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The recent incidences of killings of tigers and leopards at the hand of humans is alarming and is suggestive of extreme loathing of these earthly creature. It is also suggestive of continued intrusion into wilderness - that which remains.
Why?
For those living in the periphery of forests an incidence of man eating could be unnerving, but the chain extends much longer for there are vested interests that are keen to exploit the situation.
Let us be honest, in case of man eating menace the locals are the target and an extreme fear and insecurity develops. When humans are killed the sentiments rise and the immediate instinct/solution is to exterminate. This in spite of technological means that could avoid killing.
From the killing of the tigress Avni it is evident that we do not resort to measures to stem the rot at the very beginning in order to avoid human deaths including that of the predator. Satkosia could be another impending disaster. We have to stress more on the proactive methodologies and safeguards to prevent the big cats turning aberrant. I think our institutes are doing commendable research and there is hope.
For the politicians, bureaucrats and local leaders - the singularly powerful people - elimination of problem animal is the only solution...for them it is also a populist goal. These are the people who can pressurise the local administration into an unholy act?
But the question remains are we in India willing to do more than just providing physical protection to the cats in protected areas? The animal survives in non designated areas as well, and the stray population is as important for the gene pool and conservation.
Tiger conservation is a comprehensive act and it involves the whole nation. Frequent incidence of man animal conflicts indicate that there are still grey areas that remain unplugged in species management in India. The lacunae is further compounded by utter disregard towards conservation among some of the ruling coteries, bureaucrats and NGOs. The public besides few are equally to blame for being unconcerned and ill informed.
We live in Human First Era!
A developmental imperative accords low priority to conservation which could prove disastrous in the long run. We are destroying remaining natural habitats helter skelter in our zeal to develop commercially, urbanize and create unnatural wealth by destroying the crucial natural resources. Rabid development is not the solution for myriads of problems facing the society, and sooner or later there should be a paradigm shift. Will it be too late then?
Man eating is not an aberration as most people believe, it could be a natural recourse in absence of prey base, since long time back we could have been a part of the food chain. An accidental encounter, stress, self defense whence in proximity all could lead to man killing and could initiate consumption of humans. The repeated act leads to the big cat being termed as man eater.
The reason for aberrant behaviour as we term is the scarcity of prey base, destruction of its home and intrusion into its domain. All this is rampant in the present circumstances.
It is circumstances that have pulled the species apart and we no longer are deemed as prey. But it is always in the capacity of the predator to kill us. That it does not leads to justification that the species kills only for food. Energy in the wild is crucial and a specie cannot indulge in wanton killing. The fear of humans also contribute to the big cats maintaining distance from. All life forms on Earth fear us since we have amply demonstrated our ability to kill wantonly.
Much more is required to understand the beasts that stalk the Earth. Tigers, lions, leopards are predators along with the lesser carnivores. Their role is to limit the populations of herbivores and maintain an equilibrium. Although hunting and consumption could have been an act of natural selection or an opportunistic food preference. The specie is at the top of the food chain in most ecosystems and is crucial in maintaining the delicate balances.
The forests which nurture the predators for example are the source of food, water security and fresh air. None of the elements that constitute this ecosystem can be removed or damaged beyond repair if the productivity has to be continued. This means the tiger is as valuable as any element in the crucial web of life that shapes our environment.
Selfish Humans!
Humans are a selfish breed albeit they have been nurtured by the same ecosystem that was shared by other life forms. We were once part of the same food chain that now works in the remaining ecosystems all over the Earth. We constituted the tiger's prey base, and perhaps humans targeted the predators as competitors. The stone age could reveal a saga of bitter animosity between the carnivore and homo sapiens if we could peek back. But nature works in such a manner that there is no room for wanton killing.
Saving the tiger is crucial for our environment as well as for our survival. Species extinction is like a catastrophe which we also call an Armageddon.
The Tiger is a matter of National Pride for a diverse India. Save It!
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