Celeb hunters: Killing for kicks

New Delhi: They came, they saw, they slaughtered. Hunting has graduated from being a royal sport to more of a sadistic pastime for celebrities.

The blackbuck poaching case saw well known names – Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Tabu and Sonali Bendre – enjoying the royal practice of killing animals, in a rather sadistic manner.

Though celebrities going on a hunting vacation may not be very common in India, there are some with a royal background who are all game for a hunting vacation.

So what drives celebs to the bloody sport? Experts say the psyche of a celeb hunter is determined by many factors.

Says animal rights activist, Maneka Gandhi, “Hunting is done by people who have lost power over estates and titles and need to reestablish their macho-hood. They are usually men who are idle, under-worked and have a lot of inherited money. These are scared people who establish power by hitting children, killing animals, being vicious with servants, generally abusive within their homes while being very charming outside. The mere feel of a gun gives them a high. Even when at home, they will spend hours cleaning and polishing their guns."

Jose Louis of Wildlife SOS, a wildlife protection NGO, feels the same: "The thought of bringing an innocent animal down on its knees with the press of a trigger gives a hunter an immense sadistic pleasure."

But has tradition got anything to do with it? We have all heard of stories of Maharajas going on hunting expeditions but for theatre personality, Lushin Dubey, we are a more civilised society today and “it’s great that we have a debate on the issue unlike the time of the Rajas when their authority could not be questioned.”

According to Jose, some well-known hunters of the past like Jim Corbett and Billy Arjan Singh were also the best naturalists. “They shot animals which were harmful to people and took maximum care to shoot the "correct" animal from a group of suspects. A man-eater is the one, which is not able to hunt due to an injury or old age, and so finds human beings as an easy catch. These animals were shot by experts like Corbett, who condemned local shikaris who used to kill any tiger or leopard that was spotted in the area where a man eater was suspected.”

Do not kill a female with cubs (Strict)

Do not kill sub adults (Strict)

Do not hunt during mating or nesting seasons

Do not hunt more number than the permitted numbers (They kept records of how many animals were killed).

The power to kill and hunt was mostly used with proper responsibility. In fact, many of the celebrated hunters were also the best naturalists. For example, Jim Corbett, after whom a National Park was named, and Billy Arjan Singh.

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But today, the reasons are different. And though we may boast of the best wildlife laws in the world, when it comes to legalities, the rich and the famous manage to escape.

"They have licensed guns and they gain access into the protected forests with the aid of local police and forest guards in return for money and favours," explains Gandhi.

Besides bribes, it’s technology too that aids the hunter today. “Hunting has become hi-tech. Rifles with teles, night vision binoculars and powerful search lights cater to a hunter’s requirements these days. Their favourite vehicle is a gypsy,” elaborates Jose Louis.

Tigers, lions, black bucks, neelgais, patridges and wild fowls are some of the favourites among the hunters and are spotted in the forests of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Says Maneka, “Hunting happens all over India. Since it is not allowed, many of them go to Africa in groups to kill in canned hunts there. A canned hunt is when you buy an old and frail animal like a lion out of the zoo, take it into a small enclosure and then kill it while sitting on your chair.”