New Delhi:
Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar today said that India can help build capabilities of countries which do not have big cat population.
"Today, we (India) have great capabilities, we can build capacities in 13 other countries which have tiger population and we can also help those countries which earlier had tiger population but now do not have tigers. They can recreate it," Mr Javadekar said on the occasion of World Tiger Day.
Noting that without tigers, the animal kingdom is not complete and without animals, the human kingdom is not complete, Mr Javadekar said that it is a cycle of nature which must be protected and that is how International Tiger Day should be celebrated.
He said that India has more than 70 per cent of the world's tiger population and termed it a "great victory".
"It has been achieved with the cooperation of people because they stop poachers, they give all the right information. They live with tigers, they take care of animals," he said.
He said that his Ministry, at the same time, is ensuring that there is substantial fodder and water in the forests so that the prey will be more and the animals do not have to come out of the forest.
"This is a challenge and we are doing it. Our forest guards, the frontline staff are a very important link in the conservation of tigers," he said.
International Tiger Day, also known as Global Tiger Day, is an annual celebration to raise awareness for tiger conservation, held on July 29.
The goal of the day is to promote a global system for protecting the natural habitats of tigers and to raise public awareness and support for tiger conservation issues.