S1E116: India saves tiger from brink but must manage human-wildlife tensions

Human development is rapidly destroying the natural habitat for
recovering wildlife populations such as tigers.


Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits
Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from
biodiversity conservation to climate change.


The success of India’s conservation efforts conversely means that
rising wildlife populations increasingly, have nowhere to go.
Wild tigers are being spotted in many small towns and villages -
from the mustard fields of Haryana near New Delhi, to the
mountains of Bhimtal in Uttarakhand.


In many cases, accidental encounters have resulted in human
casualties, and the big cats have had to be tranquilised and
relocated to jungles or rescue centres out of harm’s way. Clashes
of humans with elephants have also taken a weekly toll in some
Indian states.


In this episode, we look at why a rethink is necessary to manage
growing wildlife populations. ST's global contributor Nirmal
Ghosh speaks with two field conservationists who are working the
ground in and around wildlife habitats across India. 

They are the director of The Corbett Foundation Kedar Gore and
the president of the Wildlife Conservation Trust Anish Andheria.
Both experts give their first-hand account of the implications of
the growing interface between people and wildlife, and debate new
solutions for India. 


Highlights (click/tap above):


1:55 Are we reaching the limits of wildlife conservation, as
shown in India?


7:33 Lessons learnt from human-wildlife negative interaction


14:33 On the new debate on limited hunting, like in a few places
in Africa, to generate revenue and reduce conflict - how feasible
is this in India's context? 


17:25 Why controlled hunting comes with many risks and why
regulation is difficult to achieve in India


21:29 How aware are local communities of the larger threat of
climate change and a warming planet?


24:55 On habitat restoration work that started in 2017 


Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Hadyu
Rahim & Amirul Karim


Edited by: Amirul Karim


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