Dr. H S Pabla is not new to controversy. He is the person who is responsible for the decimation of Panna's tigers. When researchers like Dr. Raghu Chundawat raised their voice, Dr Pabla denied that anything is wrong in Panna. He denied the poaching and didn't take any action. Rather than taking action against the poachers, he tried to create problems for researchers. It is a different story, that he was perhaps rewarded for this by promoting him. For further details check here: Who is responsible for the vanishing of Panna Genes from the face of the earth? - Indiawilds: Land of the Tiger. Conservation, Wildlife Photography, Communities

In the present case of Gaur translocation from Kanha to Bandhavgarh, I am happy as well as sad.

I am happy that Gaurs will be back in bandhavgarh. However, the question is, for how long will they remain in the enclosure?

In Dudhwa, the rhinos are still in an enclosure even after two decades has passed since their translocation. I hope a similar fate doesn't await the gaurs. They should be released from the enclosure after a week of acclimatisation.

I am sad that we have again resorted to a stop gap arrangement. The best solution is to create a corridor between Bandhavgarh and Kanha. That would help in enhancing the gene pool of our tigers, gaurs etc. Unfortunately, that is not an easy solution and with the paucity of strong leaders I can't see creation of a corridor to link Kanha and Bandhavgarh anytime soon.

As far as filming of the gaur translocation, I am ok with CC Africa ( & Beyond ) doing it as they have paid for the tranlocation. However, the question is why no one else was involved apart from them? Why this was kept as exclusive event for CC Africa?

Not allowing anyone else sets a bad precedent. So tomorrow, film makers with deep pockets can tie up with the forest department to create events for exclusive footage. Science and conservation will be thrown out to the winds.

The death of the sub adult gaur has been hushed up. We only have Dr Pabla's version - however ridiculous that may be - that the gaur died due to food getting choked in its windpipe. There is no other version available, as no one else was allowed to be present. Dr Pabla's master stroke!

It is a sad state of affairs that despite presiding over the extirpation of the tigers in Panna Dr Pabla was promoted and despite his active collusion with tour operators coming to light no action is taken against him. People who were once mighty are under bars or under investigation. So why people like Dr Pabla is still in a position to continue with these kinds of deals?

Sabyasachi