I have some good news to announce in a bad time for wildlife in India. The government has appointed a task force to look at protecting the wildlife and introducing an "African model" where villagers, tribals and the government benefit from the wildlife preserves. Lynx is in direct touch with them.

If any of the experts here has opinions and suggestions, I would request that they send them to Lynx, Rustam or me for sending the material to the government task force through Lynx. We are also working on giving this material to several newspapers where we have friends and any suggestions from experts especially professionals in Africa would be most welcome.

Thanks, Shakari, the list of vets you gave Lynx has already been submitted to the government task force.

Please help India's wildlife with your experience and data.

(Edited with some corrections on Lynx's recommendations)

Wow, great work and I am sure I speak for everyone in hopes of the powers that be listen to reason!

Mehulkamdar/Lynx,

I'll be delighted to offer any help I can. Just feel free to e-mail me anytime.

We have extensive experience of the hunting industry in 7 diferent African countries and would be happy to help in any way we can.

I am not the one to give any advice, but I will whish you all the very best in this project. So vital and so late... I am delighted to hear that appearently people in the right places are prepared to listen.

Regards,
Martin

This is outstanding news! Great step forward in recognizing, developing and improving this resource for the Indian people. Interest in hunting India is higher than is probably currently suspected. With a large number of Indian animals being taken in the U.S. from game ranches, some have got to wonder what is like to hunt these creatures in their homeland. Putting a number on the size the new cashflow this brings to India will get the government's attention faster than anything.

Mehul, you have an email.

Mehulkamdar

Great news , I hope this project will make the politicians understand how good hunting is, however PETA could be difficult to persuade

Cheers
/ JOHAN

It's high time the India Govt gets of their butt and opens hunting in India. It might just save the Tiger. If Pakistan can do it with their wild sheep surely the Indians can. Strictly controlled hunting will stop organised poaching as well as local shikaris from shooting all the horned game. The only wild animal that is holding on in India is the wildboar, primarily because muslim shikaris dont eat it.

There are tons of Nilgai in Rajasthan it's high time they allow hunting.

Some more good news from an otherwise grim scenario. The government appointed Dr Sunita Narain, head of the Centre for Science and the Environment to head the task force. She is a former Caltech scholar and a no-nonsense person, and open to new ideas. I hope Lynx would be able to work something good with her.

Reddy375,

Farmers are allowed to shoot Nilgai on permission given by the forest department in a very limited way. Yes, there is scope for organised conservation and hunting them. What we are trying to do is provide a case for this and members like Shakari and Oldsarge have given material and information that has been very useful.

Wish us luck, and good hunting to you!

Hi Mehul,

Do let me know if there is anything I can do from here. I am originally from Hyd. I have some good contacts at SCI as well as possibly getting information from Africa on projects they have implemented. I also have many friends in India, I keep telling them to start some type of grass route campaign to open hunting, and lobby to use it as a tool for conservation. How about an email campaign that could easily spread all over India in no time!

I guess the big problem in India (as is in the rest of the world) the majority of the population couldnt care less or are anti hunting or easily infulenced by anti hunters!

Regards,

Reddy375

Hi Reddy,

I wondered whether you were a Telugu Reddy when I saw your first post some time ago - good to hear from you and do mail me at guns@mehulkamdar.com

Let's see where we could take this process,

Best wishes,