The Rules of the Jungle

From the editor’s desk

Recently a video of a tiger charging on a tourist safari around Jim Corbett National Park, India, surfaced on the internet. The video brings to the fore, the issue of human-wildlife conflict. Here’s a brief analysis of the rules when visiting a wildlife sanctuary in India.

It is integral to maintain a safe distance from the animal (approximately 20 metres or more). It was quite evident from the video that the tourist safari was trying to intrude into the tiger’s space by trying to be unreasonably close to the animal. The privacy of the national animal must be respected at all times. The video also highlighted that the driver diverged from the designated track for safaris and drove in the direction of the animal. It later reversed the vehicle when the tiger growled and charged toward the safari. Such a action is unpardonable as it amounts to flouting one of the most basic rules of a national park. Overspeeding is another infringement of the law and order of the home of the wild. The people on the safari, although invisible in the video seemed overly excited and fidgety. It is imperative to control one’s nerves when on a wildlife safari. Sudden movements of the body are prohibited at all times.

It is paramount to maintain cleanliness and preserve the beauty of the jungle. Littering is hence a massive don’t when visiting a wildlife park. Presence in the park in an inebriated state is questionable and punishable. It is the duty of the tourists to make sure they are sober when venturing into a wildlife park.

Babies, children up to a certain age and pets are not allowed in national parks. Any sort of quid pro quo between the tourists and the authorities is not only unethical but illegal. The video showed excitable tourists making noise in order to excite the tiger and expecting a reaction from the animal in return. The tiger instead growled and charged which petrified the tourists causing them to make even more horrendous noises disturbing the animal and the sanctity of its natural habitat. It is imperative that the visitors watch out for any loud music, noises, vibrations and conversations from their cell phones and among themselves respectively.

It is the duty of everyone sighting a tiger to make sure that the animal is not crowded. Usually, when a tiger is spotted, multiple jeeps swarm the poor animal thereby violating the rules of the jungle. Make sure that the jeep that first comes leaves in time to make space for other jeeps to enjoy the sighting. Getting out of the safari except when allowed to is not only dangerous but illegal. It is tantamount to putting one’s own life and the lives of others including the animals at risk.

Life is life – whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man’s own advantage ~Sri Aurobindo

Written by Paras Sharma, assistant editor Australia India News.