Film: Hunted Tigers (India)

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00:00:00: SOUND UP; [MUSIC PLAYS]
00:00:11: BELINDA: The tiger is the most charismatic mammal on this planet. I’m not entirely sure that India or the world, really wants tigers. The needs are very basic. But it needs space, exclusive space. And it needs food, water and protection. There doesn’t seem to be much place in modern India for tigers. The crunch here in India, is land. We now have 28 tiger reserves, which are set aside for the better management and protection of tigers. But the problem is that at least 10 of them, there’s no tigers.; CHARLIE: Why is it so hard to conserve them?; BELINDA: The tiger has become a big nuisance, and it’s now being portrayed as “tiger versus people.” So of course, politically you have to support people, not tigers. When in fact, it’s not tigers versus people. The tiger’s a very separate issue, tiger conservation.
00:01:12: CHARLIE: What’s the issue? Why can’t we protect the tiger?; BELINDA: Well, in a single word, it’s politics. The authorities do not want to highlight any poaching incidents. A tiger is killed, so it’s quickly buried and the whole thing is hushed up. I do sympathize with them a little bit, because if a park manager admits that there’s a tiger poaching case in his park, he’ll get shifted to the back of beyond, his children’s education will suffer, his career suffers—nobody’s encouraged to do good enforcement. So we are losing our wild tigers for a fashion statement. By wearing a tiger skin in particular, all the people that are viewing you at a horse festival, know that you have the purchasing power, the money.
00:01:59: BELINDA: Tiger products, like tiger bones and eyeballs and penises and whiskers and everything, that’s all processed into traditional Chinese medicine. That’s then smuggled to Chinese communities around the world. There are groups of professional poachers. There’s two in particular—one is based in western India, one in central India—who do nothing but this sort of poaching. And there’s a large number of them. They travel from place to place, wherever there’s tiger habitat, wherever there are tigers. And then they work with local people.
00:02:35: BELINDA: For instance, villagers living in on on the fringes of a tiger reserve, merely have to say to them, Oh, a cow has been killed in such and such a place, and they get a reward, a cash reward, from the poachers. And they don’t take part, necessarily take part in the crime.
00:02:55: BELINDA: There’s four common ways to kill a tiger. The sort of traditional way is to use this steel trap. You just dig a little hole, open the trap—which is quite difficult—and then there’s a thick chain that is connected to a tree. Recently we’ve found they’ve been laying three or four of these traps, and measuring the tiger’s stride. Second way, poison. Cats are very susceptible to poison, it’s very cheap, very easy. And that’s poisoning the kill The third way is electrocution. So they tap a live wire, and then put these long, long, long trails that can be up to two kilometers long. Those traps are mostly set for food, for deer meat and so on. And tigers are forever getting killed in them. In fact one , I hear, got killed yesterday.; BELINDA: Then the fourth way is shooting. And you’d think that shooting’d be pretty difficult in a protected area. But the last few tigers that’ve been killed, in both Ranthambhore and in Sariska, guns were used. Personally, I’m really puzzled why there isn’t a bigger outcry. The problem has been presented through the media, fairly thoroughly. Is it that the world doesn’t care?; END OF FILM

Hunted Tigers

Is there a more beautiful charismatic animal than the tiger? Has the world forgotten them? Please share your thoughts on Tiger conservation.

: India
Location:: Ranthambhore
Date:: November 2006
Grants Awarded:: Tiger Watch ($50,000)

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Recent Comments:

Anyone interested in the white tiger of India must check out the work of John Isaac, former photographer for the United Nations. http://johnisaacblogspot.blogspot.com/ He has been documenting the white tiger for many years and has a superior collection of work. He also has a wonderful book just released on Kashmir.
AmesEla MAY 1, 2009
Anyone interested in the tiger of India must check out the work of John Isaac, former photographer for the United Nations. http://johnisaacblogspot.blogspot.com/ He has been documenting the white tiger for many years and has a superior collection of work. He also has a wonderful book just released on Kashmir.
Amy Seidman MAY 1, 2009
if only all people would stop this foolish waste of life, we are destroying ourselves every time we allow a species to be erradicated we come closer to the end of our own species........wake up people WE ARE PART OF THE FOOD CHAIN.
barker89048 JULY 15, 2010
I agree with BARKER89048, every time we let a species die, We come closer to destroying the human race. I heard someone say that being conservative and selfish with nature is the smart thing to do.
Sassie JULY 15, 2010
It's a Horrible SHAME that people find a desire or need to exterminate another species. Yes, it's got alot to do with POLITICS, but the drive behind all Politics is Human Ego & GREED . . . Personal Gain. Much like the Wolves in the United States, they encroach upon Cattle & Sheep Ranching in what used to be their natural habitat & hunting area. WE FIRST ENCROACHED UPON THEM; & now we/human beings demand the right of ownership simply due to dominance. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. I only hope there's a small place left in Hell for the Human Beings who continue to feel that this IS their right.
JypsyRose JULY 20, 2010
It makes me physically ill to think how corrupt we are that we think we can afford to lose such a magnificent creature as these and that my grandchildren may never be able to dream of ever seeing one in the wild or elsewhere! Wake up, people, we are slowly killing off the world around us,...do you ever stop to think that we, too, are on that list to extinction?! Personally, the way the world is falling apart, fighting each other, I'd rather see beautiful creatures like this outlive the human race! God have mercy on all of us!
RhonndaR JULY 30, 2010
The Human Right have to be for the animals too!
Nena JULY 30, 2010
It can't be denied that people are growing to be more selfish now... This video shows how selfish human are now... We are dominated by evil now, human interest... Hope the government would take action in this and make His people wake up to reality...
MiconKabristante JULY 30, 2010
Is the pageantry of wearing the tiger skins really that important? I think not! Even for medicinal purposes? With all of the alternative medications being discovered every minute, is it really necessary to inialate a beautiful creature to feel better? Who are we to determine who/what lives or dies? Is the money/prestige really worth the lives and existence of another amazing being?
Roseshadow JULY 30, 2010
There isnt a more beautiful and charismatic animal in the world than the tiger . All animals deserve a place on this planet to exsist without exception ..we must make work toward this goal .. According to the bible we are suppose to be stewards and frankly we dont do a very good job of it. Everytime Man kind causes a species to die , We lose ...No animal on this planet is as dangerous or as greedly as ourselves or human race . best said by Wendell Berry To Cherish , “What remains of the earth, its Marine and Wildlife , By fostering renewal , this is truly our only legitimate hope of Survival for Mankind…
chatzi JULY 30, 2010
It is our collective responsibility to preserve , protect and tend to the environment and all of its wildlife On this planet ..
chatzi JULY 30, 2010
Best said by --Edward Abbey Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul."
chatzi JULY 30, 2010
Punishment is not severe enough for Tiger poaching. Penalty should be death to poachers and those that assist them. Simple. Feed them to the tigers. Aren't there any mercenaries that can be hired for this sort of thing?
Shere Khan JULY 30, 2010
The more we exterminate, the more our existence on this planet hangs in the balance. All life is in a delicate balance - and the ecosystems are dependent on all aspects of the pattern and process of biological diversity. It is critical that humans be apprised of the need to conserve ecosystems with all elements intact. Aaaaaaaaargh!!!!!
gymnogene JULY 30, 2010
Animal rights for tigers too!
gibgill JULY 30, 2010
The animals of the world have more rights to be here on earth than any humans, when God created the universe the animals were created and placed first.
IronHorse JULY 30, 2010
I do care. I just recently have learned of these great animals crisis. I plan to start a animal sanctuary in California next year. I guess I should expand my plan to include a wild animal refuge. I have time but little money to help but if anyone has a idea on how to stem this I would gladly volunteer to help!
djjewels JULY 30, 2010
I agree with Shere Khan that the punishment for these crimes are not deterrent enough.
djjewels JULY 30, 2010
I agree with BARKER89048, every time we let a species die, We come closer and closerto destroying the human race. I heard someone say that being conservative and selfish with nature is the smart thing to do. Sassie JULY 15, 2010
greenpiece7 JULY 31, 2010
I agree. Every time we let a species die, We come closer and closer to destroying the human race. I heard someone say that being conservative and selfish with nature is the smart thing to do. Krista JULY 31, 2010 Estonia
greenpiece7 JULY 31, 2010
everything possible should be done to save the tigers of india!
harry longabaugh JULY 31, 2010
Why are we so intent on killing so many beautiful animals - the tiger is just so beautiful and full of grace.. leave them along
judibugg JULY 31, 2010
The only way a tiger should be shot is with a camera. This is HORRIBLE. These are beautiful creatures GOD put on this earth for a reason. Not to kill.
dianapawelski JULY 31, 2010
I would like to see the poachers exterminated along with all of the stupid people who buy the skins and body parts.
arrow989 JULY 31, 2010
Yes, I care about tiger conservation. I agree with all the other comments. Are there ways to make the tiger preserves more secure? Chinese medicine must be discredited and done away with. It is just outrageous to have exotic, scarce animals killed for such stupid reasons.
gpugsley JULY 31, 2010
The human people are destroyers!
Nena AUGUST 1, 2010
Animal Right for the tigers too!
Nena AUGUST 1, 2010
I am an America where white cats are used for entertainment. Now, I live in South Africa where canned hunting is a major problem. However heroes are growing White Lions and tigers have entered our biosphere too. People are over-populating the world with incorrect distribution of the food resources. Vegetarianism for people could also be defended but that is another subject. People are ultimately the problem!
Larry Murphy AUGUST 1, 2010
We need to all do our part to save these beautiful big cats. I am in tears to think about how easy it is to kill them, and how vulnerable they are. Shame on these people to do this. It's so sad to think people just don't care. There are people like me who do care soooooooo much. We need more people who do care about the tiger!
elsalioness AUGUST 1, 2010
Some parts of the world care, members of Care2, sign petitions and support areas for big cats. It is important for the political community to get involve to support the wild tigers from poachers and Chinese medicine that involve parts of these animals.
Intz AUGUST 1, 2010
Save this wonderful animals...
jeannette AUGUST 1, 2010
Really interesting video - I wish this kind of information could be more readily available to a much wider range of people.
cmfarrell36 AUGUST 1, 2010
Being an animal advocate, more and more I am disgusted with the whole of so-called humanity in the way the animal world is treated...
IronHorse AUGUST 1, 2010
Tigers are such beautiful creatures... Its a shame that people dont respect the earth and its beings. Humans are but another organism on this planet. It is really sad to see people be so cruel and heartless.. All organisms are connected to this planet. Loss of each sp. is like loss of a vital organ disrupting the entire balance and harmony.. When will this be realised...
Teejay0585 AUGUST 1, 2010
Can anyone say birth control? The reason this is happening is that people are encroaching on the tiger's territory. Can't we control ourselves and give other species the space to live? Instead of being just one species in the diverse and amazing array of life on earth, we have become a pestilenc, like locusts, devouring everything in our path. It seems our parents did not teach us to share. If we do not look to the future, we will not have one.
bbreck AUGUST 4, 2010
The tragedy is that as long as India is interested only in land and has for instance no interest either to educate their women and children, why do you think they would be remotely interested in preserving their tigers!
jpglentz AUGUST 9, 2010