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Thread: Angry protest!

  1. #1
    Ajit Huilgol
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    Default Angry protest!

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    The Pench River had dried up and left only a few pools of water. In one of these pools lay two tigers, but they were well hidden and could not be seen from the jungle tracks at all. It was the 'mahout' (the elephant 'driver') who told us about the hidden tigers. So, I hopped onto an elephant and set off down the river bank and past huge boulders to where the tigers were. However, they were in no mood to let us get close, and got out of the pool, walked past us and all the way up the very bank we had come down from, and into dense lantana bushes. As they walked past, they kept constantly snarling and growling, showing distinct displeasure at our proximity. In this image is the first of the two male cubs. The second had a radio-collar and was not as 'photogenic'! I managed to get a fairly sharp image, even though the tiger was moving from my right to left, and the elephant I was sitting on was bobbing up and down! A photographer's nightmare, indeed!
    Location: Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, India
    Date: April, 2010
    Equip: Canon 50D, Canon 70-200 f2.8 at 148
    Specs: ISO 320, f6.3, 1/1250s, hand-held, from atop elephant

    Thank you for taking the time out to look, and for your comments/ critiques.

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    Very expressive image, nice interaction between you and the tiger. Given the circumstances, a very well executed photograph.

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    excellent image Ajit , love the expression and surroundings
    TFS

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Thanks for sharing your story. I like the raised leg, and he sure doesnt look happy. Did the elephant react to the tiger at all?

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    Hi Ajit, I really liked this image, the tiger in an interesting environment, and his expression. You definitely did well to capture that from the elephant. Good tiger pictures coming in on BPN! Keep it up.
    TFS
    Grant

  6. #6
    Ajit Huilgol
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    Thanks, guys, for the appreciation. Stuart, these elephants have been trained to stay calm amidst tigers, so there was no worry at all.

  7. #7
    Todd Frost
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    You did well under the described circumstances. He does not look to happy. TFS
    Todd

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    Without the explanation I would have liked the shot.
    With the explanation I don't. A clear case of intrusive behaviour from the side of the photographer. Any self-respecting internet site or magazine should not publish a picture with such a story behind, no matter how good it looks.
    It is the precise reason why India might want to restrict tiger tourism (and rightly so if situations like these are common place!): http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle7109878.ece

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    Egil, you make a very good point. I suppose I value this forum for its' photographic viewpoint rather than its' ecological one and try not to enter ethical debates here. I certainly do elsewhere.

    I wonder how others feel as I know there was debate around the taking of a hippo photo recently. Do we have a duty to question the ethics around how an image was captured?

    The issue surrounding the future of tiger tourism is certainly interesting.

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    In my view this is exactly how nature photographers should NOT behave. In Holland, and elswhere, there's been a lot of debate about things like this, hence India's idea of closing down tiger tourism.
    I do not want to start a debate here, I just merely wanted to point out my view. Because of my work I sometimes I have to disturb animals, it's the part of my work I hate most. I do not wish to be compared to people who obtain their 'nature' photographs like this, and I wanted to make that clear.

  11. #11
    Ajit Huilgol
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    This is with regard to Egil's comment ("It is the precise reason why India might want to restrict tiger tourism (and rightly so if situations like these are common place!): http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle7109878.ece)
    The move to ban tiger tourism, if carried out, would sound the death knell for tigers in India. The tourism zones in any national park in India comprise only about 10-20% of the entire park. There is a vast area called the 'core area' where no one is allowed. This is an area that even forest officials do not visit, and is, therefore, a haven for timber smugglers and poachers. Instead of shutting down tourism zones, they should open up the core areas for tourism. Only then will the threat of poachers and the nexus between corrupt forest officials and poachers be cut down. They should be asking themselves - why did tiger numbers come down since the last century? It certainly wasn't because of tourists. It was because of hunting, and habitat loss, and poisoning of carcasses by villagers, and poaching that tiger numbers dwindled, not because of an increase in tourists flocking to see tigers! I want to ask Egil and his ilk: Is it alright to go in vehicles and photograph animals and birds? Is it alright to go on foot and photograph them? Do these activities put less stress on these creatures? Is it alright to bait animals and birds to take their images as they swoop down? The debate can go on endlessly. I am not happy at all to be dictated to as to how photographers should and should "NOT behave". Just because "in Holland and elsewhere, there's been a lot of debate about things like this" does not mean that such debates are sacrosanct and all other countries have to follow.
    It is this warped thinking that has put tigers at risk!

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    Quote Originally Posted by Egil Droge View Post
    Without the explanation I would have liked the shot.
    With the explanation I don't.
    I agree with you Egil , that's why I never ride on elephants since last 2 1/2 years , elephants destroy grasslands and jungles. pench , Kanha , Bandhavgarh are not natural habitat of elephants.

    I am 100 % sure some restrictions will come but tiger tourism will be there

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    Quote Originally Posted by Ajit Huilgol View Post
    The move to ban tiger tourism, if carried out, would sound the death knell for tigers in India.
    100% agreed and I am sure this will not happen

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    Ajit uncle and Harshad uncle, while banning tiger tourism sounds extreme, we all mus agree some sort of change from the current situation is needed due to the extreme increase of tourism. One thing i've thought about, entry to any protected forest could involve mandatory orientation/nature appreciation sessions so people are aware of what they are stepping into and it's importance. This would have more impact than the printed do's and don't on the brochures, could improve the experience for the interested, and also hopefully deter/rectify the uninterested (i mean the types who do shout/ talk on cellphones about movies on watchtowers etc. spoiling the experience for themselves and others(human and animal)) ----can this work?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Ajit Huilgol View Post
    This is with regard to Egil's comment ("It is the precise reason why India might want to restrict tiger tourism (and rightly so if situations like these are common place!): http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle7109878.ece)
    The move to ban tiger tourism, if carried out, would sound the death knell for tigers in India. The tourism zones in any national park in India comprise only about 10-20% of the entire park. There is a vast area called the 'core area' where no one is allowed. This is an area that even forest officials do not visit, and is, therefore, a haven for timber smugglers and poachers. Instead of shutting down tourism zones, they should open up the core areas for tourism. Only then will the threat of poachers and the nexus between corrupt forest officials and poachers be cut down. They should be asking themselves - why did tiger numbers come down since the last century? It certainly wasn't because of tourists. It was because of hunting, and habitat loss, and poisoning of carcasses by villagers, and poaching that tiger numbers dwindled, not because of an increase in tourists flocking to see tigers! I want to ask Egil and his ilk: Is it alright to go in vehicles and photograph animals and birds? Is it alright to go on foot and photograph them? Do these activities put less stress on these creatures? Is it alright to bait animals and birds to take their images as they swoop down? The debate can go on endlessly. I am not happy at all to be dictated to as to how photographers should and should "NOT behave". Just because "in Holland and elsewhere, there's been a lot of debate about things like this" does not mean that such debates are sacrosanct and all other countries have to follow.
    It is this warped thinking that has put tigers at risk!
    I agree that it is ridiculous that the core area isnīt even open to forest officials.

    However, there is large difference between driving in a car to an animal, which doesnīt alter itīs behaviour, nor makes them move, or even acknowledge you or the car and like the event you described. The tigers were hidden from the road, but you put your own īwanting to see themī above the tigersī private space. Showing no respect for the animal.
    You disturbed itīs behaviour, in a way which canīt be explained as beneficial, purely to get a picture.
    The same happens often with birds but usually it's with feeding them, which can be beneficial and often it's non-threatened species.
    If people don't respect the behaviour and well-being of the tiger, like you did in this case, and if this is happening at a large scale it will give the Indian government good justification to the rest of the world to close down the parks to tourists. Whether or not this will give corrupt officials time and space to poach without being caught.

  16. #16
    Ajit Huilgol
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    [QUOTE=Egil Droge;492849]I agree that it is ridiculous that the core area isnīt even open to forest officials.

    However, there is large difference between driving in a car to an animal, which doesnīt alter itīs behaviour, nor makes them move, or even acknowledge you or the car ]

    Cars have been around in Indian jungles for only 40-50 years, but elephants were in close proximity to tigers and other animals for thousands of years. It is clear that cars disturb animals and birds in more ways than one, including the toxic fumes of diesel and petrol.

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    [quote=Ajit Huilgol;493073]
    Quote Originally Posted by Egil Droge View Post
    I agree that it is ridiculous that the core area isnīt even open to forest officials.

    However, there is large difference between driving in a car to an animal, which doesnīt alter itīs behaviour, nor makes them move, or even acknowledge you or the car ]

    Cars have been around in Indian jungles for only 40-50 years, but elephants were in close proximity to tigers and other animals for thousands of years. It is clear that cars disturb animals and birds in more ways than one, including the toxic fumes of diesel and petrol.
    Here in Africa lions are very much disturbed by elephants. Elephants donīt like lions and usually chase them, and the lions usually hastily retreat if thereīs elephants on the show. This has happened for thousands of years and is natural.
    However itīs not natural to climb on the back of an animal with the intention to go and look at tigers which are just not visible. Knowing there is a high chance of the elephants (and/or people on their backs) disturbing the tigers.

    If you drive properly, and people behave properly inside the car than big cats (even leopards) quickly become very tolerant of cars. And if you switch the engine off when you're in position you keep the toxic fumes around them to a minimum as well.

  18. #18
    Ajit Huilgol
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    [QUOTE=Egil Droge;493626]
    Quote Originally Posted by Ajit Huilgol View Post

    Here in Africa lions are very much disturbed by elephants. Elephants donīt like lions and usually chase them, and the lions usually hastily retreat if thereīs elephants on the show. This has happened for thousands of years and is natural.
    However itīs not natural to climb on the back of an animal with the intention to go and look at tigers which are just not visible. Knowing there is a high chance of the elephants (and/or people on their backs) disturbing the tigers.

    If you drive properly, and people behave properly inside the car than big cats (even leopards) quickly become very tolerant of cars. And if you switch the engine off when you're in position you keep the toxic fumes around them to a minimum as well.
    There are a lot IF's in your statement, Egil; "if you drive properly........" . And, in India, tigers are not disturbed by the presence of elephants, as is evident in the documentary, "Spy in the Jungle" by BBC/Discovery, with David Attenborough's commentary. I also have a number of images shot by others in which elephants and tigers are sharing the same waterhole! Anyway, if you are insistent on defending the entry of vehicles in jungles as opposed to elephants, then I am afraid, we are talking on different wavelengths, and I don't think other members would be interested in following our personal diatribes against each other. So, goodbye!

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    So it was the people on the back of the elephants disturbing the tigers.
    Anyway, I donīt think we ever agree with each other on this and our little discussion is not contributing to the what this great forum is intending to do, sharing and improving each ones photography. So I agree, letīs leave it at this and looking forward to see other pictures from you!

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