TAMIL
Conservation of the tiger
KUMARAN SATHASIVAM
KAANURAI VAENGAI — Iyarkai Varalarum Paramarippum: K. Ullas Karanth; S. Theodore Baskaran — Tr. in Tamil; Kalaichuvadu Pathippagam, 669, K. P. Road, Nagercoil-629001. Rs. 90.
THIS IS a book on the tiger written for the lay reader. It looks at a number of aspects of the conservation of this beleaguered animal, mostly in India.
It traces the history of man's involvement with the tiger and explains in simple terms the issues involved in saving it.
The book has a dozen chapters. It has a tiger data sheet and a map showing the worldwide range of the tiger. A list of tiger conservation organisations and an index are given.
The translator has provided a note on the tiger in Tamil Nadu and the use of various terms in Tamil literature for the tiger.
The author begins with the question of why tigers should be conserved, which is relevant for the contemporary context. He traces the evolution of the tiger and describes its geographical distribution.
He has devoted a few chapters to the adaptations of the tiger for its existence as a predator, its ecological role and how tigers lead solitary lives and yet interact with each other. The author sketches the serious decline in tiger numbers and identifies the threats to the existence of wild tigers, including the international demand for tiger parts. The book ends with a look at the future of the tiger.
A number of topics ranging from radio tracking of tigers to studying the food requirements of these animals have been covered. Even complex technical ideas have been explained clearly and simply.
Frequently the author illustrates points with his experience and findings in Nagarhole. His thesis is that conservation must be based on scientific methods.
The translation is admirable.
The translator has met the challenge of conveying technical terms and parlance for which there were no Tamil equivalents. There are no doubts about the meanings of the words he uses and about what terms in English they represent.
The expert handling of the language makes the book a pleasure to read.
India could do with more popular writing on her wildlife and conservation. This is particularly so in Tamil, where the existing literature on the subject is scanty. This book is a welcome addition.
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