PM to open Asian ministerial summit on tiger conservation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate a three-day Asian Ministerial summit on tiger conservation in April where Tiger Range Countries (TRC) will discuss measures to save the species whose existence has been threatened by large-scale poaching.
"The three-day Asia ministerial conference on tiger conservation will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 12. This is the third such conference on tiger conservation," an official statement said.
Ahead of the conference, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar yesterday chaired a meeting where four TRCs Bhutan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Russia took part.
"There are only 13 countries that have the pride of having tigers in the wild and tiger-bearing areas in the world.

"At the 3rd Asia Ministerial Conference, all TRCs can share their good practices and success stories, thereby contributing towards the cause of conservation of the magnificent species and the national animal of India - Tiger," Javadekar said.
A presentation on the background of earlier Asia ministerial conference said that the biggest threat to tiger conservation is poaching, due to the existing market and demand for tiger body parts and derivatives in other countries.

Therefore, there is a need for a sustained effort from all TRCs and other partners outside the government system, officials highlighted during the meeting.
Ministry officials said that the conference will bring the desired "will and momentum" for tiger conservation at global level and have long-term ramifications in the future.

Union Environment Secretary Ashok Lavasa, while highlighting the importance of the 3rd Conference, underlined India's commitment to save its tiger, wildlife and concern for forests.
The TRC where tigers still roam free include Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Tiger population in India has risen to 2,226 in 2014, a 30 per cent increase since the last count in 2010, said the latest census report released by Javadekar last year.