The Indonesian island of Sumatra contains some of the world's greatest biodiversity with plants and animals found nowhere else on the Earth. A report by WWF-US reveals that these forests are the only place in the world where tigers, elephants, rhinos and orangutans co-exist. Pitiably, since 1985, more than half of this forest cover has been lost.

And the shocking information is that most of this deforestation ends up as tissue papers marketed by global corporations. So the next time we see a tissue paper, let us remember that, perhaps the tissue paper has caused the death of one more of the remaining 400 or less of the Sumatran tigers in the world. Remember to use only tissue papers that are 100% ForestStewardship Council certified are 100% recycled.

World tigers are less than 3200. One tiger needs to eat the equivalent of a medium size deer every week to survive. Anti-poaching efforts are required to care for the tiger as well as its prey. A serious contributing factor to the plight of the tiger is the widespread decline of its forest cover.

"Without protecting the tiger's prey from poaching and forest degradation, achieving the target of doubling wild tiger numbers by 2022 is impossible," said Mike Baltzer, Leader of WWF's Tigers Alive Initiative. The survival of the prey is key to the survival of the tiger.

On the occasion of Global Tiger Day on 29 July 2012, WWF has released a short film 'Confessions of an ex-poacher' that highlights the destructive trade. The film also discusses steps needed to tackle poaching. One of these is to provide those at the frontlines protecting tigers – rangers, protected area officials and local communities – with the right tools to eradicate poaching.  The film can be viewed using the link http://youtu.be/p0J3IXc-aSk

Taking note of the declining tiger population in India, during the last week, the Supreme Court has banned tourism activity in the core areas of tiger reserves across the country.

While practical difficulties are emerging in implementing this order, this is a welcome move from the highest judicial authority of India in conserving tiger forests. Considering the destruction caused by commercial tourist activities, it is a small welcome step making the public resort to Eco-tourism. 

Global efforts are continuing to save the tigers and let us do our share by ensuring products of tiger / tiger's prey origin as well as products from erosion of forest cover are shunned by one and all.