About 450 tigers died in past 12 years

New Delhi (PTI) - In India, nearly 450 tigers
have died in and around a number of natural habitats in the
last 12 years mainly due to poaching, reflecting the threats
posed to the national animal.
According to an RTI reply from the Ministry of
Environment and Forests, 447 wild cats were found dead between
1999 and March 2011, of which 197 were poached.
Besides, 250 wild cats died of natural causes
including old age, infighting, starvation, road and rail
accidents, electrocution and weakness.
The Ministry also noted that poaching was the major
cause behind disappearance of tigers from its reserves.
"The cases of local extinction of tigers were reported
in Sariska, Rajasthan (2005) and Panna, Madhya Pradesh (2008).
As reported, poachings of tigers was the major cause of their
extinction," National Tiger Conservation Authority under the
MoEF said in the reply to an RTI query filed by Ashwini
Shrivastava.
72 tigers were poached in 2001 and 2002 followed by 48
in 1999 and in 2010, it said. Two tigers were found killed
between January and March 17 this year, the reply said.
Whereas 20 wild cats were killed in 2003, 17 in 2009,
10 in 2007, nine each were killed in 2000 and 2008, and five
fell prey to hunters in 2006, it said.