(IN): Leopard killing shocks hunter

[Guest guest]

Link: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070830/asp/guwahati/story_8252637.asp

 

Leopard killing shocks hunter

A STAFF REPORTER

 

*Aug. 29:* Jim Corbett, the legendary India-born Irish hunter, who resolved

never to kill tigers unless they turned man-eaters, is his source of

inspiration.

 

No wonder, Jiaur Rahman is deeply pained by the mindless killing of big cats

by the city's residents.

 

The 65-year-old, once a terror for tigers that earned him the sobriquet Jim

Corbett of Assam, is deeply shocked by the killing of a leopard by the

residents of Fatasil Ambari.

 

The nature lover, who gave up hunting long back, said: " Tigers are beautiful

creations of god. Unless disturbed, they never harm us. They attack only

when they are injured. "

 

Several leopards, which strayed into human habitation, were either killed or

beaten up by panic-stricken people.

 

" Unless they realise their mistake, there will be no tiger left in the

state. Since we are invading the animal's habitats, the tigers are forced to

come out in the open, " he said.

 

Rahman has netted 105 tigers and shot many in states like Madhya Pradesh

where the dense forests are known to be dens for the big cats.

 

Many state governments sought his help to capture tigers, which turned

man-eaters.

 

But that is all in the past now. The wanton killing of tigers has forced him

to break his silence and appeal to the city's residents to save the striped

beauties.

 

" Even as a hunter every time I killed a tiger, a feeling of remorse gripped

me, " Rahman said.

 

Born in 1942 in Majbat of then Darang district, he caught a tiger cub when

he was only 16. While recounting his heroics, he remembered a tiger with

whom his hide-and-seek game continued for one-and-a half years.

 

The Royal Bengal Tiger was finally trapped in Madhya Pradesh in 1991.

 

 

--

Fight captive Jumbo abuse, end Elephant Polo

http://www.stopelephantpolo.com