Concerned about the dwindling tiger population in India, the United States has offered its help and called for a more broad-based approach in dealing with the issue of tiger conservation.

US ambassador David Mulford, who is taking a keen personal interest in the issue, said his Government wanted “to do whatever it can to make a difference”.

As a first step, the US Embassy is funding a workshop being organised by the Wildlife Protection Society of India in Ranthambore in October. “The issue of tiger is very special and very complex. We are hoping to stimulate, through this workshop, the federal Government, state Government, village communities, poachers, schoolchildren and others on the need to preserve the priceless species,” Mulford told The Indian Express.

India is home to the largest number of tigers in the world even though the population has declined rapidly in the last few years. It already has one of the most elaborate and advanced conservation programme for tigers with a high-powered Tiger Task Force reporting directly to the PM.

Suggesting a more comprehensive approach to conservation by including every stakeholder, Mulford said the experience in the United States had shown that private players made significant contributions towards conserving wildlife. “This should not be taken as criticism of Government efforts. But wildlife conservation needs a more comprehensive approach which private players and private money can generate,” he said.

Head of National Tiger Conservation Authority Dr Rajesh Gopal said India was already running a very inclusive conservation programme.

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