Do you think national parks preserve the habitat of tigers?

[Editor]

This year, we are celebrating the fiftieth death anniversary of Edward James Corbett, the legendary shikari turned conservationist, better known to us as Jim Corbett. Jim was a pioneer in India to raise international awareness about the big cats stressing the importance of preserving their natural habitat.

I had read that to mark the anniversary of his death, Sanakara Wildlife Heritage, an NGO, is forming a Corbett Appreciation Society, to protect the flora and fauna of the Kumaon region. Though I had heard about Corbett and his book the Maneaters of Kumoun before, but last week when I had to visit the Corbett National Park, I thought it was a great opportunity to witness the natural habitat of the tigers.

I was really looking forward to the safari excursion, where we were told that, if the chance favours us, we might also come across a tiger or the tiger can come across us. The guide though lowered our expectations from the beginning saying that tigers do not usually come out during the day time, but we might see one if we are lucky. I had heard that the soon to be released hindi movie ‘Kaal’ had some scenes shot in the Corbett Park and the lead actors in fact had to encounter the Sher Khan and Titan, the great tigers which inhabited the park. So I was really thrilled to meet them, though I was a little apprehensive about their behaviour.

Anyways, we took off in a gypsy, and had a great time in the jungle. There were elephants, various varieties of birds, curios sambhars, innumerable dears, and huge ant houses spread all across the jungle. Many a times, we crossed the river stream, the same way as they show in the ford fusion anything karega add. But, to my utter disappointment, we could not spot a single tiger, though we were able to see the footmarks very clearly.

Sometimes, when the curios animals did stay in our view, it felt like we were intruding in their personal space, and they were slightly annoyed with all the disturbance. But it felt better as they seemed to be happy in their own natural habitat. After the safari, I couldn’t help but thank the foreigner Jim Corbett for whatever he had done for the Indian tiger. On the other hand there is also a viewpoint that such initiatives damage the natural habitat of the tiger.

What is your gutfeel on the issue?

[Dan]

i think natural habitats r at least better than the zoo in which we place the poor animals in a very small place just for our entertainment. At least in parks they can roam about freely and feel at home..any comments

[mesa]

My gutfeel is that national parks do preserve the natural habitat of the flora and fauna and should be encouraged to be built, i mean that the governments of the countries should invest money to build and maintain these habitats. I feel they are essential for our survival.

After reading the article posted by the editor, i wish i could also visit Jim Corbett park someday. Buti have my own experiences of such parks here in Sri Lanka. I have been to Ruhunu National Park at Yala, which had been a wonderful experience. It all looked awesome as some undisturbed jungle, and we could even spot the herds of elephants which it is famous for. Deer, sambhars, monkeys, peacocks were a part and parcel of the place. It was a real great experience for me...and i feel there is a great differece between the zoo and a national park where at least the animals can roam freely...

[Editor]

It's great Mesa that you would like to visit Jim Corbett some day...in the same manner i would also like to visit Ruhunu National Park someday...