Tiger!: The story of the Indian tiger

by Kailash Sankhala

ailash Sankhala [1] successfully managed Sariska, Bharatpur, Banvihar and Ranthambhor Wildlife Sanctuaries and the forest divisions of Rajasthan until 1964, and in 1965 was appointed Director of the Delhi Zoological Park which in 1969 was rated one of the first three zoological parks in the world. For five years Sankhala served as head of the world-famous zoo at Delhi, where his firmly held views on what zoos should be initially aroused anger, and later admiration. He had confrontations too with the Indian tourist establishment, and with the poachers who wished to make quick money out of tiger skins. Then in 1972 he was appointed head of 'Project Tiger', a worldwide attempt to save the Indian tiger from five years later he gave up his job with the problem solved.

Genres: Nonfiction

220 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[Kin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book shows a lot of hard-work, dedication and love of the writer for tigers and their conservation. Tiger and tigress are portraited beautifully not only in scientific but also in cultural and social ways. I particularly like how he put tiger in a big picture among other species of the forest from preys to camp followers and co-predators. He depicted very clear that every single specie has its intrinsic value and role in the ecosystem.

As someone who would be a bit biased due to my love for tiger as a specie, I find that the author does not only look at tiger as a scientist, a conservationist but also as a fan, a lover and the way he painted tiger would definitely make anyone fall in love with them.

[Johnr66 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is somewhat hard to find but worth it if your interested in Tigers. Sankhala was the man behind Project Tiger, the organization formed in the seventies for saving the endangered animal. The book takes the reader through his field observations of tigers across India and some history of man's relation with the big cat along with the unfortunate breading of white tigers. Fun Fact: Sankhala was the director of the Delhi Zoo in the 1960s when he provided the leopard cub to Jane (Rocky) Davis to raise. Davis later wrote "Sundari" about her experience of raising the cat. I mention this because "Sundari" turned out to be a very good story.