Author: Nawab Shafath Khan

Publisher: Bloomsbury India

Format: Paperback

Blurb: In 2018, news that a tigress named Avni had been shot dead in Yavatmal, Maharashtra, went viral online. When the saga played out on national media, the hunters were denounced as ruthless and bloodthirsty. However, there was more to the story. For, the tigress T1, as Avni was originally named, was a man-eater blamed for 13 killings. For over two years, she had spread fear over 150 square kilometres of rural Yavatmal, prompting more than 10,000 people to shut themselves inside their homes at night. Several attempts by the forest department to capture the animal alive had proved futile, and the authorities finally brought in hunters as a last resort. Now, for the first time, Nawab Shafath Ali Khan, the man who led the operation to neutralise T1, reveals the true story behind the biggest man-eating tiger operation in post-independent India. While painting a deeply empathetic portrait of the complexities of human­­–animal conflicts, Khan also raises important questions about the state of conservation in India. Heart-stopping and eventually tragic, Avni tells the story of a tigress pushed to her limit and of the man tasked with stopping her at all cost.

My Rating: 4/5

Review: Avni confronts the perilous realities of human-animal conflict, highlighting the devastating consequences for forest dwellers and local communities. It delves into the complex debate between conservation efforts to protect tigers and the immediate threats posed by man-eaters.

Style: The book is a work of non-fiction, narrated from the first-hand perspective of a renowned Indian hunter. This unique perspective offers a raw and unfiltered look at these conflicts.

Content: Avni uses a compelling combination of factual information and excerpts from hundreds of interviews. These interviews, “brought to life in ink and paper,” enrich the narrative with the voices of those directly impacted by these conflicts. The book also acknowledges the efforts of tiger conservationists.

Read: While the author’s engaging style makes for a consuming read, the narrative structure might pose a challenge. The book focuses on various man-eaters, which could lead to a sense of jumping from one story to another. Be prepared for graphic descriptions, as the author doesn’t shy away from portraying the horrific consequences of these encounters. Readers might wince in pain when the author describes half-eaten bodies recovered from the fields.

Impact: Despite the potential challenge, Avni provides an immersive experience. The author takes you on a journey through his encounters with man-eaters, considered among the most dangerous creatures on Earth. This firsthand account sheds light on the complexities of human-animal conflict and the difficult choices involved.

“A man-eater’s shadow is a nightmare no one wants to live under…”

As the author quotes India has witnessed electrocution, poisoning, and lynching of tigers recording the highest number of cases in recent times. The disconnect between laws and policies is brought to light with this narration. The book also throws light on the activists protesting for the conservation of tigers. However, when you dive into the book you will realize the perils of a man-eater. The readers might wince in pain when the author describes half-eaten bodies recovered from the fields.

It’s one of the books that kept me engaged, however it took me longer than expected to complete reading this beautiful yet heartbreaking narration. (My book from January reading diaries)