Eyes on or hands on? A discussion of human interference

[peter]

ON THE USE OF COLLARS IN TIGERS

PC, I added a 'Thank you' to your last post. I admit I was in a good mood, but I also wanted to underline it was appreciated you disagreed with a good poster using arguments only. My compliments.

However.

Your view is a result of one angle only. Furthermore, your angle is too narrow. If you start conservation with the axiom that nature should have its course and individual tigers need to be respected at all times no matter what, chances are conservation of tigers would have ended before it really started some decades ago. Your view, right at the bottom, means: 'See no evil, hear no evil' and 'Let's hope for the best'. It is a stand with consequences. Explanation.     


1 - THE ADVANTAGES OF COLLARS 

a - I propose to go to Copters' last post. The post on the three orphaned Amur tiger cubs, I mean. The cubs were born in late spring or early summer. One day, in their first winter, the tigress left to find food. She didn't return, which meant she had been killed. The researchers didn't know about it, because the tigress hadn't been collared.

b - In a vast place like Sichote-Alin, it would have meant the cubs were doomed. Not one, but four wild tigers would have been lost, that is. But the cubs communicated in that they showed themselves. To us. The Russian rangers are among the best. They walk day and night, winter or no winter. That's why the cubs were seen and photographed. The picture made headlines everywhere.

Because the rangers, as a result of the cubs, knew their mother had been killed, they decided to catch the cubs. It took almost a week to find all three, because the cubs hadn't been collared. It was just in time. The rescue operation was filmed and broadcasted by the BBC (that was before the board, as a result of cut-backs, decided to concentrate on food, attics, the countryside and dancing).

c - In order to rewild them at the appropiate time, Miquelle (who featured in the documentary) and his collegues created a 'rehabilitation centre'. It was a new idea and it worked. No habituation meant the cubs stayed wild at heart. Than the day arrived to release them. Before they were released, they were measured, weighed and collared. This will enable the researchers to keep track of their development in time. A region with plenty of space and no adult tigers was selected. It offers chances, but the cubs have never been on their own and they don't know anything about bears, wolves and wild boars. Will they make it to adulthood?

d - The cubs were released and monitored. When they hadn't been seen for some time, the researchers were able to find out. Because the cubs had collars. The collars enabled researchers to find them, or, more accurate, the remains of the wild boars they had killed and eaten. They also noticed one male cub had made way for a bear out for porc. This means the cubs have passed their first exam. We know, because the cubs have been collared.

e - Because of the collars, researchers, for the first time ever, are now able to track immature tigers on their own. As a result, they are able to collect information on the way they use space, hunt and interact with other animals. The new information will enable researchers to help wild tigers in the future.

At some stage, the collars will have to be replaced. By then, the cubs will have grown into young adult tigers. Young adults are the ones most often killed in fights with other tigers and other predators, like bears. The collars will enable researchers to get an idea of how young adult tigers use space and move. Invaluable information that might shed some light on a few things not well known. 

f - I could go on for some time. The point is you need to understand that wild tigers need help. The best help they can get is good decisions. And these are a result of good information. If we fail, all wild tigers will be killed by poachers in one or two decades only, if not sooner. Remember there are only 3000 left. Many forget the number of wild tigers is still decreasing. The reason is poachers often are as well-informed and as well-equipped as rangers and researchers, if not better. Furthermore, they are not bothered by laws and similar things. Knowledge is the only true assett we may have.


2 - THE DISADVANTAGES OF COLLARS

a - Before they are collared, tigers have to be caught. The Aldrich-snare was used in Russia. We now know some male tigers were wounded when they tried to free themselves, because a Russian member of a team that captured tigers wrote an article about the consequences of the Aldrich-snare. The article resulted in a ban in most parts of Sichote-Alin. Other methods are now used. 

Was it a mistake to use the snare? For some male tigers it definitely was. We know, because the snare was, in fact, tested. Consequences were mapped. Mistakes, most unfortunately, often are the only way to get to knowledge.

b - After they are caught, wild tigers are sedated. Before they are sedated, they wait. Often for many hours. My guess is they suffer from stress in this period. Are there consequences? Yes. So much so, that a tiger sedated again will try to get away at all costs? Yes in some cases. Could stress result in death, even in an accidental way? Yes. It happened to the Sauraha tiger in Chitwan and I do not doubt it happened more than once. In spite of evasive actions of researchers in some cases, these incidents came out. Articles were written and these enabled others to learn. Some things were changed and we can only hope the number of incidents will decrease.

c - Is it degrading to catch, sedate and collar wild tigers? Of course it is. But collars offer researchers a chance to get to information impossible to collect with other means. Knowledge is the only way to understand tigers, it is the only way to stay ahead of poachers and it is the only way to really help wild tigers in the long run. 

3 - CONSERVATION

a - In the last century in particular, humans have multiplied to an extent never seen before. Wild country has disappeared so fast, that the balance has been affected. Wild animals have lost over 90% of their former territory. Many wild animals, and many large predators in particular, are on the edge of extinction. If we want to prevent total destruction in our time, the outlook has to change. Real fast. Knowledge in itself won't save the world, but when the time for change has arrived, knowledge has to be there.

b - One of the things you have to accept is human beings, conservationwise, hold the key. A new attitude is needed. In a century and a half, we changed from hunter-gatherers and potential prey into managers. If we want to continue on this planet, we have no option but to become aware of this new position and act accordingly. Managers, apart from passion, need information. Information is the essential tool and we got to make sure it gets into the right hands.

If we, as you advice (for noble reasons), willfully refrain from acting in a responsible way, chances are the information needed to protect wild tigers will be collected by those with less noble objectives. And that will not only be the end of wild tigers.

c - I do not intend to disregard the tigers who lost their life as a result of freak accidents and mistakes, but not one, as far as I know, died intentionally. Remember there is a war going on. Every war has terrible consequences. It isn't different in this war.

The main thing to remember is there are still wild tigers. In some regions, they are even increasing in numbers. One reason is researchers, mainly as a result of radio-collars, have learned a lot in the last decades. The alternative would have been watching the proceedings and do nothing. Today, we read new articles about living tigers doing well. I don't know about you, but I prefer articles and books about living animals over another obituary. Reply