Kashmir Stag for Kashmiris alone – Ameya Yellore
Kashmir Stag or Hangul is an endangered species of animal found only in forests of Kashmir. Like other animals in India, this fast dwindling species faces trouble from poachers as well as depleting habitat. Not only is it priced for fur and horns, it’s being hunted for food and sport. The ‘hunting trophy’-culture is not entirely residual to the days of the British Raj. However the main problem of the two is depleting habitat.
Kashmir as we all know is a region hit by everyday protests against the Central and State Governments and also a region long since divided by Religious strife and partisan mentality due to an evil neighbour fostering hate and separatism. There is much to be expected from the regions’ local people towards conservation efforts even as they have their own problems to deal with. The fact remains that for any conservation effort to show any improvement the cooperation of the local people is indispensible and of utmost importance.
The Kashmir stag should become the pride of every Kashmiri worth his name. For the Kashmiri Muslim as much for the Kashmiri Hindus - some of whom may still live in the trouble torn state which is their motherland.
Forests in the region have a lot of uniqueness to them, the unique climate and unique geography of the region has blessed the land with a rare beauty unparallelled in this world. As the Moghul rulers had proclaimed, “If there exists, heaven on earth, then it is here.” Sadly the region is now being reclaimed, mainly by Timber industry and also for so called development in a region once known for its beautiful natural bounty and for being the ‘Kohinoor’ of the Indian tourism industry.
Tourism has since long died in Kashmir’s struggle for long lasting peace. It has ceased being the livlihood of the people. Gone with the peace are the tourists who used to bring with them livlihood for the people and a strong reason for Nature conservation. Complicating the efforts made by nature conservation projects is the fact that most parts in the Kashmir region are out of bounds for conservationists today just as they are to other common people of India.
The role of the Government Forest department and NGOs is therefore cut-out in a very crystal clear manner. Educate, enrol and employ locals in the conservation efforts not for India or Pakistan but for Kashmir and the future generations of Kashmiris who will cherish the land and its natural resources, as all the sons and daughters of the soil have cherished it till now. The great affection that Kashmiris have for their land needs to be tapped into in an effort to conserve its beauty and culture along with natural Wealth like the Kashmir stag – Hangul, for posterity. Not for India, not for Pakistan but for Kashmir alone.
The role of the Government does not however stop with the role of the Forest department. Instilling a sense of pride among Kashmiris for being Kashmiri first, is of untold significance.
Save Kashmir Stag for Kashmiris first, then for the world.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Indian Dodo – Ameya Yellore
Indian Dodo – Ameya Yellore
Soon India will be the sole member of the club of nations with extinct species as their national animal. Tigers are going the Dodo way. This misfortune and embarrassment is due to Chinese trade’s demand for Tiger parts. Tiger is long since extinct in China and now they are hell bent on destroying the species in India and other Southeast Asian countries... Soon, Siberia will be next and then there won’t be any Tigers in this world.
All sorts of greedy goons, from small time hunters & smugglers to Maoists benefit from Tiger poaching. The actual hunters that include tribal who live in and around tiger Sanctuaries actually get only a small amount of money, which they need for their basic needs, from poaching activities. They themselves do not need to poach tigers as their way of life. They do it not for tiger parts but for the money they get by supplying tiger parts to bigger goons and smugglers who form an international racket of traders in tigers’ parts.
Since the amount these tribal earn from poaching is relatively small, they can be weaned away from poaching. The need of the hour is to control these people by conceding them some of their basic necessities. If they have to survive without poaching then an alternate source of income for them will do the job. Rehabilitating them with adequate sources of livelihood can help change the delicate balance of motive behind poaching. Without the support of these locals the tiger poaching goons will be no match for our forest rangers. Tiger extinction will be contained and India will save its face.
Action by the government is essential in Tiger conservation but the role of private parties cannot be ruled out. If the tiger is to survive then action needs to be taken. Allotting forest land and breeding them in zoos is not the way ahead from now on. Private bodies, NGOs, should work with the government and also on their own to make tiger conservation lucrative to these tribal. We need to move from our couch to make tiger poaching a thing of the past. Weaning the tribal away from tiger poaching activity is the challenge for Nature Lovers now. Proper action on this front can still save our national pride.
There exists a delicate balance in nature. If one species dies off or is introduced to new areas, there is chaos. This has been seen in various places like Australia and islands of Madagascar where a small mongoose like animal accidentally landed on an island and soon evolved into a much larger panther like predator. Newer predators target many of the existing prey species and soon lead to extinction. Allowing gun toting poachers will translate into a similar situation.
Extinction can be more dangerous than we think, for if a top predator is replaced by many other smaller predators the smaller predators will soon evolve into larger individuals and turn into a new potentially dangerous species. The original prey will also evolve but into weaker individuals and even other species. These forces of change will soon destroy the forests as we know them today. Without forests, without the biodiversity of today, more species of plants and animals will become extinct or evolve into different living beings altogether. This in turn will affect agriculture and other activities that have an impact on human lives. These forces of nature have the fearful potential of hampering and harming lives of People, plants and animals across the world. Tiger extinction therefore has more drawbacks than embarrassment. It has economic impacts too.
What lies ahead is a choice. Conserve or perish.
Stop Tiger Trade. Stop Tiger Extinction… Stop Annihilation.
Soon India will be the sole member of the club of nations with extinct species as their national animal. Tigers are going the Dodo way. This misfortune and embarrassment is due to Chinese trade’s demand for Tiger parts. Tiger is long since extinct in China and now they are hell bent on destroying the species in India and other Southeast Asian countries... Soon, Siberia will be next and then there won’t be any Tigers in this world.
All sorts of greedy goons, from small time hunters & smugglers to Maoists benefit from Tiger poaching. The actual hunters that include tribal who live in and around tiger Sanctuaries actually get only a small amount of money, which they need for their basic needs, from poaching activities. They themselves do not need to poach tigers as their way of life. They do it not for tiger parts but for the money they get by supplying tiger parts to bigger goons and smugglers who form an international racket of traders in tigers’ parts.
Since the amount these tribal earn from poaching is relatively small, they can be weaned away from poaching. The need of the hour is to control these people by conceding them some of their basic necessities. If they have to survive without poaching then an alternate source of income for them will do the job. Rehabilitating them with adequate sources of livelihood can help change the delicate balance of motive behind poaching. Without the support of these locals the tiger poaching goons will be no match for our forest rangers. Tiger extinction will be contained and India will save its face.
Action by the government is essential in Tiger conservation but the role of private parties cannot be ruled out. If the tiger is to survive then action needs to be taken. Allotting forest land and breeding them in zoos is not the way ahead from now on. Private bodies, NGOs, should work with the government and also on their own to make tiger conservation lucrative to these tribal. We need to move from our couch to make tiger poaching a thing of the past. Weaning the tribal away from tiger poaching activity is the challenge for Nature Lovers now. Proper action on this front can still save our national pride.
There exists a delicate balance in nature. If one species dies off or is introduced to new areas, there is chaos. This has been seen in various places like Australia and islands of Madagascar where a small mongoose like animal accidentally landed on an island and soon evolved into a much larger panther like predator. Newer predators target many of the existing prey species and soon lead to extinction. Allowing gun toting poachers will translate into a similar situation.
Extinction can be more dangerous than we think, for if a top predator is replaced by many other smaller predators the smaller predators will soon evolve into larger individuals and turn into a new potentially dangerous species. The original prey will also evolve but into weaker individuals and even other species. These forces of change will soon destroy the forests as we know them today. Without forests, without the biodiversity of today, more species of plants and animals will become extinct or evolve into different living beings altogether. This in turn will affect agriculture and other activities that have an impact on human lives. These forces of nature have the fearful potential of hampering and harming lives of People, plants and animals across the world. Tiger extinction therefore has more drawbacks than embarrassment. It has economic impacts too.
What lies ahead is a choice. Conserve or perish.
Stop Tiger Trade. Stop Tiger Extinction… Stop Annihilation.
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