write an article on extinction of tigers and pollution of Ganga
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CNN) -- Tigers could become extinct in the wild in less than a generation, the World Wildlife Fund warned Wednesday as it launched a campaign to save them.
The number of tigers in the wild has dwindled to 3,200 -- less than the number held in captivity in the United States alone, the campaigners said.
"There is a real threat of losing this magnificent animal forever in our lifetime," said Sybille Klenzendorf, director of the WWF-US species conservation program. "This would be like losing the stars in the sky.
"Three tiger subspecies have gone extinct, and another, the South China tiger, has not been seen in the wild in 25 years," she told reporters.
"Unless we really crack down on illegal trade and poachers, tigers in the wild have very little chance," said a World Bank official involved in the campaign to save the big cats.
Keshav S. Varma, program director of the World Bank's Global Tiger Initiative, said the fate of tigers would show how serious people were about protecting wildlife.
There are more tigers in zoos than in the wild, the World Wildlife Fund says.
"If the tigers disappear, it is an indication of a comprehensive failure," he said. "It's not just about tigers. If you save the tiger, you are going to save other species. It provides an excellent indicator of commitment to biodiversity.
"If they survive, it shows we are doing our job right. If they disappear, it shows we are just talking," he said.
Article on extinction of tiger-
These days, there are hoardings everywhere saying 'Just 1411 Left' (in the Indian subcontinent). Normally, you might groan and grumble on seeing the figure of 1411 on a shopping bill; sounds too much. However, when it comes to the number of surviving tigers, don't you think it's too small a number representing a species. Statistics suggest that with the end of the last century, earth lost 3 out of 8 tiger species. The three being the Caspian, Balinese, and the Javan tiger.
And extinction means that none of the future generations will ever be able to see these animals. They are just names. It is tough to imagine that today this charismatic animal is poisoned, trapped, shot, and killed for monetary gains. Such a miserable death for such a royal being. Miserable or not, why should tigers have to die. Substitute human beings in the statistics and imagine how it would feel if there were just 1411 of them left. Sounds like some sci-fi movie, but is definitely scary. And the scariest part is that somebody else will probably be doing the counting.
Pollution of Ganga-
The Ganges, above all, is the river of India which has held India's heart captive and drawn uncounted millions to her banks since the dawn of history. The story of the Ganges, from her source to the sea, from old times to new, is the story of India's civilisation and culture…”.
Indeed, the Ganga has remained a symbol of religious and spiritual faith for the country, with millions of Hindus visiting its banks to cleanse themselves of their sins and offer prayers.
On November 4, 2008, the Ganga was officially declared India's ‘national river'. But there is a flip side to the story.
Our national river is also one of the most polluted rivers in the country, and one of the 10 most threatened river basins in the world. The quality of the Ganga's water is steadily worsening. Now, not only is the water unfit for drinking, but it would also be harmful to use for agricultural purposes. The level of coliform bacteria, a type of bacteria that indicates the purity of water, should be below 50 for drinking and below 5000 for agricultural use. The present level of coliform in the Ganga at Haridwar is 5500. A study conducted by the Uttaranchal Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board (UEPPCB) slotted river water into four categories, A being fit for drinking, B for bathing, C for agriculture and D is for excessive pollution level. The Ganga's water was given a definite D.
Hope it is helpful....