Top 10 Simple Steps to Reduce Global Warming

1.    Action: Recycle (paper, plastic, metal, glass)
Carbon dioxide reduction: 2400 lbs of carbon dioxide/year by recycling half of all household-generated waste

2.    Action: Wash clothes in warm/cold water (not hot)
Carbon dioxide reduction: 100 pounds of carbon dioxide/year

3.    Action: Don't overheat or overcool rooms
Carbon dioxide reduction: 200 lbs of carbon dioxide/year per household for every 2-degree reduction

4.    Action: Turn water heater down to 120 degrees
Carbon dioxide reduction: 200 lbs of carbon dioxide/year for every 20-degree reduction

5.    Action: Buy CFL light bulbs
Carbon dioxide reduction: 500 lbs of carbon dioxide/year for replacing home's most-used lights

6.    Action: Insulate walls and ceilings
Carbon dioxide reduction: 2000 lbs of carbon dioxide/year

7.    Action: Use your most fuel-efficient car for short trips, less fuel-efficient car only when needed
Carbon dioxide reduction: 2000 lbs of carbon dioxide/year by shifting 3,000 miles from a car that gets 24 mpg

8.    Action: Replace old appliances with energy-efficient models
Carbon dioxide reduction: 600 lbs of carbon dioxide/year by replacing old a/c unit with Energy Star

9.    Action: Only run the dishwasher when full, don't use heat to dry dishes
Carbon dioxide reduction: 100 lbs of carbon dioxide/year

10.  Action: Caulk and weather strip around doors and windows to plug air leaks
Carbon dioxide reduction: 650 lbs of carbon dioxide/year

organic farming

Globally, there has been significant sensitization during the last ten years towards environmental preservation and assuring of food quality. Organic farming is being promoted as an ideal alternative which not only addresses the environmental, food safety and sustainability concerns, but also has arguable the potential to feed the world.

Organic agriculture perspective under Indian conditions

Organic farming denotes a holistic system of farming which optimizes productivity in a sustainable manner through creation of interdependent agri-eco systems where annual crop plants (e.g. wheat), perennial trees (e.g. horticulture) and animals (including fishes where relevant) are integrated on a given field or property.

With the increasing demand/markets for organic products, the certification and regulation of the organic sector came into being and thrived. However, organic agriculture should not be fully equated with certified organic farming or labeled organic, which is basically a third-party assurance for commercial and marketing mechanism. Organic farming is an agriculture that takes into account and employs knowledge, skills and understanding of naturally occurring processes to maintain and enhance soil fertility and control insect-pests and diseases; while the certified organic farming is essentially the same but there is an addition of checks and balances for monitoring the entire process.

About 74% farmers in India are small and marginal farmers. Organic agriculture is most relevant to them. In this farming system approach a piece of land is used optimally and to its fullest potential to produce a range of nutritious and healthy food as well as other required commodities in a manner which can healthily feed a small family, and maintain soil health and productivity by agricultural practices based on principles of organic farming. Pests (both insects and diseases) are also controlled and managed by the selection of crop mixes and using biological control measures.

Emergence of organic agriculture in India

From the state of an unknown opportunity in agriculture in the beginning to being talked about a viable alternative tool to address some of the ills of Indian agriculture, organic agriculture has made a credible performance during the past ten years in India. It is the combined effect of farmers’ efforts, NGOs work, Govt interventions and market forces that Indian organic agriculture has reached a stage where it can swiftly move to occupy a prominent space in Indian agriculture.

As a consequence, with less than 42,000 ha under certified organic farming during 2003-04, the organic agriculture has grown almost 30 fold during the last 5 years!! By March 2009 India has brought more than 9.2 million ha area under organic certification process. Out of this cultivated area accounts for 1.2 million ha while remaining 8.0 million ha is wild harvest collection area.

Bio- diversity conservation

Conservation

Conservation is the protection, preservation, management, or restoration of wildlife and natural resources such as forests and water. Through the conservation of biodiversity the survival of many species and habitats which are threatened due to human activities can be ensured. Other reasons for conserving biodiversity include securing valuable Natural Resources for future generations and protecting the well being of eco-system functions. Other services provided from biodiversity by following this link: Services for Biodiversity page

In-situ and ex-situ conservation

Conservation can broadly be divided into two types:

In-situ: Conservation of habitats, species and ecosystems where they naturally occur. This is in-situ conservation and the natural processes and interaction are conserved as well as the elements of biodiversity.

Ex-situ: The conservation of elements of biodiversity out of the context of their natural habitats is referred to as ex-situ conservation. Zoos, botanical gardens and seed banks are all example of ex-situ conservation.

In-situ conservation is not always possible as habitats may have been degraded and there may be competition for land which means species need to be removed from the area to save them.

Which areas to conserve?

Hotspots of biodiversity

A popular approach for selecting priority areas has been to select hotspots of diversity. Since it is not possible to conserve all biodiversity due to lack of resources and the need to use land for human activities, areas are prioritised to those which are most in need of conservation. ‘Hotspot’ a term used to define regions of high conservation priority combining high richness, high endemism and high threat. For more information on hotspots visit: www.biodiversityhotspots.org

Threatened Species

Over the last 200 years many species have become extinct and the extinction rate is on the increase due to the influence of human activity. The status of species has been assessed on a global scale by the World Conservation Union. Taxa that are facing a high risk of global extinction are catalogued and highlighted in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The Red list database and guidelines on the application of IUCN Red List criteria at sub-national or regional levels can be accessed by following the links below:
Red list database: www.redlist.org
Guidelines for use: www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/redlists/regionalguidelines.htm

Threatened Habitats

Habitat destruction comes in many forms from clear felling of forests to simple changes in farming practices that change the overall surrounding habitat. If a habitat is degraded or disappears a species may also become threatened. The UK is in danger of losing diverse habitats ranging from lowland calcareous grassland to mudflats and wet woodland. The UK BAP has specific Habitat Action Plans in place in order to try and mange and conserve these precious places. Many of these areas lie within SSSIs which are designated prioritised areas of conservation.

Flagship and keystone species

Conservation efforts are often focused on a single species. This is usually for two reasons.
1) Some species are key to the functioning of a habitat and their loss would lead to greater than average change in other species populations or ecosystem processes. These are known as keystone species.
2) Humans will find the idea of conserving one species more appealing than conserving others. For example it would be easier to persuade people that it is necessary to conserve tigers that it is to persuade people to conserve the Zayante band-winged grasshopper. Using a flagship species such as a tiger will attract more resources for conservation which can be used to conserve areas of habitat.

Complementarity

Complementarity is a method used to select areas for conservation. These methods are used to find areas that in sum total have the highest representation of diversity. For example using complementarity methods, areas could be selected that would contain the most species between them but not necessarily be the most species rich areas individually and take into account pressures of development.

Distinguishing higher from lower priority areas for urgent conservation is the purpose of such area-selection methods. However, an acceptance of priorities must recognise that this idea also implies that some areas will be given lower priority. This is not to say that they have no conservation values rather that in relation to agreed goals the actions are not as urgent.

Where identities of species or other biodiversity indicators (see the measuring biodiversity page) are known, complementarity methods can be applied

Integrating conservation and development

Conservation can not be conducted in isolation from humans and for conservation to be successful and sustainable there needs to be local community involvement. In the UK most biodiversity is found in countryside which is farmed. It is therefore necessary to integrate conservation into farming practices. In other areas of the world livelihood and development priorities of local communities must be taken into account if the conservation measures are to be sustainable.

Community-Based Natural Resource Management is a process through which grass roots institutions are involved in the decision making and have rights to manage and control their environment. CBNRM Net (Community-Based Natural Resource Management Network) is a website that provides useful networking tools so that people can exchange experiences, manage relevant knowledge, and support learning across countries and cultures and in this way achieve better results. IIED have set up a Biodiversity and Livelihoods Group which aims through sustainable management of biodiversity to improve the livelihoods of the poor. BLG researches, analyses and implements new projects and strategies around the world.

Conserving Biodiversity

India is one of the 12 mega biodiversity countries in the world. The country is divided into 10 biogeographic regions. The diverse physical features and climatic situations have formed ecological habitats like forests, grasslands, wetlands, coastal and marine ecosystems and desert ecosystems, which harbour and sustain immense biodiversity. Biogeographically, India is situated at the tri-junction of three realms - Afro-tropical, Indo-Malayan and Paleo-Arctic realms, and therefore, has characteristic elements from each of them. This assemblage of three distinct realms makes the country rich and unique in biological diversity. 

Approximately 65 per cent of the total geographical area has been surveyed so far. Based on this, over 46,000 species of plants and 81,000 species of animals have been described by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) established in 1890 and Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) established in 1916, respectively. This list is being constantly upgraded, specially in lower plants and invertebrate animals. The Forest Survey of India established in 1981 assess the forest cover with a view to develop an accurate database for planning and monitoring purposes.

Conservation and sustainable use of biological resources based on local knowledge systems and practices is ingrained in Indian ethos. The country has a number of alternative medicines, like Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathic systems which are predominantly based on plant based raw materials in most of their preparations and formulations. Herbal preparations for various purposes including pharmaceutical and cosmetic purposes form part of the traditional biodiversity uses in India.

The strategies for conservation and sustainable utilisation of biodiversity have comprised providing special status and protection to biodiversity - rich areas by declaring them as national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, biosphere reserves, ecologically fragile and sensitive areas. Other strategies include offloading pressure from reserve forests by alternative measures of fuelwood and fodder need satisfaction by afforestation of degraded areas and wastelands and creation of ex-situ conservartion facilities such as gene banks. For example, the Tura Range in Garo Hills of Meghalaya is a gene sanctuary for preserving the rich native diversity of wild citrus and musa species.

Approximately, 4.2 per cent of the total geographical area of the country has been earmarked for extensive
in-situ conservation of habitats and ecosystems. A protected area network of 85 national parks and 448 wildlife sanctuaries has been created. The results of this network have been significant in restoring viable population of large mammals such as tiger, lion, rhinoceros, crocodiles and elephants.

The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) has identified 309 forest preservation plots of representative forest types for conservation of viable and representative areas of biodiversity. Out of these plots, 187 area in natural forests and 112 are in plantations, covering a total area of 8,500 hectares.

A programme "Eco-development" for in-situ conservation of biological diversity involving local communities has been initiated in recent years. The concept of ecodevelopment integrates the ecological and economic parameters for sustained conservation of ecosystems by involving the local communities with the maintenance of earmarked regions surrounding protected areas. The economic needs of the local communities are taken care under this programme through provision of alternative sources of income and a steady availability of forest and related produce.

Programmes have also been launched for scientific management and wise use of wetlands, mangroves and coral reef ecosystems. Twenty one wetlands, and mangrove areas and 4 coral reef areas have been identified for intensive conservation and management purposes. Mangroves conservation is one of the thrust areas of the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

Six significant wetlands of India have been declared as "Ramsar Sites" under the Ramsar Convention. Under the World Heritage Convention, five natural sites have been declared as "World Heritage Sites".

To conserve the representative ecosystems, a Biosphere Reserve Programme is being implemented. Twelve biodiversity rich areas of the country have been designated as Biosphere Reserves applying the UNESCO/MAB criteria. These reserves aim at conserving the biological diversity and genetic integrity of plants, animals and microorganisms in their totality as part of the natural ecosystems, so as to ensure that self-perpetuation and unhindered evolution of the living resources.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests constituted the National Afforestation and Eco-development Board (NAEB) in August 1992. NAEB has evolved specific schemes for promoting afforestation and management strategies which help the states in developing specific afforestation and management strategies and eco-development packages for augmenting biomass production through a participatory planning process of joint forest management and microplanning.

To complement in-situ conservation, attention has been paid to ex-situ conservation measures. According to currently available survey, central government and state governments together run and manage 33 botanical gardens. Universities have their own botanical gardens. There are 275 zoos, deer parks, safari parks and aquaria. A Central Zoo Authority was set up to secure better management of zoos. A scheme ‘Assistance to Botanical Gardens’ provides one-time assistance to botanical gardens to strengthen and institute measures for ex-situ conservation of threatened and endangered species in their respective regions.

Formal policies and programmes for conservation and sustainable utilisation of biodiversity resources dates back to several decades. The concept of environmental protection is enshrined in the Indian constitution in articles 48a and 51a(g).

Major central acts relevant to biodiversity include Forest Act, 1927, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, and Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The various central Acts are supported by a number of state laws and statutes concerning forests and other natural resources. The policies and strategies directly relevant to biodiversity include National Forest Policy amended in 1988, National Conservation Strategy and Policy Statement for Environment and Sustainable Development, National Agricultural Policy, National Land Use Policy, National Fisheries Policy, National Policy and Action Strategy on Biodiversity, National Wildlife Action Plan and Environmental Action Plan.

India is a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The main objectives of this convention are; conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of the components of biodiversity and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources.

The main implementation measures for the CBD are through national strategies, legislation, and administrative instruments to be developed in accordance with the country’s conditions and capabilities.

Adopting a consultative process with the stakeholders, a national policy and action strategy on biological diversity has been drawn up as a macro-level statement of strategies. This plan aims at consolidating the on-going efforts of conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, identifying gaps in various sectors and providing a policy and programme regime to ensure attainment of the three objectives of the CBD. This famework document provides the basis for developing detailed action at micro and regional levels.

Recognising unsung heroes of wildlife conservation

The 12{+t}{+h}Sanctuary Wildlife Awards on Thursday honoured some of the most passionate nature enthusiasts across different age groups as “India's Earth Heroes” here.

George Schaller, a well-known American scientist, was given the Lifetime Service Award.

“His path-breaking research on the Indian tiger in the Kanha National Park has become the gold standard for field biology across the world,” said a release by Sanctuary Asia, one of the organisers of the award ceremony.

The awards were given in five categories: one Lifetime Service Award, five Wildlife Service Awards, one Green Teacher Award, three Young Naturalists Awards and a ‘Wind Under the Wings' Award for an organisation that has supported one or more of its employees to be of service to nature.

Best in the field

“The awards have been constituted to recognise the best-in-the-field of wildlife conservation and to shine a spotlight on the unsung heroes who are defending the wilderness and thus the food and water security of the Indian subcontinent. The awardees are nominated by Sanctuary Asia readers and supporters from across the country,” the release stated.

The awards were given to diverse individuals for their contributions to wildlife protection. Shekar Dattatri was awarded for successfully using films to highlight disappearing wildlife and habitats.

S.D. Biju, a field biologist, was awarded for his contribution to the discovery of several amphibian species, including many in the Western Ghats.

Service to urban dwellers

Gerry Martin, another Wildlife Service Award winner, and founder and director of the Gerry Martin Project, helps urban dwellers to connect with wildlife issues far removed from their daily life.

Daulat Singh Shaktawat, a Range Forest Officer of the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, was awarded for his continuous resolve to save the big cats despite having been attacked by them many a time.

He is the surviving tale of dedication despite adversities, the organisers said.

Chief Administrative Officer of Namma Sangha P. Suresha was awarded for working towards improving people's relationship with the Bandipur National Park, close to his house.

The Maharashtra government was given the ‘Wind Under the Wings Award' for “enabling and encouraging Praveen Pardeshi, Principal Secretary (Forests), to reinvigorate wildlife conservation in Maharashtra.”

Young Naturalist

Ramnath Chandrashekhar (award-winning wildlife photographer and activist), Aishwarya Sridhar (writer, poet and passionate conservationist) and Tengbat Sangma (skilled tracker, naturalist and budding field biologist) were awarded the Young Naturalist Awards.

A Joint Green Teacher Award was presented to Pournima and Rajendra Kerkar, who work as educators, conservationists and social workers to protect wilderness areas in Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Natural heritage

Bittu Sahgal, Editor, Sanctuary Asia , said: “Sanctuary Asia has consistently sought to network and unite different segments of society believing that nature conservation is the surest way to secure the food, water, climate and economic security of India's billion-plus population. For us the tiger, elephant, rhino and lion are metaphors for an ecologically secure planet and within us exists an unstoppable drive to safeguard this natural heritage for our children and their children.”

Paradise for birds

Pulicat Lake and Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, located near Sullurpeta in SPSR Nellore district, are a virtual paradise for hundreds of species of birds.

It is a convenient breeding ground for rare and endangered species of lily grey pelicans, flamingos, painted storks, egnats, grey herons, little cormorants, open bill storks, spoonbills, white ibises and night herons.

For years, the arrival of these lovely creatures into Nellore district went unnoticed. However the sanctuary and lake, which are very close to Isro’s rocket launching centre, Shar, Sriharikota, became popular in recent years because of the initiative taken by the locals and authorities to organise a flamingo festival every year in winter.

The local villagers treat the birds with reverence believing them to be celestial creatures and accordingly protect them during their five-month stay. The sight of the magnificent flamingos as they set to flight is an experience that is overwhelming in its sheer beauty.

Villagers call them “Parrots of the Sea” or Samudrapu Ramachilakalu. Many winter migratory birds which fly in from countries such as Siberia, breed here and train the younger ones to fly so that they can return to their original habitat. Their winter home, Pulicat Lake adjacent to the Bay of Bengal, is the second largest brackish water lagoon in India spread over Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

The lake with a rich biodiversity and high biomass of fish, prawn, crustaceans, coelenterate and plankton, offers ideal food to the migratory birds and provides protection from predators.

Around 164 species visit the bird sanctuary during the winter.
In addition to these, members of a Hyderabad-based Birdwatchers Society spotted a rare bird, the grey-headed lapwing (vanellus cinereus) for the first time near Pulicat lake last winter. This species of birds breeds in Northeast China and Japan.

The wildlife wing of the forest department has established an environmental education centre at Nelapattu sanctuary, with a museum, library and auditorium with audiovisual equipment.

The tank bund of Nelapattu sanctuary is protected with chain links on both sides with a kind of trail for the visitors to view the birds. There are bund beaches and hideouts as well so that visitors can observe the birds at close range without disturbing them.

Binoculars are also provided to the visitors. Meanwhile, authorities of the district have planned the flamingo festival at Sullurpeta, tentatively between January 8 and 11, 2012. The annual festival attracts tourists from far and near to witness the migratory birds from close quarters, without disturbing their tranquillity.

It takes less than two hours by car to the bird sanctuary and the lake, which are 90 km away from Nellore as well as Chennai. One can reach Sullurpeta by train both from Chennai and Hyderabad. The station is between Chennai and Vijayawada.

There are also a number of buses to Sullurpeta from Nellore, as well as Chennai. There is a tourism
department guesthouse on the National Highway at Tada, 20 kmfrom Sullurpeta.

There are also some budget hotels in Sullurpeta. Restaurants all along the highway serve both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.

Pit stop

Holy abode

Tourists visiting Pulicat Lake and Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary can also visit the historical Changala Parameswari temple at Sullurpeta. The goddess is the family deity for thousands of devotees not only in Andhra Pradesh, but also in neighbouring Tamil Nadu. The unique feature of the temple is there is no door to the sanctum sanctorum.

According to temple priests, the goddess herself instructed the temple sculptor, in his dream, not to fix any doors to her temple. It is widely believed that offering prayers at the temple will cure any kind of sickness among children. Annual Brahmotsavams are held during the Dasara festival.

Trivia

Fish delights

The most sought-after food item in the region is the White Prawn (Gaju Royyalu). All the popular non-vegetarian hotels in Sullurpeta region serve various dishes prepared with this prawn, which is available in Pulicat Lake only during winter months. The locals also love the Moyi fish, which is available in all the hotels around Sullurpeta.

Tigers in India

Appearance and Physical Characteristics
Though slim and elegant, tigers are immensely powerful. Their front legs and paws are tremendously strong: they can kill young elephants and rhino and drag prey weighing 200 kg. (5001 bs.) Or more. Tigers walk on the fore pads of their feet, which gives their stride suppleness and elasticity. They have flexible forelegs that can twist inwards, allowing them to grasp prey. Their claws remain retracted until they are needed in the final moments of attack.
Sight and Smell
Tigers are famed for their glowing amber eyes. Unlike most other cats, they have round pupils. Tigers have acute eyesight and the cells in their eyes are sensitive to color. They can perceive depth because their eyes face forwards, thus allowing direction and distance to be judged with extreme accuracy. Tigers, like all cats, have a special adaptation that gives them excellent night vision: a membrane at the back of the eye reflects light through the light sensitive cells of the retina. This effectively doubles the intensity of dim light. The same principal is used in the "cats' eyes" on our roads.

Scent forms the basis for territorial behavior. Tigers keep track of each other's movements by scent marking, which helps them to avoid conflict. To make the best use of information contained in a scent mark, the tiger has to hang out its tongue and draw back the lips, causing the eyes to close. This is called the flehmen response and it allows the tiger to pass the scent through two small holes in the upper palate behind the incisors in effect the tiger can "test" he scent. To human eyes, the expression looks like a grimace of disgust.

Habitat
Tigers inhabit many types of forests, from the mangrove swamps of Bangladesh to the coniferous forests of the Russian Far East. Dense vegetation, plenty of pre and minimum human interference are all requirements of good tiger habitat, as are pools for drinking and bathing. Tigers of the warmer climes love water and may even sleep with part of their body submerged. They are adept swimmers. Young tigers are agile enough to climb into trees but adults are generally too heavy. However, an angry tiger in Siberia was reported to have limbed into a tree in an attempt to swat the helicopter that was following it.

Predation
Tigers can kill prey that exceeds their own weight. A tiger can eat over 30 kgs (66lvbs ) of meat in a single night, though a large kill ma be needed only once or twice a week. In the meantime, snacks such a peacocks, crabs turtles, fish, lizards, small birds or even locusts will suffice. Tigers are not exclusively carnivorous and will sometimes eat jungle fruits. Their stomachs often contain earth, and his is probably ingested to aid digestion. In India, hog deer, chital (spotted deer), barking deer, sambar, nilgai and wild boar are the favorite prey, though tigers will also kill jungle ox and even young elephants and rhino of up to 450 kgs (1000 lbs ) in weight. Tigers will seek to porcupines, even though these prickly creatures have a nasty habit of backing into a pursuer in order to drive in their spines. Injuries form porcupines may fester and can even cause the death of a tiger. Tigers tend to hunt between dusk and dawn. They are less active during the day and may lie satiated in the shade or in a pool near the remains of a kill. Tigers often cover an unfinished meal with soil and leaves and return to it later. Even so, scavengers are quick to take advantage, though they risk annoying the owner of the kill. A tiger was photographed pouncing on a vulture in sheer exasperation and an irritable tiger will even chase away crows.

Sight and sound, rather than scent, are used to locate prey. Tigers are too large and too heavy to run for long distances and therefore must patiently stalk their prey until they are close enough to make a final lunge for the neck. Effective camouflage is essential and in patches of sunshine and shade a motionless tiger is practically invisible. Despite being one of the most feared of the world's predators, tigers are often unsuccessful in catching their prey. Prey species have acute hearing and many run faster than a tiger. Some have alarm calls that warn all the animals in the vicinity to be wary. If the tiger fails in a hunting attempt it must move to another area or wait until the forest becomes calm again.

It is interesting to compare this technique with those used in more open habitats where there is not enough cover to conceal a stalking predator. In the African Savannahs, for example, cheetahs have developed unsurpassed speed and prides of lions have learnt to hunt cooperatively. The remains of a kill are also more difficult to conceal, and any left uneaten will be quickly finished off by scavengers. Cooperative hunters therefore share the kill amongst themselves, so that nothing is wasted on those animals who are looking for a free lunch. The development of different hunting strategies to suit habitat types is part of a process known as optimization.

Tiger behavior is flexible and the choice of prey, as well as the technique for catching in, will be influenced by how plentiful the prey is and how easily it is caught. Tigers in areas where the vegetation is less dense are more likely to hunt large prey cooperatively and to share their kill. This was the case in Ranthambore National Park during the 1980s. Up to nine tigers were seen lying together in a social group, just like a pride of lions. Tiger were observed sharing their prey not only with their young, but also with other adults. Rather than a strict hierarchy, it seems that the titer that makes the kill always gets the first meal, even if the other tigers present are larger.

Tiger Cubs
Tiger cubs are born blind and helpless, weighing only 1.5 kg (3/3lbs). The cubs' eyes open after one or tow weeks. Initially blue of blue green, the eyes will darken later to glowing amber.On average, there are three cubs in a litter, though an exceptional seven was once recorded. Tigresses are devoted mothers and when the cubs are young, she will move them to places of safety, carrying them gently one by one in her huge, powerful jaws. Cubs are very vulnerable to attack by passing predators and many perish before their first year is out. Jackals, hyenas, leopards and pythons, as well as other tigers, are all a potential threat. The tigress must choose a carefully hidden den and leave the cubs alone for as short a time as possible while she hunts. Grass fires, which are often started deliberately to improve grazing, kill many tiger cubs.

The cub remains in the den for four to eight weeks. They then venture into the outside world for the first time and receive their first taste of meat. They keep in single file behind the tigress, and it is thought that her striped tail and the large white spots behind her ears act as beacons for the cubs to follow. The runt of the litter, if it has survived to emerge from the den, is always the last in the line of cubs and is often picked off by predators.It is extremely rate that more than two cubs in a litter survive to maturity. Having said this, it is possible that the survival rate would be much giver given sufficient pry density. In the mid 1980's prey density in the Ranthambore National Park was so high that four cubs in the little survived to maturity in at least three cases. The ratio of male to female cubs born is about one to one, but more females survive into adulthood because the male cubs leave the family earlier and are more likely to perish because of their inexperience at hunting. Males can also suffer injuries in territorial disputes and may be more vulnerable to huntress, as they are less wary of baits.

In contrast with the careful nurturing received by wild tigers, cubs born in captivity are usually abandoned or eaten if not immediately removed by zoo keepers . Presumably the unnatural conditions are the root cause of this aberrant behavior.

Growing Up 
Tiger cubs are playful and their games together games together begin to teach them the skills necessary for survival. They stalk and pounce on leaves, insects, or even their mother's tail. At first, the cubs must hide in the undergrowth while the tigress hunts, but later they are allowed to watch and eventually join in. the young cash help the tigress by driving the chosen victim towards her. Learning to hunt is a difficult and dangerous process and many cubs are gored of trampled to death. Inexperienced cubs tend to grab the legs of the prey, leaving them vulnerable to retaliation. Sometimes the tigress will intervene. She can bring down the prey and then leave it for the cubs to kill. It takes many attempts before he cubs learn to kill efficiently by biting the throat or the nape of the neck. A mother tiger may allow her cubs to feed first . If she joins her young at a meal, she will withdraw if a cub protests and will go without meat to ensure that they have enough. The cubs have voracious appetites and by the time they are 14 months old , it is a strain for the tigress to capture enough prey. The runt is the last in queue at meals and if food is in scarce supply, it will starve to death.

Their lessons learned , young tigers must venture out in search of a territory. Male tigers leave their mothers at about 18-22 months old. Sub-adult males are often tolerated by other males, but this will change on reaching maturity. Each young male must then look for a vacant territory, or one where there is a chance of ousting an old or sick male. Females remain with their mothers for 24 to 28 months and will help in the capture of prey until they leave. When the tigress is ready to mate again, she might become aggressive towards her daughters. One daughter may be allowed to settle inside the mother's territory, but the rest must find space in the territories of neighboring males. Newly independent tigers lack haunting experience and a second's hesitation may leave them to go hungry.

The young tigers will become sexually mature at three to four years old and by this time are ready to found the next generation of cubs.