Tigers, Anyone? (Excellent Read/Video on Sunderbans)

tacita

i just finished an exceptionally good read in "the new yorker" about the sunderbans and wanted to share it. you can link to it by clicking here. from the same site, you can link to a stunning video, too, or reach it directly by clicking here.

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Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. ~Helen Keller

PeakXV

Thanks tacita - a spellbinding tiger's tale!!

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We shall not cease from exploration and at the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started ...and know the place for the first time.
T.S. Eliot

Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

KABAARY

Don't mind my saying so but it's an extremely superficial article...it's just a picturesque tale painted out for foreign readers without any semblance whatsoever of an analysis of the tiger problems.

For the real stories, talk face to face with Valmik Thapar, Fateh Singh Rathore, Belinda Wright et al...and weep with them in their frustration over the losing battle

No greater sight in the world than seeing a tiger face to face....

tacita

well, to be fair, that's not it's purpose. for those not looking for a definitive scientific analysis, don't be dissuaded--it's a very good read indeed.

(full disclosure: i am, admittedly, among those who consider the new yorker the very best journalistic and literary magazine in the US; for science and/or adventure, one should go elsewhere.)

PeakXV

Disagree - it's a well written article with a refreshing slant from the plethora of predictable 'tiger on the brink' esque themes oft written about. There is abundance of tiger trait tidbits hidden within the article for the savvy reader and the author's ability to 'tie-up' with top Sundarbans pundits confirms it's authenticity.

<Belinda Wright was on CBS 60 minutes not long ago and, although informative, seemed to care more about promoting her 'Kipling Camp' as the setting of(erroneously) 'The Jungle Book' as she did the plight of the Tiger.>

KABAARY

it's a well written article with a refreshing slant from the plethora of predictable 'tiger on the brink' esque themes oft written about

So don't read the "themes"...go out and talk to the people in the know which is what I was saying.

Belinda Wright was on CBS 60 minutes not long ago and, although informative, seemed to care more about promoting her 'Kipling Camp'

No harm in a bit of commerce as long as you also fight for the right cause..and that she has.

PeakXV

.... the author just did that for me and did a great job - end of story!

KABAARY

In that case, I can only feel sad....but then I supose I should not escape from reality as, very soon, we will get to see and hear about them only in articles and videos...

kmalik

On the subject of tigers, I came across two recent articles. One in NYT discusses the conflicts of tiger and man in the context of Nagerhole National Park.

BBC has this story on extinction of Indian tiger - coming from the India delegation of the EU.

These might interest the readers of this thread.

PeakXV

Don't feel sad - feel glad that tigers are alive today - in your lifetime, are not hunted for sport by royalty or maharajas anymore and are important enough to draw the interest of world class magazine's like "The New Yorker" to better people's knowledge of their plight.

KABAARY

important enough to draw the interest of world class magazine's like "The New Yorker" to better people's knowledge of their plight.

Oh brother ! As if they know what it's all about if the article is an indication...."World class" huh ? Condescending...as for the BBC story...

Forget it..I am probably getting too agitated in the wrong forum for canvassing the cause of tigers..

PeakXV

Quite Right.

dzibead

Well, it's certainly recovered from the nadir when Tina Brown was the editor. But for journalism, I think The Atlantic gives The New Yorker a run for it's money, and Harper's ain't half bad either.

Back on-topic: KABARRY, even if the article is too superficial for your tastes, in my view any exposure of the problem is better than no exposure at all. The article may not be perfect in your opinion, but remember: "The perfect is the enemy of the good."

Short of being able to "talk face to face with Valmik Thapar, Fateh Singh Rathore, Belinda Wright et al." which is what you suggest (and which I will certainly never be able to do), I guess I'm just going to have to settle for articles like the one in the New Yorker.

tacita

ugh! that vulgarian!

hmmm...nipping at its heels, maybe. (geographic bias on display.) but show me better cartoons--anywhere!

dzibead

Tell us what you really think!

Ah, the cartoons are another matter ... and the weekly cartoon caption contest!