Big game lures Indians abroad
26 Aug 2007, 0217 hrs IST,Shobha John,TNN

From The Times of India


Limpid, tawny eyes, thick mane, quivering flanks, flickering tail — it's a magnificent piece of creation despite being beyond its prime. And as the lion sees the barrel of the gun, he charges.... Welcome to Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania.

This and other hunting areas in Africa, US and Russia are drawing in Indians, who have tasted this adrenalin-pumping exercise unlike any other they've known. The beauty and wildness of the outdoors, the loneliness of a 21-day hunt and the sight of a graceful animal add to the adventure. There is lurking danger, hidden risks. Always. Some hunters lose their lives; others are lucky. But then, that's life for them. And most important, it's legal.

They are an eclectic mix of 15-20 Indians who hunt annually — businessmen, agriculturists, corporate czars...all crack shots, of course. And physically fit too, as this is a strenuous sport. Some have been hunting from the late '80s, while others are Johnny-come-latelys, lured to it by friends. Some go alone while others team up with friends and family between July and November, the hunting season in Africa. The hunt could take anything between a week to 21 days. People from other countries too come; many have saved a lifetime for this indulgence.

PUT A PRICE: And though hunting is a bad word in India, these hunters insist they're actually conservationists. "We love the outdoors and won't kill any animal which is breeding or young. We hunt animals which are old and we pay a huge price for it. Only if there's a price on wildlife, will it survive. The money pumped in by us for the hunt is used by these countries for conservation," says Ashok Sharma*, a UP businessman.

With hunting banned in India, the search for the Big Hunt goes to other countries. Africa, of course, is the mecca for hunting — Tanzania, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana. The Big Five, after all, are found here: elephant, lion, buffalo, rhino and leopard. There are also smaller animals like kudu (a type of antelope), impalas, zebras. Each country has certain USPs — S Africa (white rhino); New Zealand (red stag, Himalayan Thar, duck, geese, chamois); Argentina is the mecca for bird hunting; US (deer, grizzly bear); Russia (Kodiak bear, high altitude sheep like Marco Polo).

"It's the biggest adrenalin rush I have ever got. The landscape is incredibly beautiful and virginal," says Hyderabad businessman Kush Sagar, 45, who has been hunting abroad for 12 years. The planning, he says, starts a year in advance. This includes applying for various licences from these countries. Most hunters are part of the US-based Safari Club International which helps them decide where to hunt what. "You also need to book a professional hunter well in advance, someone who knows the topography, can read tracks, knows where to find which species," he says. He went to Tanzania to shoot buffalo. Most go with their own guns such as 375 Magnum for big animals and 300 Winchester Magnum for medium-sized animals like antelopes. "Night shooting is illegal as the animal gets blinded," explains Sagar.

ASSORTED SPECIES: Arun Patel, a 52-year-old businessman from Ghazipur, earned his hunting spurs three years back. He's hunted lion, buffalo, hippo, crocodile, kudu, oryx and black wilderbeast in Tanzania and Namibia. "I also plan to go to New Zealand and Australia. For me, it's like a holiday — I go with my family to Johannesburg and Cape Hope and then go hunting. In Namibia, there are hunting farms of over 200 sq miles with guest houses." After the shooting, the trophy is sent to the taxidermist for mounting. That could take 5-6 months. "By the time your trophy reaches you after a lot of paperwork in India, it's over a year," he says.

But you better have deep pockets, if say, you want to hunt a lion. The hunt could take 21 days and could set you back by $50,000. This includes the cost of licences, hunting, taxidermist, etc. You also need support staff — skinners, trackers, cooks — normally numbering 10. Tents, food and Land Cruisers are add-ons.

Pervez Ali, 42, from Kolhapur, has been hunting in Zimbabwe since 1994. "I started young. Till 1987, big and small game licences were given by the forest department of Maharashtra. As soon as I turned 18, I bought both licences till they were closed." He has over 30 trophies from five safaris.

REMOTELY BEAUTIFUL: It was the wild remoteness of Tanzania that drew Delhi businessman Rahul Sharma, 42, year after year. "I go to privatised areas given on lease to hunting companies. These are full-fledged camps where everything has to be flown in by small chartered planes. You can drive for 150 km without seeing a single human being. I mainly hunt the lion and the leopard using two of my rifles. After traversing by jeep, one has to track the animal by foot, following tracks. Sometimes, I get the right specimen after five days, sometimes on the last day," he says. Sometimes even that eludes them. But that's a risk they're willing to take. Of course, all the money goes down the drain.

Elephant hunting is the toughest. "After tracking a bull elephant, you might just find that its tusks are below the legal permissible limit (length: 1.2m, weight: 22kg approx in Tanzania). You have to abandon the hunt then," says Sharma.

However, conservationists aren't amused. Says Bittu Sahgal, editor, Sanctuary magazine, "Those seeking thrill from blood sports are insecure people who are out of touch with changing values and times. It's so easy to shoot an animal that stares back at you with nothing but curiosity in its eye. Shooting for conservation must be likened to fornicating for virginity."

But hunters assert that hunting and conservation go hand in hand. "India banned hunting in the 70s. How come there are far less tigers and wildlife even now?" asks Arjun Reddy, a veteran hunter in the US. "On the other hand, whitetail deer was nearly wiped out in the US a century back. But thanks to hunting being regulated here, their numbers have increased to such an extent that last year, many had to be shot."

Sharma adds, "It is commercial poaching and loss of habitat that decrease wildlife in India. See the guards in our game reserves — they're underpaid, have no proper guns, no vehicles...how can you expect them to save wildlife then?"

Jungle raj doesn't always pay.

Interesting. These must be the nouveaux riche. JA Hunter reported (and made a good living) from guiding Maharajahs. He stated that they were universally gentlemen, fine shots, and had a wonderful arsenal of top notch guns.
Peter.

I believe that I read somewhere lately the the vast majority of the finest double rifles made in England were made for hunting India and for the Maharajahs and that it later caught on for Africa and for the rest of us poor blokes. Most of the working doubles were made in the Birmingham area. Sure be interesting to know what old Mother India holds and where some of those fine doubles are at.