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ECOCLUB® |
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ISSN 1108-8931 |
the International Ecotourism Monthly™ |
Year 4, Issue 43, Dec. 2002 |
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THE EXPERT showcases the knowledge of our Expert Members who volunteer free advice to other Members of ECOCLUB.com on their topic of expertise. (Articles appear in the order ECOCLUB received them) In this issue:
It has to be said that 'ecotourism activity' has not been fully developed in the country and particularly in the Mexican Caribbean because the state and national governments are more interested in developing 'mass tourism'. In relation to this, the Mexican government has played a central role both in policy formulation and tourism planning development. Jenkins (1994) points out that in developing countries, governments have often had to play a central role in the initial stages of tourism development. This has to be done because 'the government is the only body which has resources to invest in the sector and it may also be the main guarantor for overseas development' (Jenkins, 1994). In this sense the Mexican government has probably done an excellent job, in the opinion of economists and tourism investors. It is understandable that, as tourism has become more important in global economic activity, governments, together with a wide range of international agencies and interest groups, are concerned with its future. The same assumption must also apply to ecotourism activity worldwide. The main criticism, however, is that ecotourism activity has not been adequately promoted in the country. At local (municipal), state, and national (federal) government level there are 'paper plans' to develop ecotourism, but, in reality, little has been done in order to implement these plans. These 'plans' are full of 'specific programmes', 'state and national projects', and 'strategic and actions'. Most of them are written rhetorically and promoted by politicians in the same way (Carballo-Sandoval, 2001). The emergence of Ecotourism in Mexico and in the Caribbean Ecotourism may prove to be a promising opportunity for Mexico and particularly for the Mexican Caribbean area, for several reasons: a) there is a unique combination of natural and cultural resources, b) there is a tourist infrastructure already in place, c) political stability, and d) the closeness to the North American market. In fact, these features were particularly important in initiating some years ago, what today is a still incipient ecotourism activity in the area. Weaver (1994) argues that the Mexican Caribbean is one of the most promising ecotourism prospects, 'given its political stability, increasing prosperity, diversity and size, proximity to the USA and the emergence of an environmentally aware middle-class'. The first steps towards the implementation of ecotourism in Mexico came during the past 20 years with the recognition of the possible uses of the resources in protected areas, such as national parks and biosphere reserves. National parks represent the largest segment of protected areas (44%), followed by biosphere reserves, which represent 18% of the total land protected in Mexico (Nelson, 2000). It is worth noting that in the past 10 years there have been a number of ecotourism developments in these protected areas in which local communities have been involved. There are no records, however, either from the state and national governments or from local NGOs, about results of the control, supervision and management of these protected areas. However, 'Amigos de Sian ka'an' and the 'Kuxkinal Cultural Foundation', two local NGOs in the Mexican Caribbean are trying to help some communities in developing community-based ecotourism projects. They have been closely working with the community of Xcalak, and San Juan respectively, in order to establish ecotourism communal projects. According to representatives of these NGOs and community leaders, the work has not been very easy. In their opinion there 'are many stones in the way', the government being one of them. They hope however, that very soon they will succeed and the benefits will be for the long term. They envisage a bright future for their communities. An evaluation of International Year of Ecotourism in Mexico: What is being planned for 2003: There is not much information about this. Probably there will be some important events during 2003. The Cancun Technological Institute (Instituto Tecnológico de Cancún) in Quintana Roo, México, is already planning an international congress on sustainable tourism: "Congreso Internacional sobre el Desarrollo del Turismo Sustentable: Evolución, perspectivas y retos" to be held in Cancún, México in May 21-23. Key speakers from the UK (Dr. Erlet Cater), from USA (Dr. Richard Harper), from CANADA (Prof. John Marsh), from Argentina (Dr. Regina Schluter), from Spain (Dr. Alejandro García), from MEXICO (Arq. Héctor Ceballos-Lascuráin) will be invited. About 30 more speakers will probably present their topics from all Latin and North America. Future Research Directions: One of the main topics that needs to be investigated in Mexico is how ecotourism and conventional mass tourism could co-exist without adversely affecting each other (Carballo-Sandoval, 2001). This can be done by developing a model based on an analysis of the ways in which these types of tourism can interact and benefit each other. Domestic ecotourism is another area requiring further investigation. Most of the time marketing experts, tour operators, and national governments give more importance to the development of international tourism, ignoring domestic tourism including domestic ecotourism. The socio-cultural, economic, and environmental advantages of domestic ecotourism to the country are not fully known, as relevant records are not available. However, domestic ecotourism might be at least as significant as international tourism, for it spreads national wealth within the country, reducing inter-regional differences.
The dramatic transformation of the political dispensation in South Africa post 1994 has, as could be expected, major implications for and influence on conservation strategy and practice in the country. The new Government makes it very clear that the social needs of the population in terms of poverty alleviation, health care, education and housing are its top priorities, and that less State resources are and will be available for what it regards as less pressing needs. Understandable, and nothing new in Africa where the age-old conflict between Man and the natural environment is a daily reality for many. A reasonable balance has, fortunately, been found. Intense lobbying by local conservation NGO’s such as the Wildlife & Environment Society of SA (WESSA), WWF SA and the Endangered Wildlife Trust, supported by international partners such as IUCN, resulted in the incorporation of a strong Environmental Charter in South Africa’s new constitution. The country has also ratified several international conventions which aim to improve the sustainability of both terrestrial and marine ecosystems internationally, including the Convention on Biodiversity, the Convention to Combat Desertification, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). This plus two key factors provide the positive driving effort behind the local conservation imperative: First is the acknowledgement that only Brazil and Indonesia host a greater diversity of species than South Africa, and hence this country is ranked third in terms of global conservation significance. Second is the recognition that nature-based tourism is probably SA’s biggest sustainable revenue generator in the medium to long term. Until fairly recently, only six percent of our land surface was formally protected, but both the number and size of formally protected areas have increased substantially in the last few years – examples being the creation of the Cape Peninsula and Vhembe-Dongola national parks. Probably the most ambitious project currently under way is the establishment of the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park which will, ultimately, see the eastern fence of the 2 million hectare Kruger National Park dropped to provide free access to the newly proclaimed 1 million ha Limpopo National Park in neighbouring Mozambique, and the creation of a migration corridor linking the northern end of this entity to Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe. Among the 6 000 animals that will be translocated over three years from Kruger to Mozambique (whose wildife resources were virtually decimated during the liberation war) will be 2 000 elephants – a major relief for Kruger which otherwise would have needed to reintroduce culling to prevent habitat destruction. On the negative side, reduced government subsidies have had a telling impact on such institutions as SA’s National Parks Board, the body charged with the responsibility of safeguarding the country’s natural treasures for future generations. The need to become financially self-sustaining has resulted in substantial losses of experienced conservation and scientific staff, and some questionable decisions relating to commercialisation. WESSA is currently at odds with the Board over the granting of game lodge concessions within national parks – not so much over the principle, but over the long term scope and implications for the rights of citizens to enjoy national resources. Who has the right to sell off the Crown Jewels? Much of what has been achieved lately on the conservation front is due to the donor funding that local NGO’s have been able to secure from institutional patrons. This is likely to be the trend in the future, and is a good thing in that more and more control of our natural heritage will become vested in organisations and people whose primary concern is for environmental conservation rather than for political expediency. The protection of our constitution, the power of the media, and the weight of international opinion promise that NGO’s like WESSA can look forward to performing their watchdog role with sharper and stronger teeth.
Latvia is located in the north east of Europe, on the shores of the Riga Gulf and the Baltic Sea. The population is around 2.5 million, 800,000 of whom live in the capital city Riga established as a fortified trading port in 1201. From the 13th century onwards Latvia experienced a succession of invasions, falling to the Order of the Brothers of the Sword (the Teutonic Order), Sweden, Poland and finally Russia, who defeated the Swedes in 1795. The country ultimately gained its independence in 1919 when the Republic of Latvia was founded. This lasted for 20 years until the Soviet Union once again occupied Latvia. The restoration of independence took place in 1991 and the first free elections in June 1993. Latvia has all possibilities to become an attractive country both for local and foreign tourists due to its scarcely populated living space, mild climate, rich natural and cultural heritage and high level of biodiversity, original landscape and good macroeconomic preconditions for growth. In Latvia, there are resources for ecotourism products development, realising of the current ones and increasing their competitiveness. The Tourism Development Division of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of the Republic of Latvia drafts the State tourism development policy and supervises its implementation with the aim to encourage domestic and international tourist development. Public understanding of ecotourism is reported to vary widely. Today ecotourism comes more and more popular in Latvia and is important part of the process of tourism development and is included in following documents related to the tourism policy: 1) National Tourism development Program for Latvia, Year 2001 - 2010. 2) Strategy for Sustainable Development of Latvia: (… Indicators of Achievement of the Policy Objectives - increase of share of eco-tourism (share of rural tourism and other kinds of environment-friendly tourism, number of settlements that have received green certificates, length of "blue-flag" beaches), Measures for Achievement of the Objectives - to follow the nature protection plans requirements in the specially protected nature territories. - to preserve valuable and important biotopes in the existing and potential tourism places). 3) Latvian National Report "Rio + 10" to the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg: (... Development of the Latvian tourism sector was positively influenced by joining the European "Blue Flag" movement in 1997. In 2002, Blue Flag certificates have been granted to 4 sandy beaches. Objectives - To develop sustainable rural tourism, eco-tourism, holiday and health health tourism, velo tourism and yachting tourism opportunities). The Latvian Ecotourism Union (LEU), a non-governmental organisation is the main organisation working on promotion of the ecotourism in Latvia. LEU has prepared a National Ecotourism Strategy and is interested to continue to organize educational activities, to provide consultations, to participate on preparatory work and implementation of ecotourism projects, to co-operate with local authorities, governmental institutions, national and international NGOs, tourism information services and tour operators. LEU members are active in public participation and decision making processes as well. The strategy has identified a number of key locations across Latvia that are suitable for the development of ecotourism, with the final choice reflecting a number of parameters including: the need to develop sites in all parts of the country, the variety of landscapes and biodiversity present in Latvia, the opportunity to promote different forms of ecotourism at different parts of the year, existing land use and economic development concerns. Top priority activities by the LEU were focused on the events of International Year of Ecotourism 2002. (b) an evaluation of International Year of Ecotourism-related activities in Latvia (who organised, who participated, practical outcomes) The purpose of activities carried out during this International Year of Ecotourism was to raise up public awareness nationally and internationally on the issue, to present a perspective on ecotourism planning and development, to set up co-operation among governmental institutions, protected area managers, local authorities, private sector tourism businesses and funding agencies, to study product development facilities, market conditions and sustainable management skills. A programme of events (March - December, 2002) have included: seminars, conferences, study tours, and evaluation meeting which took place in many towns and villages as well as in the capital city Riga. These events were attended by many of representatives of local tourism industries, trainers, NGOs, local governments and officials. Many of them have gained knowledge on the basic idea of ecotourism and sustainable management. In many cases the local tour operations and tourism managers still are facing a shortage of understanding of ecotourism at all, and there is a request to going on with educational activities in the future. A promotional "Eco Bike Tour" took place in the region of the Slitere National park (the north - western part of Latvia) near the Baltic Sea in June 2002. There were 30 participants coming from Lithuania, Estonia, USA and Latvia. Journalists, architects, photographers, geographers, environmentalists, tour operators, students and professors, bike tour experts and beginners as our team members with such a different background have shared two days long experience in ecotourism. Such an approach provided us with valuable scale to measure this promotional tour as well as itinerary by introducing of so many aspects in evaluation process. During the tour participants have interviewed the restaurant owners, local authorities, staff at the museums and in national park about the principles Local Agenda 2 1and implementation of them. We had an excellent opportunity to be involved in study tour for British ecotourism experts and the seminar "Promoting the Latvian coast and countryside: a British perspective on Ecotourism" which took place in Latvia on September, 2002 and was supported by the British donors. Activities for the International Year of Ecotourism have resulted in: - strengthening of national network on ecotourism, - coverage of ecotourism in Latvia by mass media, - the course on ecotourism at the Institute of Environmental Studies and Management, University of Latvia, - publishing of the booklet on Ecotourism (in English, German, Swedish and Latvian) Most of these upper mentioned events were organized by the LEU in cooperation with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, local authorities and academic sector and financially supported by the Environmental Protection Fund of Latvia. (b) what is being planned for 2003: Priority concerns of the Latvian Ecotourism Union for coming years include the introduction of environmentally friendly technologies across the tourism and hospitality sector, and the development of links between the tourism sector in general and broader national objectives of sustainable development. The slogan adopted by the LEU for these activities is: "From Green County to Green Country" The LEU is seeking to develop a programme of pilot ecotourism projects that address, amongst other issues: Increasing educational capacity regarding ecotourism and sustainable development · Introducing low energy consumption plant for rural establishments · Increasing the production and supply of organic foods to the hospitality sector · Introducing small and medium eco-engineering schemes for water treatment (e.g. reed beds) · Increased recycling initiatives · Eco-friendly design in new buildings · Low impact transportation to and from destinations The narrow-gauge railway between Aluksne and Gulbene (two small towns located in the north eastern part of Latvia) as one of examples has capacity to become an attractive product with low impact transport systems between ecotourism destinations in rural areas, providing potential for developing walking, biking, riding routes between stations and bringing benefits to the local communities. There are plans among others to improve catering and hotel/hostel services by designing of eco- restaurants and eco-lodges in rural area. The areas targeted for ecotourism development in Latvia are: Slitere National Park and the Blue Hills, Kemeri National Park and Lake Engure, Daugava Valley, Teici Reserve and Lubans, Kurzeme seashore, Latvia meets one of the highest levels of biodiversity in Europe which creates an excellent environment for development of the ecotourism. Protected areas cover 14% of the state territory and can be broken down as follows: · 1 Biosphere Reserve - North Vidzeme (4,500 km2) · 3 National Parks (Slitere - 16,360 ha; Kemeri - 42,790 ha; Gauja - 91,745 ha) · 4 Nature Reserves · 6 Protected Landscape Areas · 22 Nature Parks · 211 Restricted Nature Areas The LEU is looking forward to organize a conference on ecotourism development in the Baltic Sea region and to enlarge international networking capacity in 2003.
Bangladesh has got two very "hot spots" from the viewpoint of eco-tourism. The first one is the unique and magnificent Sundarban Mangrove Forest, which is the world's largest mangrove forest and the home of the world renowned Royal Bengal Tiger the most ferocious predatory animal on earth. The other spot is the Chittagong hill districts, where 13 tribal peoples live in an area of about one thousand square miles. Unfortunately both the spots are almost unknown to the ecotourists of the outside world. So they do not attract that much ecotourists. As being the World Natural Heritage declared by the UNESCO, the mangrove forest now belongs not only to Bangladesh, but also to the whole world, though the responsibility to protect the forest lies on Bangladesh. Bangladesh Porjaton Corporation, the national tourism organization, and the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB) jointly organized, in Dhaka, a seminar on eco-tourism on the World Tourism Day. The keynote paper presented in the seminar was titled "Ecotourism a key to sustainable development". Bangladesh officially participated in the World Ecotourism Summit held in Quebec City, Canada. This year Bangladesh government has taken some initiatives to develop some more tourist facilities in the Sundarban forest. These facilities will be developed strictly in consistence with the idea of ecotourism. To protect the biodiversity of the forest, the government has allocated a fund to the tune of about USD 240 million. Bangladesh has reservation about pleasure tourism, but it is ready to embrace ecotourists from all over the world. Sundarban Mangrove Forest deserves attention from the ecotourists. The ecotourism organisations worldwide are to highlight till now unknown destinations like Sundarban forest, Chittagong hill districts and some other unknown ecotourism spots across the world, instead of putting too much attention to already popular spots.
Taking Highway 67 from Athens to Tripolis, I spot a small unobtrusive sign on the road that denotes a place of oenological interest, at least to the afficionadoes of Greek wine and their immediate entourage. In clear bold letters the words "Nemea" and "Archaees Kleones" (Ancient Kleones) flash in front of my eyes. Prior to reaching the exit, my mind¹s eye wanders off the road to a small sign enveloped in grapes which read in English "Wine Road". Although I have come here a few times before, I have never captured the essence of the area. What is great about Nemea I wondered silently? Yes, It is true the place is strewn with modern day wineries, all built in the last 20 years or so, all claiming access to the best "Aghiorgitico" (n.b. wine grape variety) there is, but what does it matter? Although my taste buds have been mildly interested, my spirit has been left hanging by the wayside looking for substance. Today I'm visiting a small yet highly recommended winery. Its wine is the best kept secret in the small world of the Aghiorgitico, an enclave of 17 intimate villages. As the car speeds to the small village of Aghia Sotira, the air becomes light and fragrant. It is April, the best time to visit this area of the Peloponnese, and wild flowers abound in this otherwise dry section of the world. Suddenly, we are transported in a bucolic panorama of wild rosebushes in bloom, growing along forgotten streams, lined with red poppies the size of tulips. Wild oregano smell perforates the air, while bees and small flying bugs perform flying acrobatics in front of our noses Christos Aivalis and his family meets us at the gate of his winery. From the first words he utters one understands his passion for his metier. He is a man possessed - one of those rare dreamers who is in total fascination with Aghiorgitico, the area, his vines, his barrels. His enthusiasm is catching. He twirls us around in an everlasting show of what is important. We visit the old vineyard near the Asopos River. In a distance tall cypress trees line the edge of the Fliasian Field where Hercules according to legend killed the Nemean Lion during the late Bronze Age. As transparent visions of ancient Greeks riding their horses float around, we look at 300 year-old vineyards of vines whose DNA is similar to the ones cultivated 3000 years ago. From these Christos makes 300 bottles a year - what he calls his old vine Aivalis, a collector¹s item. The rest of his tirage just above 10,000 per year come from newer plants both his and cooperating growers in the neighbouring villages. Prices range from 240 to 40 drachmas a kilo so buying is as important sidestep for the producer as raising his own grapes. But what about the variety itself? Christos informs us that Aghiorgitico, named after the village of St. George nearby, is considered one of the two reds of Greece, The other grows in Northern Greece and it is called Xynomavro, can be vinified to reach the ripe old age of five years years presently, is a clone of a cultivar that used to abound in Peloponnese during the pre-Rennaissance wine era i.e. before the mid 70's called Mavroudi. Mavroudi, meaning literally "blackish" existed in Peloponnese for years before modern vintners decided to intervene and make sophisticated "boutique" wines. Nemean Mavroudi, or as it was often called in the 19th century "Hercules blood" was prized for its dark red colour, and it was bought by wine makers as far north as Macedonia in order to give colour to less fortunate varieties. Nemean wine had always been valued and perhaps had been transported in goat hides to Athens to supply philosophers symposiums. Although we do not exactly know the varieties cultivated in the Ancient World, we can safely assume that Nemea had the terroir to grow quality wine. Nemea's secret, according to Christos, has always been the mist that lingers in the morning air even as scorching August temperatures rise in the 100¹s keeping grapes¹ primary aromas intact . A visit to the winery in mid August, confirm his claims. As we tour the vineyard, to inspect the condition of ripening black grapes, hanging in neat clusters from robust plants, we sense the cool humid air rising from the moist ground of an old river bed permeating the atmosphere, and cooling our skins. The grapes have been thinned by hand, not sprayed by insecticides to keep yeasts intact - Christos only uses indigenous yeasts found on grape skins- and have been brought to maturation with lots of t.l.c. Nearby, canopied beds are awaiting to dry grapes for his new project-sweet Aghiorgitico- to be released next year along with 2,500 bottles of prime Aivalis 2002 which will be vinted this September. As we tour the vineyard, we are lectured by Christos on the ins and outs of vinifying Aghiorgitico-his way. The process of collecting the mature grapes takes place the latter part of September. Grapes from lower altitudes are used for sweet wines, while grapes from middle altitudes, which have more tannins and acidity, are used for the dry - more common -type of wine. An even more rare, rose Aghiorgitico, is made from grapes that grow in the very high altitudes of 700 meters and higher in the villages of Pirgi and Asprokampos. After grapes are collected and de-stemmed , they are pressed by a vertical press, so not to include in the running juice any remnants of bitter seeds and kept in air cooled vats for sixteen days in order for the indigenous yeasts to turn sugars into alcohol. When sugar have turned to alcohol , it is twice filtered, and placed into newly purchased Allier barrels for a year in order to acquire further taste, usually for Aghiorgitico, of banana , peach, and cherry. At the end of this process, it is bottled, and Aghiorgitico can be either enjoyed fresh-nouveau-, or kept in private cellars and allowed to develop to the ripe old age of three to four years when the secondary aromas (bouquet) will be at their prime. (Wine, like any other living organism, has a predetermant life expectancy, with a birth, adolescence, maturation, and old age depending on its variety and vinification. One needs to be aware that for Aghiorgitico to mature uneventfully, it requires certain environmental conditions, i.e., low temperatures, airing, bottles places on their sides etc.) As we sit down to a great outdoor barbecue of lamb chops au naturel, I can't fail to notice how this dark red dry wine from Peloponnese complements the fatty consistency of lamb chops, the typical feast food of Morea. Christos Aivalis, like another Hercules has tamed the wild nature of this Greek cultivar and has brought it to a happy submission in a bottle of Aghiorgitico from Nemea.
First, the organizers must be ready for a difficult undertaking. Villages are usually not ready for a highly dynamic and service-oriented tourism undertaking. You will be introducing an almost alien concept to them. In some cases, some villagers will find it hard to accept that the usual hospitality they give to strangers or friends would be equated with payment. If your purpose is for the environment, then it should be a bit (psycholigically) easy for you to come in and interfere (or assist) with the villager's way of extracting resources from the environment. Telling them that what they are doing is wrong (or can be enhanced, depending on the situation) is the easy part. The hard part is making them work as a community towards achieving environmental-economic undertaking such as ecotourism. One way that is proven effective is the NGO approach in community organizing by identifying and tapping the relevant stakeholders. If you are able to get their cooperation, then your job is half done. Along the way, some stakeholders would lose interest or become useless (the worst is if they become sworn enemies of the project), then you would have to settle for your local champions - the ones who would stick it out with you. This process usually takes a minimum of one to two years (although its common of hear of Community organizing that takes up to five years). Another important component is to train the locals to have the necessary skills and appreciation of the tourism needs. who leads - You have to identify the local leaders (but not necessarily the government personnel) and make them part of the over-all tourism planning in the area. If you are part of an NGO, you know that you will have to eventually fade away. The local leaders will have to carry on the burden, so give them that power to lead as early as possible (but make them appreciate that they will have to learn the intricacies of tourism over time) how they choose what to do - As I said, most local villagers are not ready for the tourism industry. Many would shy away from actually coming face to face with foreign visitors and would rather go on with their lives. Respect them, and find a way for them to benefit from whatever tourism may bring into their community. For example, if they would rather remain as farmers instead of homestay (or bed and breakfast) owners, then find a way to link their products with tourism establishments or service providers. BUT not to the detriment of other members of the community. Here comes one delicate aspect of introducing ecotourism. And the challenge is with the site-planner.
Thanks for your interest to know more about the Royal Bengal Tiger. I would like to write you a few lines on the amazing and unique characteristic of it. The tiger belongs to the feline species. The Zoological name of the Royal Bengal Tiger is Panther tigris. This species of tiger is not only the most ferocious predator on the earth; it is, perhaps, the loneliest creature on this planet. It is the loneliest animal on earth in the sense that never ever, except during the mating season, do two tigers live together, let alone their living in packs. During the mating season, which falls in September-October, a lonely tiger amorously groans to attract toward him a tigress. If a nearby tigress responses to that call, the tiger approaches her and they spend a few days together. Every Royal Bengal Tiger has its own exclusive domain in the forest. By scratching at tree trunks and urinating at the bottom of trees around an area comprising 4/5 square miles a tiger demarcates its domain. It fights back any intruder of its species from entering its domain. This domain is its habitat as well as prey ground. It is very difficult to spot a Royal Bengal Tiger in the forest. But it is said nobody can enter in a domain of a tiger in the Sundarban Forest without being seen by it. It is also said that if you have seen a tiger, it has already seen you hundred times. The memory of a Royal Bengal Tiger is very sharp. If a person enters in a domain of a tiger, and after sometime, say after one year, he/she enters in that domain again; the tiger will remember him/her. A tiger is usually afraid of human being, but whenever once it has tested the human blood, it loses all fear of human being. When a tiger cannot get hold of its natural prey such as deer, boar or monkey due to becoming old, or being wounded, it stretches out its hands towards human beings. The Royal Bengal Tigers of the Shatkhira Forest Range have more tendency to become a man-eater than the tigers of other three ranges of the forest. It is due to comparatively higher salinity of water in this range. In a herd of deer, a Royal Bengal Tiger targets, as its prey, the largest one. It's ready to follow its prey surreptitiously for hours till it gets a chance to jump on it without failure. It will not touch any other deer, even at its easy reach, but the target one. A Royal Bengal Tiger is a very good swimmer. When it wants to swim cross a river, it targets a tree on the other bank where it wants to land. Due to strong current in the river if it drifts away and cannot reach at the bottom of that tree, it goes back to the original bank and starts swimming again towards it target. A Royal Bengal Tiger prefers deer to monkey as its food. But when it cannot put hand on a deer and gets hungry, it stands at the bottom of a tree on the top of which there are monkeys. Then it starts groaning looking upwards. The groan is so vigorous that the monkeys lose their tight grips to the branches of the tree and falls down on the ground like ripe fruits. The life span of the Royal Bengal Tiger is 12-14 years. From head to tail it is in average 9-12 feet in length. Average height of a grown-up Royal Bengal Tiger is 3'8'' to 4'6''. The front legs of a tiger are thick and very strong, but its hinter legs look limp. It is physically so strong that it can carry off a buffalo quite a long distance. Skin color of the Royal Bengal Tiger is brownish yellow with black stripes. This species of tiger has no black globular marks on its skin. Head of a Royal Bengal tiger is big and round with a pair of very bright eyes. The Bangladesh part of the Sundarban Mangrove Forest, which is two-third of the total forest area, is the natural habitat of more than 360 Royal Bengal Tiger. This part of forest contains the largest tiger population in the world. There are some Royal Bengal Tigers in the forests of Java (Indonesia), Vietnam, Nepal and India. During the colonial period the English people used to call Bangladesh as Bengal. The Royal Bengal Tiger is now facing the threat of extinction. It is enlisted as an endangered species from the year of 1969 in the Red Data Book of the IUCN. |
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