Probably the most common question that I get asked about Tigers is something on the lines of “Why would anyone want to harm these beautiful animals?” Like most aspects of human nature, it is still hard to explain why we do whatever the hell it is that we do. We start wars in the name of peace. We elect incapable governments and make fun of nations that fare better under dictators. We think the United Nations is a global organization when it is actually more answerable to the United States than their own senators and congressmen.

So, it would not be far too outrageous to explain why people allow Tigers to get harmed. Simply put : Because we love them so much. So while you're wondering how I managed to type this despite being in a straight jacket for months, let me assure you that the only thing about me that's been restrained are  my words. I've watched as cellular companies found an alternative mascot to the competitor's cute Pugs and adorable Kids. I've seen zoological parks that would make Abu Gharib look like Hugh Hefner's pad, try the enticing route of putting their animals up for adoption. I've even seen the hunting lobbies provide new age solutions that would make you believe that the only way to save Tigers is to shoot them. And yes, I've seen NGOs take their place in the sun to bask in their vindication that the Forest Department has been inflating figures much like a high school quarter back with a sock stuffed in his pants.

But the real question really is , how did it come to this? How did we all collectively fail the most sought after animal in any zoological park, any wildlife film and of course, on any trip into the jungles of India? The answer, is that we all love this totem of power in so many different ways that it manifests itself no better than an expression of lust. Here is how the love, lust and sometimes blood lust is all combining to ensure that the next generations will view the Tiger in only the best DSLR quality images and HD Video files.

 

Most of the people associated with Tigers usually fall in this category. Some are hopeless romantics and propose solutions pretty much like the Bollywood heroes of the 80s. “Shoot all the 'bleddy' poachers men!!” , “Yeh saale politicians kuch kaam ke nahi hai!! Unko rajniti se bahar nikalo”* But truly, for every poacher shot another ten will take his place. For every lousy politician thrown out (Does that ever happen?) many more are waiting in the gutters. Unfortunately, the solutions are simply limited to switching their cellular service providers to one that uses Tigers for free endorsement. Or switching channels between NatGeo, Animal Planet and Discovery. The turnout at a recent event I attended in Mumbai to increase awareness made me wonder if we need to borrow a few cheerleaders from the IPL** to get people to attend. Simply put, everyone wants to talk big but few want to take on unglamorous tasks.

Sometimes, it is amazing to see the level of arrogance displayed by NGOs and organizations that have taken up the cause to defend this precious animal. Just like jilted lovers, they are often at such crossroads with the family members (Read, Forest Department) that they dedicate their efforts to pointing out flaws in the working of the system instead of working to correct them. Nobody seems to understand that this is India, a land of a large number of people and a number of large egos. Nothing can or will be achieved by working exclusively on the outside and in order to benefit the denizens of the jungle, the people need to communicate better on the outside. When I recommended the idea of setting up a proxy organization that worked on a more Pro-Forest Department approach, I was looked upon as someone that wanted people to sell their souls.
 

 
 There are probably few things in life that need to be explained as little as lust. It is argued to be a primal desire that we are slaves to, and then cautioned against as the ultimate sin and destroyer of souls. If one takes the middle path on these descriptive vagrancies, you will realize that lust is basically summed up on the lines of selfish interests. And there is reasonable proof that Tigers have become a source of lust, though not in a carnal sense, to many.

 

To start with, the Forest Department uses the aphrodisiac of totalitarian control over Tiger reserves as a way to express their lust for power. A recent example of the DFO of Ranthambhore*** phasing the well managed Tourism Department out and taking over 'Responsibilities' is a classic example of how they decide where their own jurisdiction begins and ends. The staff is managing the bookings of canters and jeeps instead of being involved in activities such a patrolling and monitoring. Who needs to do the mundane job when the senior officers can do more interesting things like VIP Tourism and bending over for political favors? The jungle becomes nothing less than a brothel, where relatives and friends can take what they want and treat it the way they want. They leave behind all kinds of STDs from plastics to defecations. After all, why wait for the next dustbin or restroom when the FD will look the other way?
 
And not to hit NGOs below that highly placed belt, but some of them take up the profession to express another kind of lust ; The one for money and / or opportunities of self-interest. We have way too many charities coming up with the intention to 'Make a difference'. You will be lucky to find a mission statement, a credible and tangible list of achievements and heaven forbid, an audited balance sheet on their website. But you will almost surely find a link to tell you how to make donations. A year ago, I received an invitation on a social networking site to help an upcoming NGO in Central India. Their website had just 2 links ; Home page and Donations page. When I asked for more details about what their work involved, I was told that I could help if I wanted or continue to not care for the Tiger. One year down the line, their members have been having a good time touring different national parks to 'Observe Tigers' and 'Meet Reputable NGOs' but nothing else of note. Their kind of lust is the one that takes away credibility from some groups that are working really hard to make a change, but as a lay person how do we know the difference?
           

 
While the previous two forms of affection have by and large hampered the Tigers chances to make a comeback, this category has ensured that it has stayed on the back foot for almost a century now. The shortage of fuel in America and of Pulses in India must pale in comparison to the non-availability of Viagra in China. What is more amazing is that while the Chinese Government is working hard on population control, it is not tackling what it's people consume in the name of traditional medicine. If Tiger parts really work, then stop using them and control your population. If they don't, then stop killing these innocent animals for something Pfizer sells in your local drug store. However simple this logic, the fact remains that the population of people  in China is increasing and the numbers of wild tigers are declining.
 
While the Indian Government has done well to get rid of archaic hunting laws and prohibit the Raj Era display of hunting trophies acquired in the recent past, the fact remains that with a number of people living below the poverty line that Tigers will always be worth more dead to a few than alive to many. All this talk of Tigers being the protectors of the forest means little to folks that have to defecate, cook meals and sleep with nothing more than twigs and bushes for boundaries. You can employ or teach thousands of people from a forest dwelling community, but there will always be one among them that will want to jump the queue for a quick buck. Simply because, you can reform the poor but not the opportunistic. When you combine poor with opportunistic, chaos prevails. And that is exactly what has happened in the Sariskas and the Pannas ****.

 

So is there any hope left to see another year of the Tiger? Perhaps. But we would sincerely need to use our hearts less and our minds a lot more. Because, there is such a thing as being loved to death.

 

 

Writer's Notes

* : Typical expletives heard in the writer's hometown of Bombay. It can really be translated in multiple ways depending on your diet of swear words.

** IPL : The Indian Premier League is an Indian domestic cricket tournament that the writer often uses as a reference to the grotesque and over-hyped.

*** Ranthambhore : This Tiger reserve in the state of Rajasthan, is the last surviving habitat of the Bengal Tiger in North-West India. It is the writer's sentimental favorite and he stays up to date with daily occurrences at the Reserve.