Guides, drivers in tears as they mourn poisoned tigers
Vijay Pinjarkar | TNN | Jan 14, 2019, 09:08 IST
A guide in Nagpur tonsures head to observe the ‘teravi’ of the tigers.NAGPUR: After the death of a person, relatives observe the 'teravi' (13th day) ritual, but has anyone heard of such a ritual being observed for tigers?
In a unique tribute to Charger, the dominant male tiger of Umred-Paoni-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary near Nagpur, and a female Raai, who died of poisoning on December 30 and 31, local stakeholders like resort owners, drivers and guides of the sanctuary did just that. "Our idea was to send a message to local villagers to coexist. When you stay close to a forest area, you cannot wish wild animals away. They should love wildlife like pets. The sanctuary paid a heavy price for the silly mistake of people," said resort owner Prasad Ingle, who is the convener of the programme.
The 13th day was observed exactly in the same manner as it is done for humans. Some guides even tonsured their heads. They performed rituals with the help of a professional pandit and conducted symbolic immersion of ashes in nearby Wainganga river. Over 100 people garlanded the portraits of the two tigers.
"I shaved my head because death of Raai and Charger is my personal loss. They were like my mother and father. I was completely dependent on them for employment. These tigers were tourist-friendly and got many tourists to Paoni," said Vikas Meshram, a guide.
"After the death of both the tigers, there is a drastic fall in the number of tourist vehicles. On Sunday, only four vehicles entered the park against 10-12 earlier. A large-scale awareness campaign is needed to save the situation because tigers in Paoni have always been targeted by farmers by electrocuting or poisoning," claimed Chhagan Dahare, a guide.
"In 2016, one of the biggest tigers Jai vanished followed by his progeny Sriniwas and Jaichand. With two latest deaths, now Jai's entire bloodline has been wiped out. Our basic aim is to tell locals not to do this with tigers who are torchbearers of the forest," said Ingle.
Ingle said for the last eight years the guides and Gypsy drivers were emotionally attached to Raai. She delivered two litters of four cubs each but never harmed tourists.
"When Raai was cremated, the pyre was lit by guides who were literally in tears. Now many are feeling the heat of unemployment," recalled Shahid Parvez Khan of Save Ecosystem & Tigers (SEAT), Bhandara.
In a unique tribute to Charger, the dominant male tiger of Umred-Paoni-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary near Nagpur, and a female Raai, who died of poisoning on December 30 and 31, local stakeholders like resort owners, drivers and guides of the sanctuary did just that. "Our idea was to send a message to local villagers to coexist. When you stay close to a forest area, you cannot wish wild animals away. They should love wildlife like pets. The sanctuary paid a heavy price for the silly mistake of people," said resort owner Prasad Ingle, who is the convener of the programme.
The 13th day was observed exactly in the same manner as it is done for humans. Some guides even tonsured their heads. They performed rituals with the help of a professional pandit and conducted symbolic immersion of ashes in nearby Wainganga river. Over 100 people garlanded the portraits of the two tigers.
"I shaved my head because death of Raai and Charger is my personal loss. They were like my mother and father. I was completely dependent on them for employment. These tigers were tourist-friendly and got many tourists to Paoni," said Vikas Meshram, a guide.
"After the death of both the tigers, there is a drastic fall in the number of tourist vehicles. On Sunday, only four vehicles entered the park against 10-12 earlier. A large-scale awareness campaign is needed to save the situation because tigers in Paoni have always been targeted by farmers by electrocuting or poisoning," claimed Chhagan Dahare, a guide.
"In 2016, one of the biggest tigers Jai vanished followed by his progeny Sriniwas and Jaichand. With two latest deaths, now Jai's entire bloodline has been wiped out. Our basic aim is to tell locals not to do this with tigers who are torchbearers of the forest," said Ingle.
Ingle said for the last eight years the guides and Gypsy drivers were emotionally attached to Raai. She delivered two litters of four cubs each but never harmed tourists.
"When Raai was cremated, the pyre was lit by guides who were literally in tears. Now many are feeling the heat of unemployment," recalled Shahid Parvez Khan of Save Ecosystem & Tigers (SEAT), Bhandara.
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