Except when mothers are with cubs, tigers are among the most solitary of the big cats, and are notoriously elusive. Their striped coats let them blend into the shadows and they are excellent at avoiding humans. Tiger experts can spend months in the field before even getting a glimpse of one.
The Western Ghats are home to hundreds of species only found here, including the lion-tailed macaque, nilgiri langur and Malabar hornbill. But it is justifiably most famous as a home for tigers, perhaps the ultimate icon of the wild.
Exploding population growth exerts increasing pressure on the Western Ghats through agriculture expansion, road construction, and over-harvesting of timber and wildlife. But one of the most direct threats to wildlife here has been the over-harvesting of a fruit that was used in the manufacture of an anti-obesity drug in the United States. Loss of habitat due to such decimation is felt from animals lower on the food chain, right up to tigers at the top.
Creating protected areas and incentives for local staff, and consolidating habitat through land purchase are among the innovative ways WCS continues to ensure a home for wild tigers and many other species in India.
Don't buy weight-loss or any kind of drugs, even herbal remedies, without knowing the ingredients and origins.
For the good of the planet, make sure to only use synthetic over-the-counter or any medications when there is really no other alternative. The process of manufacturing synthetic drugs emits more than 177 million pounds of untreated pollutants into air, water, and soil each year. Fill only those prescriptions you're sure you will use, and never flush unused or expired prescriptions down the toilet or drain. Pharmaceuticals in wastewater have been found to damage plants, fish and animals.