_(21).jpg)
Live Baiting in Tiger Reserves: Conservation or Interference?
A 23-month-old tigress named Kankati in Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve killed two people within a month. Experts link this to her being raised on live bait, which led to her habituation to humans and a loss of natural fear—making her and her siblings potential threats to forest staff and tourists.
What is Live Baiting?
Live baiting involves offering live prey (like goats or calves) to a predator.
Historical Context:
-
Colonial Era: Used by British hunters to lure tigers for shooting.
-
Post-Independence Tourism: Popular in tiger reserves (e.g., Sariska) to attract tigers for tourists.
-
Ban: Banned for tourism use in 1982 by PM Indira Gandhi.
Current Use:
-
Still used in:
-
Conflict scenarios (e.g., capturing problematic leopards).
-
Feeding injured, old, or orphaned tigers, especially those unable to hunt.
-
-
Not banned for medical/emergency use under NTCA SOPs, though "not advisable."
NTCA’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP):
-
Conservation Principle: Minimal human intervention.
-
Emphasizes “survival of the fittest” — feeding disrupts natural selection.
-
Baiting should be limited, emergency-based, and strictly time-bound.
Risks of Live Baiting & Over-Intervention:
| Issue | Impact |
|---|---|
| Habituation to Humans | Increases risk of tiger attacks on people and livestock |
| Loss of Hunting Skills | Tigers raised on bait struggle in the wild (e.g., Simba, Guda cubs) |
| Unnatural Survival | Weaker/older tigers live longer, increasing competition and conflict |
| Dependency Culture | Encourages tourists to demand aid for every limping or injured tiger |
| Interference in Natural Order | Undermines core wildlife ethics; nature's course is altered unnaturally |
Case Studies:
-
Guda Cubs (2008):
Orphaned cubs fed with bait — male (T36) killed by rival; female (T37) survived. -
Simba:
Raised on bait, died from injuries after failed hunting attempt — lacked survival instincts. -
Machhli (Ranthambhore Icon):
Fed with bait for 7 years — lived unnaturally long. Sparked debate: compassion vs conservation.
Emerging Culture of Over-Intervention
| Intervention | Examples |
|---|---|
| Trucking in prey animals | To feed aging/injured tigers |
| Creating artificial water holes | Corbett, Bandipur, Kanha, Pench during dry seasons |
| Tourist pressure | Demand for medical attention to limping tigers |
| Frequent tranquilisation | For minor injuries; stresses the animals |
Expert Opinion: “Protect, Don’t Pamper”
-
Goal of conservation is to maintain natural ecosystems, not simulate sanctuaries.
-
Compassion, if unchecked, leads to dependency, unnatural survival, and increased conflict.
-
Best approach:
-
Preserve natural habitats,
-
Ensure prey abundance,
-
Allow nature to regulate populations.
-
Conclusion
While live baiting may be justified in emergencies, its unregulated or emotional use undermines conservation ethics. The focus must shift from short-term sympathy to long-term sustainability — ensuring that India's iconic species like the tiger thrive as wild animals, not as dependent subjects of human intervention.
Comments (0)