Murdering The Big Cats

The recent news article about the murder of Avani tigress of Pandharkawada in Maharashtra is a grim reminder of how we treat denizens of the forests especially our National Pride. The tigress was said to have killed some people in the neighboring region in a period of year or more.  

Avani was shot dead by a private hunter as the story goes sanctioned by the PCCF Maharashtra. Alternative means of controlling the virulent predator was perhaps limited to paper work. 

The ideal first step would have been to tranquilize the tiger especially since she was said to have been accompanied by her cubs. Little is known of her cubs (if any) since the news reports are limited to the menace she was supposed to have caused. 

While shooting the man eating tigress her cubs should have been taken into account. A safe passage in captivity should have been provided since rearing them in the wild would have been impossible. Now with the the mother gone they would be difficult to trace and probably die of hunger.  When organizing such campaigns the authorities should be aware of the critical status of the species. With tiger numbers at shamefully low level hasty imperatives could prove disastrous in the long run i.e. if we are serious about furthering the cause of our National Pride and an animal of prime ecological importance.  

Whether all norms were followed or not a detailed investigations would reveal the truth. But in a country where truth can be suppressed with ease using pressure or monetary lure there is little hope that the facts will emerge. Nevertheless now that the deed has been done efforts should be made to trace the cubs if any. This would perhaps ameliorate the damage caused to the vulnerable species. 

The action also speaks of tremendous pressure exerted by humans whence faced with a problem animal. Such is the pressure from people and politicians that all hell breaks loose and the imperative becomes the noose and no rational or mitigation measures could be taken except shooting the animal dead. The courts too are not of much help as human life on Earth is seen supreme above any other life forms.    

We are still under the hangover of the Raj whence all predators were considered as vermins and exterminated by offering a reward. Human first attitude is terribly tilted and other forms of life on Earth are like third grade citizens. While the thugs and goons are nurtured by some politicians anomaly in animal behaviour is considered as threatening to all humanity. We are simply incapable of finding alternate solutions for animals with aberrant behaviour and shoot out orders are the consistent norm. 

The problem in India is the spread of human footsteps all over the land. We have spread with such alarming zeal that few natural lands are in preserved state of perfectness. The ecological impact of this has been disastrous and is being worsened by dissecting or destroying few remaining habitats in India on the pretext of development. These are the causes of sad state of land use in India made worse by uncontrolled ever expanding population. 

Large tracts of forests cleared for agriculture and industry lie degraded providing no viable returns. These should be returned to nature or used for expanding urbanisatination or for the industrial expansion that the rulers are so zealous about.  None of the protected areas should be brought under the axe of development. 
====================================
Uday works as a naturalist and writes on issues connected with environment and tiger conservation in India.
He can be contacted at: pateluday90@hotmail.com
Mob: 9755089323