Where The Wild Things Were
Much
to the consternation of tiger enthusiasts, reverence for these
once-mythical beasts seems to be at an all-time low. The BBC reports that one of India’s fabled tiger parks, Panna National Park
in Madhya Pradesh, has admitted that its Royal Bengal tiger population
is now believed to be zero. The main culprit, according to an investigative probe? Poaching.
This
saddens me, [...]
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Written by Travel News on July 16th, 2009 with
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Much
to the consternation of tiger enthusiasts, reverence for these
once-mythical beasts seems to be at an all-time low. The BBC reports that one of India’s fabled tiger parks, Panna National Park
in Madhya Pradesh, has admitted that its Royal Bengal tiger population
is now believed to be zero. The main culprit, according to an investigative probe? Poaching.
This
saddens me, particularly, as barely three years ago I came within
several feet of one of these most majestic of Panna’s endagered
residents (image, above). Though it was a short encounter (we,
the tourists atop elephants in the bush, were limited to a few minutes
of viewing and photographing, so as not to upset the shy animal), it
remains my favorite recollection from India. Going on tiger safaris is
certainly iconic and popular, but there is a specific disclaimer given
to most tours: Tiger sightings are increasingly rare and are by no
means guaranteed. With the knowledge that finding one of Panna’s
then-healthy population of 24 tigers in the park’s 210-square-mile area
was a textbook needle-in-haystack situation, I accepted this experience
as one to hold in awe. And I was lucky to be able to do so. It now
grieves me to think that experiences such as mine are on the extinction
path.
Tags:
asia,
national,
photo,
travel
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Written by Travel News on July 16th, 2009 with
no comments.
Read more articles on News.
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