Sustainable livelihood scheme gives alternative to tiger poaching

One of the key elements in protecting the tiger in the wild is giving poachers, ex-poachers and would-be poachers alternative and sustainable livelihoods.

“Poaching can be a lucrative trade, although the villager that actually kills the tiger gets very little in the long chain of trade that leads to the wealthy middle-classes, it is still enough to tempt people,” says TigerTime.

Along with educational and anti-poaching programmes, TigerTime support is continuing to champion alternative livelihood schemes in India, assisting marginal families and families of ex-poachers to find sustainable incomes. Launched in October 2011 the scheme encourages the making of traditional cotton goods and pig keeping in and around Kaziranga National Park in Assam – one of the Bengal tigers last true strongholds.

“The pig keeping scheme is proving very popular. Each family receives two pigs which they then breed, returning a piglet back to the scheme so that it becomes a self sustaining programme,” explains the team.

Ensuring that people are educated about the importance of conservation and are gainfully employed is a powerful part of creating a long-term future not just for the people in and around the park but for its tigers and other wildlife too.

Please help us give would-be poachers an alternative income and continue our support of this scheme by donating here. Thank you.