned to the wild.

Tigers in India have been in dramatic decline for some time. In 2008, a survey indicated there are only about 1400 wild Bengal tigers left in India.

Jim Corbett National Park is one of India’s oldest nature parks, and is a protected area for many wild animals, including the rare Bengal tiger. Jim Corbett was actually known for being a hunter of tigers. The park was named for him due to his service in killing tigers labeled as man eaters. In his earlier adult life he had been an avid hunter, but on a hunting trip he witnessed the sudden and senseless slaughter of hundreds of waterfowl, and decided then conservation of wildlife was more important than hunting.

In 1972 an effort was organized to help conserve tiger habitat and reduce the number of tiger-human conflicts. Project Tiger is funded by the Indian government. Jim Corbett National Park is where the project was first launched. Their first plan called for removing any human disturbance or exploitation of the tigers’ habitat.

Today tourists visit the park and learn about the importance of conserving India’s dwindling wildlife.

Tiger Spotted in Jim Corbett Park:

Image Credit: Brian Gratwicke

Read more: Nature & Wildlife, Pets, Wildlife, endangered species, tigers

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Naomi A.

12:13AM PDT on Jun 9, 2012

I'm a little worried about the reaction of the tiger to humans in a car. Nothing.
No real wariness.
Shouldnt tourists be in hides and such? So the tigers do not get used to men who DONT want to kill them and then get complacent about all men.
I agree with TimeOUT Z. "Why can't India adopt the same deal with the farmers that they have in Nepal? It's a win, win for both, except for the poor replacement farm animals."
India should give that a trial and see how it works.