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India: Tiger Cull Controversy in Kerala

India: Tiger Cull Controversy in Kerala

India: Tiger Cull Controversy in Kerala

India: Tiger Cull Controversy in Kerala

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  • He was speaking out of fury over the tiger attack that killed a farmer.
  • The attack in Kerala happened on January 13 in the Wayanad district.
  • More over 70% of the tigers in the world live in India.
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A discussion on conservation has been triggered by the remarks of an Indian state minister regarding tiger culling.

According to reports, Kerala’s wildlife minister, AK Saseendran, said that his state’s government may look into culling or sterilisation as options to control tiger populations.

He was speaking out of fury over the tiger attack that killed a farmer.

Later, the minister informed that he had just reiterated a residents’ recommendation to kill tigers.

By that time, his remarks had sparked a debate on wildlife conservation, during which several experts expressed outrage and noted that the idea of culling was “legally unworkable.”

More over 70% of the tigers in the world live in India; the most current government estimate puts the total at 2,976. However, because their habitats haven’t grown as quickly, so-called “surplus” tigers have been forced to leave protected areas and come into contact with people.

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Tigers are considered India’s national animal and are practically impossible to kill or capture, even when they are involved in such fights, thanks to a federal wildlife protection statute that was put into effect in 1972.
The attack in Kerala happened on January 13 in the Wayanad district’s Mananthavady forest region. The 50-year-old man passed away from a heart arrest while being transported from one hospital to another. He had suffered severe injuries to his hands and legs. According to a medical assessment, his wounds had “severe bleeding.”

After he passed away, incensed locals demonstrated against forest rangers and demanded that the tiger be put to death.

According to local media, Mr. Saseendran suggested culling as a potential solution to the problem.

The notion on culling, however, came from locals who had attended a meeting with all the political parties to negotiate a way out, the minister revealed.

“We need to find a way to keep the animals under control. I have no rush to remove anything “said him.

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Tiger specialist and conservationist Dr. Ullas Karanth told that, in the preceding 50 years, the number of tigers has grown by barely 1,000, significantly less than its carrying capacity.

Therefore, he believes, the recommendation to kill tigers in order to control their population is not a wise one.

According to Bhargav, the forest minister’s idea is unworkable from a legal standpoint.

A state’s chief wildlife warden may, however, authorise a tiger to be hunted “after being satisfied that it cannot be tranquillized or translocated,” according to the law, “in case of acute human-animal conflict,” he added.
According to Dr. Karanth, issues can occasionally occur in a select tiger habitats when the animal population is dense.

“But in 90% of tiger forests there is no such problem. In large parts of eastern and north-east India, tigers are virtually extinct because of excessive hunting of prey and tigers. We should not lose sight of this basic fact,” he says.

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According to him, authorities should quickly provide compensation if tigers invade human settlements and feed on cattle. Dr. Karanth adds that if they start eating people, they should be “quickly killed,” referring to this as “damage control in specific situations.”

However, renowned environmentalist Madhav Gadgil, who told The New Indian Express newspaper that India should permit “sensible shooting” of animals to limit their populations, offered some backing for the idea to exterminate tigers.

“The only nation that has laws preserving wild animals is India. I believe it to be unreasonable, stupid, unconstitutional, and unworthy of praise. No other nation safeguards wild creatures besides national parks, “Mr. Gadgil reportedly added, according the story.

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