It’s big business. Wildlife trade is valued at US$ 20 billion in the global market. Tiger skin, bones and other parts are in great demand. Only ten grammes of tiger bones fetch as much as Rs.1,060. Poachers don’t act alone.

Often the local villagers help the poachers. You will say that’s unfair on the animals besides being ethi-cally wrong. Take a look at the ground realities. You may change your opinion.

Local people are not allowed into areas within the boundaries of the reserves.

The formation of the sanctuaries uprooted many local communities from their native land...land that had sustained them for generations. Many of these people were hunter-gatherers and the forest was the only means of support.

The forest authorities tried to safeguard the reserved forests with walls, gates and guns.

This policy led to confrontations between the villagers and the authorities. The people held the authorities responsible for their poverty. For them, conservation programmes put animals before people. Most therefore, oppose the rules.

The forest once provided everything the local people needed.

Now they are fined if they enter the reserved areas. What can they do for a living? How shall they support themselves? Many of these people therefore are forced to turn to poaching.

Space sharing
Can people and animals share space in this planet? In India, local traditions have always encouraged wildlife preservation. A rhinoceros visiting paddy fields is considered lucky in Assam. And the Karbi tribesmen in this state refer to the tiger as ‘father’.

It’s not as if the government has not paid attention to such practices. About a decade ago, it came up with the ‘Eco development’ projects.The basic idea was to make local people partners in protecting and nurturing the forests. Great idea...but how much has it been put to practice? If we take Sariska as an example we can only say ‘very very little’!

Main Page		1 2 3