Compassion
In a commentary for Mongabay, wildlife biologists Ashraf Shaikh and Prajakta Hushangabadkar revisit the question of compassion for tigers after the capture of Chhota Matka in Tadoba-Andhari. Once dominant, the male was moved to a rescue centre following a severe leg injury.
The authors explain that while compassion suggests treatment, national guidelines recommend restraint when injuries are natural. They argue that repeated interventions risk overcrowding rescue centres, disrupt ecological succession, and effectively turn reserves into curated zoos. In their analysis, true success depends on conservation practices such as corridors, prey recovery, and habitat protection, not on prolonging individual lives.
Shaikh and Hushangabadkar add that sedation carries risks, captivity consumes resources, and long-term care strips animals of wildness. They also warn that tourism and social media amplify emotional appeals, which pressure authorities to act against ecological logic. Their commentary closes by stating that respecting ecological rules is itself an act of compassion.
The compassion article:
Based on Mongabay, India.
Photo credit: Himanshu Bagde.
