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Any encounter I have with a tiger or leopard is a privilege. I have no right to see a big cat, no one does. If it happens it happens. The experience itself always affects me. It's not love, it's respect. I feel protective but at the same time in awe. The feeling is not totally about the animal before my eyes, it is more about what that animal represents, the sheer being that is nature and how humbling it is to realize the privilege I have to be connected to nature in its entirety, in all its forms.
I have always felt like this and events today only strengthened my resolve...
The people who live directly with tigers, leopards and such like are part of the fabric, an extremely vital part. I have serious concerns about the growing elitism in conservation, something which is making it even more difficult for those who have to co-exist with such powerful forces as tigers and leopards. I'm at an age now where my radar is more attuned regarding who is involved in wildlife protection, if they are truly genuine or not. We humans talk a big game...
The people who live with tigers and leopards understand that, I have had many issues shared with me, more of late than ever.
It's a busy time. There's been some strong developments in the "Living with Leopards" concept and some serious concerns raised too. Some good people are fighting hard, walking the walk. I thank those who support that. In a country like Nepal it's easy to see the visible challenges but there are many not so visible, things that go on that need to be dealt with in a certain way. There are days when those challenges seem as huge as the highest of Himalayan peaks.
But then maybe the sight of a tiger, in some form, a light in the darkness, shows the way...
Make sure you follow the efforts of the Environmental Investigation Agency at CITES Conference of the Parties 17 (@EIAInvestigator on Twitter) and WildTiger is one of 49 signatories on tiger farming... some noticeable absentees on that list, more on that another day. In a couple of weeks I'll have a comprehensive report on the "Living with Leopards" concept, it's about practical application to improve co-existence between big cats and the people living with them, both parties deserving equal respect.
