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SCMP Reporter

IT is only in India that the magnificent trio of big cats - the tiger, lion and leopard - can still be found living in the wild, thanks to some of the world's most renowned conservation.

  Sadly, the last Indian cheetah was shot in 1948.

  However, various wildlife preservation efforts, including the internationally-acclaimed Project Tiger, have protected the majestic tiger which still prowls in many parts of the country.

    Those hoping to catch a glimpse of the tiger can try their luck on safaris, usually aboard elephants, in Uttar Pradesh at the Jim Corbett Park; in the Rajasthan sanctuaries of Ranthambore and Sariska; at Bandipur in Karnataka; or in the Madhya Pradesh wildlife havens of Bandhavgarh and Kanha.

  The elusive leopard, also survives across most of the country, especially in the lower Himalayas, and its beautiful cousins, the snow leopard and clouded leopard, live in the ranges above the snow line.

  Meanwhile, western India's Gir Forest is the last refuge of the Asian lion.

  Hunting of wildlife has been banned in India since 1972, although there are inevitably poachers who break the law. Still, the big cats are holding their ground and the Global Tiger Forum held its first meeting in Delhi under India's chairmanship.

  In addition, Project Elephant was launched two years ago to safeguard elephants against any further loss of habitat and two new schemes, Paryavaran Vahini and Eco Clubs, are designed to instil wildlife conservation into the minds of communities and youngsters.

  More than 1,000 Eco Clubs have been founded in schools across the country and every district of India will eventually be associated with a Paryavaran Vahini conservation programme.

  India is mindful that wildlife conservation pays healthy dividends. In the past 20 years, the number of tourists has quadrupled to nearly two million annually - and many of them include a trip to a wildlife sanctuary on their itineraries.



Large cats thrive in the wild