The Commercialization of Wildlife

Mr. Behl
Other than the large animals like the tiger, the black buck, the Indian rhino etc, there is a variety of flora and fauna that is disappearing from the Indian forests is there not? Some of these animals are not large or beautiful or appealing enough to warrant a huge publicity blitz. However they are as useful for the eco-system as our national animal, and it`s kind. Eco tourism or what passes off for it is probably more damaging to these little animals.

I know BNHS used to pay attention to these little animals too. Is there anything going on to save the litte animals and plants now?

I wonder if you remember Gerald Durrell. He established a zoo in the Channel Islands for precisely animals like these, that were endangered but never quite on the star material list of the animal world and therefore not worthy of prime time media attention.

``A bit of encouragement would be good for the future Nash``(Behl)

my apologies -- you as a conservationist in India I salute you Behl sahib for your efforts and dedication –

I think I have heard your name -- conservation in India is a very difficult unappreciated colossal task -- needs lots of educating of masses and environmental consciousness especially among those of educated class -- and it`s an urgently needed yet thankless job –

India is lucky to have a passionate environmentalist like you...

I think you are right -- this was an argument for the argument sake -- we both are indeed on the same band....tigers are my ``dukhti ruug`` -- because in my youthful heady hunting days I have committed some serious sins against this animal -- out of sheer ignorance of conservational issues in those days -- for which I still feel ashamed of.....and try to make amends howsoever pitiful....

Please do write in another column specially dedicated to Indian Tigers -- as to what is the truth and what is exaggeration about their diminishing numbers -- and what remedies are there to save this majestically magnificent species -- and in what way we could help....please.

indeed it takes a lot of money to do conservation -- so why commercialization of resorts to help pay for the projects is not a good idea?

....especially in terms of Indian tigers as I know there is no government money for the preservation of Indian tigers -- plenty for the upkeep of the Nuclear tiger.....

plenty for the upkeep of the Nuclear tiger..... (nash)

I agree to that true saying and thanks for the encourgement. My Father was a hunter from the times at the tea plantations and i think it just made me realise how important the coexistence of animals are for the future of human civilization. Your support and advice will definetely bring a postive attitude towards the harsh days you have been with the loss of species. I presume at that time hunting was more of a royal sport but nowdays sustainable hunting in some parts of the world (case studies in Africa or some tribes of south america) is a good way to keep the species in existence and thus benefit or utilise tourism as a vital tool for conservation.

Behl sahib -- what are you saying when you say -- ``Whereas, Chinese markets are causing an environmental impact.`` -- Chines markets are killing our tigers -- not our environment.....! are we on the same band.....?

14 tiger skins were discovered from one raid in New Delhi the poachers had already shipped the bones and the meat to China and Taiwan thru Nepal Tibet route....the underground trade route....for tiger products....

when Indra Gandhi was in control she practically saved the Indian tigers from extinction -- now apparently no body is minding the store......

Just a rethink to what you said: Chinese markets are killing our tigers -- not our environment.....!

Nash, Tigers are our Environment and it all flows through their food chain. If the Tiger goes there would be a massive increase in prey with no sample distribution (e.g, increase in deer population) which would not be good for the whole existence of India`s biodiversity & ecology therefore, that`s the environmental impact which chinese have caused with their trade.
Even hunting for that matter of Deer population in Indian parks are as important issues like the chinese trade coz hunting is decreasing the Tigers prey population and thus causing massive environmental problems.

You are just looking at problems from a chinese prospective. Wake up there are more wider issues. It is a chain formation and a lot of breakages in that chain. How do you wear it thats the question?

The Protected Area Management system in India is a strict Top - Down level. This is where the government says all what is necessary and people abide with it. Now. that is not good for India`s future. Some pockets (meaning parks) could have a co-management system where important issues like empowerment to communities could be vital. This could lead to reposible ethics and future improvements, keeping in mind again that all the impacts (environment, socio - cultural and economical) are well addressed and followed by key policy makers.

Regarding Indira Gandhi, she did not go personally and save the tigers from extinction ... It was a collective support from a lot of people and she being the chair (and India`s then Prime Minister) had a massive part to play.

Another thought nash: I very well know what is happening with the bone and tiger trade route. I am in regular touch with a lot of agencies involved with the findings and have personally visited places to view things.

Talking about the Collective support system - and thats what we conservationists look forward from people like yourself to encourage and support the cause not just debate on it.

I think you are just having this debate for an argument sake. Think about what you write sometimes regarding India`s conservation.

A bit of encouragement would be good for the future Nash

Thanks

I think the first interacts from Nash clearly missed the point of the whole
article. It is not a `twisted sentence` as he pointed out, but simply
pointing out that while `saving the tiger` has become a goal that everyone
wants to take part in, the majority of people neglect to look at the
foundations that are required to ensure any `saving the tiger` programme is
successful. As with anything in life, if you build your foundations on sand:
therefore neglecting the real and fundamentally crucial issues that are
continuing the demise of the tiger, then you have no hope of succeeding in
whatever programme you initiate. Human/animal conflict is fundamental to the
survival/demise of the tiger and without addressing this any programme is weak
from the start. You can jump on the band wagon and say your `saving the
tiger` but are you actually?

sometimes i feel, leave some of our areas alone, keep the humans away for two decades so that they get back to `normalcy`. i remember corbett in the early eighties. what a change now!

``What surprises me is any and every resort in a lot of wildlife destinations is doing everything to save the tiger. They seem to know more about the tiger then anything else and that’s because the tiger is a selling product.``(author)

in one the most twisted sentences -- what the hell are you trying to say -- should they be NOT ``doing everything to save the tiger`` -- what is there to be surprised --

as ``selling product`` -- you can say that again -- indeed the tiger bones and meats are hot `selling product` -- for the dastardly Chinese witch doctors.... (one carcass selling for 10,000 to 15,000 dollars)

today between the large scale poaching for export to Chinese markets as aphrodisiacs and arthritis medication -- and made up statistics by the crooked Forest officers -- the tiger population has declined at an alarming rate to less than 3000 on paper -- in reality it could be EVEN less than 2000 in all of India......

Save the Tiger

Response to Nash:

It seems to me you did not undertand my point inrelation to my recent article:

The difference between resorts selling product and tiger bones selling is an approach of impacts. One one side you have people wanting to sell ecological tours to save the tiger population and on the other side you have the Chinese market and the approach to destroy the population. So, the surprising thing is, are the resort ecological and responsible? The answer is No, They are not and infact have a strong Socio-cultural impact which does not benefit but destroy local communities. Whereas, Chinese markets are causing an environmental impact.

It is well proven fact that `Business and Charity` do not go hand in hand and thats why i spoke about ecotourism and the real meaning to which it is causing the whole problem.

This all boils down to what you write about in your interact, where you addressed the Chinese and the money rate with resorts and the way they promote themselves. In this you are only speaking about economical impacts and at the same time you speak about saving the Tiger.

With experience on the field and my scientific background, trust me on this : There are a lot of people in India, looking into population dynamics research and taxonomy of species. So when it comes to saving the tiger, resorts need not worry. What they need to worry on is to come up with ways and to focus on likes of waste water management and garbage disposals in their resort because that is adding to the problem to the existing Biodiversity on the whole.

You write about how much carcass selling is happening (with current rates in the market) the so called Chinese witch doctors and the population of tigers being less then 2000. Well, Thanks for your tiger estimates but are you sure to what you write. It seems to me you are more informed them some of the well known conservationist i know personally through work and on the field.

I would like to give you a piece of advice. .... Join Conservation and try to balance these impacts without having a business agenda....

Thanks for your inputs. Highly appreciated.