Killer Cats

8/2/2019 Killer Cats

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K I L L E R C A T S

THE DANGERS OF CAPTIVE CARNIVORE INTRODUCTIONS

SHEKAR DATTATRI

OCTOBER 2011

A C O N S E R V A T I O N I N D I A

WHITE PAPER

WWW .CONSERVATIONINDI A.ORG
http://www.conservation/http://www.conservation/http://www.conservation/http://www.conservation/


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PREAMBLE

Theysaythepathtohell ispavedwithgoodintentions,andthat iscertainlytrueofthissubject.Here ishowit typically playsout: awell-meaningvillager >indsa tinytiger orleopardcubattheedgeofajungle.Believingittobeabandoned,hetakesittothenear-estForestOf>ice,whereawell-meaningForestOf>icertakespityonthehelplessbutador-able orphan,anddecides to raise it withthehelp ofawell-meaning NGO. 18monthslater,whenthecub isnearly fullgrown,unmanageableand expensive tocare for, thesurrogateparentsdecidethatthenoblethingtodoistoreturnittoitsrightfulhome,the jungle.Theproblem is, thehand-raisedcat hasnoideahowtosurviveinthisalienplace.Somedaysorweeksafterbeingsetfree,thelost,starvinganddisorientedpreda-

torpouncesonanunsuspectinghuman,in>lictinghorrendousinjuriesordeath.Thevic-timsenragedkinattackthelocalforestof>iceinretributionand,undertremendouspres-sure,theForestDepartment isforcedtoshoot thecatorcaptureit andsendittoazoo.The photographs below depict one such incident from Karnataka, which has sincestoppedthepracticeofreleasingcaptivebigcatsintothewild.However,moresuchre-leasesarebeingcontemplatedinotherstates,and,inallprobability,morepoorandpow-erlesslocalpeoplewilldieasaresult.

Releasedleopardkillsahuman Angrylocalpeoplegoonarampage Releasedcatishunteddown

MustmoreinnocentlivesbelostbeforethisrecklesspracticeisbannedinIndia?

Contents:

IntroductionRewind:theElsasagaandbeyondRealitycheckCopycatsFastforward,Karnataka2011,Ranthambhore2011,MaharashtraExpertopinionSummaryRecommendationsConclusion

Acknowledgements

The dangers of captive carnivore introductions

A C O N S ERV A TI O N I N D I A W H I TE P A P ER! K I L L E R C A T S

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Introduction

The desireto returncaptiveraised big catstothewildprobablystemsfromaromantic misinterpretation of wildlifeconservation. To betterunderstandthisfeelgoodfad,whichiscurrentlysweepingthroughIndia,wemustgobackintime,toBornFree,the1966 family moviebasedonabest-sellingbookbyJoyAdamson.TheEilmbecameaworldwidehitforitstouchingportrayalofthetri-alsandtribulationsofintroducingahand-raisedlioness,lsa,intothewildsofAfrica.Althoughnoonecouldhaveguesseditbackthen, BornFreesparkedoffsimilarrehabilitation experimentsinIndia,anditsdeadlylegacycontinuestoleaveatrailofdisasters.

Rewind-theElsasagaandbeyond

In 1956, Joy Adamsons husband, George Adamson, a Game Warden inKenya,wastrackingdownaman-eatinglion,whenalionesssuddenlychargedhim.Af-tershootingher dead,hediscoveredthe threeyoung cubs she was defending,andtookthemhomeforadoption.Asthecubsgrewbiggerandbecametrou-blesometohandlethetwolargeronesweresentofftoazooinurope,whilethesmallestofthetrio,lsa,stayedwiththeAdamsons.Joywasapparentlyin-

sistent that lsa be returnedto nature; so,whenthe cubwas oldenough,thecouplebeganpreparingherforafutureinthewildbytakingheroutforfamil-iarizing walksin thebusharound theircamp.lsasnatural instincts begantokick in,and,slowly,shegotthehangofstalkingandkillingwildprey.However,whenshebegantowanderawayfromthecamp,shewasattackedbyotherlions,went hungry or fell sick,andthe Adamsonshad toprovide herwithfoodandnurtureherback tohealth.Indeed,theyapparentlybelievedthatshemightnothavemadeitinthewildifwasntfortheirfrequentministrations.

Therehabilitationexperimentwasconsideredasuccesswhenafully-grownlsadisappearedintothewildonedayandreappearedsomemonthslaterwiththreecubsofherown.Buttheeuphoriadidnotlastlong;lsafellsickwhenhercubswerejustayearoldanddiedfromsuspectedtickfever.Heroffspringsoonbe-cameanuisance,attackingdomesticlivestockandearningtheireof localherd-ers.Fearingthatthecubsmightbekilledinretribution,theAdamsonsmanagedto capture andrelease them in the wild expanse ofthe Serengetiin Tanzania.However,itisnotclearhowwellthecubsfaredthere,orforhowlongtheysur-vived.



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Soon,GeorgeAdamsonfoundhishandsfullwithmorelions,asithadbeende-

cidedthatthreeofthecaptivebigcatsthatstarredinBornFreewouldalsobereleasedintothewild.Havinglearntfromthelsaexperiencethatitstoughforasingleliontosurviveinthewild,Adamsondecidedthathewouldcreateacap-tiveprideandreleasethemtogether.Theprojectseemedtobegoingwelluntildisasterstruckonefatefuldayin1969whenoneofAdamsonslions,Boy,delib-eratelyattackedMark,the3-yearoldsonofPeterJenkins,aGameWarden.Thechildhadbeensittinginsideavehicle,whenthelionreachedinandgrabbedhisheadandthenseizedhimbythearm.Luckily,thankstohisfatherspresenceofmind,Marksurvivedtheordeal.Butinthatinstant,localsupportforAdamsons

lionrehabilitationprojectevaporated.Manybelievedthathewasraisingpoten-tialman-eaters.AdamsonhadnochoicebuttomovewithBoytoKora,anundis-turbed750sqkmareaofthornscrub.Whilehecontinuedaddingmorelionstothe pride,naturetook itstollonthemthroughpredationandEights with wildlions.Perhapspredictably,disasterstruckagain,withBoykillingoneofAdam-sons Africanassistants,a man who hadhelpedraisehimformany years.ThistimeAdamsonhadnochoicebuttoshootthebeast.Inthepre-Interneteradur-ingwhich allthis took place, these cautionary incidents didnot receive wide-spreadpublicity,andtheworldatlargeonlyremembersthefairytaleoflsa,the

lionessthatwassetfree.

Realitycheck

Whicheverwayyoulookatit,releasingcaptive-raisedbigcatsintothewildisirresponsible.Tolearnhowtosurvive,wildcubsundergoan18to24monthap-prenticeshipundertheirmotherstutelage.venso,abouthalfdontmakeittoadulthood,succumbingtohunger,disease,naturalcalamitiesoraggressionfromotherbigcats.Thechallengesareevengreaterforcubsraisedbyhumansurro-gateparents.

AcaptivebigcatthatisreleasedintoanareainhabitedbyitswildcousinsstandsahighchanceofgettingintoaterritorialEightwithamemberofitsownspecies.SuchEightscanresult insevere injuries, orevendeath, to oneorbothcontest-ants,negatinganyperceivedbeneEitsoftherehabilitationexercise.



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Andunlikewildtigersandleopards,whichgivehumansawideberthandrarely

poseanythreat,hand-raisedpredatorsareextremelydangeroustohumansbe-causetheynotonlyhaveno fearofpeople,butinfactassociatethemwithfood.Ahungry,rehabilitated bigcatwill nothesitateto approacha human settle-ment in search of food, and kill livestock or even people, inviting retribution.Such retaliation, which usually takes theformof poisoningkills, mayresultinthedeathsofmanybigcatsinthearea,includingthosethathaveneverharmedanyhumans.Thus,ratherthandoinganygood,releasingcaptivebigcatsintothewildactuallydoesalotofharmbyincreasingconElictandworseningcommunityhostilitytowardstheForestDepartmentandwildlife.

Copycats

Thereare severallsa-like talesof captivebigcats fromIndia. Inthemid 70s,Saroj Raj Choudhury, the then Field Director of the Simlipal Tiger Reserve inOrissa,raisedanorphanedtigercubinhishouse.HecalledherKhairi,aftertheriveronwhosebanks shewasfound.Fortunately,Choudhurymadeno attempttorehabilitateherintothewild,andshelivedapamperedlifeinhishomeuntilsuccumbingtodiseasewhilestillinherprime.

AboutayearorsoafterChoudhuryadoptedKhairi,thelate,legendary,BillyAr-janSinghadoptedTara,atigercubofmixedbloodfromtheTwycrossZoointheUK.Like withlsa,ArjanSinghsplanwasto raiseTarato adulthoodand thenreleaseherintothewild.Bythistime,Singhwasquiteexperiencedwithrearingbig cats, having brought up three leopards Prince, Harriet and Juliet - thatroamedfreelyatTigerHaven,hisfarmadjoiningtheDudhwaNationalPark.Hechronicled these experiences in popular books and was featured in televisiondocumentaries. DieterPlage,awell-knownwildlifeEilmmakerworkingforSur-vival Anglia, made an entrancing Eilm calledThe Leopard That Changed itsSpotsin1977,aboutHarrietslifeatTigerHaven.Unfortunately,thisEilmonlyreinforced the fable that large predators could be rehabilitated into the wildwith no adverse consequences. The fact is, the semi-tame, semi-wild Princemauledtwoyounggirlsandfatallyinjuredtheeight-yearoldsonofSinghsele-phantkeeper;Harrietnotonlykilledayoungboysleepinginaroomonthefarm,butalsoattackedtheteenagedaughterofonefriend,andthewifeofanotheronseparateoccasions. Both womenescaped withtheirlives thanks to Singhsin-tervention.



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Theseincidents however did not deterhim from releasing Tara,the zoo tiger,

into Dudhwa,whereshereportedlymatedwithwildmales andproduced sev-erallittersofcubs.TwomonthsafterTarawasreturnedtonature,acartmanwaskilledbyatigerninekilometerswestof TigerHaven,theEirstsuchincidentintheregionin20years.Thiswasthebeginningofaspateofman-eatingeventsthatclaimednearly200peopleduringaspanoftenyears.LocalforestofEicials,withwhomSinghhadarunningbattleovervariousissues,blamedTara,citingherlack of fear of humans. Singh disagreed vehemently and soughtevidence.Whiletheidentityoftheman-eaterwasneverestablished,about13tigerswerekilledinretaliationduringthatdecade.

FastForward,Karnataka

Inthelate1990s,andagainin2011,VishalakshiDeviandherhusbandGajendraSingh,whorunTuskerTrails,awildliferesortinMangalaVillageneartheBandi-purTigerReserveinKarnataka,rakedupcontroversyandconcernwiththeirat-tempts to rehabilitate several orphaned leopards, which were brought tothemascubs.Someoftheshockingeventsthatunfoldedduringtheirrehabilita-tionendeavours-as wellas thoseby other animallovers inKarnatakaare

chronicled in an article titledWho let these catsout? by Jay Mazoomdaar, afreelancewildlifejournalist.

Piecingtogetherinformationavailablefromseveralreliableeyewitnesses,thisisthe story that emerges: ven when they were full grown, the EirsttwoTuskerTrails leopards,Bully andBaby, were very affectionate and playful with Devi,Singhandtheotherkeepers.Butwheneveranystrangersapproachedtheiren-closure,particularlychildrenorwomen,Bully,themale,wouldgointoacrouchandstartbehavinglikethepredatorthathewas.Baby,thefemale,wouldsome-timesfollowsuit,althoughshegenerallyhadamoredociledisposition.

Ononeoccasion,whenbothleopardswereonleashes,andrestingintheforestwiththeirkeepersafteralongwalk,Bully,who spieda Eilmmakerscompanion30maway,chargedwithoutwarning,andsunkhiscaninesintoherneck.Ittookthecombinedmightofseveralpeopletopryhisjawsopenandfreethestrickenvictim.Theseriouspuncturewoundsandlacerationsrequirednearly40stitchesbyaskilledsurgeon,but,fortunately,thecanineshadnarrowlymissedthespineandanymajorbloodvessels.



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Notwithstanding this near-fatal incident, arrangements were made to release

bothleopardsintothejungle.Initially,theywereshiftedtoahalf-wayhouse,alargeenclosurespeciallyconstructedwithinthecoreareaofBandipurTigerRe-serve.verydayavehiclefromtheresortsometimescarryingselecttouristswouldferrymeatto theleopards. After theywerereleasedfrom theenclosureandsetfree,thesemi-tamebigcatshabitofaccostingpeopleandjumpingonvehicles,spookedforestpersonnelintoabandoningtheirpatrollingdutiesinthearea.

Withinamonth oftherelease, Bully wasfounddeadwithdeepwoundson his

body.Itwasinferredthathehadbeengoredtodeathbyalargeungulate,whichhehadprobablytriedtotackleinhisinexperience.Baby,however,livedforsev-eralyearsintheBandipurforestandissaidtohaveproducedthreelitters.

Adecadelater,perhapsencouragedbythepartialsuccessoftheirEirstattempt,DeviandSinghundertooktorehabilitatethreelargeleopardcubsthathadbe-comeunmanageablefortheForestOfEicialswhowereraisingthem.Afterbeingkeptinanenclosureintheforestforacclimatization,theywereradiocollaredandreleasedonJanuary15,2011.Neithertourists norpeoplelivingonthefor-

estfringeswerewarned.TragedystruckonJune1,2011,whenoneofthere-leasedleopardsattackedaJenuKurubamanwalkingintheforestwithfouroth-ers,killinghim,andseverelywoundingacompanionwhocametohisrescue.Inthepandemoniumthatensued,theleopardissaidto havereceivedaninjurytoits spine, which reportedly resulted in its death. The matter however washushedup,andtheremainingJenuKurubasinthegroupwerethreatenedwithdireconsequencesiftheyspokeabouttheincident.

Just three weeks after this deadly encounter, a Forest OfEicial released fourhand-rearedleopards,whichhadbeenraisedwiththehelpofanamateurcon-servationgroup, Vanamitra, into the BhadraTiger Reserve. Two weeks later,oneoftheleopardsattackedandkilledanunsuspecting20-yearoldstudentwhowaswalkingoutsidethereserve,andmauledhisbrotherandacompanionwhowenttotherescue.IncensedlocalsransackedthenearbyForestOfEiceandburntdownajeep.Twodayslater,oneofthereleasedleopardsattackedaforestde-partmentpartyinthesamearea,andwasshotdead.Subsequentlytwoofthere-leasedleopardsweretrappedbytheForestDepartmentandtransferredtotheBannerghattaBiologicalParkinBengaluru.



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InthislatestroundofrehabilitationsinKarnataka,atleastthreepeopledied

andthreewerewoundedseriouslyduetotherecklessactionsofwell-meaninganimalloversandofEicials.BornFreehadstruckagain.

FollowingtheBhadraincident,theissuewasdiscussedatameetingoftheKar-natakaStateBoardforWildlifeonJuly26,2011.Theproceedingsofthemeetingrecordthe Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief WildlifeWardensstatement asfollows:The PCCF (WL)expressedthatno more handrearing of leopards and tigers will be carried out and released into the wild(sic).KarnatakathusbecametheEirststateinthecountrytoofEiciallystopthis

practice.

2011,Ranthambhore

Inthewinterof2007,villagersfoundaninjuredleopardcubandhandeditoverto the local forestchowki (outpost) at Balas, which is at the edge of the ManSinghSanctuary,apartoftheRanthambhoreTigerReserve(RTR).Initiallytheparkauthoritiestooktherightdecisiontosendthecubtoazoo,but,apparentlyduetopressurefrom local activists,theydecidedthatshewouldbebrought

upinthechowki.Thecub,namedLakshmi,wasattendedtobyavetandrecov-ered from herinjuries. Allthroughherperiod ofgrowing upshewas inclosecontactwithlotsofpeopletheForestGuards,theGeneralManagerofabigre-sortthatwashelpingwithherupkeep,localpeople,tourists,andgovernmentofEicials.Shewashousedinalargeenclosurewitha6mhighchain-linkfence;althoughshecouldhaveclimbedatreewithintheenclosureandescapedusingitsoverhangingbranches,shedidnotshowanyinclinationtodoso.

Whenshewasabout2yearsold,hercustodiansstartedlettingheroutoftheen-closureovernight,butsheusuallyranbacktothechowki.Once,shewentintoanearbyvillageandsatundersomeonescot.Luckily,therewasnountowardin-cidentandtheForestGuardsbroughtherback.Anothertime,shechargedatsomelocalwomenwho managedto repulseherby throwingstones.Suchinci-dentsbegantorecurfrequently,creatingpanicamongstthelocalpeople.



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TheForestDepartmentsoonrealizedthatshecouldcreatealotoftrouble,and

movedher enclosure to KuwaljiForest Range(attheedgeof RTR),where hu-mandensityislower.Sheisfedbaitedanimals(goatsorbuffalocalves)andhastobekeptintheenclosuremostofthetime.Sheisradiocollared,andhasareti-nueofstafftolookafterher(staffwhowouldotherwisebepatrollingtheforesttohelpkeepwildleopardsandtigerssafe).Hermindersaredeeplyworriedthatanaccidentiswaitingtohappen.

2011,Maharashtra

Atthetimeofwritingthis(endofOctober2011),theMaharashtraeditionofTheTimesofIndiahasreportedthatthreetigersthatwererescuedfromtheDhabaforestrangeinGondpipriinChandrapurdistrictinSeptember2009andbroughtupinassociationwithaNagpurbasedNGO,Srushti,maybeshiftedtoanenclo-sureinthePenchTigerReserve(Maharashtra).ThereportgoesontosaythatonOctober 4,2011, a 2-man team from theWildlifeInstitute of India, a scientistanda veterinarian, spent2 hours inspecting the tigers, and subsequently sub-mitteda report to theForest Department stating that the three bigcats weresuitablecandidatesforreleaseinto thewild.A Einal decision onwhetherto re-

leasethetrio intothewildornotwillapparentlybetakenbytheNationalTigerConservation Authority (NTCA). At thetime of writing no decision appears tohavebeentaken. However,throughaletterdatedSeptember13,2011,theMin-istry of nvironment and Forests, Project Tiger Division, sanctioned a sum ofRs.105 Lakhs (about US$ 210,000) for Construciotn (sic) enclosure for Tigercubs in Comptt. No. 543 with allnecessary provisions (AlreadyproposedvidePCCF(WL)NoD-22(6)/Plan4120).

Thegovernmentsideaofshiftingthethreetigerstoa4hahalfwayhouseen-closureintheforestanddrivingpreyintoitforthemtokill,isboundtorunintoa numberof ethical and practical problems, whichit apparently hasnotfore-seen.Bigcatsenclosedinasmallareawiththeirpreyarelikelytogoonapreda-toryrampage,killingmorethanrequired.IntheirbidtoElee,thepanickedher-bivores will probably injure themselves on the fence in droves. Faced with apublicrelationsdisaster,ofEicialswillendupreleasingthetigersposthasteintothewild,withallpartieswashingtheirhandsoffthematter.Soonerorlater,thetigerswillstartkillinglivestockorpeople,andwilleitherbepoisonedbylocalpeopleorwillhavetobeshotorrecapturedbytheForestDepartment.Dejavu.

Insanity~doingthesamethingoverandoveragainandexpectingdifferentresults-AlbertEinstein.



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Expertopinionconcerningthereleaseofcaptivebigcatsintothewild

Biologicalandconservationimplications

Dr.K.UllasKaranth,SeniorScientist,WildlifeConservationSociety

ThenumbersofbigcatssupportedinanyforestareaisEirmlysetbytheavail-ablepreynumbers.ThereareveryfewsituationsinIndiawherepreynumbersindicatethereisroomforintroducingbigcats.Ifcaptivecatsareintroduced,in

mostcaseseithertheywillgetkilledbyresidentcats,orinamoreunlikelysce-nario,the introduced catmay kill andreplacean already residentcat. Clearly,thereisnoconservationgain,andthemostlikelyoutcomeis predationonlive-stock andlocalpeoplebytheintroducedcat,followedbyahugebacklashofan-ger against nature reserves and predators in general...we do not need this atall.Theonlywaytorecoverandincreasebigcatpopulationsistostoppoachingof thecats andtheirprey...thereafternumberswillbouncebackinadecadeortwotoreachpotentialcarryingcapacity;allthisishardworkandtherearenoshortcuts...butpredatorrecoveriesinmanyIndianreservesshowthisispossi-

ble...

Behaviouralandsocialimplications

VidyaAthreya,WildlifeBiologist

A mother is absolutely crucial for the development of a cubs skill and tem-perament.Huntingandsurvivalskillsapart,themotheralsoteacheshercubstoavoidhumans. This is especially importantin India where peopleare literallyeverywhere. When raised in captivity, cubs do not fear or avoid humans. Setfree,suchbigcatsareattractedto people,who invariablypanicatthesightofatigerorleopard,reactaggressively,andinvitecounteraggression.venaplay-ful,young, hand-raisedtiger orleopard is a powerful carnivorewithfearsomeweaponryintermsofclawsandcanines.Whenreleasedinthewild,theycanbeextremelydangerous,andwillfullyturnonpeople- eitherduetotheirinabilitytohuntwildanimals,orupondiscoveringhoweasyitistobringdownhumans.Iflocalpeoplelearnthatareleasedanimalhasattackedaperson,thelifeofthelocalforeststaff,andtheForestDepartmentsproperty,willbeendangered,nottomentionthefateofthereleasedanimal,aswasseenwhenatigerreleasedon

theMaharashtra-Chattisgarhborderwasstonedtodeath.



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Veterinaryimplications

Dr.AniruddhaBelsare,WildlifeVeterinarian

Animalsincaptivityarepotentialhoststoanumberofpathogensandparasites,whichtheypickupfromotheranimals,thefoodtheyeatorthehumansaroundthem.TheInternational UnionforConservationofNature(IUCN) andotherin-ternational bodies have speciEied health-screening protocols to be followedpriorto release.Before anybig catis introduced into thewilditneedsto un-

dergo a rigorousregimenof periodicmedicalexamination,suchas a completeblood count, serum chemistry proEile, urine analysis and fecal examination. Acaptiveanimalcouldeasilybecarryingapotentiallydangerousdisease,butbeasymptomatic.Thepotentiallydangerousorganismsharbouredbysuchanimalsmaybecomepathogenicunderconditionsofstressinanewenvironment.Worsestill,thedestructivepathogensmayhavedevastatingeffectsonnativewildlife.

Legalimplications

PraveenBhargav,ManagingTrustee,WildlifeFirst

Thelegalimplicationsofintroducingcaptiveanimalsintothewildaretwofold:

1.Welfareofwildlife populations: Section33(b) of theWildlife(Protection)Act,1972mandatesthattheChiefWildlifeWardenshalltakestepstoensurethesecurityofwildanimals.Itisawellestablishedconceptinlawthatallde-cisionstakenmustbeinthelargerpublicinterest.Giventhepotentialhazardsposed by introduced captive animals, it is imperative that a Chief Wildlife

WardenprioritizesecurityofthefreelivingwildanimalpopulationsinaPro-tectedAreaoverthewelfareofthecaptiveindividuals.

2.Welfareofhumans: Although it canbe claimed that all such introductionsareundertakeningoodfaith,thefactthatthereexistsahighprobabilityofareleasedanimalcausinginjuryordeath to humansis wellknown.If suchaneventoccurs,anaffectedpersonorhisorherkincouldinvokeSection304oftheIndianPenalCode(IPC)(culpablehomicidenotamountingtomurder)orIPCSection338(causinggrievoushurtbyactendangeringlifeorper-

sonalsafetyofothers).



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Summary

Thegoalofconservationisnotthewelfareofeveryindividualwildanimal,butthesafeguardingoffree-livingwildpopulationsintheirnaturalhabi-tats.Protectingpredatorsandtheirpreyfrompoachingandpreventingthedestructionoftheirhabitatwillensureanaturalincreaseinnumbersovertime.

Rearingbig catsincaptivity andreleasingthemintothewilddoesmoreharmthangoodtoconservation.Itisnotonlyahugedrainonresources,

butisalsodangerousforboththebigcatsandhumans.Thecaptive-raisedpredators,lackingthelongapprenticeshipthattheywouldhavehadwiththeirmotherintheforest,areillequippedtosurviveinthewild,especiallyamongstotherlargeandEiercelyterritorialcarnivores.

Inthewild,bigcats haveaclearsocialstructure.Theadhocreleaseof astrange individual into an area already inhabited by other wild big catscouldleadtoconElictwitharesidentanimal,resultingininjuriesordeathtooneorbothcontestants.

Whenunabletohuntnaturalprey,hand-rearedpredators,whichhavenofearofhumans,aremorethanlikelytoturnintolivestockliftersandman-eaters.Thisposesagravethreattolocalpeople,andendangersallthewildbigcatsinthearea,asthevictimsortheirkinmaytakemattersintotheirownhandsandindiscriminatelykillanyleopardortigertheyEindinthevicinityinanattempttogetridoftheproblemanimal.InfacttheMinistryof nvironment and Forests Guidelines for Human-Leopard ConElictManagement clearly states that cubs that are hand-reared in captivityhaveanegligiblepossibilityoffuturereleasebacktothewild.Lifetimecareistheonly suitableoptionforsuchcubs,sincetheirreleaseinthewildevenafteralong termrehabilitationprocessmay onlyworsenthealreadyexist-ingcon>lictsituation.

A great majority of such releases have resulted in failure or tragedy, orboth.Many humanlives have been lost and, inmany cases, thereleasedcatsthemselveshavenotsurvived.Inotherinstancestheyhavehadtoberecapturedorputdownafterinjuringorkillingpeople.



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Once imprinted on humans, big cats do not forget that association for a

long time. Arjan Singhs experiences with his leopards and VishalakshiDeviandGajendraSinghsexperienceswithBabytestifytothis.AgraphicdemonstrationoftheeffectsofimprintingcanbeseenintheYouTubehitvideo,ChristiantheLion,thetruestoryofapetlionthatwasreleasedinthewildsofAfrica.Inthevideo,Christiancanbeseenexuberantlygreetingandnuzzlinghisformer owners afterbeingaway from them forafullyear in the wild. A similar reunion with Christian took place two yearslater,demonstratingthatahand-rearedbigcatcanrememberitsassocia-tion with humans forat least two years. However, just because captive-

raised predators are affectionate to their keepers, it shouldnotbe as-sumed that they would be friendly to everyone. In fact, it has beenprovenagainandagainthatthesecatscanandwillattackotherhumanbe-ingswithoutwarning.

Incidentally,allIndianbigcatsareprotectedunderScheduleIoftheWild-life(Protection)Act1972.RaisingorowningthembyanyoneotherthanaCentralZoo Authority(CZA)authorizedzoo isaseriousoffenseunderthe Wildlife Protection Act. If the rearing takes place in a Project Tiger

area,itmayrequireadditionalapprovalbytheNTCA.

Soundreasonsagainsttheintroductionofcaptivecatsintothewild:

1) Highrisktohumanlife,includingdangertoForestDepartmentEieldstaff2) Highcostoffeedingandhousing,andcostofmonitoringafterrelease3) Highdegreeoffailure(virtuallyallattemptsinIndiahavebeendisasters)4) Backlashfromlocalpeopleincaseofmishaps5) Highcostofcompensationforresultanthumaninjuriesanddeaths6) Potentialfordiseasetransmissiontowildlife7) Norealgainstoconservation,asexistingwildpopulationsofbigcatsinthe

areawillincreaseinnumbersifadequatelyprotected

Soundreasonsfortheintroductionofcaptivecatsintothewild:None



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Recommendations

1. Banallsuchrehabilitationattemptsbyadoptingtheprecautionaryprin-ciple,whichisdeEinedasfollows:ifanactionorpolicyhasasuspectedriskofcausingharmtothepublicortotheenvironment,intheabsenceofscien-ti>icconsensusthattheactionorpolicyisharmful,theburdenofproofthatitis notharmful falls onthose taking the action. TheMinistry of nviron-mentandForestsmustsendoutanadvisoryto allChiefWildlifeWardenstodesist fromsuch introductions.Appropriaterules mustbeframedun-dertheWildlife(Protection) Act to ensureapermanentendto this prac-

tice.

2. Uninformed local people sometimes pick up orphaned cubs from theforest underthe mistakenbelief that theirmother hasabandoned them.Usuallythisisnotthecaseatall,andthemotherhasmerelylefttheminhiding while hunting for prey. Conservation groups and Forest Depart-mentextensioncellsshouldconductawarenesscampaignstoeducatelo-calpeoplearoundforestareastoleavecubsaloneandnotrescuethem.

3. Anyrescuedcubsmustbeimmediately returnedtothespotfromwhichtheywerefoundsothattheycanreunitewiththeirmother.Ifthatisnotpossible,theymustbesenttoazooforalifeofpermanentcaptivity.ThisisaspertheGuidelinesforLeopard-HumanConlictManagementpre-paredbytheMinistryofnvironmentandForests,andshouldbeappliedtothecaseoftigercubsalso.

4. ForestOfEicialsandlocalactivistsmustbemadeawareofthedangerousconsequencesofsuchintroductionstolocalpeople,thereleasedcats,theirwildconspeciEics,andtoconservationingeneral.

5. Whilehumaneeuthanasiamaybethemostsensiblesolutiontotheprob-lemofunwantedcubs,itmaynotbethemostacceptablesolution.There-fore,spaciousfacilitiesshouldbecreatedineachstateoutsideProtectedAreasforthepermanenthousingandcareoforphanedcubs.Thesecen-trescanalsobeusedtoeducatepeopleaboutbigcatconservation. Animalbirth control must be implemented at these facilities to ensure that nobreedingtakesplace.



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Conclusion

Wild tigerandleopardnumbers have reboundedin several reserves sincethe1970s thanks to good protection through time-testedmethods such aspatrol-ling,anti-poachingoperationsandhabitatprotection.Whatisrequiredtodayinotherreserveswithlowpreyandpredatornumbersisasimilarapproach,com-bined with scientiEic inputs and monitoring. Rewilding captive big cats mayhave a lot ofemotional appeal andprovide instant gratiEication but itwilllikelyendupendangeringwildpopulations,aswellascauseantipathy towardsconservationin local communities,which always bearthebruntofthese risky

endeavours.Itismyhopethatwildlifemanagersandconservationistswillcare-fullyconsidertheissuespresentedinthisWhitePaper,andhelpputanendt othisadhocpractice,whichisoftendrivenbysentimentalconsiderations,rather thanadispassionateanalysisofthelong-termimplicationstofreelivingwildlifepopulations.

Furtherreading/viewing:

PlayingGodbyJayMazoomdaar,ThePioneer,Oct30,2011

http://www.dailypioneer.com/sunday-edition/sundayagenda/cover-story-agenda/16459-playing-god.html

Releasinghand-rearedtigercubsintowild:expertsdoubtmove-ThePioneerhttp://epaper.dailypioneer.com/PUBLICATIONS/THPIONR/PIONR/2011/10/26/ArticleHtmls/Releasing-hand-reared-tiger-cubs-into-wild-xperts-26102011001041.shtml

3Bortigerscanberehabilitated-WIIteam,TheTimesofIndia,Oct17,2011http://timesoEindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/3-Bor-tigers-can-be-rehabilitated-WII-team/articleshow/10383247.cms

WhoLetTheseCatsOut?byJayMazoomdar,TehelkaVol8,Issue29,July23,2011http://tehelka.com/story_main50.asp?Eilename=Ne230711Who.asp.

MinistryofnvironmentandForests,2011,GuidelinesforHuman-LeopardConElictManagementhttp://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/guidelines-human-leopard-conElict-management.pdf



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http://tehelka.com/story_main50.asp?filename=Ne230711Who.asphttp://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/3-Bor-tigers-can-be-rehabilitated-WII-team/articleshow/10383247.cmshttp://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/3-Bor-tigers-can-be-rehabilitated-WII-team/articleshow/10383247.cmshttp://epaper.dailypioneer.com/PUBLICATIONS/THEPIONEER/PIONEER/2011/10/26/ArticleHtmls/Releasing-hand-reared-tiger-cubs-into-wild-Experts-26102011001041.shtmlhttp://epaper.dailypioneer.com/PUBLICATIONS/THEPIONEER/PIONEER/2011/10/26/ArticleHtmls/Releasing-hand-reared-tiger-cubs-into-wild-Experts-26102011001041.shtmlhttp://epaper.dailypioneer.com/PUBLICATIONS/THEPIONEER/PIONEER/2011/10/26/ArticleHtmls/Releasing-hand-reared-tiger-cubs-into-wild-Experts-26102011001041.shtmlhttp://epaper.dailypioneer.com/PUBLICATIONS/THEPIONEER/PIONEER/2011/10/26/ArticleHtmls/Releasing-hand-reared-tiger-cubs-into-wild-Experts-26102011001041.shtmlhttp://epaper.dailypioneer.com/PUBLICATIONS/THEPIONEER/PIONEER/2011/10/26/ArticleHtmls/Releasing-hand-reared-tiger-cubs-into-wild-Experts-26102011001041.shtmlhttp://www.dailypioneer.com/sunday-edition/sundayagenda/cover-story-agenda/16459-playing-god.htmlhttp://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/guidelines-human-leopard-conflict-management.pdfhttp://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/guidelines-human-leopard-conflict-management.pdfhttp://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/guidelines-human-leopard-conflict-management.pdfhttp://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/guidelines-human-leopard-conflict-management.pdfhttp://tehelka.com/story_main50.asp?filename=Ne230711Who.asphttp://tehelka.com/story_main50.asp?filename=Ne230711Who.asphttp://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/3-Bor-tigers-can-be-rehabilitated-WII-team/articleshow/10383247.cmshttp://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/3-Bor-tigers-can-be-rehabilitated-WII-team/articleshow/10383247.cmshttp://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/3-Bor-tigers-can-be-rehabilitated-WII-team/articleshow/10383247.cmshttp://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/3-Bor-tigers-can-be-rehabilitated-WII-team/articleshow/10383247.cmshttp://epaper.dailypioneer.com/PUBLICATIONS/THEPIONEER/PIONEER/2011/10/26/ArticleHtmls/Releasing-hand-reared-tiger-cubs-into-wild-Experts-26102011001041.shtmlhttp://epaper.dailypioneer.com/PUBLICATIONS/THEPIONEER/PIONEER/2011/10/26/ArticleHtmls/Releasing-hand-reared-tiger-cubs-into-wild-Experts-26102011001041.shtmlhttp://epaper.dailypioneer.com/PUBLICATIONS/THEPIONEER/PIONEER/2011/10/26/ArticleHtmls/Releasing-hand-reared-tiger-cubs-into-wild-Experts-26102011001041.shtmlhttp://epaper.dailypioneer.com/PUBLICATIONS/THEPIONEER/PIONEER/2011/10/26/ArticleHtmls/Releasing-hand-reared-tiger-cubs-into-wild-Experts-26102011001041.shtmlhttp://epaper.dailypioneer.com/PUBLICATIONS/THEPIONEER/PIONEER/2011/10/26/ArticleHtmls/Releasing-hand-reared-tiger-cubs-into-wild-Experts-26102011001041.shtmlhttp://epaper.dailypioneer.com/PUBLICATIONS/THEPIONEER/PIONEER/2011/10/26/ArticleHtmls/Releasing-hand-reared-tiger-cubs-into-wild-Experts-26102011001041.shtmlhttp://www.dailypioneer.com/sunday-edition/sundayagenda/cover-story-agenda/16459-playing-god.htmlhttp://www.dailypioneer.com/sunday-edition/sundayagenda/cover-story-agenda/16459-playing-god.htmlhttp://www.dailypioneer.com/sunday-edition/sundayagenda/cover-story-agenda/16459-playing-god.htmlhttp://www.dailypioneer.com/sunday-edition/sundayagenda/cover-story-agenda/16459-playing-god.html


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DuffHart-Davis,2005,HonoraryTigerthelifeofBillyArjanSingh,Roli

MichaelH.Woodford(ditor)2000,Quarantineandhealthscreeningprotocolsforwildlifepriortotranslocationandreleaseintothewildhttp://www.ccwhc.ca/wildlife_health_topics/risk_analysis/Quarantine.pdf

IUCN1998,GuidelinesforReintroductionshttp://www.iucnsscrsg.org/download/nglish.pdf

lsaTheLionessThatChangedTheWorld(BBCdocumentary)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXJzmjGaHnQ

ChristiantheLionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_the_lion

ChristiantheLionvideohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvCjyWp3rk

LionResearchCenterhttp://www.cbs.umn.edu/lionresearch/research/diseases.shtml

Acknowledgements

IthankDr.K.UllasKaranth,PraveenBhargav,VidyaAthreyaandVasanthAso-

kanforreviewingthemanuscriptandprovidinginputs.Dr.AniruddhaBelsareprovidedinputsonveterinaryanddiseaseaspects,forwhichImgrateful.IalsothankSanjayGubbi,SandeshKadurandAdityaDickySinghfortheirinputsonBandipur and Ranthambhore respectively, and Ramki Sreenivasan for his en-couragementandsupport.

Abouttheauthor

An award-winning wildlife and conservation Eilmmaker, Shekar Dattatri also

writesonconservationissuesforleadingnewspapers,journalsandmagazines.Heservedasanon-governmentexpertontheNationalBoardforWildlifefrom2007 to 2010. More information on his work can be found atwww.shekardattatri.com.Hecanbecontactedat:[email protected]

Photocredits:Coverphoto-AdityaDickySingh.ConElictpicturesonpage1-G.Veeresh

ShekarDattatri,2011,ConservationIndia, allrightsreserved.Thisarticlemaybe freelydisseminatedorre-producedin its originalformwithacknowledgement toCIandthe author.Whileeveryefforthas beenmadetoensureaccuracy,neitherCInortheauthorassumeresponsibilityforanyinadvertenterrorsthatmayhavecrept

in.



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http://www.cbs.umn.edu/lionresearch/research/diseases.shtmlhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvCjyWp3rEkhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXJzmjGaHnQhttp://www.ccwhc.ca/wildlife_health_topics/risk_analysis/Quarantine.pdfhttp://www.ccwhc.ca/wildlife_health_topics/risk_analysis/Quarantine.pdfmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.shekardattatri.com/http://www.shekardattatri.com/http://www.cbs.umn.edu/lionresearch/research/diseases.shtmlhttp://www.cbs.umn.edu/lionresearch/research/diseases.shtmlhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvCjyWp3rEkhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvCjyWp3rEkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_the_lionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_the_lionhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXJzmjGaHnQhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXJzmjGaHnQhttp://www.iucnsscrsg.org/download/English.pdfhttp://www.iucnsscrsg.org/download/English.pdfhttp://www.ccwhc.ca/wildlife_health_topics/risk_analysis/Quarantine.pdfhttp://www.ccwhc.ca/wildlife_health_topics/risk_analysis/Quarantine.pdf

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