Avni and the ‘Rang-tan’

For two Sundays on a trot, a group of people came together in Mumbai to protest the killing of tigress Avni, mother of two. Initially scorned by some on social media as a protest by few candle-lighting elite, the gatherings went on to garner more support in Mumbai and other cities in India and overseas.

Though tiger conservation “experts” have been conspicuously absent among the voices calling to save Avni, the recent protests showed that citizens were speaking up for the tigress. It was not “elitists” or “liberals”, just ordinary people out on the streets, seeking accountability for the killing of Avni and protection for her cubs.

The citizen outrage did not start with Avni’s killing in Yavatmal, Maharashtra. In fact, the first citizens’ gathering was to happen when the tigress was alive and a man-hunt had been called to capture her and cubs. The hope was to appeal to Maharashtra’s authorities to tranquilise Avni and relocate her with her cubs. That would have been the benign way. But it was not to be. Tigress Avni was shot dead on the night of November 2.

For those wondering why the fuss over the killing of one tigress, there's a simple explanation. Sometimes, it takes just one to tell the story. In this case, the all too familiar story of habitat destruction and the heavy price paid for it by the wildlife in these forests.

Almost with a tragic sense of timing, several geographies away, another story that mirrored Avni's plight was sparking discussion on habitat destruction. And this was the “Rang-tan” animation clip that spoke of the fragile fate of orangutans, through the eyes of a child and her interaction with a baby orangutan in her bedroom.

The clip, made months ago, has British actress Emma Thompson narrates the plight of orangutans losing their rainforests to increased production of palm oil, used in biscuits, chocolates, shampoos, lipsticks etc. The “Rang-tan” clip was back in circulation as one company promised to end palm oil use in all its products by end 2018.

Forests habitats being encroached upon or sacrificed for growing agricultural or corporate need, is a global reality. Avni’s story too has a sub-plot of allegations that forest land was being carved-up for corporates. It does not end there. Sometimes human deaths are wrongly attributed to a tiger attack to get government compensation.

This being the reality, protectors of forests and wildlife need to be scientific in their approach, using local knowledge and technology (not guns that kill) to keep the man-animal balance from tipping. Villagers need to be co-opted into conservation and educated on safe practices, if they live close to protected forests. A quick response team needs to kick-in to handle a situation, without blood-letting.

Eroding habitats and the overlap of man and animal spaces is not an us-and-them argument. Just as a human’s home needs to be safe, so too for tigers, lions, elephants, bears, monkeys etc. Killing the tiger at the top of the food-chain is but to pave the way for overall destruction.

Avni’s killing struck a painful cord because she was a mother of two and must have been scrounging for food for them. To kill her, despite knowing this, is something many are unable to digest. The tigress’ killing has exposed gross lapses in handling a situation. And if this is the fate of the national animal, do other species stand a chance? Naturally, citizens put aside political affiliations and came out in protest. The death of one tigress does indeed a sad story tell. And Avni has become that face of wildlife under pressure.

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