Wildlife Conservation: Threat Perception between Them and Us

One-Sided Story

In spite of periodic failures, the tiger population in recent times has begun to rise. This seems to be a continuing phenomenon despite many wild souls dying because of human apathy or natural causes. If the reports are to be believed, the leopard population in MP and a few other states seem to be on the rise. This rise is difficult to understand since the predator is constantly being killed at the hands of poachers and as a victim of man-animal conflict. Anyway, let's keep our fingers crossed.  

Poaching is purely a crime, and cannot be dragged under the banner of man-animal conflict. The killing of tigers and leopards by man and vice versa is perplexing since both subscribe to a food chain that is not directly in conflict if the ban on hunting wild animals is taken into consideration. 

While the death of a predator rarely causes much alarm, the death of a human being is reactive and often creates extreme upheaval within society. The browbeating that takes place often bends the system responsible for the protection and conservation, it is unfavorable towards the perpetrator and thus it is victimized to no end. It is either incarcerated or translocated to unfamiliar domains or at worst some trigger-happy elites are invited to shoot it down. This is an ongoing phenomenon, and the besieged animal is hardly able to comprehend the punishment accorded to it. Animals do not kill humans since for many we are not part of the food chain. They fear man and shun proximity. 

Threat Perception the Biggest Threat          

Threat perception is a natural phenomenon among the living akin to the response to external stimuli. Both are victims of the fear of the other and when this happens in extreme both kill. This is making wildlife conservation a difficult proposition, especially in a country like India. Heavily populated, extremely poor, and thrust closer to the wilderness by livelihood pursuits the man-animal conflict is much aggravated by biotic factors. Agriculture in the land that previously was part of the prevailing ecosystems and livestock incursions increase proximity between humans and predators. In spite of policies that make translocation possibly the ground reality has not changed much. This is due to the slow execution of translocation of the human population from vital core due to political infringements, court cases, and on many occasions overzealous NGOs?     

Translocation promises to eliminate human interference in the core while there is no policy to translocate population from immediate surroundings or the outer ring which we call the buffer. 

Creatures having lost their erstwhile homelands and food unwittingly transgress into what has become  human domains. They are killed, maimed or incarcerated brutely.     

This has become a regular tamasha in India with newsmakers worsening the situation with their greed and prejudice towards other life forms. Videos and images of predators being hounded out by lunatic hordes are propagating a wrong message among the people and making us subject to ridicule overseas. We nowhere can boast of the conservation ethos promoted by the ancient Vedas anymore.   

Clearing, wildlife corridors, thinning out the population in the buffer zones, and stopping linear infrastructure build-up which intersects our reserves is a near impossibility since the threat perception ails political dispensations too making them chicken out. Anyway, politicians in India have all to lose from unhappy voters but not from the predators as they have no right to vote. We are enamored by unbridled development as well and thus critics should not leave us out, especially the urban lot. 

Animals kill humans because of threat perception and most often proximity aggravates. Humans have all the comprehending power not to fall victim to a threat posed by a predator in proximity since that has been the case for ages.     

While we should not kill wild animals and do so only under extreme danger we have the ability to mitigate such instances. Wild animals on the other hand rarely cross over their domain but it does happen and at times humans are killed or maimed. Those who are in favor of extreme action against such killers are doing a disservice to mankind since all life forms are vital for an environmental balance upon which our well-being is maintained. 

Hence like automobiles kill people by accident so do animals in unavoidable circumstances. We cannot eliminate both. Hence answers have to be found beyond the ongoing rhetorics and the clash between the two should be mitigated. Translocation of populations that have ingressed is only one such answer another solution is to develop a code of conduct that will aid in minimizing conflicts. These are the imperatives that our planners have to incorporate and execute with sincerity if an environmental balance has to be maintained and our heritage wealth to be conserved. Legal laxity as regards wildlife crimes should be taken care of as well.       

The Youths Take Over

Rhetoric never works and there has to be an action on the ground. Thankfully in our country, the youth is taking interest in ecological matters, and a number of committees or societies have been formed pan India to discourage practices that go against nature conservation. The impact is visible in the interest shown in the conservation, the rising number of PILs, and write-ups against haste. This collective effort is certainly going to keep the establishment on its toes. This will force the policymakers to rethink as well. 

The next-gen is going to be much more nature aware but what do we leave for them?    

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Uday freelances as a naturalist and loves to write about tiger conservation and the environment.

He also provides SEO and Content and teaches  Digital Marketing in his hometown Jabalpur. 

Contact: 

pateluday90@hotmail.com

9755089323

Dying Tigers

Tigress Killed

She was choked to death in the cave, the one place she had chosen to give birth to cubs, but fate had another story chalked out for her. Upon discovering the tiger's lair, the poachers mercilessly clogged the opening and set things on fire. She was not incinerated but rather suffocated by smoke that had filled in the cave. She was killed along with cubs in her womb. This sordid saga is not just one event, there is an ongoing onslaught on the endangered beast in India. 

In a spate of few weeks, some more tigers have been killed, and this is alarming. Often the murder is passed off as a territorial fight or due to old age, how many of these narratives are true God only knows! Who bothers since the big cats are no political liability, the incidence could just pass off as unfortunate.

Killings using guns, snares, live wire, and poisoning the kill of the beasts are ongoing year on year. In a spate of eight years around seven hundred tigers have died, and almost half have been killed leaving the rest accounting for natural deaths. 

The figure of seven hundred is ominous with most of the deaths taking place in Central India and Maharashtra, incidentally these states account for a robust number of big cats. In some other States, the population is sizeable and so are the deaths but States are not in the context in this write-up. With the increase of 750 animals between two nationwide censuses the deaths equal them, or maybe if the unaccounted or missing ones are taken into account we are losing more tigers than conserving them.    

Even if we do not enter into the nitty-gritty of census and the growing numbers, the large number of deaths should be considered alarming. Add to this wrong labeling in case of poaching's being declared as territorial fights the figure rises exponentially. 

This points to lacunae in the management practices with regards to the conservation units all over India. Once we get over our obsession with tiger tourism, which by all means is innocuous with the regulation in place we have to dive in as to what is going wrong. 

We can call the poisoning of cattle or other livestock killed by a tiger a man-animal conflict. But live wire, snaring, hunting by gun or other weapons is not a man-animal conflict it is poaching or pure murder and a crime. This is going on for too long in India for comfort, and no concerted effort is being noticed for the amelioration of this deadly scourge. 

Why this neglect?

This is not a pure case of neglect there are gaps in our protection mechanism. And the solution is at the macro level.  

The number of such incidences could be reduced if the local staff or ground staff is proactive, alert, and effective. The latter aspect is missing. The post is part of a huge government sector called the forest department and is under the aegis of State machinery.  Still, under colonial makeover, the department functions in isolation and is not proactive enough to invite public involvement hence there is no voice as a result. Most of the news generated is by an instance of tiger death and at best limited to the incident often without many details. 

Hierarchical Alienation

Hierarchical alienation is evident since some of the top brass function in isolation surrounded by a coterie which includes the ubiquitous babus. Add to this there is substantial political interference, and corruption for which not all, and the department as a whole, cannot be blamed. There are honest and hard-working people in the whole hierarchy starting from the top. But those corrupt mar the functioning and this impacts conservation initiatives.              

Hierarchical alienation leads to lower staff which is most instrumental in the protective mechanism work in complete isolation, and in a weakened position. There are two reasons: lack of support from the higher-ups since many least bother to work at ground level, and an ineffective legal mechanism. I had been pointed out these lacunae in the system by the ground staff many times. The enormity of administrative work could be another reason for the lack of interest in the field.    But let's keep in mind the dedicated honest work loving in the management the reason behind success in an increase in numbers. I am not judging everyone under the same lens since a lot of commendable work has been done.

Corrupt officials and subordinates interfere in the functioning or are lax in their attitude. Some in the management of tiger reserves are just there to while away their time with no interest in conservation, while some are not fit enough to undergo rigorous physical and mental demands of fieldwork. As regards this, it has been pointed out time and again that placement should be subject to merit. But this is not happening as favoritism, personal preference and political influences are still being talked about. Readers should note that political/administrative pressures and demands are very much prevalent in this ecosystem. Special privileges especially as regards tourism must come to an end.

 Core Vs Buffer

The anomalies in the core or the inviolate area are much less, and greater administrative cohesion is seen. This is due to a better sense of duty, pride in the heritage, and public pressure that is constantly hovering. 

The buffer is the convergence point where outside influences creep in. The outside group comprises of political goons, mafia, and detractors mostly those under severe threat perception, or under the influence of organizations that do not agree with conservation practices. 

We must also note that a good number of locals are bereft of wilderness, treat predators as threats, see herbivores as food, and have the least interest in conservation. This leaves out dedicated officers and ground staff who nevertheless carry out their duty to save the animals that survive between humans. To the benevolent group, we must add the staff, guides, small businesses benefiting from tourism and the number is sizeable. This group is supportive of all conservation initiatives and put in efforts to make them a success. 

The beat guard or forest guard is most susceptible to threats, negative influences, stressful working conditions, and as mentioned earlier he works weakened. This leads to a weak protection mechanism in the buffer where most of the tiger deaths are taking place. Few incidences do take place in the core as well especially in areas near the buffer. The borders of our tiger reserves are porous and people can enter easily as not every nook and corner can be guarded. 

In most of our tiger reserves, in spite of demands for parts due to TCM or other reasons poaching is less. Few small times poachers do exists and kill tigers accidentally wide a mechanism meant to obtain game meat. But this is happening regularly and modus operandi is live wire or snares. The ultras wherever present prevents sound protection.            

Revenge for man/livestock kills can be termed as man-animal conflict and this is done using poisoning of the half-eaten carcass. As a preventive measure, the tiger kill is removed so that in absence of predator poising will have no impact and this is working effectively in the periphery of the reserves. But for other maladies, there is no solution yet.    

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Uday is a blogger and offers Seo + Content For Digital Marketing Services. 

He teaches digital marketing (SEO) in Jabalpur.

He freelances as a naturalist/birder at Kanha National Park. He loves to write about travel. 

He can be contacted at: 

pateluday90@hotmail.com

09755089323

Author

The Embattled Tiger

She was beaten to death?

Tiger

Why?

Was she intruding into human settlements, did she injure or kill humans? Or are we intruding into her land? The latter is not probable but the truth - an axiomatic truth without doubt. 

In the parliament,  or at hustings whence serious issues are being battled environment is not an issue at all...or maybe but at an insignificant level. Paying lip service to the conservation of wildlife and saving the environment is a sure-shot act of evasion from being ostracized by the club of those who are aware and the unrelenting media.  

Except for the headlines, I did not bother to read the story. 

This is a story that is happening almost now and then and may continue till the big cats are alive in the wilderness in India. 

Undoubtedly the tiger is the World's most persecuted land-based carnivore. Extensive hunting, poaching, traditional medicines, cosmetics, toiletries, man-animal conflicts, prey base reduction, and now habitat takeover and destruction at the speed of light. Not that these things did not happen before. They did! And that is why this big cat is in a precarious state almost on verge of extinction where ever it now survives. At most of the places on Earth at its former range, it has been exterminated, mercilessly killed as vermin, or kicked out of its home. The dastardly acts continue... 

On Tiger Day the newly collated census will be announced, and the increased numbers will be touted as enhanced conservation but unfortunately, the efforts are mired in a greater number of problems the carnivore is facing than that being highlighted. The epiphany will never point to the population crossing the threshold of the imminent possibility of extinction in India. Because tiger conservation has to be comprehensive in tackling the convergence of wide-scale issues and conflicts that are threatening the species in this country.   

Ours is such a human-centric society and greedy as well that we will continue to exterminate other life forms especially those that take on cudgels with us like the predators...

We also consume wildlife as food and medicine which is putting under stress populations of many beleaguered life forms, especially the aquatic species. This too continues and involved in these illogical farming are some of the most rational countries. TCM is a big scourge and the big cat is the biggest sufferer.  But we have to be aware that the feline parts are in demand in India as medicine and talisman as well but it is much less. People are fond of tiger nails as well which is a threat to the survival of this species...poachers are encouraged due to the demand for these parts. All of us should let go of this malady with immediate effect.     

In India, though great efforts are being made to save the tiger - which also include that of some NGOs. The efforts have been thwarted on regular basis by policy conflict with an emphasis on rapid development and economic pursuits that hinder a rational approach due to these exigencies. Nefarious elements are always a threat to wildlife in any country.  

Enamored as we are with this modern structural empowerment all around us which enable utilization of all modern amenities at our doorstep at the press of a button making natural habitats and environment concerns deep secondary and extremely vulnerable. 

Those at the helm have to sit down and concur on how best we can develop without damaging nature and neglecting environmental concerns. 

The tiger is to blame for the attack on humans a species sacrosanct, and the supreme master of this Earth. That humans are encroaching on its land is of least concern and hardly discussed whence an event like a man killing or lynching of the tiger occurs. 

We are devouring land like we should not, but who cares townships, highways, and factories are essential components of our society. Protest could result in repercussions of the worst kind. Even though it is apparent that man-made leaps on Earth cannot be prevented yet we can mitigate the harm we are causing to nature and its vital components that can save the tiger for eternity.  

We have moved forward far from treating wild animals as vermin we actually conserve them...do we? Killing tigers and other wild forms as a remedy for the safety of humans is not conservation. Do we dwell deep into the contingency that prevails in our society? Have we found the answer to sporadic poaching, forced incursions into human habitations, electrocution of animals, habitat destruction which is shamefully reoccurring, or wood logging going unnoticed at many places in India? 

Are we serious about tiger conservation or.....? 

We are a savage civilization but do not appear so, morphed perhaps by modern appendages and a mannerism that is broad-scale deceptive. We know very well that we are dependent upon the offerings of nature and the equilibrium in the Earthly environment...and yet we choose to neglect the vital components like the tiger that nature is desperately trying to retain. 

Nature is a chain of things indelibly linked to each other, a fragile web that is giving away, thanks to our rabid incursions...as a result, global warming-related climate change is taking place. What about extreme water shortages in many places? Are we concerned? Need we pay a greater price. We will because we are refusing to mend our ways.   

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Uday is a naturalist and writes on tiger conservation and the environment:
Contact: pateluday90@hotmail.com
9755089323

Who Are the Perpetrators of Worst Injustice on Earth!

This article certainly does not extol the virtue of vegetarianism but at the same time does not criticize personal food choices. I eat meat strictly whence slaughtered without pain. This article does not extol the preaching in Vedas which have since five thousand years back advocated the preservation of life forms precious - through veneration. We consider cows holy. But at the same time do we treat our cows well??? Leave them on streets hungry, and derelict and become a cause of deadly accidents and yes of International Shame.    

This article speaks about other life forms! Have mercy on all life forms, including (vermin sic) that may not agonize you whence tortured or killed. I mean all. 

How some of us treat them!

NO question mark if you notice above. Some of us are merciless inhuman or life forms of the worst kind. When threat perception arises, greed overcomes, sports instincts or just plain hate gives some of us extreme pleasure and revengeful feelings arise...some of us do the following:  

Kill, snare, maim, and electrocute a tiger. Hang a leopard by the pole after thrashing it to death. Kill a deer and distribute meat. Tie a sloth bear and display. The state of the rhesus macaque as the above image speaks. Kill a snake on sight. Thrash a dog. Kill a bird with a slingshot! Shoot animals for pleasure and sport. Torture animals for sport in the name of culture. Crush elephants under the rails, and kill them as raiders in their own land. Cage animals for pets, and hang them dead on the wall as decor. Wear fur, make shoes, and trophies of wild animals. Incarcerate a fish for life in a glass container.   

Snatch scant habitats of other lifeforms. Who are the usurpers? The land grabbers? After doing this some still affirm their belief in the almighty. Did the almighty create life to be treated this way! 

What exactly is sacrosanct? Only that which affects our sensitivities or goes against the dogmas? 

Some of us even consume endangered wild animals and birds with scant regard to their status. Wood loggers, polluters of our precious water sources, and those who dig deep into mother earth for greed. Those who ravage forests - our lungs and grassland....the precious ecosystems.  

These are the vermin! Their acts will one day force us to explain to our gen next on respirator....that is why we failed you.  

That some of us do not care about other life forms, especially those who fail to agonize over their sensitivity. It is obvious!      

All those who indulge in these callous merciless activities are creatures of the worst kind. No need to hide behind the veil of culture, ideology, or other sensitivities for the perpetrators of inhuman deeds.  

The message is clear preserve all Earthly elements and life forms or perish!

What we can do? Prevent animal cruelty if possible! Speak or write against this cruelty!  

Brutalizing The Wild

The picture of the crucified leopard depicts how we treat our wild brethren and glorify our deeds. It also tells us that the World is a human-dominated society where other life forms have no status. Well some of them have been labeled as endangered. 

At least the mauling of charismatic animals in India is duly reported by enthusiastic writers and newsmen aiming for victory reporting. 

The tigers and leopards are lucky because their demise is a matter of concern for those who are concerned thanks to reporting. The wolfs, jackals, deer, wild cats, antelopes, birds, insects, and snakes all are dying but their demise is mired in silence. Forests are being ravaged unseen. We do not know when it will be too late. Perhaps there will be an alternative as humans are good at finding.      

The picture also depicts what most of the humans in India perceive as predators and of course the benign species which are hardly ever reported dead. It tells us that humans engaged in this barbaric activity are illiterate and ignorant. Well, not me! Some of them may be, but definitely, they do not appear to be of the elite class! But who did the decimation of tigers and other wild animals in India before the legislation? The burra sahibs - brown and white, the Maharajahs, nobels, all upper class and literate. Believe me, if the legislation had not been in place these very elite now-turned conservationists would have shot them all down.      

Those we see in the picture indulging in shameless revelry did not have the privilege to decimate our wild animals in the past. Are they making up for it? 

No they are just expressing extreme threat perception...and their ignorance of course. We have not taken up the cudgels to instill an iota of sympathy among them for these so-called killer animals. The only thing they understand is what they see. A human gored by a leopard, a man eaten by a tiger, a child snatched by a wolf, and whatnot. These are stray incidents that do happen and can be avoided with extra vigilance perhaps or better management. Why not? We are not short of wildlife managers or experts in this country who have proved their mettle.      

Why Not? 

Because we live in a system that is only concerned with those with equity...purchasing power, voting muscle, wealth, clout, and all the desirable attributes that make humans a big success.

Because we are overawed by the development mantra and sizzling scales of the economy. We are indulging in luxury and comfort provided by material things. We do not care about the price we are paying for all that. We want more and more... 

Politicians do not care for lifeforms with the missing attributes mentioned above. Bureaucrats those who do care are simply subdued by the lords and the system. We the people are busy with day-to-day life and many for amassing wealth and power, wilderness and nature do not come into the picture or at the most a bit of concern. The conservationists, environmentalists, and nature lovers...this fraternity takes on all the load of the future to be. What happens when ecosystems like tropical forests are inhabitable? What happens whence the rivers dry out as consequence? What happens whence global warming cannot be checked? Wild animals and nature all are inextricably linked with the habitable Earth. Well, so many questions? 

Of major concern to me is, the answer that we will have to give to the next of next-gen....or it may be imminent. For our lethargy, greed, and neglect of the wilderness, a heavy price will have to be paid. And the bells have started tolling already!         

Read on Killing of A Leopard
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Uday works as a Naturalist Guide
Contact: pateluday90@hotmail.com
Mobile: 9755089323

Who Shot The Tiger?

AVNI!

The gun silenced her. The deadly bloodthirsty weapon that is responsible for the death of millions of wild animals. The weapon-yielding Sahib stood proud after having killed Avni. He was the master of all he surveyed not the tiger! A nongovernment actor did he have the legal powers to kill? If not, is this the way we wish to be governed? None of the gazetted could shoot??? More hunters will be born.

The deed has been done and precious human lives have been saved. But there emerges a question mark(?) - Our conservation ethos and policies that govern wildlife in India. Another fact emerges that our administrators are helpless whence mass agitation takes place for an event that requires deeper initiative and careful handling. Exigency could be unjustified.   

A few signatures, paperwork, administrative proceedings, and the ground were cleared for extermination. No court!No Judge!No protests! No recourse to her life! Animal!

It is all populist. It is for votes. No, it is for saving precious human lives...there you have it kill the tiger. We will take care of the cubs later or let them perish.   

Did Avni deserve to die? 

Don't know the answer?

Well here is the clue. 

She was allegedly responsible for the death of thirteen humans who had intruded into her land now usurped. She was intruding into land slated for development and was moving in between sensitive human habitats. 

With cubs in tow, she was aiming to increase her lot and claim back the land where her ancestors once roamed free. 

It is tigers versus development! Was it a happening land...under development - highways, factories, cities, storehouses, markets, shops, restaurants, and whatnot? The way to go! Usurp all the land in the country. We are the masters. 

She was an impediment to our way of life and of course, our fast-changing habitat filled with the suffocating warmth of carbon dioxide, rich particles, and ever-pervasive foul smell that we attribute to pollution, garbage, road shit, and dense human settlements.         

In India, the die has been cast a long time back. It is development unhindered, unplanned and a ruthless march to economic progression. We the rulers of the Earth have defined a way of life no other life form can challenge or act as an impediment. 

Peace, justice, security, prosperity, and development are not possible for us amidst marauding carnivores in the vicinity. They should be shot. No Hearing! No Appeal! No Redress! After all, tigers are animals, not humans.

History!

The erstwhile British rulers were ruthless whence it came to exterminating the tiger and other wild species in India designated as vermin. The hunters took guns they brought, and the Maharajahs, elites, sahibs, and their satraps indulged in ruthless orgy all contributing to cleansing the Earth of vermin so that humans could plow and live in eternal peace. They were brutal, irrational, devoid of compassion, and had no understanding of nature and the diversity upon which our lives are so dependent. 

We are worse!

We follow a creed that inculcates nature worship and teaches us the value and sanctity of all life forms and precious elements. We live in the land of Vedas!

But we have acted worse! Why blame the masters! We have killed more animals, we have extensively ravaged forests, grasslands, deserts, mountains, waterways, river systems, and other habitats for our greed and we continue to do so. Ha! We have been comprehensive.  

In contemporary India we are denotifying protected areas, we are denuding forests if not by intent then by pure negligence and greed, we are dissecting forests for highways, granting leases for mining in remaining natural lands, and even small pockets of wilderness are being allocated for construction. 

Why because we certainly do not care. In my hometown an institution came up on a patch of forest with wildlife whence there was plenty of completely denuded land around. This is our state of planning. 

Let us understand one thing the large section of administrators and politicians are unaware of regarding nature conservation and many cares little for our wildlife. Do not expect much from governance to take care of the remaining habitats in India. The inviolate protected areas are a must but the rot does not stem at that since there is plenty of wilderness all around the country and that has to be guarded with zeal and utmost sincerity.  

We do not want the whole country to turn into urbanity comprising of highways, malls, smoke-emitting factories, and unplanned settlements. All this should constitute a small portion and the greater expanse should be that of natural lands untouched by humanity. Stay away from our forests, rivers, deserts, mountains, and grasslands, Do not kill our animals, not a tiger and not even a deer. 

Tiger Conservation

Incidences like the extermination of AVANI are a cause of consternation. Are we moving in the right direction in order to save the big cat from extinction? Tiger conservation is a comprehensive program and it is a National imperative.  

As a Nation are we capable of saving the tiger? We may not lack the ability and resources but do we have the will and concern? For example, can we allocate more inviolate land to the tigers and other life forms for their survival or let them suffocate in fractured land.     

Will we keep losing AVNI time and again! Saving the tiger is a matter of National Pride for all of us and we should overcome it.  

Tiger - Teerath Singh

Killing The Tigers Are We Living in Stone Age?

Indian Tiger

News

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! 

Intruding Male Tigers Killing Cubs

With the sad demise of Budbudi female, her cubs would have perished as well or perhaps eaten by the intruding male tiger. An impressive number of cubs are born every year, but few survive to repopulate the reserves in India.

The males that sire the cubs do not kill them but rather protect them from attacks and often meet and share meals with the family as a matter of assurance. It is the duty of not only the female but the male as well to see the cubs through the two plus years of vulnerability.   

The territorial hold of dominant males is porous and is often intruded on by transgressing rivals. This is bound to be as male tigers are peripatetic, busy patrolling their territory leaving females and cubs vulnerable to an attack by an intruding male. It is difficult to manage large territories that the dominant cats hold. They may have mated with other females in their area in order to ensure a healthy population of their species. Darwin's survival of the fittest is very much evident in tiger landscapes where the battle for space and food is intense.    

The killing of young ones is a natural phenomenon and insures the transfer of better genes. Well, this can not be often as many times the intruding male is sent packing or is unable to kill all the cubs. Death of all the cubs could mean females coming back into oestrus. This is what the intruding males seek. By killing all the cubs they are able to transfer their genes. 

The big cats are possessive mothers and go out of their way to protect young ones. Not only protection but also impart skills for survival in the wilderness. In order to remain safe they keep on shifting their territories but the shifting process may make them more vulnerable to attacks by rival males.  

Whence the tigress is able to resist takeover it could ensue into an internecine battle often resulting in the death of the female. The male is hurt too but being stronger and larger is able to fend off death. This is what happened in the case of Budbudi tigress in Kanha National Park. The male eventually consumed the female which again is not surprising.     

Tigresses do mate with more than one male to ensure fertilization as well as avoid conflict with a rival. This often happens whence the males are siblings and hence allowed to stay in the vicinity. The big cats show greater tolerance towards their siblings than towards strangers.     

Within a spate of a couple of months about ten cubs have been killed at Kanha National Park. This is a regular occurrence and those that have lost young cubs may soon give birth to another litter. These events certainly do not call for human intervention since is nature doing its bit.  

The loss of young ones is certainly sad since we are losing tigers fast due to other factors chiefly lack of habitat, electrocution, and poaching. But many times hundred percent survival rate is experienced in well-managed parks, and this is what maintains a population balance in the ecosystem.

The cubs are vulnerable for two years but take more time than that to learn and gather experience. This is essential to fend off dominant males hence they have to find uncharted territory. In case of space restriction, they have to face humans which are more dangerous than rival males.      

Tigers are prolific breeders and swiftly replenish their stock if adequate protection and space are provided.  Winters are preferred for mating albeit it goes on throughout the year as and when the opportunity arises. This is the period whence conflicts are accentuated including territorial fights among the males. 

Generally, the core undisturbed area is sought after by dominant males. The high prey base, water, and adequate shelter make the core inviolate area preferable to the buffer which is littered with settlements and farms.             

    

Tiger Cannibalism - Budbudi Queen Lost

Loud roars were heard during the morning safari at Karai Ghati road. But no tiger was seen and the commotion was made out to be a kill by a tiger possibly a Dhamangaon male who frequents the area. 

Whence we heard about the incident we explored the area nearly an hour later. The jungle had fallen silent and there was no sign of any life forget the big cat. 

During the evening safari, I advised guests staying at Courtyard House Kanha where I freelance as a naturalist and host to inspect the spot. They sighted what was actually Sangam male a visitor to Karai Ghatti.  

Sangam Male

Pranav Ade & Pratik Mudholkar are wildlife enthusiasts and keen photographers who have taken some excellent photographs of the killer male. The partially eaten carcass was later dragged towards the road and it was discovered to be that of another tiger. On inspection by the forest department, it was found to be that of Budbudi female the star of Kisli Range and Queen of Kanha. 

Much is conjectured about the incident but it is assumed that the male killed her as she was not willing to mate. Or it could be that he was after her cubs? In defense of the cubs, she gave up her life. But it is not certain that she had cubs albeit a search is going on. 

Often seen at Kisli Talao and Budbudi fire line she was very popular with guides, naturalists, and regular visitors to Kanha National Park. 

Another tiger lost, a sad story but what is more saddening is the fate of the cubs? Search will reveal the true status of the female and I hope soon.        

   Image Courtesy Pranav Ade

Why Are We Not in The Tiger's Food Chain?

Do humans taste awful? 

Do we have less meat?

Have we been ousted from genetic coding of the tiger's food habits? 

The last question seems more of a plausible answer. 

This Story: Is probably repeated but this time with a twist. 

Having lost a wonderful sighting of Chota Munna somewhere in Kanha meadow we set our brains busy. We then began to encircle a mountain to reach a fire line that the big cat often frequented after crossing over the grasslands in the plains.     

Two alarm calls made us stop a little ahead. And then we heard him. Thinking he would circumvent since there was no doubt that he knew of our presence and exactly.    

Hence I stood up to take a peak over the tall grass and bush. We could hear him brush past the thickets...he had come closer. We were in the middle of the jungle road but in that silence, all seemed still except the massive tiger climbing uphill. 

And then straight from the bushes, I could see the white patches peering at me.  We were at a distance nevertheless fear engulfed me. I quietly sat down. Many times on safari the big cats emerge by surprise at a distance good enough to attack visitors. We reversed immediately to be at a safer distance. At our first sight, the big beast could have charged at us but the attack did not take place. As it does not almost always...

From that spot, the cat turned back only to emerge from an opening situated a little ahead. Without a glance at us, he began to ambush deer from time to time hungry as he was.     

A lone tusker in muust could have charged, maybe we could have been charged if the animal was a wild water buffalo...   

That made me think ...the massive tiger was hungry...yet he did not go after us... he would not have attacked a forester on foot in his kingdom. The staff patrols the whole forest on foot and two-wheeler every day without an incidence.... 

Anshuman Singh

Man-killing is rare and is considered an aberration or an act of self-defense whence a surprise.  It is evident tigers do not consider us as food till more stressful situations arise...As we say there is plenty of meat (prey) for the predators to survive.    

In most, man-killing cases hunger drives invalidated tigers to kill humans but this is a cause. Else they prefer to stay away from us. 

Possible another answer to this benevolence is that somehow we appear indomitable to the predator. The other answer could be that we have managed to stay away from the wild food chain for a long and that has cut us out of the system. 

It is true that other life forms are fearful of this two-legged creature...and their intelligence warns them to stay away. Hence no animal attacks without provocation or fear. 

All said and done we should respect wildlife and maintain a safe distance always.      

Man Eating Tigers

Yesterday I was watching a film on Sunderbans and the man-eaters. The mystery has not yet been solved why this magnificent carnivore goes after humans only in these parts. The victims are usually fishermen, villagers, honey gatherers, and such people who venture deep into the forest.  

People also venture into dense confines in other tiger reserves but no such incident happens in these places. 

Why Sunderbans? 

Has rampant hunting elsewhere put the fear of man among the tigers which have been sent down the line. Such hunting has not taken place in the Sunderbans.  

Does this have something to do with the absence of large prey like the sambar, rhino, swamp deer, and bison? In recent times swamp deer, Javan rhino, one-horned rhino, water buffalo, hog deer, and barking deer have become locally extinct. Sambar and Bison have not been reported here...  

Tigers rely much on coarse grazers like bison, swamp deer, and sambar for food. This accords them with a sufficient amount of meat at low energy expenditure. During summers whence bison descend from hills to Kanha meadows predation by tigers becomes frequent.

Tiger in Forest

Swamp Deer

Male Tiger

The second line of prey in most of our tiger reserves is livestock, especially cattle and buffaloes. Perhaps this spares the lives of humans around in the buffer zones as man-eating seems unnecessary in these circumstances. 

Tigers are petrified in presence of humans, as I have often witnessed, hence leaving them alone seems to be the motto of the predators. 

But not in the mangrove-infested forest of Sunderbans it seems.  

Well, one does not know.

Well not till some researcher discovers the reason that has bellied us so far. 

Sunderban tigers not only kill those who venture into deep confines but attack rural folks in the neighborhood as well.   

The film sent a chill down my spine since as a naturalist I have frequent encounters with tigers and leopards. Well, it's a job and they all come with the negative. I would not let go of this adventure anyway.   

Photo Credits: Dinesh Makhija - Motel Chandan Kanha

Tragedy at Kanha

The most gentlemanly creature on Earth is tiger. This fact is well enumerated in wildlife journals and story books. But yet man fears this creature the most due to myths and mystical beliefs.

The tiger is an enigma and mystery and many describe the animal as most fearsome creature with spiritual powers that can wreck havoc on its enemy - man.

But in my years of scouring tiger forests, I have never come across an incidence of wanton killing by this magnificent beast. The explanation is forthright...tiger kills only for food. This sentence on tiger facts should sum it all for logical beings who understand the meanings of written and spoken words well.

The incidence took place this year when a "chara cutter" (grass cutter) had gone into the forest in early morning hours to fetch the elephants that track tigers and carryover tourists to the spot where the tiger has been located by mahouts or elephant riders.

It was the wee hour of the morning with visibility near zero. The chara cutter had moved into the forest right up to the Kanha Meadow...laboriously following the elephant spoor. Whence he reached the meadow he realized that the elephant he was looking for was deeper inside.

Kanha meadow is the prime tiger country and is at present a grassland habitat for a tigress with cubs. Death was lurking in the darkness for the poor man. He had no idea that he was close to the tigress with cubs. Tigresses are over zealously protective mothers and charge at anyone who dares come threateningly close to the cubs.

The defense mechanism of tigers is simple...run away or move quietly from all dangers, and in other circumstance offense becomes the best defense. The latter was the case of the chara cutter of whose intentions the tigress was unsure. In order to defend herself and the cubs near by see charged. The chara cutter could see the tigress moving aggressively towards him. His last word over the wireless communication set was a desperate call for help.

It was all over in seconds and the mahouts who landed up on the spot later found him lying in pool of blood - dead. Death is instantaneous in a tiger attack as the canines target the neck region in order to rupture the blood vessels and the vertebrae is crushed completely on impact.

Had the tigress been alone she would have quietly moved out of the picture, but with the cubs around it was not possible, hence she charged at the two legged creature. In local folklore it is said that the tiger marks its prey much in advance by sound, but I have on many instances seen tiger surprised by other animals and man. This is because of preoccupation at times. She may have come to know of the man's presence but had no idea that he would come so close. She must have missed his approach as her attention was riveted on the cubs.

Had she enough time to move the cubs into a hiding, I am sure a life would have been saved.

I saw the tigress on many wildlife safaris later, carrying over her tiger business of finding prey or just relaxing after a successful hunt. There was no aggression or blood thirst on her countenance.

"It was pure self defense man," she seemed to inform me apologetically.

The false beliefs about tiger cruelty and about the magical healing powers of its bones has put the graceful and beautiful animal unto sad plight.

God Save The Tiger!

Man eating tigers of India

Every since Jim Corbett published accounts of man eating tigers in Kumaon region, the phenomena of man eating tigers and leopards reached the World.

Tigers are top predators in the food chain. They are tertiary carnivores and hence indicator species of the forest ecosystems. The main prey base of the tigers and leopards are the herbivores albeit the big cats eat anything that walks on four legs. In Indian forests the tigers hunt spotted deer, sambar deer, swamp deer, wild boar, langur monkey and at times bison, elephant calf and porcupine. Tigers are known to predate on leopards but that is more of a territorial conflict than the quest for food.

Tigers are dense forest animals and avoid open or scrub forest. They need cover to hide since they hunt by ambush. They need lot of shade as they cannot bear the heat. Hence good prey base, dense forest cover and water is essential to a tigers habitat.

By nature humans are not included in tiger's food. The reason is that tigers are afraid of humans and avoid them always. The jungles of India once harbored a large number of tigers before deforestation, unchecked hunting and poaching took its toll. Susbsequently it affected the prey base or the population of the herbivores. The scarcity of prey base put the tiger under a major stress and some resorted to man eating by accident in these circumstances. In quest for food, tigers in forests with inadequate prey base wandered near human habitation. In search of food they began to lift cattle. In the conflict with man it sometimes resulted in accidental killing of humans. On discovering the ease with which humans could be killed the tigers emboldened with this finding went on killing spree where lot of humans lost their lives.

Tigers also turned into man eaters when injured by hunters to such an extent that they could not hunt their natural prey since their hunting prowess get affected. Unprofessional adventurous shikaris where the main culprits behind this man killing by tigers.

Once the tiger turns into a man eater it goes after humans with amazing efficiency. A man eating tiger is difficult to track and kill as it moves swiftly from one place to another in order to avoid alerting humans. A man eating tiger can cover a range of as much as hundred kilometers during the period. The incidence of man killing has come down drastically as there are hardly any tigers left outside prime habitats. The incidence of man killing by leopards is still higher as the leopard is more stressed out due to want of space and prey base.

Rarely do tigers kill by intent. There are accidental killings taking place by tigers and these rarely result in tiger turning into a man eater. The accidents happen if humans venture too close to an unaware tiger, a tiger on kill or to a tigress with cubs. The first instinct of tigers is to move away from human beings. But in certain circumstances this is not possible and the animal is forced to attack in self defense.

Tiger is a gentleman and follows the law of the jungle to a tee. Man eating under all circumstances is an aberration as even the most powerful of the tigers are known to fear man.

If tigers are conserved in India and their habitats are kept intact there would be no man killing incidences. The tigers face a road uphill, and their survival seems to be a deep uncertainty.

Labeling tigers as horrible and cruel man killers without understanding the real cause results in hatred being created for the animal. It is labeled of as vermin (as in earlier times) in minds of the human society which further escalates its chances of facing extinction in India and elsewhere.