“Collared” tigers
I am appalled to read that a scientific study of tigers involving radio-telemetry has been suspended by the Bangladesh government because of well-intentioned but entirely misdirected concerns. Adam Barlow who is the victim in this case is a capable wildlife biologist and a student of Dr. David Smith one of the pioneers of tiger research. The drug employed has been used in dozens of immobilizations of wild tigers in Nepal, India and Russia by myself and other researchers. Suspending such an important tiger research project based on mere apprehensions is unjustified.
Unless mortalities actually occur during sedation, death of a collared tiger weeks or days later cannot be attributed to the research work. Our long term studies in India that show natural annual losses of around 20% in healthy tiger populations. Thus, for example, one in every 5 collared tigers is likely to die in Sundarbans. The radio-collar does not bestow immortality on its wearer.
On the other hand, if the objection is to the very conduct of invasive studies in general, then there should be a ban on all bird-ringing, which causes far more stress and mortalities than radio-telemetry on big cats. We should then kiss good bye to all migratory bird studies. The principle involved is simple: invasive studies when conducted properly pose only a very low degree of risk to individual animals involved. But they do generate huge gains for science and conservation of the entire species or ecosystems. This crucial knowledge cannot be generated by other techniques. Targeting such studies wholesale harms conservation.
Seventeen years ago, I too faced similar public hysteria leading to a capricious stoppage of my research on tigers in India. I fought against such misdirected concerns and continued my work for years. This paved the way later for several more valuable radio-telemetry studies of tigers being conducted at Panna, Kanha, Ranthambore, Sundarbans - some of which are still ongoing contributing to saving tigers.
I hope the Bangladesh government heeds these lessons from across the border.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments