Conservation: Success, Failure, and the Joys of Science

Success stories in wildlife conservation are few and far between. So one that comes out of India is all the more heart-warming, given the immense challenges of protecting nature in the country. Scaling Up is an insightful chronicle of a conservation programme that has survived both the test of time and the vagaries of government policy. This is a story that needed to be told. 

Scaling Up revolves around the life and work of Romulus Whitaker, an American-born wildlife biologist, who adopted India and its reptilian fauna back in the 1960’s. It is a story not only of the passion of discovery but also of grit, tenacity and hardship. The tale is told by Zai, Whitaker’s partner of many years and a protagonist in the events. 

In addition to being extremely informative about herpetology, Scaling Up throws a spotlight on India’s conservation history. Many turning points in field biology are chronicled here, such as the discovery of sea turtle nesting sites, the first crocodile censuses across India and the rediscovery of the rare forest cane turtle. Along the way, Romulus Whitaker and his team discovered new field sites which were suited to the study of particular animal groups, such as the South Andamans and Agumbe (Karnataka). With the basic groundwork being done, and facilities developed, these remote locales became vibrant nodes for herpetological and other kinds of research. 

The Whitakers were foresighted enough to realise that public outreach was as important as doing the science, when it comes to conservation. This was particularly true in the case of venomous snakes that cause thousands of deaths in India. The negative encounters with snakes seemed to be shaping public opinion about them, and other reptiles. They therefore saw their role in reducing snake-bite deaths as critical to conservation in that it would allow a degree of coexistence between people and snakes. The Irular tribe of coastal Tamil Nadu was given centre stage in this endeavour, in recognition of their incredible knowledge of snake ecology and behaviour. However, the author has not stopped short of elaborating on the complicated uphill battles ever since, which still have not let up. There is still limited uptake and use of anti-venom due to low production. Thousands of snake-bite victims do not yet have easy access to anti-venom serum as the government does not support such units in public hospitals despite the prevalence of snake-bite.

It was interesting to read of the deep association between biologists and the Irular, with much mutual respect on both sides. Yet, the Irular example is also a grim reminder that participatory conservation with marginalised social groups, is just not as common as it could have been in a country like India. Most tribal communities have not been integrated into mainstream conservation, despite their tremendous knowledge and experience, such as the Van Gujjars of the Western Himalayas or the Gond tribes of Central India. 

Scaling Up is also a commentary on the critical importance of facilitative policies for conservation particularly in developing countries where sustainable harvest of wildlife could be a useful strategy. In 1972, the captive-breeding programme for muggers was set up at Madras Crocodile Bank with the aim of raising revenues through sale of crocodile skins, then a valuable commodity in the international market. However, the abrupt U-turn in orders of the Tamil Nadu government led to dramatic over-population of muggers over the years, which then had to dealt with. Perhaps the Whitakers had misread the social acceptability of crocodile harvesting in India, something that had earlier worked in Australia.

The numerous examples in Scaling Up show the criticality of field-based research: that true ecological insights emerge during long and difficult hours in the field. As an example, the encyclopaedic Book of Indian Snakes is today taken for granted by naturalists who use it for species identification; it is easy to forget that it is based on thousands of hours of exploration, field observations and meticulous data compilation. In her own inimitable style, Zai Whitaker revisits the joys of scientific discovery and exploration that led to fundamental work on reptiles. Whitaker provides captivating accounts of animal behaviour and ecology. She writes of a nesting bout of the Olive Ridley sea turtle:

“We trotted up and flopped down by her side. I got a face full of sharp dry sand as she tossed it back with her hind flippers. Once she had shifted the upper layer, the systematic digging of the nest hole began and about thirty minutes after she had left the water, the half-metre-deep cavity was ready. This strenuous terrestrial activity made great demands on the stamina of the turtle and she breathed in deep gulps punctuated by short sharp whistles. The water from the lachrymal glands, which wash the eyeballs, streamed down, giving her a tearful look.”

Yet, the success of long-term interventions such as those by the Romulus Whitaker and his team, can be measured not so much in numbers of species conserved or population increase of endangered species such as the gharial. What is more important is the legacy they have left behind in terms of the numbers of young people inspired, supported, trained and nurtured over the years, and the enhanced sensitivity to reptiles in the public at large. The institutions that they founded, such as Andaman and Nicobar Environment Team, Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Madras Snake Park, have largely stayed true to their original mandate even after several decades. Yet, there is no getting away from the fact that genuine field conservation is extremely messy, complex, and often heart-breaking – when hard-won gains over years could be overturned in a day – and her candidly written account vouches for that.

Whitaker’s conversational style, tinged with wry humour and wit, also makes it an enjoyable read. I would rate Scaling Up as an important book for anyone concerned with wildlife biology and conservation whether in India or elsewhere. I recommend it highly for conservationists, biologists, policy-makers and forest managers.

Ghazala Shahabuddin is an ecologist working on anthropogenic impacts, land use change, forest ecology, ornithology and wildlife conservation policy. She is a Visiting Professor to the Environmental Studies, Ashoka University, and a Senior Adjunct Fellow with ATREE, Bengaluru.