Man being the most intelligent, strong and selfish among all living beings on our planet, tries to make everything convenient for himself without even worrying about the consequences these actions may have on the environment. Was reading an article on Bangalore Mirror that was shared by a friend on Facebook headlined Marooned in the middle of Bhadra tiger Sanctuary the content of which read...
The jeep carrying the two techies and their families broke down 15 km inside the reserve. Luckily for them, the driver managed to repair the vehicle and got them out after a tense 45-minute wait.
Then they went on about how lucky the family was that they made it back to civilization safe and sound. How irresponsible the government was to not have security measures in place for a safari like this where the tourists in the other jeep had spotted a tigress with cubs and how dangerous it could have been if that jeep broke-down blah blah...
I am truly sympathetic about what the children and women in the jeep had to go through in the whole ordeal. While being so, there are a few questions I have for all those men who take such risks
Can I ask?
"How irresponsible can a man be to risk not only his life but also those of his wife and kids by taking them to a safari which is so ill equipped and lacks security. that too without checking if such things as emergency procedures were in place?"
I know that sounds kinda ridiculous in the situation, from a person who takes such risks all the time. But, seriously, can anyone disagree that it makes sense to ask this question of a person who considers himself so intelligent that he doesn't just stop at questioning the process in place for such safaris but goes a step ahead by suggesting what he thinks are the solutions to these self inflicted problems due to which he feared he and his family could have been in deep trouble?
How important do you think it is to improve the security in a jungle safari by introducing all the fancy technology compared to spending money on building basic toilets in tribal villages/ rural India, to educate people about hygienic sanitation, provide safe drinking water to them? How different do you think it is from the money that could be used to improve the roads in a city like Bangalore but used to provide security and pilot cars to the so called VIPs and VVIPs? Those who are feeling justified to spend the money here are the same set of people who crib about disproportionate assets of a politician, swindling of public funds by bureaucrats and ignored public services by a government. How different do you think this would be from such actions?
Just because we can afford to go on an excursion with our families to these places doesn't mean that we have to do it even though we have no knowledge of it. It also doesn't mean that just because we pay them the money, everything and everyone we come across at any place we go would start working to make us comfortable at the cost of their life even if we wouldn't care much about them as a fellow human being.
The forest department is a public service. We being public, that makes them our service provider and us it's customer. We know and understand these relationships. But, do you really think an elephant or a tiger give a damn about the uniform the guard/watcher wears and will the wild animals just follow the rules that will be laid down by them because they belong to the forest force? Are these people any different from you in that matter?
In the past few days I have been getting to interact quiet a lot with people working at various levels in the Karnataka State Forest Department and each time I listen to any incident in these forests it is a refreshed feeling of renewed respect towards these men and women for the sacrifices they do.
The watchers and guards who work on the ground there do it at the cost of their life. Do you know that the only mission they have in mind is to save your life and they would do anything to accomplish that mission, even if it meant that their life would be lost in saving yours? Do you really know how many watchers or guards have died protecting the general public till date? and they still continue to do so in spite of your indifference to the circumstance. In spite of the fears they face just like you. In spite of the fact that they have families to feed, waiting for them to come back home just like yours. In spite of the matter that they don't get paid as much as you do for this thankless job. Have you ever heart-fully thanked these people for the risks they take for you?
Most Importantly:
The Human being needs to understand that, forests belong to the wildlife and introducing more and more technology into these areas will affect the numerous species living there in perfect balance very very negatively. People are meant to stay in cities/towns/villages where they can stay safe from animals (except from those of their own species).
If a person is enthusiastic about visiting the forest and interacting with wildlife, he/she must be prepared for such risks. We need to understand that we (humans) do not own the planet, it belongs to numerous other species as well. Things we have been doing like cutting down trees, occupying forest lands to make place for our ever increasing population, is utter disrespect to God the creator (if you believe in one) and to the mother nature.
I would rather suggest to the forest department To display near the ticket counter a sign that says "Purchase of tickets to this safari implies that you have expressed your understanding of the risks involved and that you accept ownership to all actions committed by you and your companions during the safari. Any accident/untoward incident resulting from these actions or otherwise during the safari is solely your responsibility." That would probably discourage many such people from taking these safaris and help the animals live in peace at their home.
I would like to sign off saying that, Introducing any technology to ensure comfort for humans in the forests, will not only effect the well being of the wildlife in one way or the other but will also ruin the fun of the raw experience one has in these safaris. It will attract more people like these who crib about "facilities provided" to visit the jungles. Which will neither be good for them nor to animal lovers. Will it do any good to the animals?
P.S: On a lighter note, before planning on a safari trip with your family; please watch the movie titled "Prey" it is a 2007 horror thriller film based on a screenplay from Jeff Wadlow, Beau Bauman and was co-written and directed by Darrell Roodt. the film stars Bridget Moynahan, Peter Weller and Carly Schroeder. :)
The jeep carrying the two techies and their families broke down 15 km inside the reserve. Luckily for them, the driver managed to repair the vehicle and got them out after a tense 45-minute wait.
Then they went on about how lucky the family was that they made it back to civilization safe and sound. How irresponsible the government was to not have security measures in place for a safari like this where the tourists in the other jeep had spotted a tigress with cubs and how dangerous it could have been if that jeep broke-down blah blah...
I am truly sympathetic about what the children and women in the jeep had to go through in the whole ordeal. While being so, there are a few questions I have for all those men who take such risks
Can I ask?
"How irresponsible can a man be to risk not only his life but also those of his wife and kids by taking them to a safari which is so ill equipped and lacks security. that too without checking if such things as emergency procedures were in place?"
I know that sounds kinda ridiculous in the situation, from a person who takes such risks all the time. But, seriously, can anyone disagree that it makes sense to ask this question of a person who considers himself so intelligent that he doesn't just stop at questioning the process in place for such safaris but goes a step ahead by suggesting what he thinks are the solutions to these self inflicted problems due to which he feared he and his family could have been in deep trouble?
How important do you think it is to improve the security in a jungle safari by introducing all the fancy technology compared to spending money on building basic toilets in tribal villages/ rural India, to educate people about hygienic sanitation, provide safe drinking water to them? How different do you think it is from the money that could be used to improve the roads in a city like Bangalore but used to provide security and pilot cars to the so called VIPs and VVIPs? Those who are feeling justified to spend the money here are the same set of people who crib about disproportionate assets of a politician, swindling of public funds by bureaucrats and ignored public services by a government. How different do you think this would be from such actions?
Just because we can afford to go on an excursion with our families to these places doesn't mean that we have to do it even though we have no knowledge of it. It also doesn't mean that just because we pay them the money, everything and everyone we come across at any place we go would start working to make us comfortable at the cost of their life even if we wouldn't care much about them as a fellow human being.
The forest department is a public service. We being public, that makes them our service provider and us it's customer. We know and understand these relationships. But, do you really think an elephant or a tiger give a damn about the uniform the guard/watcher wears and will the wild animals just follow the rules that will be laid down by them because they belong to the forest force? Are these people any different from you in that matter?
In the past few days I have been getting to interact quiet a lot with people working at various levels in the Karnataka State Forest Department and each time I listen to any incident in these forests it is a refreshed feeling of renewed respect towards these men and women for the sacrifices they do.
The watchers and guards who work on the ground there do it at the cost of their life. Do you know that the only mission they have in mind is to save your life and they would do anything to accomplish that mission, even if it meant that their life would be lost in saving yours? Do you really know how many watchers or guards have died protecting the general public till date? and they still continue to do so in spite of your indifference to the circumstance. In spite of the fears they face just like you. In spite of the fact that they have families to feed, waiting for them to come back home just like yours. In spite of the matter that they don't get paid as much as you do for this thankless job. Have you ever heart-fully thanked these people for the risks they take for you?
Most Importantly:
The Human being needs to understand that, forests belong to the wildlife and introducing more and more technology into these areas will affect the numerous species living there in perfect balance very very negatively. People are meant to stay in cities/towns/villages where they can stay safe from animals (except from those of their own species).
If a person is enthusiastic about visiting the forest and interacting with wildlife, he/she must be prepared for such risks. We need to understand that we (humans) do not own the planet, it belongs to numerous other species as well. Things we have been doing like cutting down trees, occupying forest lands to make place for our ever increasing population, is utter disrespect to God the creator (if you believe in one) and to the mother nature.
I would rather suggest to the forest department To display near the ticket counter a sign that says "Purchase of tickets to this safari implies that you have expressed your understanding of the risks involved and that you accept ownership to all actions committed by you and your companions during the safari. Any accident/untoward incident resulting from these actions or otherwise during the safari is solely your responsibility." That would probably discourage many such people from taking these safaris and help the animals live in peace at their home.
I would like to sign off saying that, Introducing any technology to ensure comfort for humans in the forests, will not only effect the well being of the wildlife in one way or the other but will also ruin the fun of the raw experience one has in these safaris. It will attract more people like these who crib about "facilities provided" to visit the jungles. Which will neither be good for them nor to animal lovers. Will it do any good to the animals?
P.S: On a lighter note, before planning on a safari trip with your family; please watch the movie titled "Prey" it is a 2007 horror thriller film based on a screenplay from Jeff Wadlow, Beau Bauman and was co-written and directed by Darrell Roodt. the film stars Bridget Moynahan, Peter Weller and Carly Schroeder. :)