Today is International Tiger Day. It comes on the heels of the news of Cecil’s brutal killing. Granted, Cecil was a lion, but still… Big cats are a thing of beauty. I cannot wrap my head around the killing of these animals for sport. I cannot fathom finding joy in death. Big game hunting is a preposterous hobby, especially when it involves endangered species and dwindling populations.
The “sport” reeks of privilege as mostly rich, white men pay tens of thousands of dollars to kill animals in a swell of testosteroney hubris. What must they be (over)compensating for here? They prey on communities that face economic hardship so the promise of crisp, green dollars is enticing to those who would otherwise barely eek out a living and earn a living wage. There are both people and animals who are taken advantage of. Walter Palmer is not alone in this heinous activity of killing for fun. North Carolina’s own Representative Gary Pendleton gets off on making a game of killing big game too.
Cecil’s murder by now infamous Minnesota dentist Walter Palmer has struck me because I have just been to India on a jungle safari myself, armed with only two cameras and big sunhat. I’ve also gone on safari in Uganda. Both were riveting experiences that left me in awe. On both safaris we used reputable outfitters with guides who very clearly put the animals first. We followed strict protocol and were confident we were in good hands. To see God’s creatures up close with no bars or barricades is breathtaking in the most literal sense. I had to remind myself to breath.
I have seen tigers in the zoo. They are gorgeous creatures with features and mannerisms akin to my smaller domestic cats that used to purr atop my chest when I was reading. Their expressions are more sweet than savage. Watching cats, big or small, is mesmerizing.
My family and I traveled to India recently. We enjoyed a visit to Ranthambore National Park, where we took a safari in an open air jeep that looked like a relic from the Indian army. We were joined by a Ukrainian wildlife photography enthusiast whose quiver of cameras put us to shame. We were armed with five cameras among us, mine with a pretty decent zoom lens. The safaris are timed so that all the jeeps don’t converge upon the animals at once. We saw a couple other groups during our safari, but for the most part it was just us, the arid land, and the animals.
The day was blazing hot, with temps climbing to 104 degrees. The breeze of an open air jeep provided no respite as the hot air swirled, blowing dust in our faces. Yet the experience was grand. My sons were silent, which speaks volumes. Our hope was to see a tiger. We were told the tigers were elusive, especially after the incident and controversy surrounding tiger T-24, aka Ustad. We were lucky to have an experienced guide and driver who did indeed lead us to a tiger. We sat in the jeep and stared in awe for what simultaneously seemed like several minutes and a blink. We knew this was one of those much touted once-in-a-lifetime experiences. We snapped away and eventually just set down our cameras, soaking in the tiger, noting how its expression mimicked those of our sweet long gone kitties Casey and Capote.
Let’s remember all creatures great and small. Consider donating to sanctuaries that protect animals rather than ravage them.
Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (the group that was tracking and studying Cecil and mentioned on Jimmy Kimmel)
Hotelanantapalace Ranked as one of the best run budget hotels in ranthambore by the Lonely Planet international travel guide book, Hotelanantapalace offers guests a pleasant and comfortable home away from home with traditional Rajput hospitality.