Odisha was once famous for its Royal Bengal Tigers (RBTs). The word Royal is added to the name of a tiger, because among animals this animal is supreme, most cunning and fastest in running. In strength, lion may be stronger than tiger, but in agility, the tiger can surpass each and every animal in the animal world. But why the adjective Bengal used is still a suspense. Probably, the RBTs were first detected in Bengal forests.
Throughout India, the animal is hunted for its skin, nails, fats, moustache and collar bones etc. These fetch a lucrative sum of money. When we are dealing with tiger, we must know its complete biology.
At present, there are a few tigers in Odisha forests and so also in India. The tiger can grow in all types of climates and altitudinal variations. It can grow in tropical, sub-tropical, temperate and even alpine zones. It can survive in snow-clad areas.
Due to rampant poaching, the RBTs’ number has fallen drastically both in Odisha and all over India. Odisha’s neighbouring States like Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh were once rich habitats of tigers; but the situation no longer exists.
We fail to give proper protection to tigers and their prey animals. So the population of tiger is depleting fast.
So Sundari, a female tiger, was brought from Madhya Pradesh forest to Satkosia for natural breeding of tigress in the locality.
The tigress was caught and kept in captivity in Nadankanan as it allegedly caused disturbances in human habitations and became a constant headache.
The whole purpose of natural breeding of tiger in Satkosia tiger project has by now failed.
It was claimed by the local people that Sundari is a man eater and cattle lifter. Although the allegations were unsubstantiated, still the administration bowed down before the people’s claims and the Sundari tigress had to be shifted to Nandankanan fetters.
Now the wildlife authorities of the State and the Tiger Projects of India want to reintroduce in Satkosia forest bigger artificial enclosure in 25 sqkm to study the behavioural attitude of Sundari.
The tiger is an innocent hunter. It hunts field animals for its existence. The relation between preys and the predatory animals is in-born. So the natural instinct of predatory animals or non predatory cannot be doubted.
By stall feeding in captivity, the animals could be made dull and lose agility, but when it is left to nature, it can revive its natural habits for its survival. The instinct for survival through struggle is but natural.
All the tigers of the Sundarvan of East and West Bengal are man eaters. It is their inborn quality. The writer was very much associated with Khair tigress, when its foster father late Surjraj Choudhury was alive.
The writer could get the opportunity to work in the Similipal Tiger Reserve for some time during his tenure and after for many years, Khairi tigress was a captive tiger, but when it was left to nature, it was not hunting the village cattle or men, although tribal villages were there very close to Khair’s habitat. There was no evidence of man eating in Similipal by tigers or leopards; neither was it in Satkosia.
Where a tiger exists, the protection of forest cover is better. Similarly, the richness of herbivores of forest is not possible without the co-existence of both prey and hunting animals. Now, the State Government of Odisha has decided to declare the wild boars as a vermin (an animal that can be hunted legally which causes constant losses to crops), triggering a row among the animal lovers.
The wild boar is a prolific breeder and its population is always controlled by the tiger. The tiger is very fond of hunting the wild boars. As the population of tiger is going down very sharply in our State, the population of wild boars is on the rise.
The tiger also keeps control over the population of moneys. The langurs or the Hanuman monkeys are very favourite diet of tigers. Now the population of moneys is also on the rise and these animals too are doing damages to the crops of crop-growers. As the public sentiment is attached to Hanuman as God Shri Ram’s disciple, the animal is protected even if it causes damage to the crops.
Needless to say, introduction of tigers in the forest is the best way to keep control over the populations of other animals like wild boar, monkey, deer, and similar other herbivores. The question arises now is which type of potential area has to be chosen in the Satkosia Tiger Project to introduce Sundari tigress for breeding in a natural environment. Specially, with in a tiger habitat, first of all, it is to be seen that, a male tiger is residing in that area and has made its territory. It can be known from field evidences.
A male tiger cannot remain hidden, especially in mating period. It roars and gives calls to female to join with it.
Either the female or male or both roar to convey their presence in the forest territory. Marking of urine on the bushes and trees can convey its presence.
The presence of tiger or tigress can be known from its kill-evidences as well. The tiger always breaks the neck of the kill which other predatory animals do not. The tiger is a meat eater. It never eats the intestine of the kill. It can be known from field observation.
The leopard starts eating from anus, like Cheetah. The Cheetah is not found in Indian forests since long. The sighting of tiger in its natural habitat is a common evidence, which the forest dwellers can give with the sign of excreta of the animal. The excreta of one animal differs from the other. So the population of certain species can be known from its excreta and pug marks.
The tiger or panther need profuse water for their life style. So permanent water sources with dense woody vegetations are required for it with basking space. There should be profuse availability of herbivores.
Hence, if the administration can ensure all these, certainly Sundari’s attention can be diverted from the human habitations.
Now the smuggling of tiger, panther skin, elephant tusk and scales of pangolin is rampant. After a very short time, these species will be extinct from Odisha.
The ant eater is a mammal, which lives on ants. It keeps control on ant-hills, but we are berating the importance of the species, which are meant for keeping a balance of nature.
Unless the nature’s balance is maintained, different crises like menace of wild boar and monkeys will arise and such problem will continue.
The incidence of fire is very common in our forests which is destructive for both wildlife and their habitats. The protection wildlife means the protection of forests. The artificial plantation of forests cannot provide secured habitats to wildlife like natural forests. Hence, wildlife managements is a very uphill task.
The habitat of every animal differs from another. The tiger always prefers to stay in a scheduled areas where there is to be least interference of man and other animals.
It does not prefer family life. During breeding period for a short while the tiger remains with the tigress. It behaves like domestic cats, where as the lion although it belongs to cat family it remains with family. Recently, leopard skins were seized from poachers at Deogarh and Sambalpur areas. Now the State police have to be more vigilant along with the Forest staff.
(The writer is a former forest officer and environmentalist. Email: nadiya.kanungo@gmail.com. M-9937460649)
