"Tiger Zinda Hai"

Courtesy Google Images

The ambitious "Project Tiger" was launched on April 01, 1973 by Government of India in order to preserve the Tiger heritage of the nation. 09 tiger reserves were identified (Jim Corbett National Park and Sanctuary being the first) to start with. Today it stands at 50 across 18 tiger states (amounting to 2.21% of total geographical landscape of the country).

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a Statutory body of the Ministry of Environment, forest and climate change with an overarching supervisory/ coordination role, performing functions as provided in Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

To find out the details of Project Tiger locations in India click on to the link provided below:

PROJECT TIGER LOCATIONS IN INDIA 

In this regards, an article by The Times of India (published on 30.07.2019) on occasion of World Tiger Day has given wide picture on the scenario of Tiger Conservation in India. The data is worth mentioning.

Sincere hope that Political Will and dedicated workers/ Tiger Lovers will keep up their pace in this noble cause of conserving the Apex Predator of the wild. A few suggestive readings for Tiger Lovers:

1. "The Tiger" - A poem by William Blake.

2. Tiger Tiger Burning Bright: Ruskin Bond (Novella)

2. "Royal Bengal Tiger"- A Poem by Sarwar Chowdhury

At last, A Question:

Apart from India, Royal Bengal Tiger is the national animal of which country?

Naja hanna king (aka King Cobra)

King (courtesy Google images)

(courtsey Smithsonian National Zoo)

The King cobra, also known as the Hamadryad, is a venomous snake species in the family Elapidae, endemic to forests from India through Southeast Asia. It is threatened by habitat destruction and has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 2010. It is the world's longest venomous snake.( Wikipedia)

Scientific name: Ophiophagus hannah

Class: Reptilia

Family: Elapidae

Kingdom: Animalia

Order: Squamata

Did You Know:

1. "King" is the longest poisonous snake in the world.
2. A single bite of "The King" is enough to kill an Elephant.
3. Generally it grow to 18-20 feet. King never stops growing and normally shed skin 5 times a year.
4. IUCN Red list place it at Vulnerable Position.
5. The synthetic Neurotoxins of KIng is used in pain killers and Arthritis Medicins.
6. King Cobra are shy and retreating & Highly aggressive when provoked.
7. King Cobra are notorious Cannibles.
8. They flare out their iconic Hood and emit a bone -chilling Hiss that sounds almost like a growling dog.

(Vava Suresh, a wild life conservationist who have rescued over One Thousand Kings)