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Avni: Inside the Hunt for India's Deadliest Maneater
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.
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.
- GenresNonfiction
238 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 18, 2022
12 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 2, 2022
Thoughts on "Avni: Inside the Hunt for India's Deadliest Maneater"
This isn't an easy book to read; I finished it at several intervals. The subject is horrendously macabre, and the gory details of the killings by the man-eater do get to you after a while. I mean, it isn't exactly pleasant to read about a widowed woman weeping over the remains of her only grandchild, shred to bits by a tigress.
That said, this is a fascinating read. It presents the facts of an incident that brought almost an entire state down to its very knees. One tigress had spread fear over the entire region of Yavatmal in Maharashtra, resulting in thousands of people shutting themselves inside their homes at night and praying for their lives whenever they would venture out.
We get to know the details of the intricate processes that go behind the capture of errant man-eaters. It also reveals the reality of man-animal conflicts in India and the appalling mismanagement that goes about in handling it. The parts about the bureaucrats, who went out of their way to make this operation unsuccessful, and the social media warriors, who, without proper facts, kept crying foul like headless chickens, are particularly frustrating to read. Although not surprising.
The author also has immense knowledge of the forest and its ways. The narrations of his past exploits with man-eating animals almost read like a Jim Corbett story at times. He also does well in setting up the terror and chaos that the man-eater caused amongst the locals. His chilling encounters with the tigress at night made my skin crawl, and I can't even begin to imagine what it would feel like to come face to face with such a bloodthirsty beast in the jungle under the cover of darkness.
'Avni' is an important book as it alerts us to critical issues regarding conservation and man-animal conflicts in the country. You needn't be an animal lover to enjoy it. It's littered with plenty of facts and is extremely engaging and eye-opening.
This isn't an easy book to read; I finished it at several intervals. The subject is horrendously macabre, and the gory details of the killings by the man-eater do get to you after a while. I mean, it isn't exactly pleasant to read about a widowed woman weeping over the remains of her only grandchild, shred to bits by a tigress.
That said, this is a fascinating read. It presents the facts of an incident that brought almost an entire state down to its very knees. One tigress had spread fear over the entire region of Yavatmal in Maharashtra, resulting in thousands of people shutting themselves inside their homes at night and praying for their lives whenever they would venture out.
We get to know the details of the intricate processes that go behind the capture of errant man-eaters. It also reveals the reality of man-animal conflicts in India and the appalling mismanagement that goes about in handling it. The parts about the bureaucrats, who went out of their way to make this operation unsuccessful, and the social media warriors, who, without proper facts, kept crying foul like headless chickens, are particularly frustrating to read. Although not surprising.
The author also has immense knowledge of the forest and its ways. The narrations of his past exploits with man-eating animals almost read like a Jim Corbett story at times. He also does well in setting up the terror and chaos that the man-eater caused amongst the locals. His chilling encounters with the tigress at night made my skin crawl, and I can't even begin to imagine what it would feel like to come face to face with such a bloodthirsty beast in the jungle under the cover of darkness.
'Avni' is an important book as it alerts us to critical issues regarding conservation and man-animal conflicts in the country. You needn't be an animal lover to enjoy it. It's littered with plenty of facts and is extremely engaging and eye-opening.
June 3, 2023
Avni is an engaging and consuming read with details on the human - animal conflicts which cause massive damages to the forest dwellers as well as local villagers. The various case studies like Bhagalpur case of rogue elephants, C1 of Brahmakumari forest sector, the menace of Challis gaon, T1 of Yavatmal and many others gives the readers an insight into the constant conflict among the humans and the beast, the reason of the terror the beast cause and the damages improper handling of an operation leads to.
☕
The author cited the kind of mishandling, lack of proper experience, training and shooting apparatus that results in irreparable damages to humans and death in many instances.Such improper handling causes painful death of the beast when they get hit.He also underlines that there are certain boundaries between wildlife and humans that need to be strictly respected.
☕
The urgency for proper training, tracking and shooting apparatus and tranquilizing experience is more pressing than ever.The government, the policymakers as well the forest department need to address the problem as soon as possible to avoid the loss of more innocent lives.
☕
The author cited the kind of mishandling, lack of proper experience, training and shooting apparatus that results in irreparable damages to humans and death in many instances.Such improper handling causes painful death of the beast when they get hit.He also underlines that there are certain boundaries between wildlife and humans that need to be strictly respected.
☕
The urgency for proper training, tracking and shooting apparatus and tranquilizing experience is more pressing than ever.The government, the policymakers as well the forest department need to address the problem as soon as possible to avoid the loss of more innocent lives.
February 11, 2023
Better than the last one covers a lot of ground
February 14, 2024
Awesome book
It reflects on Tigers pathetic situations of India .Not all Tigers are man eaters .
Felt very sad after realistic view of Avni.
Plz read it .Very good book
It reflects on Tigers pathetic situations of India .Not all Tigers are man eaters .
Felt very sad after realistic view of Avni.
Plz read it .Very good book
March 12, 2024
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.
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.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews