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Subscribe to RSSA tiger is tranquilized by forestry officials before being pulled out of a deep well in India. TODAY.com's Dara Brown reports.
BHUBANESWAR, India -- Coal mining for electricity generation is the biggest threat to India's tigers, a report by environmental activists Greenpeace warned, demanding a moratorium on clearances for new mines just days after massive blackouts highlighted power shortages.
A hot-button issue in India, tiger conservation pits the desire to preserve wildlife against the development needs of a country that in March witnessed its slowest economic growth rate in nine years and where hundreds of millions continue to live below poverty line.
India is home to more than half of the world's tigers, with 1,706 living in the wild, compared to 100,000 at the turn of the last century. The International Union for Conservative of Nature estimates between 3,000 and 4,000 tigers live in the wild anywhere in the world.
Report warns of 'stark' situation
The emerging Asian power has witnessed an unprecedented hike in new coal mines and coal-run power plants in the past five years, placing the lives of many endangered animals at risk, the report released late Wednesday said.
NYT: Finger-pointing after power restored in India
Calling the situation "stark," Greenpeace says coal mining has already started affecting tigers in many areas such as Chandrapur in the state of Maharashtra.
"But there are other locations where the problem is already, or will soon be, equally severe," Greenpeace campaigner Ashish Fernandes told Reuters.
Reeling from the two blackouts this week and an ongoing shortage of power, the Indian government is under great pressure to mine more coal to meet a soaring demand for energy.
Complete international coverage on NBCNews.com
Greenpeace called for greater investment in renewable energy, especially wind and solar power.
Extensive coal reserves
Frequent power outages are seen as a major constraint to faster economic growth, putting pressure on the Indian government to permit the development of coal mines.
India's top court bans tourism in tiger parks
"The government continues to clear coal power projects and mines way beyond requirements, often overriding the objections of its officials and committees. We are asking for an immediate moratorium on all new forest clearances, until the criteria for determining forests off limits to mining are agreed upon and implemented, with proper public consultation and input," The Times of India quoted National Board for Wildlife member Biswajit Mohanty as saying.
Trains and subways ground to a halt as more than 600 million people in India faced a blackout after half the national power grid shut down. Experts say the outdated grid cannot keep up with the country's energy needs. NBC's Jim Maceda reports.
India sits on the world's fifth-largest coal reserves, and produces the most after China and the United States.
The report says if India continues its dependence on coal to meet its energy needs, the destruction already seen in these areas will multiply across much of central India, which has 80 percent of the country's coal reserves and 35 per cent of its tigers.
Vietnam tiger farms called fronts for illegal sales
Tourism banned in 'core' tiger habitats
Last month, in a move to protect the endangered cats, the Supreme Court in India ordered a ban on tourism in "core zones" of more than 40 of the country's tiger reserves.
The order will effectively extinguish tourism at some reserves, while hardly touching other ones at all, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.
Tiger population in Nepal park doubles in 2 years
At the approximately 150-square-mile Ranthambore National Park, in the northwest of the country, tourism was expected virtually to cease altogether. The reserve, home to around 30 tigers, attracts an estimated 70,000 foreign and 150,000 domestic tourists last year, according to the Journal.
Aditya Singh / AFP - Getty Images, file
A tiger yawns at the Ranthambore National Park, in India's northwestern Rajasthan state, in January 2004.
But under the new ruling, tourists would effectively be barred from the park and revenues would dry up, the paper reported.
The government has for decades been fighting a losing battle to conserve tiger numbers against poaching, which feeds a lucrative cross-border trade in tiger body parts, and the loss of natural habitat.
Read the full Greenpeace report on tigers in India
Reuters and NBC News staff contributed to this report.
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Note to Greenpeace: There is slightly more than 1,269,000 square miles of land in India One tenth of one percent of that land is mined for coal. A piece of land the size of the District of Columbia (68 square miles) will support nine female tigers and two males, according to the National Museum of Natural History. There are estimated to be about 1,800 tigers in India. Therefore, all the tigers in India also require about one tenth of one percent of the land for support. I'm guessing the fact that India's population has the lowest per capita land-per-citizen ratio in the world probably has much more to do with the threat to tigers than coal mining. Nice try, though.
Tigers will do what humans do. When the "neighborhood" becomes unbearable, they move.
That's great.
"India is home to more than half of the world's tigers, with 1,706 living in the wild, compared to 100,000 at the turn of the last century."
What is wrong with us humans? This is all but incomprehensible. We are desecrating this planet. So
sad.
Whats wrong with Humans?....We destroy everything we touch , its our nature. SAD
Coal is a filthy, dangerous, and environmentally destructive fuel. India should be building Gen IV nuclear power plants, not destroying what little wilderness it has left.
This is tragic but as someone who works in energy trading, let me just share a couple thoughts.
First, coal power is not going away anytime soon. It's the most energy resource in the world. As much as the green energy advocates would like to see the world switch to renewable resources, that isn't economically feasible right now. People living in 3rd world countries (or even in developed countries) simply cannot afford to absorb energy costs that are often 5 to 10 times higher than what they could be paying. Until the world supply of fossil fuels depletes itself to an equilibrium price that makes green energy financially preferable, it's here to stay.
Second, there are other, more relevant issues that have threatened the tiger populations over the past few decades, mainly human population growth and deforestation. When you have a country that's 1/3 the size of the U.S. with 4 times the number of people, you're going to wreak havoc on nature. That's just the unfortunate truth of the situation. As someone who loves animals and nature in general, this upsets me but at the same time this is the fundamental basis of evolution and natural selection.
Sorry, this should say 'It's the most efficient energy resource in the world'
It's absolutely pathetic and disgusting that seven billion people can't allow a few thousand tigers to live. Humans beings are the greediest, most destructive things on the planet.
Tigers should start eating people a lot faster.
What you ignoramuses fail to realize, is that this article is only giving you 1/10 of the facts. The tigers are in fact dying directly due to the actions of the coal mining companies. They have trained the tigers to carry coal out of the mines with baskets tied to them, and now they are all getting black lung. During break time, the tiger miners are also drinking alcohol. The rest are endangered by Charlie Sheen drinking their blood. Get A Clue!
What you ignoramuses fail to realize, is that this article is only giving you 1/10 of the facts. The tigers are in fact dying directly due to the actions of the coal mining companies. They have trained the tigers to carry coal out of the mines with baskets tied to them, and now they are all getting black lung. During break time, the tiger miners are also drinking alcohol. The rest are endangered by Charlie Sheen drinking their blood. Get A Clue!
coal is in fact a very clean enegy souce, in respect to it's being used in coal powered plants. it's the mining that is the problem that needs to be addressed. there are rivers in Va, ie the gauley river, that are all but useless for fishing, rafting and drinking water due to mining runnoff. this appears to be a global problem. we humans are ravenous consumers and our need for energy will only grow ...
This is the Royal Bengal Tiger , the most elegant species in the world. Saving them is worth whatever it takes, at all costs.
When people stop caring for animals like the tiger they themselves do not serve the good of hunanity. It is more them simple making money but saving one of last truly majestic animals. Know there will be plenty that are only interested in the almighty dollar that will suggest different and so the world goes.
Since the US has way too much land for its population, the tigers should be brought over and cared for in the warmer states.
Note to Greenpeace: stop the animal abuse in America, China and England FIRST before going after 3rd world countries trying to survive.
They do. Should they wait until all animal abuse in those countries is stopped before even attempting to address it anywhere else? Bit late then.
One of the main threats to all wildlife is the Chinese people's desire to use wild animals' body parts in their barbaric "traditional" medicinal practices. Educate the Chinese---make them understand that the world's wildlife are not here to feed their flagging libidos.
India needs all the power they can make to power the USA call centers and make cheap products for the USA.how is the USA going to survive without India???
USA cannot survive without India !!
United States cannot survive without India !!
I wonder if the US can survive without India? Does anyone know?
Really?? There aren't enough call centers in South America or the Phillipines? Charter "communications" seems to be able to have more than enough uninteligible people on their payroll.
The U.S. again shot itself in the foot by killing our coal industry "4 cents" killowatt hour for coal as opposed to 22 cents for renewables that we don't even have on line yet. China and India exempted from Kyoto Protocall, they can and will burn all the coal they can dig. What good did it do to destroy the U.S. coal powered electric production when these countries are polluting to a much worse extent than we ever did. Killed cheap power here in a recession and gave them the n green light to burn coal. Stupid, just plain stupid!
Start shooting the poachers . There are more people than Tigers . They are breaking the law . Has India heard of the PILL ? There are people that are in charge of the coal mining and energy problem there. Perhaps they could be informed and schooled on conservancy . It's too bad that we are our worst enemies for all of nature .
When will the idiots of the world realize that burning fossil fuels will be our end?
What the fuc is wrong with human beings? And will you idiots finally admit to global warming and rise above your stupidity? The Earth is a living entity, and will not put up with the infestation that threatens it much longer!
Even those who poo-poo global warming should want to breathe clean air. While our cities are better than they were, there's still way too much smog. As for places like Beijing, you take years off your life living there.
Newer coal plants produce almost zero polution. Get a clue.
Ted - Are you serious? The EPA keeps loosening restrictions no matter how much people fight for stricter ones. They're still burning the same thing. They're destroying the environment by mining it, and burning it.
When will idiots of the world realize that nature has been leaking and burning fossil fuels long before and after man started using them. Ted's right, how do you think we(USA) cleaned up our air by 70+% since the 1960's?
We "poo-poo" global warming because it has been proven to be a hoax. Al Gore has to make a living somehow so enter...global warming! Amazing that Al spouts his lies but always refused to have a "questions and answer" section of his speeches...what in the world is he afraid of? Being found out to be a hoaxter...oops, already happened! Let's just keep pouring billions of taxpayer money into companies like Solyndra who produce nothing! How's that hopey/changey thing working out for you?
When will you idiots realize that Green Peace is just another greed driven, corrupt organization that cares less for you than you do for common sense.
glenndala... How did the Ice age happen without people and if it's true why did they have to lie about it ??
PS They were caught lying
I consider the tiger one of the most beautiful of all the wild animals. This creature is physically stunning. I wish there was some way to take ALL of India's 1800 tigers and let another country take care of them until their population can regain its foothold. (but NOT China!!!) they're demand for tiger aphrodisiacs is part of the problem.
That s Bull S---
Did you hear that liberals flatulence threatens the humans?
When will the liberal/conservative bashing stop? It is getting us nowhere. Think for yourself, don't just blindly choose a side. Sheep.
The indian government has a gold mine and yet they are considering shutting it down? Tourists would love to come to see tigers and pay a hefty sum. The conservation of the tigers would make india a mint if they did it right.
If you really wanted to save the planet you would kill yourself.
I am a coal miner and fortunately for me I work everyday as of right now, but for thousands of coal miners across Appalachia that is not happening. I'll bet they and the cos. they worked for would happily supply India with all the coal they possibly could mine. Good jobs with good benefits for the miners. Unfortunately that would go against what our current administration wants, which is more control and less freedom to live and work at jobs where we don't have to rely on the gov. handouts.
How can we help? Nowhere in the article did it offer any kind of solution.
Pointing out the problem is the easy part...solving is the hard part...just ask Congress.
All the idiot GOP/TP ers can do is vote to keep the tax cuts for the wealthy AND Nothing else. They block everything that would help the middle and working class. They ought to be tried for treason!!!!!
Tigers, Cheetahs, Black Rhinos, etc., etc., are being killed off by a race that's supposed to be the most intelligent of all species.... but they'd rather clone cows and sheep than use this ability to save dying breeds!
Just think; in a few more years: Bengal, Siberian, Sumantran Tigers = EXTINCT
Cheetahs = EXTINCT
Black Rhinos = EXTINCT
Then... Human Beings = EXTINCT
They need to learn birth control. Population is the biggest threat to this planet. India is one of the offenders for this problem.
Everyone complains about not useing fossil fuels for power...Well how about all you people some how feed the whole worlds power supply with a source that isn't and never will be on a big enough scale to support all of us(wind, hydro, solar, ect.)...or you can all just go without and I'll stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. We need effeciency, thats all.
Nothing should be more important than making sure that our environment is not further decimated, NOTHING. We need to stop worrying about the top 2.7% and their almighty dollar and start thinking about our grandkids future!!!!!
This is a no brain-er beautiful tigers, important for environment or dirty obnoxious people. Hmmmmmm what's wrong with the economy are we not opening enough dunk in donuts so they can't come here and thrive. LOL No bad they can't stop reproducing.
We could, y'know, relocate tigers to more agreeable climes. That would also stop the poachers who are the real reason for the tiger population being decimated. Sorry if you had your hopes up that it was industrious people that dig coal mines, but a mine goes underground and tigers do not. In fact, tigers don't even go near mines because they prefer to be outside.
Poachers know this and that is why poachers never enter mines in search of tigers. They go to India flatlands to poach tigers for their genitals so rich backwards men can have their aphrodesiacs. If we move the tigers from the India flatlands to a more hospitable and food-rich area without telling anyone where we're putting them, the poachers cannot find them to make them extinct for black market profits.
Problem solved.
Start breeding them with "Tiger" Woods. The Tiger population will return to the numbers at the turn of the last century in no time. Can a tiger burn? Just wondering. Coal can.
I moved my ex wife somewhere without telling anyone her location, and that was considered a crime for some reason! Maybe because nobody, I mean nobody, could use her for an aphrodesiac.
...
These cats are a nuisance anyhow.
...
kill the poachers kill the buyers. enough is enough.
Here's a thought. The rest of the world needs to follow the example of the Chinese and start having LESS kids. There are over 7 BILLION people on this planet. That's just WAY too many.
Look at these numbers. In 1990 India had 849,000 million people. In 2008 they had 1.140 BILLION people. That means in just 18 years they increased their population by 291 million people which is almost the ENTIRE population of the United States. That's insane. Add to the fact that their country lives in a horrible cast system where only a very few live above the poverty line and you'd got nothing but a recipe for disaster.
India and China combine to have over 36% of the world's population (The US is roughly 4.5%). Those two nations MUST do something about their population. In 1900 the entire world had only 1.6 billion people (China alone today almost beats that) and in 1950 that number was only 2.5 billion. So essentially in just over 60 years since 1950 the earth's population has TRIPLED.
If you look at birth rates the poorest nations are the nations reproducing the most. The solutions are simple and may not be popular but need to be done.
First off STOP sending food to nations that are over breeding and starving. As long as we keep messing up local Eco-systems by allowing for these nations to feed children they cannot support problems will continue.
Second off we need to STOP having so many kids. There was a study done that found if just TWO generations had only ONE kid that the earths population would start to actually decline. This needs to be done NOW. And before anyone says it I have ONLY one child so my wife and I are practicing what we preach.
This planet only has so many resources and we as humans need to realize that and acknowledge that we are PART of this planet not the rulers of it.
The line in the first Matrix movie was perfect. When Agent Smith told Neo that humans are like a virus. They move into an area and instead of living in balance with that are they destroy it.
Actually I Googled the quote from Agent Smith in the Matrix. It's perfect for this story: