Although the tiger population in Ranthambore has boomed, it seems that they are still in grave danger from the most dangerous animal of all – humans.
The Ranthambore tiger, T-24, popularly known as Ustad, has become the latest bone of contention between authorities and animal rights activists. Following the killing of a forest guard by being mauled, Ustad has been tagged not just as a man-killer but also as a man-eater and has now been shifted to an enclosure in Udaipur at a wildlife-simulating facility. For years, Ustad had been a favourite with tourists because he was the most easily spotted tiger at Ranthambore National Park.
The entire controversy has raised several questions. As far as I am concerned, the most important one is related to the invasion of the tigers’ natural habitat, their home. On a recent trip to the Park, I myself witnessed such an invasion and am probably a little ashamed to say that I am also one of the guilty parties.
After reading news about Ustad, I was glad that it was Romeo, or T-6, I came across.
I was in a canter (buses with their tops off), with about 20 more people. The first animal we spotted as we entered Zone 5 of the Park was the Sambhar deer. According to the guard, spotting a Sambhar was a sign of luck and it meant that we would definitely see a tiger today. My entire family was going crazy with excitement, claiming that they knew in their gut that we would spot a tiger today.
The ride was awfully bumpy but our anticipation was even greater. The driver of a passing jeep told our guide that Romeo had been spotted at a particular location. We were rushed to that spot to be met with a very unpleasant surprise. We very narrowly escaped being attacked by a swarm of bees! However, spotting a jeep full of forest officials, the driver was convinced that Romeo must be close by and he decided to wait.
For almost an hour, 20 of us sat as quiet as mice, all of us straining our eyes to catch a possible glimpse of Romeo. As we waited, more canters and jeeps joined us and there were about 100 people there, all waiting to see a tiger in the wild.
Finally, he came out, treading extremely slowly, the tall yellow grass acting as his perfect camouflage. The excitement level of the humans soared to unimaginable levels. The guide signalled us to remain absolutely quiet so as not to scare the tiger off. Romeo emerged from the rushes, came out into a small open area and plonked himself down. He finished with a huge roar. It was as all the people watching him got all their money’s worth and more!
Then, out came the cameras, all sizes, all kinds. Romeo seemed to be quite camera-friendly and he freely lazed around letting himself be photographed. After a few minutes, he decided to get up, cross over to the other side of the track and sit there for a while. It seemed like he wanted his audience to get a good view of him. Everyone present got incredible pictures, their excitement level at an all time high with a tiger sitting just about 20 feet from them. Everyone was thinking that in some way, Romeo was living up to his romantic name.
Of course we wanted to believe that Romeo wanted to be photographed. But what if he was actually showing himself freely hoping that the humans would leave him in peace soon, so that he could get back to his partner, Noor? After my initial elation at spotting a wild tiger in my first such attempt wore off, my mind started racing in other directions.
What was I, and hundreds of other people, doing here? Did we have any right to invade on the privacy and into the habitat of these tigers? Is it justified in any way that we venture into homes of wild animals, just because we think that humans are superior to them? Somehow, all the concerns that animal rights activists and wildlife enthusiasts really hit me at that moment. Wasn’t this kind of encroaching on their land an added threat to the already endangered national animal of our country?
I must admit that the experience was great and unmatched. But looking back, I now shudder to think what would have happened if it had been Ustad and he had attacked one of the people present, maybe one of my own family members? I don’t know what the Rajasthan High Court will finally decide about Ustad’s future, but I am hoping that it will be in the best interest of the beasts and not the humans who try to control them.
