Opinions are free but passing judgement has its embarassing consequences at times! To each his own!

If Indian wildlife adminstration is so capable of managing controlled hunting, then how come every single one of about 30 tigers has been wiped out of Sariska sanctuary in the last 7 years? If we can not control an endangered species in a popular sanctuary with high levels of funding, what hope is there for other species in remote areas with little resorce or funding.

India is a huge sub-continent & you do get small pockets of "private paradise" which are the personal fifedom of the very wealthy & influential who are in an even older time warp. I wonder how many new members get into these eletist shooting clubs & get access to imported ammunition. For those of us who are commited to the values of a modern egalitarian society, beat shooting is not affordable if a fair wage is to be paid to the beaters. I wonder what kind of footware or clothing those beaters wear. "Safe hunting by trained hunters" is an oxymoron in that environment. There are no records kept of hunting accidents, how many poachers shoot each other, etc. Covering up political murders is the norm. So what's the big deal about covering up the accidental death of a poor villager shot by the "not so brown Saheb" in a beat shoot! This environment is not today's free trade India or even socialist India in a 20 year time warp. This is feudal India in an older time warp going back a 100 years where a very very few powerful & wealthy people enjoyed hunting exclusively.

I would like to stick to the pleasurable & relaxing exercise of exchanging opinions in such a forum as this and hunt in dense bush for 3 or 4 days while walking 10 miles or more in steep hills & valleys.

Vanakkam

Ashok

PS

Mehul, I am still awaiting your replies to two of my emails. I wonder if you knew me in Madras Christian College. You do have me intriged!!