in India from snake bites ; describe the mortality due to wild animals, which, though much less than the former, life

Transcription

1 47 / NATURE [yan 88 8, DESTRUCTION OF LIFE IN INDIA BY WILD ANIMALS T N a recent communication called attention the loss ± I human and animal of in India from snake bites describe the mortality due wild animals, which, though much less than the former, is very considerable, and forms an important item in the I now proceed life mortuary returns The statement appended shows in detail for each province the number of persons and cattle killed by wild animals, and the number of wild animals destroyed with the rewards paid for their destruction during the year 88, as compared with the previous year are summarised in the following tables Number Human of The figures Beings and Cattle Killed by Wild Animals Persons killed 88 North-Western Pro vinces and Oudh,9 6 Districts 8 4 b67, Nil Ajmere-Merwara Total Number,84 7,97i,69 4,8, ,8, 6 o, ,7n ,668,98 8,4 8,4 7, ,667 4,7 4,67 47o 4 89 Nil 4 British Burma Coorg Assam Assignee Cattle killed ,77 of Wild Animals destroyed,8 4,64 and Amount of Rewards Paid Destroyed Rewards 88 Rs,84,77 4,78 Rewards Destroyed 88 Rs a p- 6,79 IO I 4,77 4,84 IO 6,,49,67 4, a p, 4,96,6 N-W Provinces and Oudh,94 7,9,89 Cent Provinces,48 4 Burma Coorg 69 6 Assam 4 British, 7i 4 7,887 8, ,,, 8,44 4 4,86,,84 8,9 4, 6,76 7, O,7 I, 4H As67 Ajmere-Merwara 8 signed districts Total The 4,886 resolution of C 9 88, ,79,6 Nil 9,8 Government, dated November 8, 88, in dealing with this subject, gives the following details, which are so far satisfacry, as they show that organised measures are now being put in force for the destruction of wild beasts, and that already there has been diminution in the loss of human and domestic

2 f Z animal life As in the case of venomous snakes, the prevention, or at all events diminution of loss of human and domestic animal life from the ravages of wild animals, is a question mainly of time, perseverance, and expenditure of money The last consideration perhaps may have sod in the way of progress, not that expenditure of rupees either has been or would be grudged, were there certainty that it would overcome the evil, but that there may have been, perhaps is, a natural reluctance spend public money for what seems an uncertain benefit, as some have regarded a system of rewards for destruction of snakes and wild animals The Government of India has always evinced a desire adopt any steps that might reasonably afford hope of relief, and many resolutions by the supreme and local Governments, and considerable expenditure of money with this object in view, proves that the authorities have been and are alive the magnitude of the evil and the importance of repressing it, and that they have taken measures which in some districts have been attended with a fair amount of success But the absence of a thoroughly organised system of dealing with the evil, and the desulry and varying methods employed have prevented the attainment of the success that might fairly be expected and would be obtained under better arrangements and it will not be until some complete organised system have been steadily and perseveringly prosecuted that the desired result will be accomplished A few years ago (in 878), when calling attention this subject, I noted that the loss of life from wild animals in 87 and 876 had been as follows : Animals Elephants Tigers Leopards Bears Wolves Hyaenas Other animals Total Killed in 876 Cattle Persons Killed in 87 Cattle Persons 6l I,o6l 68,446,7 6,4 6,7 9,47,6 4,64, Comparing these returns with observed that the loss of diminished 97,6 6 -, ,448 49,9 4 4,7,7 life 47,96 will be has not been materially that of 88-8 it Persons though there is reason hope that future will be more favourable killed,84,77,7,7 yearly reports Registration is now becoming more accurate than it has been, and the returns are probably more reliable than they were, but they do not indicate any marked improvement on the whole It is evident, however, from the terms of the resolution before referred, that Lord Ripon is determined deal vigorously with the evil, and, just as in the case of the poisonous snakes only, will the result, in time, justify the perhaps, more surely expenditure which must needs be incurred

3 - Of the wild animals and venomous snakes which destroy life in India, the wolf and tiger, it will be seen, are the chief offenders among the former, the cobra and bungarus(krait) among the latter list of the rewards that have been offered at various times and in different parts of India is appended, but I do not know the amount now offered for each animal, though it is probably much on If these rewards be distributed regularly the same scale and systematically throughout India, they will probably suffice insure a steady reduction in the number of noxious animals, and so will diminish a great evil The figures quoted show a decrease during the year under review, as compared with the previous year, both and, on the in the number of persons and cattle killed other hand, an increase in the number of wild animals As was the case in the previous year, the destroyed mortality which occurred in and in the NorthWestern Provinces and Oudh, was far greater than in Of the tal number of deaths, 77 other provinces were caused by wild animals, the figures for the previous A year being 84 The number of persons killed in (747), and in the North-western Provinces, and Oudh (8) by wild animals other than those specifically named in the In future returns the animals returns, was considerable which come under the general head other animals, and which causes in all provinces a very large proportion of the mortality, should be specified in a foot-note, with the number of deaths caused by each kind The tal number of cattle killed also decreased This result is chiefly due the exclusion from the return of sheep and goats, of which a large number were included in the figures of the year 88 There has, however, been a marked decrease in^he number of cattle In killed by wild animals in the Presidency the, also, the number of cattle killed was considerably less than in the preceding year, but in this province, as in the case of, the decrease appears be due the exclusion of sheep and goats from the returns of the year 88 The number of wild animals destroyed was,79, The number of tigers, leopards, against 4,886 in 88 ana bears, and wolves destroyed was 7, 97) 99B IIOO> 48 respectively, as compared with 689, 47) and the number of and 44 in the preceding year human beings killed by these animals respectively, amounted 889, 9? 7> an d 6, against 87, 6, 8, and 47 in the year 88 Of the tal amount of rewards paid during the year, Rs 9,8 were awarded for the destruction of wild animals In the review of the returns for the year 88 a hope was expressed that endeavours would be made induce men belonging the Shikari class devote themselves are specially the work of destruction in districts which more than usually infested with wild animals, and Local Governments were authorised make special arrange ments for the experimental employment of such men

4 fif From the present reports it appears that the Government of has decided that the employment of a paid corps of Shikaris is undesirable, as the cost of supervision would be excessive, while the employment of such a corps would discourage local Shikaris On this point the Governor- Genera] in Council desires remark that where local Shikaris exist it is very desirable that every encouragement should be held out cases them, and that in such preferable trust fixed, certain, and prompt results, as the most effective way of inducing the Shikaris devote themselves the work At the same time certain tracts of country exist in which the special and temporary employment of men from outside may be very useful and expedient, and the reports show that the adoption of this plan has in some cases been followed by satisfacry results For instance, in the Futehpore district, in the North-Western Provinces, the entertainment of a body of special Shikaris resulted in the destruction of a considerable number of wolves with which that district was infested In Dinapore, in the Lower Provinces, also, professional hunters were engaged during the dosing month of the year for the destruction of tigers u In the the ravages committed by tigers in the Balaghat and Seoni districts necessitated the offer of enhanced rewards for their destruction, and the district officer of Seoni has endeavoured organise a special expedition of shikaris for the purpose of hunting down the animals, and has provided the shikaris with ammunition Licenses under the Arms Act appear have been more freely given than hither persons who require arms for protecting themselves and their cattle and crops from the attack of wild animals, but the Governor- General in Council desires take the opportunity of expressing a hope that this matter will be careit is payments according fully kept in view by Local Governments and Administra- tions in order that every possible facility may be offered cultivars and others for obtaining such licences in districts in which wild beasts are more than usually abundant Wild Animals destructive Life in India Carnivora Felidce Felis F leo Lion F tigris F pardus F jubata Tiger Leopard Hunting Leopard Hyczninoe Hyaena H striata Striped Hyaena Canidce Canis C pallipes C aureus Wolf Jackal Ursidce Ursus U isabellinus U tibetanus U labiatus Brown Bear Black Bear Sloth Bear j j

5 Ungulata Elephantidce Elephas E indicus Rhinoceros R indicus Sus Elephant Rhinoceros Suidce S indicus Wild Boar Bovince G gauri Gavaeus Bubalus Bison, gaur B ami Buffalo, arna Sauria Crocodilidee Crocodilus C Gavialis palustris Crocodile C biporcatus C pondicerianus G gangeticus,,,, Gharial Pisces Carcharias C gangeticus Carchciridee Groundshark of Ganges Poisojious Snakes of India Those marked with an * are most deadly Those marked with a f are most common among the most deadly Poisonous Colubrine Snakes Elapidee Naja N tripudians cobra, several f, varieties Ophiophagus Bungarus 4 Xenurelaps Callophis >> O elaps hamadryas *, B cseruleus t, krait B fasciatus, sankni X bungaroides C intestinalis and several other spec es Hydrophidce, or Sea Snakes Platurus (all deadly) P scutatus, P Fischeri Hydrophis H cyanocincta, Enhydrina 4 Pelamis other species E hengalensis P bicolor and several Viperine Snakes Crotalidce, or Pit Vipers Trimeresurus T gramineus and several other species Pelpelor P macrolepis Halys 4 Hypnale H himalayanus H nepa Viperidee, or true Vipers D Daboia Chain russellii t, Viper, Tic-polonga E, carinara Echi Afae, t, Phoorsa snake, Kuppur The following is a scale of the rewards offered in different parts of India, at different times, for wild beasts and snakes :

6 6 r6 Tigers Rupees ^ IO,, 6 6» IO,, IOO Mysore Oudh None None Rajpootana Lions The only record of which I find official mention, is rupees in Kotah Panthers, Leopards, Cheetahs Rupees 4 "H» Mysore Rajpootana Central Provii ces 8 Wolves Rupees < ' >, 6 4 ^ Oudh Rajpootana Hyaenas Rupees 4 k Bears Rupees \ I? >» Rajpootana Snakes (Species not reported) 4 annas 6 pie 4 annas rupee

7 Mysore 8 annas rupees anna 8 annas rupees Oudh Rajpootana annas I 8 annas No rewards appear proclaimed for elephants, In cases of norious rogue elephants rewards have been specially given In rupees offered for alligars in special cases, more has been given in and The difference in the amount of the rewards appears indicate that higher sums were offered in special cases, probably when the creature was a norious man or officially buffaloes, or bisons cattle-slayer Now I cannot help thinking that if Government made part of the duty of district officers, not only proclaim these rewards but encourage the destruction of wild animals and snakes, by mons of an organised establishment, which should be sundlied in these disit tricts, much benefit might result Tne money rewards already offered would probably suffice for wild animals, but those for venomous snakes should be increased if, at the same time, the people were encouraged work for the rewards, and were aided by persons acting under properly selected superiors, the result would soon show a diminution of the wild animals and snakes But, I repeat that not until some organised establishment is formed, be worked steadily throughout the whole country not dependent on the will or subject the caprice of individuals, but under local officers subject one head will any real or progressive amelioration of the evil be effected Such a department under a selected officer, would, as was the case with the Thugs and Dacoits, soon make an impression on a death-rate which, so long as it continues in its present condition, must be referred a defect in our administration J Fayrer