Sanctuary |Readers’ Forum
Readers’ Forum
VISHAL BANSOD/WCTSAHIL NIJHAWAN/PANTHERA/APFD
immediate situation. Sahil’s
humility is refreshing. Most
people will dismiss the
possibility that tigers can be
saved by a community. We
hope that Sahil’s research will
be taken into account while
deciding the fate of Dibang
and the Idu people.
Sunder and Sonati,
[email protected]
What started as a symbol
of hope, and an answer to
my sons’ questions about
what we are doing to protect
our planet, has turned into
a monthly delight for us
with every new edition of
Sanctuary. Kudos to the
whole team at Sanctuary
and the tribe of activists and
conservationists at large. The
Dharti Rakshaks of Melghat
were impressive. These people
need to be highlighted, for
they are committed to defend
forests, and stem poaching.
A lot of potential needs to
be tapped for the small and
consistent changes done at
individual levels.
Chitra Muthumani,
[email protected]
BULLET TRAIN
PROJECT
As a citizen of Mumbai, I
am truly concerned about
the huge environmentalSANCTUARY APRIL
ISSUE
The piece on Shamanic
tigers is one of the best
I have read in Sanctuary
and needs to be widely
distributed, especially at a
time when the conservation
vs tribals debate has become
polarised. Some people
(especially among the
FRA lobby) perceive that
Sanctuary sides with fortress
conservationists. This article
shows that Sanctuary gives
space to alternate viewpoints
and also allows us to question
the FRA advocacy groups
if they are willing to do the
same. The problem is that
while hardline conservation
romanticises “pristine” forests
free of human presence,
the people’s rights lobby
romanticises all tribals assurvival of wildlife. 4. The
Idus taking only what they
require from these forests,
without any commercial
angle. The author correctly
recommends factoring in
the IduMishmi tribes into
future conservation initiatives
before declaring Dibang
Valley as a tiger reserve.
Unlike Dibang, the Cauvery
Wildlife Sanctuary being only
65 km. away from Bengaluru,
is open for exploitation.
Ashwin Gurusrikar,
Bengaluru
Dibang Valley is well-insulated
from western infl uence, so the
Idu Mishmis are still animistic
and in awe of the tiger. Forests
in southern India are replete
with colonisation eff ects. Tribes
are torn between traditional
beliefs and modern-day culture.
Their mastery of jungle craft
and living in tune with nature
is fading; while jobs related
to forest conservation are
few. Congratulations to the
author for his bold admission
that our current methods of
conservation are fl awed, and
that sometimes it’s better not
to meddle!
S. Chandrasekaran,,
Chennai
The relevance of this
article goes far beyond thenatural conservationists
of wildlife. Both positions
are quite untrue, being
more ideology-based than
evidence-based.
Raza Kazmi,
Jharkhand
The Idu-tiger story was
fascinating. I believe the key
factors for this coexistence
are: 1. The uncorrupted
minds of the Idu Mishmi
tribes; and their preserving
of traditions. 2. Deep cultural
animistic belief that the tiger
is their brother, creating
a very deep emotional
connection. (I’m curious to
know the Idu tribe’s hunting
patterns with respect to
other wildlife). 3. Crucial “inner
line permits” protecting this
community from outside
infl uence and allowing the