Who killed the tiger?

The cat and mouse game goes on while the tiger slithers away in India. Tourism certainly did not kill the tiger. By the time tiger tourism came into picture the magnificent animal was already in state of imminent extinction. That it still survives is because of robust equity created by tourism and its own charismatic appeal. (Conservation measures as well.)

Others see India as a soft state, but behind the garb of populist democracy some pernicious control mechanism and  authoritative systems still exists. This post colonial phenomena is the legacy of British Rule in India. What gives us credit is emergence of corrupt practices and phenomenal ability to mismanage and indecision.     

Nowhere it is apparent that tourism is the mother of decreasing population of tigers in India. Then will the spaces in our tiger reserves devoid of tourist offer poachers free fall all? Will the sentinels become complacent? Will the tigers breed more? Certainly there is lot of "will" here so time will tell.  

If fruitful tourism is banned, it will be very hard hitting. The first to suffer will be the locals who will loose employment and other means of income that tourism generates. The industry as whole will suffer and loose massive investment made. It would also be depressing for dedicated managers and staff who wish to see their labor appreciated.  

You have noticed that I have used the word fruitful tourism. Wildlife or Ecotourism is a highly competitive industry that competes globally. Large number of inbound tourist arrive in India for birding and wildlife watching. Fact remains that people wish to see the tiger apart from its brethren in the food chain. Unproductive visits would mean an impressive drop in the inbound visitors. The repercussion would be larger than perceived.     

Point of my writing this is that the tiger faces threats from other quarters. Should not we spend the time and resources fighting actual threats unitedly?  So much focus on tourism is bewildering since we have years of data that is suggestive of proper management but not ban. Maximum damage is caused by human settlements on forest and grassland ecosystems in India. Tourism inside the reserves can best be described as transitory without any appreciable resource utilization within.   

The management of tiger reserves do take proactive and protective measures whence question of breeding or other urgency arrives. Forest blocks have been closed for tourism in case of animal breeding and other urgency. This impromptu practice has been going on for years. This is not related to critical tiger habitat, a term that ensures the survival of species in a smaller area. Except for species that survive in an echo niche, tigers and leopards roam all the the reserve, buffer zone included.   

This is not a reaction to Hon. Supreme Court interim judgment nor is it a commentary on any institution. This is authors own perception of life in India.  

Searching for tiger in Pench

"When they do not want to be seen you don't see them." I explained to my friend who had just been to Tadoba. "Yeah that's what happened at Tadoba," my friend replied back. We were very hopeful that he and his family would see the tiger there since it was so much in picture. There had been frequent tiger sightings at Tadoba in Maharashtra, surpassing the Central Indian Tiger Reserves.     

Well I had warned them about the rains that could disrupt tiger safaris at the end of the season. That's what happened. It rained at both places and the safari was ruined. My friend was more hopeful at Pench with me along. He knows that I conduct tiger safaris and birding trips. But tigers are tigers unpredictable yet fathomable.

In National Parks these big cats are seen whence stressed for water and food. Heat and the need to chalk out their territory time and again brings them near the jungle roads. Yes a search for a mate also fetches them into the open. But on rainy day they prefer to relax under the canopy, and have water all around. There is no need for thermo-regulation which keeps indolent. The prey base is scattered all around. But tigress with cubs are more likely to move. If the cubs are grown up they stray away, but keep  in the vicinity of the mother. In such circumstances you should keep to the area of the family.       

Without tiger sightings, the long rides in the forest are not as disappointing as people think. It is the singular chase for tiger that dampens the whole excursion.

There is so much to experience, in these lovely forests, deers, monkeys, a sudden surprise - four Jackals on a kill. The birds are simply fantastic they are must watch even for those who are not bird watchers. The resplendent colors, the acrobatic flight and remarkable camouflage that surprises you no end. 

The massive bisons and the stately sambar peacefully foraging on long grasses is a wonderful sight to watch. Other life forms are an intrigue that thrills. A sloth bear ambling along and a leopard on prowl can be as exciting as a pack of wildlife chasing a deer and consuming it while still alive. Well that is how the nature works.         

The tiger some of us did see on the trip. We decided to move to the part of the river banks which was frequented by a tigress with grown up cubs. Another jeep spotted a tiger few minutes before we reached the banks of Pench River. They left as soon as the animal vanished leaving us to look for the big cat. We could hear lots of alarm cries but the bushes were very thick. 

We waited ahead in the direction of tiger walk but the animal had decided to change its course, I presumed. Hence I turned my binoculars towards the river and its bank. It was one roar that told me where the animal was. We headed back for some distance and then looked at the river bed through the clearing. All us were standing on the jeep seats to get a better view. (You are not allowed to get down from the jeep and you shouldn't.) 

"There it is! I whispered and pointed in the direction. Only one or two could see the tiger moving fast towards the other bank. The roar continued as it vanished into the tall grasses and that was that. I could still picture the scene but the roar was more exciting. My friends also appreciated this event. 'The roar was frightening," they said. Well it was!                

Saving The Tiger - Amitabh Bachaan

It is heartening to know that one of our star celebrities with massive following has joined hands to save the tiger. His involvement is an encouraging factor and with his persuasive power many an uninterested people will join in the foray. I was listening to the debate on TV and realized that his voice was more rationalistic than that of some of the erudite conservationists and conservationist speakers not necessarily present on the show.

In many years of my association with wilderness, I have realized that NGO's and activists too resort to populist measures. This may raise eyebrows, but I am perplexed myself as to why tourism is in focus all the time. Let me explain, I am visiting Kanha and Bandhavgarh National Parks since just whence tourism started.

In spite of rapid development of tourism in the boundaries and the tiger safaris in the park, the conservation methods have been immensely effective. The tiger population has grown and prey base has increased. The crown cover and the niche habitats have recovered as well. The massive awareness of our heritage wealth has been brought about by tourists visiting these reserves. Filmmakers and photographers have brought about International awareness about the wildlife and conservation hurdles in  India.

As far as controlling tourism goes, the authorities in tiger reserves of Central India have taken an appreciable measures. Tourism at Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Pench is being regulated effectively by the park authorities and the staff. Further study will certainly introduce more measure to reduce harmful effects if any. Employment to locals should be in priority basis. 

So how far does tourism pinch the conservation efforts?

There are issues as were being discussed on TV. One I heard very clearly was the large number of wildlife resorts on the periphery which are not viable. They have certainly blocked the movements of animals at places and have begun to host events that are not at all suitable near these forests meant for other life forms.

But these issues are not contributing to the decline of the tiger in India. The immediate concern is prevention of poaching. This threat is well realized since the incidents at Panna and Sariska. Tadobe Tiger Reserve has been in news lately of tiger poaching. This means an effective apparatus equipped with protection trained forces and an intelligence network that is proactive in nature. Most important is the will to act. Since years villages in the core areas have not been trans-located due to lack of funds, political interference and what not. Well Yes! Resorts and establishments obstructing the corridors should be included in this exercise.   

There is no mechanism which screens people concerned with conservation work before inducting them in this onerous task.  I have come across many an indolent lot without dedication and commitment. For such people park duty is more of a punishment posting. A hard working and committed staff at conservation units is a prerequisite for saving the tiger.

The regular reserved forests are being denuded almost all over the country. These where tiger habitats before hunting and land takeover began. Some of these forests are totally devoid of wildlife and subject to uncontrolled resource utilization. Many of these can be reconverted into habitats for animals like the tiger and the leopard.    

Disease prevalence becomes a big threat whence human incursion in wilderness increases. There have been cases of foot and mouth disease and rinderpest in such areas due to livestock. Man animal conflicts are taking serious toll of wildlife everywhere in the country.

With large number of people (who matter) participating in conservation efforts, things would work out better. There will be some succor for the beleaguered life forms neglected and persecuted by the dominant species - Man.

Wildlife Photographs by Teerath Singh

Tiger Photos by Teerath Singh

Some fine example of Tiger Photography by Teerath Singh based in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in MP in India. Teerath Singh organizes tiger photography tours in India in tiger reserves of Madhya Pradesh.  He and his team is able to assist amateur and professional photographers in their endeavor to capture tiger and wildlife images. Years of experience and guiding skills deliver their best for the photographers who come from all over the World.      

Dharma Giri - Wildlife Photography

Born in a small village near Chitwan National Park in Nepal Dharma Giri are a naturalist, birding guide, and nature photographer. He has worked in many conservation units in Nepal and India. He is working at present in Pench Jungle Home Resort as a manager and head naturalist.

Dharma Giri

Sambar Deer

Maletigerwithcub

Golden Jackal

Indian Ground Beetle

Jackal

Tigress

Gray Langur

Indian Leopard

Hard Ground Barasingha Kanha

Ruddy Mongoose

Sambar Doe

Spectacled Cobra

Tiger with Langur

Male Tiger with his cub

Vine Snake

Wolf at Pench

Dharma Giri's work is more of a study than professional photography. The images are as natural as they can be and exude empathy for the denizens of Indian Tiger Reserves. Most of the photographs have been taken at Pench National Park in MP, India.  He has captured astounding moments that display rare unbelievable facets of animal behavior.  

Drones to the rescue

With death looming large on the highly endangered tiger species effective conservation measure are the only solutions. But these   measures do not come easily in case of a lack luster approach as has been seen on many instances.  

The World Wide Fund or WWF has tested two drones that will locate poachers and inform the authorities. The unarmed drones are  capable of patrolling 25 sq km at a time. These are set to monitor conservation units in Nepal and tests have already been conducted in Chitwan National Park. 

The tiger reserves in India are very susceptible to poaching. This has been noted in the past at Panna and recently at Tadoba Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra.  An innovative and proactive approach is required and the drones set a fine example.   

Tiger Photos

Tiger Photographs By Tirath Singh at Bandhavgarh

Tiger Supari - India

The recent news in papers is alarming but nothing new, except that the tiger has achieved a near human status in India. Well of the negative kind. Killed, poached, hunted and displaced from his homelands for ever this animal species is a cynosure of all wildlife lovers and conservationists.  

In the resent times the animal has been victimized by a bizarre system of medicine, which has all but decimated the tiger population in China and elsewhere in the region. Hunting tiger is no longer a sport but poaching has taken over - for greed of money. The vast nexus of illegal traders of animal parts, local hunters and middle men is taking a toll of the species. 

The supari word is popular is the underworld. It is hiring a killer to kill an opponent or an innocent victim for money. Supari killing in India is rising alarmingly amongst the unemployed youth in India. The impunity with which the crime is executed is a frightening proposition. The loop holes and complexities in the law are the encouraging factors.

As far the tiger is considered there is no law, and hardly anyone is convicted of heinous wildlife crimes. Well tiger is not human enough, its charisma or importance does not appear to raise a hue and cry. A cry that will awaken the Nation. For the contract killers this would be a very easy and safe job. Keeping the demand of tiger bones in reckoning the deal would be lucrative, and by all means for some traditional communities of hunters turned poachers.      

The shoot at sight order in tiger reserves of Maharashtra is appreciable but not enough. More advance techniques in tiger protection, a supportive law and reign on local poachers is becoming more and more imperative. In spite of Wildlife Protection Act, poaching and intrusion in our reserved forests is quite common. This is what leads to graduation in hunting rare protected species in the most popular protected areas of the country. But who cares.       

The supari phenomenon as regards wildlife poaching will be a land mark measure as to how successful are conservation measures in India. Sophisticated criminals with capacity to exploit inherent corruption, advance killing mechanism and lure of the money will leave no stone unturned in achieving the heinous goals.  

Declining Tourism in tiger reserves - MP

Tourism is an important aspect of conservation in Indian tiger reserves. In spite of a negative outlook from many critics there is a rationale in accepting tourism as necessary in our protected area. The visitors and subsequent publicity is certainly helping in highlighting the protected areas as well as the keystone species.

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Tourism has been at the fore front of creating employment for the locals as well as in revenue generation for the Governments. Tourists on tiger safari do highlight the status of wildlife and the ecosystem as whole and hence act as a pressure group. 

The parks have succeeded in creating and equity of their own. Hence success in highlighting the importance of these valuable ecosystems and resource banks has done good. These remaining but badly fragmented areas are our only defense against global warming. 

Those who advocate ban on tourism in protected areas either have a privileged access or see this as elitist. There are some who suffer from myopia if nothing else. Contrary to the stance the tiger reserves have become robust ecosystems along with increase in populations of life forms in recent times. Since my visits to Central Indian reserves starting early seventies all these positive things have happened. Tourism has gradually peaked without any visible damage to the preserves. 

Control over safaris is being gradually tightened by the park authorities. This has been instrumental in stress reduction and mitigating damage to the local environment. One odd incidence, aside a major damage causing incidence has not occurred due to tourism since the inception of protect area status.  On the contrary many PAs with little or no presence are in a neglected state and perhaps perpetual decline. Their future is in dark. Tourist pressure - often critical - also acts as a support base for the management. The management is singly tackling the menace of uncontrolled resource utilization, poaching and wood logging - not forgetting political interference and apathy. The tourist actually create a comprehensive pressure group over the whole protection mechanism and the policy making.                      

The recent increase in entry fee (gate fee)  has curbed tourism to an appreciable extant in the major protected areas of Central India. There is a danger that these destination will only affordable by the rich and other will be set aside. This also spells death knell for the many locals and hotels & resorts who are solely dependent upon income from tourism. With the paradigm change taking place in protected areas the hotel industry will have to change according and look towards upscale tourist or close down. The internal competition is a hindrance hence for many shutters are going to roll down.    

Though creating a mad rush in our conservation unit is inadvisable there has to be a balance. Nature tourism should be affordable for average men keeping in mind the inherent benefits. A more balanced approach will be  appreciated. Increasing the infrastructure in less popular PAs would certainly reduce pressure on popular National Parks in the country.