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Tigers

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WHY YOU LOVE TIGERS TIGERSAFE COMMUNITY COVER

EARTH HOURMAKE YOURS MATTER

CUBS ON CAMERAMEET THE NEWEST ADDITIONS TO KHATA CORRIDOR

name for one of the cubs’ mums. She’s a beautiful tigress we first recorded in 2013 as a youngster, and she’s now around six years old. I’ve included details of how to get involved, and hope you’ll make the most of this amazing opportunity. Meanwhile, back to the camera trap findings.

We studied the photographs and managed to identify one youngster and five adult tigers. Two were males and four were females. One of the males is magnificent Dalla. He’s still top cat, and has been patrolling the entire Khata corridor to make sure the other male knows it. Tigers, and all big cats, mark their territory by leaving personal calling cards, including their scats (droppings) and their scent. Tigers have

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scent glands around their whiskers, cheeks, chin and lips, as well as at the base of their tails and between their toes. Rubbing against trees or rocks releases the tiger’s own signature perfume, which is usually a whiffy warning to “Stay away from my territory”, or a welcome message saying “Hello, I’m ready to breed”.

One of the cub photos made us chuckle, as it shows the curious youngster checking out the camera trap. The cub is staring at the camera intently, as if wondering what it’s doing there. I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s amazing, and heartening, to see a new generation of tigers emerging in Khata corridor, so thank you again for helping to protect them.

Great news! We’ve found camera trap pictures of two gorgeous cubs in Khata corridor. And we’re inviting you to name a tiger

alk about earning their stripes! We were over the moon when our community monitoring teams discovered camera trap

images of the two healthy-looking cubs. They’re both around 10 months old, with different mothers. And that’s where you come in… You may not realise how much our work depends on fantastic tiger protectors like you. We really appreciate all the support you give us in helping to safeguard these magnificent big cats, and think it’s only right that you should help us choose a

COMPILED BY SABITA MALLA FROM WWF-NEPAL’S TIGER TEAM, WHOSE WORK YOU ARE SUPPORTING

Stay up-to-date wwf.org.uk Join the debate @wwf_uk Like us WWFUnitedKingdom Discover more wwfuk See us on @WWF_UK Visit our shop wwf.org.uk/shop Watch us WWFunitedkingdom Support us wwf.org.uk/join Follow us +WWFUnitedKingdom

YOUR FIELD REPORT

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• Y O U R T I G E R S A D O P T I O N U P D A T E• Y O U R T I G E R S U P D A T E S P R I N G 2 0 1 7 • 3

6 MONTHS TIGER CUBS ARE WEANED AFTER ABOUT SIX MONTHS BUT STILL RELY ON THEIR MOTHERS TO KILL PREY

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To thank you for being an amazing tiger protector, we’re giving you the exclusive chance to help name this gorgeous tigress. Here’s how

HELP US NAME THE TIGRESSChoose your favourite from the selection of names and their meanings below, and cast your vote by Friday 17 March. The name with the most votes wins, and we’ll announce the winner in your summer update. Vote now at: wwf.org.uk/nameatiger

I’M SURE YOU’LL AGREE THAT IT’S AMAZING, AND HEARTENING, TO SEE A NEW GENERATION OF TIGERS EMERGING IN KHATA CORRIDOR, SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HELPING TO PROTECT THEM

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Main: The curious tiger cub checks out the camera trap

trap pictures

Two of the cameraDallaMighty ma

le,

Sakhiya (the Tharu word for a ‘friend for life’)

Rajkumari (the Nepali word for ‘princess’)

Bibidhta (symbol of diversity in Nepali)

Kalika (Nepali goddess whose steed is a tiger)

Sushovana (very beautiful)

Sushma (rays of the sun)

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UNLESS WE TAKE URGENT ACTION, WILDLIFE POPULATIONS COULD DECLINE BY 67% BY 2020. BUT WE CAN TURN THINGS AROUND

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ur Living Planet Report is the world’s leading, science-based look at the

health of our amazing planet. The 2016 edition showed that human activities such as deforestation and pollution, together with climate change, may be pushing life on Earth towards the biggest mass extinction since the dinosaurs. But with your support, we can create a resilient planet for people and nature. Read the report, and sign our petition to get governments to take ambitious action to protect the environment, at: wwf.org.uk/lpr

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POSITIVE PROTECTIONA COMMUNITY-RUN LIVESTOCK INSURANCE SCHEME CALLED TIGERSAFE IS BENEFITING PEOPLE AND WILD TIGERS IN UTTARAKHAND, INDIA

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hela village lies beside Corbett National Park, which is home to magnifient Bengal tigers. But the close proximity between people and

the big cats can cause problems.

Livestock owners often graze their cattle in the core area of the reserve, putting them at risk of being preyed on. There are at least 35 cases of tigers killing livestock each year, sometimes leading to retaliatory attacks on the big cats. But TigerSafe is making life easier on both sides. Our colleagues at WWF-India launched the TigerSafe scheme in partnership with Oriental Insurance Company, to offer livestock owners financial compensation for any cattle they lose to wild tigers. It also helps to reduce unregulated grazing, and encourages owners to switch to high-value, stall-fed cattle. As well as keeping livestock safe, this helps protect the forests that tigers depend on.

To inspire livestock oweners to join the scheme, Uttarakhand Livestock Development Board and WWF-India help towards the costs of insuring the first five of their animals. WWF-India offers half of the remaining amount, and the livestock owner pays the balance.

Already, in the first phase of the scheme, 29 owners have insured 43 animals. Over the next few months the scheme will be extended to all livestock owners in Dhela. This will help to reduce the pressure of livestock grazing in the park, improve people’s livelihoods, and create a more positive attitude towards tigers.

SHARED BENEFITS

Livestock in Dhela village being tagged under the TigerSafe scheme

DO KEEP SENDING US YOUR PICTURES, POEMS AND MESSAGES ABOUT TIGERS. THEY COULD BE FEATURED IN FUTURE UPDATES. EMAIL US AT editor@wwf.org.uk

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

WHY YOU LOVE

IN YOUR AUTUMN UPDATE, WE ASKED YOU TO TELL US WHAT YOU LOVE ABOUT TIGERS, FOR THE CHANCE TO WIN A FANTASTIC POLAR BEAR PRINT SIGNED BY SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH

TIGERS

I’m not just a cat,

I’m a tiger,

I’d prefer a deer than a rat,

I’m not a tabby or a grey,

And I’m stalking my prey,

I’m a hunter all orange and black

TOP OF THE CLASS Four years ago, Charlotte took out a snow leopard adoption for her primary school pupils. Learning about the big cats, other wildlife, and amazing conservation heroes like Sir David, has really inspired the children. They all wrote brilliant biographies about him and we think they’re really worthy winners.

A huge and heartfelt thank you to everyone who took part, we only wish we could show all of your wonderful entries. And congratulations to our winners, Charlotte Simpson and her pupils at Ashmead Combined School.

The winners

Charlotte and class 6CS

this tiger

Theo, aged 5, made

From deep in the forest the mighty tiger roarsEndlessly picking his way from one glade to anotherBut wait, ahead could this be open ground?Take a deep breath and run until your heart stops

My mind screams for freedom like a friend in a snareAs I struggle a gasp gulping for airThough my tears may fall wasted and my heart cry with painMy supporters will protect me again and again

by Lawrence Cade‘Spiritual Tiger’

by Gabriella, aged 9From ‘The Hunter & Hunted’

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MAKE YOURS MATTEREARTH HOURON 25 MARCH 2017, 8.30PM DO SOMETHING GREAT TO SUPPORT ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

STARGAZEForests are great places to see the stars. Check out The Forestry Commission’s stargazing guide, with its fun activities, top tips and more, at:

forestry.gov.uk/stargazing

SPREAD THE WORDCelebrate Earth Hour’s 10th anniversary by asking 10 friends and family to join in. You could also encourage your community and local clubs. Find further info at:

wwf.org.uk/myearthhour

For a future where people and nature thrive wwf.org.uk© 1986 panda symbol and ® “WWF” Registered Trademark of WWF. WWF-UK registeredcharity (1081247) and in Scotland (SC039593). A company limited by guarantee (4016725)

TELL US HOW YOU CELEBRATED, AND YOU COULD

WIN FOUR TICKETS FOR THE COCA-COLA LONDON EYE

Email your stories marked ‘Earth Hour Comp’, along with your name,

address and phone number to competition@wwf.org.uk

The closing date is Friday 7 April 2017. For terms and conditions, visit:

wwf.org.uk/compterms

As well as helping to safeguard tigers, you support our other vital work to help protect our beautiful planet and its wildlife. Thank you.

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• MY SNOW LEOPARDS • SPRING 2016• YOUR TIGERS UPDATE • SPRING 2017

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