Tiger
numbers may have increased over 25 per cent, from 1740 to 2286, in the Indian
forest landscape. But let us not get excited. There are too many loopholes that
dog our conservation policies, detrimental to the future of our flagship
species
The problem is at three levels. It begins with
our ‘learned’ environment minister Prakash Javadekar, percolates to the unholy
goings-on in forest department and the fight between fund-hungry, headlines
seeking NGOs.
Without
understanding the dynamics of forest and wildlife conservation, an excited Mr Javadekar
went to the extent of saying “India
is even willing to donate tiger cubs to the international community and play a
key role in global tiger conservation efforts". Wonder if he knows that
India was home to one lakh tigers when the British ruled us.
He should be given the
‘Padmashree’ for this blah-blah. He would do well to increase the area of tiger
habitats, instead of giving over-the-counter clearances for mining, hydro and infrastructure
projects in forests. Economic empowerment through development is welcome, but
not at the cost of our forest landscape, which is our only lung-space.
Mr Javadekar should understand that every
citizen is a stake holder. He can't destroy God's Gift to mankind: Forests and
wildlife. If he means what he says (gifting tiger cubs), let him increase the
size of our natural forests, instead of shrinking and fragmenting it to please
mining, oil, hydro and infrastructure tycoons.
Let’s talk
about our NGOs. Some are a bane to our wildlife. Take the instance of the
on-going rift between noted wildlife biologists Ullas Karanth and Sanjay Gubbi.
Karanth had no issues with Gubbi as long as he worked in his Centre for
Wildlife Studies (CWS) Empire. Both were on the same page when it came to
wildlife conservation issues.
But they
have turned bitter rivals. Why: Gubbi moved to the more reputed Nature
Conservation Society (NCF). Conservation has suffered in their battle for wildlife
turf. Karanth many believe has turned nasty. Two incidents bring his angst
against Gubbi to light.
First: When
a radio-collared leopard was found dead in the vicinity of Mysore, a picture of
the feline hanging from a tree was mysteriously released to a select group of
journalists. It was alleged that the leopard had died due to asphyxiation
caused by the radio collar.
When post
mortem reports revealed that the leopard had died of poisoning (zinc phosphide),
the forest department issued a statement that someone with malicious intentions
was creating trouble. Intriguingly, 30 RTIs had been filed to pin down Gubbi,
who had been given the go-ahead for radio-collaring leopards that come into
conflict with humans.
Second: When
a radio-collared tiger, which had killed a woman in Chikamagalur coffee estate,
was released in Bhimgad wildlife sanctuary near Khanapur (Belgaum), Karanth again
accused Gubbi. He went on to suggest that Gubbi was ill-experienced in
radio-collaring. He even went to the extent of asking for a government enquiry.
Yes, Gubbi failed in his endeavour. The
tiger killed another woman before it was shot dead.
Karanth
should also take responsibility for killing some of our tigers and leopards when
he was learning the nuances of radio-telemetry. His utterances, in his quest to
tarnish Gubbi’s image, has impacted wildlife conservation. Vinay Luthra, chief
wildlife warden, says it was the tiger (wildlife) that suffered in the battle
between two wildlife biologists.
Let’s hope
Karanth and Gubbi bury their differences for wildlife sake. Unless all of us
work in tandem, no conservation program will be successful, more so when
Javadekar is hell bent on clearing mining and infrastructure projects. Unlike
conservationists, Javadekar’s interest is dollars, not tigers.
ends
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