Name ______________________________ Core _________ Date ________________________
A Place for Tigers
buffalo. When they hunt, tigers are stealthy. They use
the darkness of night and their striped coats to
camouflage themselves as they wait for the perfect
moment to attack.
The relationship between tigers and humans is
not always peaceful—but it is people who hunt tigers,
and not usually the other way around. Tigers are killed
for body parts that are used in traditional medicine.
Many poor villagers work for poaching gangs because
they are paid well. This poaching, along with habitat
destruction, has led to the decline of the Bengal tiger
population.
In early 2008, an Indian government census
NEW DELHI, India In 2003, officials
revealed that the Bengal tiger population had fallen by
estimated that there were 3,600 wild Bengal tigers in
over 1,200 in just the previous five years. Belinda
India. By 2008, that number had dropped to about
Wright, director of the Wildlife Protection Society of
1,411. To protect its country's declining tiger
India, said this might mean that the government
population, the Indian government is planning to create
overestimated the number of tigers during its last
eight new reserves. Conservationists welcomed the
census in 2003. Still, she said, the fact that there are
plan.
now only about 1,400 tigers left is shocking.
The reserves, which will take about five years
''I think [the 2008 census is] a very serious
to set up, will cover an area of more than 11,900
wake-up call,'' Wright said. The population of tigers in
square miles. They will be funded by private groups
all of Asia is estimated at around 3,500 today. In 1997,
and by about $153 million from taxpayers. The aim of
by contrast, there were nearly 5,000.
the reserves is to protect the existing tiger population
The numbers indicate that the rate of poaching
and end poaching, said Rajesh Gopal. Gopal is the
and habitat destruction has not slowed. Wright stated
director of the Indian government's Project Tiger
that the government needs to improve enforcement
conservation program.
steps against poachers so that number of tigers does
The reserves will be home to one of the most
not continue to fall. Wright believes that India should
magnificent animals in the world. The Bengal tiger is
work with Nepal and China, where there is a demand
the largest of the five tiger species; it accounts for
for tiger parts, to prevent illegal trade.
about half of the total tiger population. Unlike lions,
Project Tiger will do what it can to enforce
tigers are solitary animals that hunt alone. Yet, they are
anti-poaching laws. The organization plans to employ
so powerful that they can kill mammals as large as
retired soldiers to patrol the reserves and look for
poachers. It will also establish ecotourism to benefit
Rajesh Gopal, the Project Tiger director, is
local populations. In addition, Project Tiger will
hopeful that these efforts will help save the Bengal
relocate 250 villages that are found on the land set
Tiger from extinction.
aside for the reserves. Each relocated family will
receive about $25,000.
"Though the tiger has suffered due to poaching,
loss of quality habitat, and loss of its prey, there is still
hope,'' Gopal said.
Dictionary
camouflage (verb)
census (noun)
to disguise
official count of a population
ecotourism (noun)
poaching (noun)
a kind of travel that promotes environmentally beneficial activity
the act of hunting illegally
stealthy (adjective)
secretive; not easily noticed
Multiple Choice: Circle the letter of the choice the best completes the statement. (2 points each)
1. What is this article mainly about?
A. Eight new reserves being created in India are
funded in part by private groups.
B. Eight new reserves being created in India are
part of an effort to protect the Bengal Tiger.
C. Eight new reserves being created in India will
cost taxpayers millions of dollars.
D. Eight new reserves being created in India will
employ retired soldiers.
2. According to the article, why will the Indian
government be hiring retired soldiers?
A. The soldiers will maintain the new reserves
and feed the tigers.
B. The soldiers will protect villagers who live
inside the reserves.
C. The soldiers will ensure the safety of visitors
to the reserves.
D. The soldiers will patrol the new reserves and
look for poachers.
3. Which of these is most important to include in a
summary of this article?
A. The Indian government may have
overestimated the number of tigers in 2003.
B. Project Tiger will give $25,000 to families
that have to relocate due to the new reserves.
C. The Indian government is creating reserves to
protect its Bengal tiger population.
D. The Bengal tiger is a solitary hunter powerful
enough to kill mammals as large as buffalo.
4. The article states: This poaching, along with
habitat destruction, has led to the decline of the
Bengal tiger population. In early 2008, an Indian
government census revealed that the Bengal tiger
population had fallen by over 1,200 in just the
previous five years. Which would be the closest
antonym for the word decline?
A. Scene
B. Surge
C. Swoon
D. Suburb
5. The reader can infer from the article that
___________.
A. When the reserves are established, it will
probably be harder for poachers to kill tigers.
B. When the reserves are established, there will
probably be fewer tigers living in India.
C. Project Tiger must be considered a waste of
time and money by most Indians.
D. Project Tiger officials must not know that
some villages will have to relocate.
6. Which is the closest synonym for the word stealthy?
A. Bashful
B. Crafty
C. Brittle
D. Cultural
7. Which of these statements is contrary to the ideas
presented in this article?
A. The Bengal tiger has abundant prey in the
forests and grasslands of India.
B. The relationship between tigers and humans is
not always peaceful.
C. The 2008 census numbers indicate that the
rate of poaching has not slowed.
D. The Bengal tiger is the largest of the five tiger
species and is a solitary hunter.
8. Which event had not yet taken place when this
article was written?
A. A plan to protect existing tiger populations
and end poaching had been created.
B. Project Tiger had led to a rise in the Bengal
tiger population in India.
C. The Indian government estimated that there
were about 1,400 tigers left.
D. The Bengal tiger population in India had
fallen by over 1,200 in five years.
Opinion Question: What do you think is the best way to save India's Bengal tigers?
Math Question: India plans to set up new reserves for Bengal tigers. The area of the reserves will be close to
11,900 square miles. This is the same as 7.62 million acres. Based on these numbers, one square mile is equal to how
many acres? Choose the closest answer.
A. 640 acres
B. 900 acres
C. 156 acres
D. 1,100 acres
Thought Question: Explain the problem with the Bengal tigers in India. Do you think Project Tiger will fix
this problem? Explain why or why not. Do you think villagers will support the tiger project? Explain.
Refer to the article for ideas. You can use your own ideas, too.