Colonel US Rathore is with Centre for Land Warfare Studies, New Delhi and can be contacted on landwarfare@sify.com |
Nature conservation and protection of wildlife has become a prime concern to everybody. It could be attributed to two unpalatable incidents happening in tandem. One, disclosure about sudden disappearance of Sariska tigers and, two, involvement of a former royalty in a brazen case of poaching recently. Unfortunate incidents also provide stimulus for taking up a good cause. Lots of momentum has been generated amongst the leaders and the policy makers, hope it is sustained. At last, people are at least, acknowledging the impending danger.
Ironically, we are fighting a losing battle on this vital issue. Causes are very many and some of them have really spun out of our control- a fact, which we admit, very grudgingly. For instance, India constitutes about two-and-a-half per cent of the Earth’s land mass and is home to about seventeen per cent of planet’s population. In such a case, stiff competition for natural resources is inevitable, and flora and fauna have to bow out in favour of humans. This argument has been repeated so many times, that it fails to invoke desired response from listeners. Anyway, truth is a truth, and, it will dawn upon all of us some day.
Disappearance of a tiger, a rhino, an elephant and other bigger life forms is noticeable and makes head lines. Though, it is another thing that absence of tigers from Sariska came to light much after the sinister consignments containing their body-parts had already reached Shanghai for spiking the Chinese traditional medicines.
Sadly, disappearance of lowly earthworms, beetles, snails, algae, toadstools, moss and other ‘insignificant’ life forms does not stir our consciousness and these continue to lose battle for their survival. It is agreed that the tiger is at the pinnacle of ecological pyramid and entire system revolves around it, but, lower life forms too, have a place in this ‘hierarchy’ and their existence cannot be taken for granted.
I am not envious at all, about tiger receiving all the attention, but want to convey that any plan aimed at providing succor to this beleaguered animal should be all encompassing to preserve all life forms of an ecosystem. As the hanguls, macaques, snow leopards, flying squirrels, vultures, monals, sarus, frogs………all are equally threatened and vulnerable.
Our approach to nature conservation and wildlife protection is some what fixated, because we look for ‘visible culpability’ instead of subtle ‘involvement’ and ‘abetment’. If, the latter is the criteria for apportion of blame, most of us will be in the dock. Sadly, it is not the case. That is why the polluters, the energy guzzlers and the pleasure seekers go un-noticed, who abet this crime because of their mindset and ostentatious life style.
Conservation and protection strategy adopted by us is somewhat ‘laid-back’. It lacks dynamism and initiative. For instance, bandit Veerappan plundered the forests of Karnatka and Tamilnadu for over two decades and was killed after he annihilated over two hundred pachyderms and decimated vast swathes of sandal wood forests. Similarly, Sansar Chand who is chiefly responsible for poaching in the forests of north India has only served a mild sentence of one-and-a- half year for his heinous crimes committed over three decades. Only yesterday, law caught up with him, when he was nabbed by the Delhi Police. Our approach needs to be more ‘proactive’.
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As long as, the offences under Wildlife (Protection) Act are tried through the cumbersome legal process, one should not expect things to change very much. In fact, these will remain much the same. We may have to constitute fast-track courts under the forest department itself, to demonstrate a firm resolve, that crime against nature, environment and wildlife will no longer be taken lightly. Assistance of the police of other nations should be sought to nab the offenders at large. After all, trade in animals and their body-parts has acquired a global dimension. Similarly, diplomatic initiative is needed to persuade those countries where demand for such merchandise is generated.
Stricter laws are needed to desist poachers and their accomplices from this sordid business. A maximum of seven year jail term and a fine of Rs 5,000/- as enshrined in Wildlife (Protection) Act - 1972 is too lenient and paltry to deter the offenders. A poacher is a destroyer of our heritage, which we are duty bound to preserve for our coming generations. Hence, the punishment should be severe, exemplary and commensurate to the gravity of the crime.
Conflict between the State, humans and wildlife needs a pragmatic settlement. Decimation of wildlife, first, due to vengeance and subsequently, driven by greed, starts from this conflict. There is no doubt that the Banbashis, Bhumiputras and Maldharis have a lien over the forests and its bounties, but, what comes in the way is their agrarian and pastoral life style. It heightens the confrontation between humans and wildlife leading to snaring, electrocuting and poisoning of animals.
Residents of the forests can really help in conservation and protection. We must secure their cooperation by arriving at mutually beneficial arrangement. There is a requirement to wean them away from their traditional occupations by introducing new vocations like apiculture, sericulture, pisciculture, nursery raising and handicrafts amongst them. ‘Son of the soil’ concept will reduce the competition between humans and the animals. They could also be considered for reservation in forest department services.
While the poachers have gone hi-tech, our forest protection methods seem to have frozen in time wrap. Our primitive procedures and dated laws cannot help in this regard. Manpower needed to patrol and mount surveillance in forests with terrain and weather diversity is woefully short, aged and ill equipped by any standard. As per a modest estimate a forest guard is entrusted with guarding of about 10 sq km of area. That is why poachers are having a field day. Need of the hour is to raise a well trained, well equipped, motivated and disciplined force for protection, restoration, conservation and enforcement tasks.
Indian Army can be of help in this regard. It has five Territorial Army (Ecological Battalions) stationed at Uttranchal, Rajasthan, J&K and Delhi. Their cumulative strength is not more than 1,500 men. Yet, these battalions have bagged one Paryawaran Purashkar, two Vrikshamitra awards and many felicitations at state and regional level. Their success story can be seen at Mussorie hills, at Jaisalmer, at Samba and nearer home at Bhati mines in Delhi.
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What is needed is an expansion of this force. If 1,500 men can achieve so much, then imagine contribution from a phalanx of 100,000 well trained and equipped men entrusted with conservation and protection tasks. This force can be raised in a phased manner, over a period of five years. It will not only provide jobs to the local youth but also wean them away from the allurement of poachers. The force so raised will take on the tasks of not only checking trespass, smuggling, encroachment and poaching but also the ecological restoration, conservation and spreading awareness. This is what ‘son of the soil’ concept is all about.
Conservation is closely linked to technology, especially the genetics. Amongst the big animals, due to their small numbers and ever decreasing habitat the inbreeding is casting long shadows over their survival. It is worthwhile to consider launching of captive breeding programmes for tigers and Gir lions. A genetic mapping of big cats will help in improving their progeny and life expectancy. Tigers and lions who are well past their prime and have been edged out from their pack can be utilised for captive breeding.
The issue of translocation of Gir lions has been long pending and mired in controversy. This pack of about 325 lions is living dangerously at one place. It should be translocated to a suitable location in Madhya Pradesh for ensuring its protection against epidemic.
Lastly, each park and reserve has a definite capacity to cope with the influx of visitors, level of pollution and disturbances. It should not be over-exploited in the name eco-tourism, as it affects the wildlife adversely.
