The ‘pardhis’ have the knowledge that could significantly enhance the reach and effectiveness of our conservation efforts
The introduction of cheetahs into India has indeed sparked intense debate. The cheetahs were introduced in Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh marking a significant milestone for the $5 million project. Authorities maintain that reintroducing a top predator like cheetah can enhance the area’s overall biodiversity by restoring the predator-prey balance. The presence of cheetahs can significantly attract tourists, potentially boost the local economy, and increase funds for conservation. On the scientific front, it can provide valuable data on reintroduction methodologies and challenges, which can be applied to similar projects worldwide for this species classified, by the IUCN as "vulnerable". Further, for the local communities, the presence of a historically significant animal can foster a sense of pride, furthering the cause of conservation.
The fate of this esteemed conservation endeavour hangs precariously in the balance. Nine cheetahs, six adults and three out of four cubs born in India, have succumbed to a tragic fate due to a multitude of afflictions. These reportedly include renal failure, physical injury, humidity-related infestations. Three of the first litter of four died apparently due to frailty, malnutrition, and dehydration. Concerns raised by many experts over the labelling of the cheetah’s 'introduction' as a 'reintroduction' and positioning of the translocation as an example of the dilution of scientific rigour need much more serious consideration. Although the concerned international experts do not find the number of deaths alarming, many experts do not consider Kuno, a largely deciduous forest with sparse grasslands, as an ideal habitat for African cheetahs and opine that merely housing a few cheetahs is hardly an answer to the claimed restoration of India's grasslands.
The declared notion of cheetahs filling a unique ecological niche as a predator is also seen as not well-founded, given that Kuno already has a myriad of native predators. They mention that the resident blackbucks vanished when the habitat transitioned into woodlands with isolated tall grass segments. It is feared that with competition and challenges in finding suitable prey, cheetahs could venture beyond their intended territories, causing human-wildlife conflicts. Some international experts have also raised the issue of limited consultation with experts in cheetah ecology before the translocation.
History reveals that the habitat of the Asiatic cheetah in India was spread across scrublands, bushlands, arid and semi-arid terrains, and a mix of low hills and plains interrupted by rocky plateaus. Wildlife hunting, in general, was a specialized profession. Pardhis, a conglomerate of eleven types based on hunting methods and targeting wild animals, largely followed the geographical spread of relevant ecosystems as they roamed.
A set of astute and occupationally differentiated specialized hunters from amongst them were called ‘Cheetah Pardhi’ who applied a kind of very strong bird lime to the branches of the trees cheetahs inhabited, or set their snare traps made from deer guts near trees marked and revisited by the cheetahs either for claw sharpening or for relieving themselves. The Cheetah Pardhi community capitalized on this behaviour. They trapped, trained, and deployed cheetahs for hunting; or traded them to the elites, princely states, and zamindaris.
Records show that Akbar had a remarkable assembly of 9,000 cheetahs. His successors Shah Jehan and Aurangzeb were also fond of hunting using trained cheetahs, leopards, and hawks. For this 'pardhis' were highly sought after by the royalty. The cheetah population in the wild faced a severe decline over time due to excessive hunting.
As time passed, the aristocracy's enduring fascination with these creatures prompted them to import African cheetahs, particularly post-1918. The era marked a surge in the import of African cheetahs to India, with previous records indicating just one specimen imported in 1890-91 for Calcutta’s Alipore Zoo. With the royals of Baroda, Bhavnagar, and Kolhapur playing pivotal roles, by 1920, African cheetahs had largely supplanted their Asiatic counterparts in Indian captivity. In the late 19th and early 20th century, the use of sophisticated weapons coupled with the British Government's bounty system rewarding the killing of cheetahs, leopards, and other wildlife drastically reduced their numbers. The ancient art of cheetah trapping in India soon faded, and the Asiatic cheetah also, once widespread, left only fleeting footprints around the sal-bearing areas of central India, eventually disappearing entirely.
Anthropological literature indicates the bond between the Paradhis and the animals they trapped and tamed. The process was intricate, requiring immense patience and a deep understanding of the animal's nature. It reflected personal and group qualities such as bravery, stealth, planning for trapping, grit, perseverance, tact, and knowledge of tools and equipment. However, what remains paramount, is the pardhi community’s profound understanding of wildlife and ecosystems. The British declared the 'pardhis' as a criminal tribe in 1871. As a community, the 'pardhis’ expertise wasn't just for sport; it was an art, a livelihood system, and hunting was bound by customs that sustained their tribe and the resource base. It’s a fact that many hunting-related provisions in the wildlife-related rules in India were adopted from the unwritten conservation-oriented rules followed by the 'pardhis.
Hunting licences were utilised primarily by the influentials till 1991, after which hunting was banned. Interestingly, hunters became some of the best conservationists. Though the tag of ‘criminal tribe’ was removed by the Government in 1952 for the Pardhis, the perception of enforcement agencies hardly changed. While the ban on hunting criminalised 'pardhis’ livelihood system, they, once integral to India's wildlife and hunting legacy, found themselves completely marginalised. Some of them occasionally succumb to the allure of organised smugglers who exploit their skills to hunt tigers. The Pardhis’ transition from admired hunters to those labelled as criminals, and eventually to ecological refugees in their homeland is truly poignant.
The current project dubbed the “world’s first intercontinental large wild carnivore translocation project,” presents unique challenges. The cheetahs being imported must adjust to an alien ecosystem with a qualitatively different food web and climatic conditions that sharply contrast with their native habitat. The impact of the cheetahs on and their response to the existing biocomplexity and connectance will present new challenges that need to be addressed successfully. To ensure the project’s success, we must adopt a purely professional approach, champion collaborative problem-solving over blame games; synergise efforts of all the stakeholders with genuine openness to feedback; prioritise the development of vacated village areas into grasslands; create conservation breeding enclosures for cheetahs; establish robust healthcare system and engage with locals with appropriate capacity building, awareness. In addition to the above, it's paramount to also source and harness the traditional knowledge of the cheetah 'pardhis' for the purpose.Today, the Forest Department’s initiative of employing ex-poachers, sandalwood and rosewood smugglers in Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala and Kabini Wildlife Safari, Karnataka; and locals as guides in Kas plateau in Maharashtra, are a few examples of recognition and utilization of indigenous people and their knowledge. Integrating them into wildlife conservation efforts can be a win-win situation.
The 'pardhis' are not merely a tribe. They are the custodians of centuries of wisdom, their lives intricately woven into the tapestry of local ecosystems and cultures. Yet, they bear the unjust stigma of being a criminal tribe, a label that overshadows their rich heritage and intimate understanding of nature. Once this stigma is removed, the 'pardhis' has the potential to become invaluable allies in our conservation efforts. Their knowledge, honed over generations, could significantly enhance the reach and effectiveness of our current approaches. The choice to harness this wisdom or let it dissipate into oblivion lies with us.
(The writers are former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, UP and Maharashtra; views are personal)
