Project Save Tiger: Reader asks, Why the fuck should I save the tiger?

Last week in these columns, we featured an online survey to gauge readers opinion about "Save the Tiger" project run by the ministry of Environment and forestry, Government of India in cooperation with several NGO's and with the aid of heavy media campaign run by NDTV.

The inputs that we have received from our readers reveal a very mixed response. While some have displayed the needed enthusiasm to get engaged with 'save the tiger' campaign, majority of the respondents were apathetic about the future of the royal bengal tiger. But dismally, many of the respondents displayed mark hostility when asked to give their opinion on future of the endangered tiger.

Himesh Garodia, 29, responding through email asked angrily "Why the fuck should I save the tiger? Why the fuck should I be bothered to save the fucking tiger? If, god forbid, my life is in danger, would the tiger try to save me? Forget saving me from danger, if I ever come face-to-face with a tiger, this goddamned creature would be the very cause of danger to my life. Why the fuck would I want to save a creature who could be a potential threat to my peaceful existence?

"What would I get in return for saving the tiger? When one saves someone, one expects to be applauded for the valiant act of saving a life and thanked profusely by the person who has been saved, but in the case of saving tigers can I expect anything in return for my efforts? If I show up to meet the tiger I've helped being saved, would this wretched creature at the very least give me grateful looks as one would expect from domesticated pets? No, on the contrary, he would leap upon me and within seconds make me his midday meal."

Uday Sathye, librarian at Pune University couldn't understand all the fuss about saving the tiger. In his emailed response he pointed out "Our planet earth is facing sixth mass extinction. We are currently losing something on the order of 30,000 species per year - which breaks down to the even more daunting statistic of some three species per hour. We are facing a severe biodiversity crisis that could end up endangering humans in the next century. Scientists have predicted that at least one in eight known plant species is threatened with extinction and that up to one-fifth of all living species could disappear within 30 years.

"When all life on earth is in severe danger of extinction, why should I care about saving a bunch of wild cats roaming the forests of Sunderbans? Sathye fumed.

Meanwhile, our sources reporting from the deep jungles of Sunderban have revealed that the herbivorous wildlife inhabiting the jungles is contemplating forming 'Save Our Flesh From the Tiger' (SOFT) project in response to 'Save the Tiger' project. Several hundreds of deers, antelopes, wild boars, buffaloes and many other species of wild animals that are regular preys of the big cats, have come together in an attempt to publicize their side of the story and garner some sympathy for their sorry plight .

Honchu, the wild hog, spokesbeast of this newly formed front expressed his dismay at the lack of interest among human beings about the sufferings of prey animals. "Just because we are not facing extinction, does it mean that we don't deserve to be saved? When will humans wake up and get worked up over the dangers that we, the long suffering victims of tiger hunger and brutality, face on a daily basis? Do we have to wait till the time we face extinction before being noticed by humans and added to their 'save the imperiled specie' projects?