Is this the face that launched a thousand ships, sang Shakespeare in one of his immortal dramas while describing the beauty of Helen of Troy. This is the same appeal for our dear wild guest, the Royal Bengal Tiger which has entered into the Tiger Safari of the Nandankanan Zoo possibly by being enamoured of the odours emanating from his beloved Sarah, the female virgin of this zoological garden.
History has repeated itself once again. In 1967, Kanan, a female timer had jumped into this open enclosure being wooed by Pradeep, the charming prince tiger of Nandankanan. This event had generated much enthusiasm among nature lovers, birds and animal watchers and among the general masses.
This leap home tiger’s whereabouts are unknown. Some believe that the big cat has come from the Satakoshia forest of the Mahanadi region while others believe that he has come from Angul or from Nayagarh zone. But the immediate question that stares us in our face is whether this animal will be accommodated here, where he is content with 12 hectares of land ably supported by a water body to rely upon. Experts and authorities are divided in their opinions. The meeting at Nandankanan on May 15 could not reach a consensus and that the members have sought the second opinion of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) as to whether to dispatch the animal back to the jungle or to allow him a permanent home at the zoo enclosure.
Authorities on tiger opine that when the feed availability and habitat suitability are aplenty at the zoo, why should be sent back to the jungle. Again, they observe that once the tiger is sent back to the jungle, there is every possibility that there will ensure an internecine war between it and other tigers since the tiger is largely a territorial animal having always a confine to itself. Others inhabiting in the area will engage in a bloody battle till this tiger is killed ultimately. The point is further sustained and substantiated after investigations that when a leopard which stayed into Nandankan for a year was sent back to the jungle; it was not seen for some days after a lapse of some days. This leopard was found dead being killed by other leopards or by human beings. As the rule of the jungle reigns supreme among them, when an animal exposed to the scents of homo-sapiens shall not be allowed to stay back in the jungle. Thus, experts apprehend that the future of this tiger will meet a gory end like that of the leopard which was sent back to the Redhakhol forest. The order of the NTCA or the voice of its representative to send the guest tiger back to jungle is devoid of any logic and ratiocination.
The proposal of tying a radio collar may help determine the tiger’s movement, but “how can it help us protect the animal in the jungle from being attacked by other animals or being aimed by the prying eyes of the poachers,” questions noted environmentalist and former IFS officer Bhagirathi Behera.
Besides, this tiger being acquainted with the smell of human beings may peep into the human habitations being incited by the smell of the human beings thereby inviting conflicts with the human beings, consequently leading to his death. Experts observe that out of the seven subspecies of tigers like the (1) Indian Tiger, (2) Indo Burmese Tiger, (3) Siberian Tiger, (4) Chinese Tiger, (5) Sumatran Tiger, (6) Zavan Tiger and (7) Balinese Tiger, the last three have almost dwindled into extinction. Out of the remaining four, the Indian Tiger is the most vibrant one, although its number is diminishing day by day. Furthermore, environmental activist Dr Pradeep Tarai is of the view that when being caged at Nandankanan, the tigers have a longevity extending up to 22 years while their jungle counterparts live only to a period of 15 years.
Thus, it is clear as broad daylight that this unexpected guest of Nandankanan has a better lifespan here having wide possibility of enhancing the tiger population, once it is allowed to consummate its love with Sarah.
et us not admit impediments to the marriage of the true lover duo who hold the possibility of the tiger population growth. Way back in 1965, Pradeep, a male tiger, came from Kolkata while Sikha came from Ranchi, and out of their union was born Deepak. Rani, who came from the Similipal jungle, got united with Deepak, and Ganga was born.
Out of the union of Deepak and Ganga, three white tigers were born at Nandankanan creating a history in the world. Subhra, which was in the Delhi Zoo, was six months old when she came here to mix with the three white tigers, Debabrata, Nanda and Alaka. It was the union of Debabrata and Subhra that gave birth to a number of tigers which were sent to different zoos of India, ultimately contributing to the Indian tiger population.
Experts point out that the tigers in India suffer from one hangover deficiency of inbreeding for non-availability of jungle-born eligible male tigers. This present guest tiger having a velvety skin seems like a large-hearted gentleman for his demeanors at this age of his youth at seven years and is eminently suitable for Sarah, the princess of Nandankan, experts strongly opine.
It is high time the NTCA, experts and forest officers came together to provide a safe resort to this guest animal in the larger interest of the nation. Sending him back to the jungle will be like an albatross round the neck of the NTCA.