The issue of man-tiger conflict, especially the case involving the tigress Avni, has been in the news for more than a year. What was destined has happened as per the law. But the controversy has been detrimental to wildlife management. With the loss of a “dangerous tiger”, there is no loss for tiger conservation, but if the cooperation of rural peoples is lost there will be dangers posed to tigers across India. The controversy should be buried and measures taken to improve the carrying capacity of tiger habitats in terms of herbivores — the prey base of tigers — on top priority, so that man-animal conflicts will gradually end.
B.M.T. Rajeev
Bengaluru