"Eyes of Truth" - I'm selling my tigers for Nepal - First $5 tiger...

I wish I had a $1 for every mistake I've made, I'd probably have enough money to own the internet right now.  Of course, that would make me boss of the world.  One of first things I'd decree is that everyone didn't spend quite so much time on the internet. However I am grateful for the web because from now on I'm going to be selling my tigers ... and these first ones are just $5.  Check it out at www.wildtiger.org/jackkinross and you can see how you'll be helping.

I've taken thousands of animal and landscape shots.  Sometimes for work, sometimes for play.  I took "Eyes of Truth" nearly a decade ago.  That day it seemed this young tigress was looking straight inside me, I had nowhere to hide, it was a moment of pure truth.

I know that whenever I've strayed from the truth things haven't gone so well.  In conservation the truth hits you smack bang between the eyeballs on a regular basis.  Those things make you look deep inside at your own truth.

Conservation isn't just about protecting animals like the tiger, that is a very narrow, cop out way of looking at things.  Conservation is about everyday actions.  It's about things like taking public transport instead of the car.  It's about recycling rubbish.  It's about our individual examination of personal consumption.

It's about the truth.

I hope you'll buy my $5 tiger ... and maybe a few more down the track.  It's just an email away.  You'll be helping us work in Nepal conservation.  You'll be helping us with the truth.

Cheers Jack.

RIP to two young climbers, the mountains decide...

RIP to the two young climbers who died on Mt Taranaki back home. There seem to have been many losses lately. Those of us who spend a lot of time in the mountains know that beauty and tragedy can be a micro second apart. I've had four decades in the mountains, my respect only grows, my awe already absolute. While we'd all like to be as sure footed as a snow leopard there is always the realization that the mountains can be unforgiving, when it's time, it's time. Condolences to the families, they understood that this pair departed doing something they loved. It's not a feeling to describe, only to know...

Real sounds of nature are wondrous and meaningful...

This guy is the Green Grocer (cyclochila australasiae), one of the loudest insects in the world.  The noise this cicada makes is one the great sounds of the Australian bush, iconic.  A hot, hard day in Ku-ring-gai yesterday rewarded us with fantastic wildlife, the Green Grocer males dominated the senses with their shrill song which can get up to between 120 and 150 decibels.  Fantastic.

It's a real noise, natural.  We live in a world now with so much extra noise, much of it very unnatural. One of the most important skills in research is recognizing signal within noise.  I've been in this game a long time and I'm still learning constantly.

My apologies for not making much noise myself lately.  I'm getting a lot of messages, comments, I really appreciate it.  It's simply impossible to get back to everyone right now, I've got a lot of stuff going on.  I'm finalizing work on camera traps to get them right for the upcoming Himalayan winter which is going to be a big transition from the early Australian summer I'm in right now.  I will have though, from my Pokhara base, time to do some catching up when I come out of the mountains.

I'm excited about the upcoming $5 tigers, they're really going to help our project work.  Hemant needs a new camera! He had an unfortunate mishap while bravely doing anti-poaching work from a raft during monsoon in western Nepal.  The T shirt sales are helping with gear a lot, thank you :)

The Big Cats of our minds, we love them, we kill them...

Real men do not kill wildlife unnecessarily.  Real men protect wildlife.

Watching a wild animal in its freedom is a beautiful thing.  A gunshot shatters that beauty.  A gunshot shatters many things.

A few days ago I was sent an image.

The email I received the image in indicated the three leopard were shot in a trophy hunt in Zambia.  The image shocked me on two counts.  Firstly the atrocity.  Three beautiful animals, dead, held up by three killers (I'm not going to use the word "men" here, I can't because they aren't).  Secondly the confusion.  Zambia proclaimed earlier this year it had banned trophy hunting.

I'll deal with the confusion first.  I'm not so naive to believe that the announcement by Zambia's Minister of Tourism and Arts, Sylvia T. Masebo, would be enough to totally stop big game hunting in the nation.  At the very least it makes the killers criminals.  Masebo said that hunting licenses had "been abused to the extent they threatened animal populations."  Some African nations have either banned trophy hunting or are in the process of doing so.  Other countries haven't.  South Africa has a thriving trophy hunting industry.  Americans are by far the biggest clients in an activity which draws people from all corners of the globe.  The industry has been frequently linked with the illegal wildlife trade, most notably and most recently the trafficking of rhino horns.

So at this point you can kill an innocent animal legally in some countries and not in others.  I have contacted the Zambian Government and several non-government agencies seeking clarification on the situation in Zambia. Communication is ongoing so I'll have information on that front at a latter date.

To the atrocity.  It didn't take much to get supposed IDs of the three killers in the photograph.  The image had been doing the rounds on the net for a couple of months.  I simply don't have time to check everything going on with the hundreds of campaigning groups out there.  Many of these groups operate through social media only.  I network with analysts who send me information relevant to my work.  So I hadn't seen this image before it popped up in my inbox.  I see a lot of awful stuff, both digitally and in the flesh.  I'm fairly good at not letting emotions get in the way of the task at hand.  However something in this image triggered a wide range of feelings.

I thought at first that it was simply because leopards had been on my mind a lot of late.  I'm in Nepal soon using a variety of data collection methods regarding human/wildlife conflict, mainly in the Annapurna area. Leopards (Common Leopard,  panthera pardus) are often involved in these conflicts, they have a big liking for domestic goats.  I've developed an enormous respect for the leopard.  They don't have the rock star status of the tiger or snow leopard.  They are a highly efficient predator operating in a rapidly shrinking range.  They have to evolve accordingly.  Human/wildlife conflict is a by-product of that.  That's not going to stop, it's the new nature.  The Annapurna Conservation Area, the largest protected area in Nepal and a work in progress template for community conservation globally,  is an important landscape to help understand this issue.

Leopards kill more humans than lions or tigers do.  I have to admit that when alone off the beaten track in leopard territory I sometimes feel vulnerable.  I wouldn't describe it as fear, more a strong sense of awareness, caution.  There is also the realization that if attacked the chances of a good result for me aren't great.  Would I fight back? Of course.  I probably wouldn't have time to engage the corkscrew on my Swiss army knife and I doubt my camera would be much use but I would do my best.

If a leopard attacked me it wouldn't be doing it for fun.  I would be prey. A meal or two.  I totally accept that. Fate would have brought us together.  I've either ventured too far into the leopard's habitat or circumstances such as a depletion of natural prey mean this stealthy big cat would have sought me out in a "human habitat". However it would happen it would simply be nature taking its course.  

The three killers in the image killed those leopards for fun.  Don't give me any bullshit about primal instincts, funding for conservation, economic benefit or any other crap.

They did it for fun. As simple as that.

If trophy hunting in Zambia has been banned then there is a chance these  killers have broken the law. I'm still seeking information in regards to the timing and location of the kills. I have several people helping me on this. 

Regardless of the law, in my mind, they committed an atrocity.  I posted the image on Facebook and Twitter along with the message:

"I'm sorry but there's no other way to put this...it's a fucking disgrace.  Trophy hunting in Zambia."

I stand by that and there was a lot of outrage expressed.  No one came to the defense of the killers.  Yes, there were some comments that bordered on nation bashing but there was zero tolerance and plenty of suggestions for type of punishment for the killers.

The great cats of our minds stir many emotions, feelings.  For many of us the great cats are a powerful symbol of nature and unfortunately a symbol for much that has gone wrong in humanity's disconnect with the planet.  There is a fight to save the great cats, it is being fought by most for the right reasons.  There has to be a balanced approach.  A tiger, lion or a leopard that has caused fear and loss in a poor rural community is not looked upon the same way as someone looking at nice little idyllic images of big cats on Facebook does. Clicking on the like button as against being too terrified to leave the house.   The reality of living alongside these predators is misunderstood by many in the "save this save that" brigade.

But regardless of the realities or otherwise, the great cats of our minds are powerful forces.  Fear is one of those forces.  I'm wondering if those who shoot big cats on a trophy hunt possibly are the most fearful of all.  A retaliation killing can be understood.  There is incredible tolerance among many indigenous communities when it comes to livestock or human losses to big cats.  Sometimes enough is enough but a huge amount of work is being done to understand and mitigate these conflicts.

 These instances of human/wildlife conflict are the result of a series of events, dynamics.  A trophy hunt isn't.  It is the result of a desire to unnecessarily kill an animal.  It is not nature.  It is stupidity.  It is a disgrace. The great cats of a trophy hunter's mind conjure up fears and feelings that are different to the rest of us, these people act accordingly.  So do rapists and murderers.

There is trophy hunting in Nepal.  It is restricted to the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve.  Big cats are not targeted but their prey Himalayan Thar and Blue Sheep are.  Is this any better?  The can of worms that contains everything from trophy hunting to fishing to vegetarianism is being kept away from my Swiss army knife right now, it has to be one step at a time.

For all that, what is shown in that image is a fucking disgrace.  It's perhaps a shame I had to use that sort of language to attract attention to the image but that is the world we live in now.

 To my mind this type of behaviour is as disgraceful as poaching for the big cat body part trade, the rhino horn trade, the ivory trade and whaling.  I am hoping the findings behind this image lead to the fact that these three killers did break the law.  I want them to pay for their crime.

The great cats of our minds manifest our thoughts and actions, it comes down to a personal choice in the end.  Protector or killer.  Real man or not.

The tiger as strong as nineteen men...

In early monsoon Nepal this year I spent a few days in Ghorepani.  I was researching big cat (mainly leopard) kills of livestock in the area.  Each evening I would wander up Poon Hill, a famous look out point where the mighty Annapurna mountain range can give a visual feast.

In monsoon often all one sees is clouds.  That's OK, I like clouds.

Late one afternoon, after my wander and some cloud viewing, I came across another visitor to the village.  In monsoon I am often the only foreigner in these places, tourists tend to prefer mountain views to that of clouds.  However this man was not a foreigner, he was a pilgrim from the west of Nepal, the Darchula district.  He was walking through the Annapurnas, our meeting took place just a few days after he had been to the temple in Muktinath, a life long ambition for him.

We started to talk about our travels through this land and realized very quickly we were bonded by our lifelong pilgrimages to nature.  We began to talk about tigers.

The man said, "A tiger is as strong as nineteen men."

The man explained that many years ago, when there many more tigers in Darchula, he had witnessed a display of power.  A buffalo had become bogged in a mud pool.  Ropes were attached to the buffalo and nineteen men tried to pull the animal out of the bog.  They couldn't.

A great male tiger appeared.  It looked at the scene and obviously sensed an opportunity.  A snarl and a growl were enough to persuade any villagers still too close to the mud hole that they should vacate.

I listened as the man told me how the tiger leapt on to the back of the buffalo (it is my recommendation to readers at this point that you don't delve too deeply as to the likely thinking by the buffalo) and straddled it before taking a death grip on its neck.  The tiger then flipped its own body into the mud while still attached by the jaw to the buffalo.

The tiger then pulled the buffalo out of the mud hole.

The man told me that although the buffalo was dead its eyes were very wide open while it lay next to the panting tiger on the edge of the bog.  The tiger gave one more growl, gave a look of disdain at the villagers, then casually carried its kill into the trees.

"Are you sure it was nineteen men?" I asked.

"Yes," the man replied, "I counted them."

In the main I look for facts, figures, data.  I have to keep my feet on the ground and the top of my head positioned about 1.9 metres above my feet.  It's important when doing this work to stay grounded.  The pilgrim was in his early seventies, super fit, he had sharp intelligent eyes.  He spoke four different languages.

While facts are important, sometimes when you hear a story it is the message which really counts.

As the man finished his story, over his shoulder there was a small break in the clouds and the massive bulk of Mount Dhaulagiri appeared. Dhaulagiri is one of the true Himalayan giants, a wondrous site.

I pointed to the mountain.

We smiled.

The Birdman, who is he? - He's a fearless, passionate defender of wildlife...

Right now, as I write this, a man with real courage is making a difference.  He's doing work which makes it completely inappropriate to reveal his identity.  I will one day, when the time is right.  For now he is out there operating in dangerous circumstances for the sake of wildlife, the environment and all those who care about them.  He's doing what is right.

The illicit selling of birds flies under the radar in all the publicity regarding illegal wildlife trade.  Icon species such as tigers, rhinos and elephants tend to grab all the headlines.  Body parts of these species are smuggled all around the globe.  The illegal bird trade is no different except that in most cases the birds are alive in the smuggling process.  Parrots are transported along the Amazon river in massive numbers daily.  A huge demand for exotic birds in the US has seen Mexico become a trading hub.  Australia has criminal networks operating at a sophisticated level trading both eggs and live birds in and out of the country.  The list goes on, every country is involved.

Pigeons being smuggled in a man's underclothing (image courtesy Australian Customs Service)

The ramifications of the bird trade are extinctions and widespread disease.  Bird populations decimated by poaching become unsustainable at local levels and the diseases brought in by smuggled exotic birds can have catastrophic environmental consequences.

Not to mention the question "Is a caged bird a happy bird?"

I first met 'The Birdman' a few years ago, during the most recent Year of the Tiger.  I was working busy city streets monitoring illegal bird trade.  I got a call from a friend who said "Jack, I have someone in my office I think you should meet."  Fortunately I was only a few blocks away and a gut feeling told me I should just go.

I'm pleased I did. It was there I met a man who immediately impressed me with the intelligence which shone through his eyes.  Our mutual friend made a brief introduction and suggested I hear the man's story.  I listened quietly for about ten minutes and it was apparent that here was a man of knowledge, passion and courage.  Here was a man who understood the consequences of the bird trade and was actually doing something about it.  He was under resourced and uncertain of his next steps in tackling the problem.  It was destiny we should meet.

Illegal wildlife trade takes many forms.  From the remote village hunter simply poaching to put food on the table, maybe selling meat to others in his area through to the highly organized crime groups which deal in species destined for use in traditional medicines and to cater for the demand in the exotic pet trade as well as the trade in skins and other body parts such as rhino horn and ivory. The trade is worth many billions of dollars globally.  It has links to the narcotics trade as well as weapons smuggling and human trafficking. Terrorist groups use the trade as a form of funding. The trade is having a big impact on global biodiversity.

Illegal wildlife trade depends on corruption.  Government officials, police, military personnel and border checkpoint officers are all targets for bribes.  Gambling and prostitution have known links to illegal wildlife trade. Cashed up bikie gangs and mafia groups operate at various levels of impunity once the right officials are on their books.  While some nations have increased their penalties for wildlife crime offenders the fact remains that sentences and fines, if they are enforced at all, are largely a joke.  The illegal wildlife trade is an environmental crime that is still not taken seriously enough by the public and that is reflected by the governments that represent them.

In some countries the trade operates underground, in back rooms, under the cover of darkness.  In other places traders operate more openly, knowing that law enforcement is not a huge threat to them.

My first meeting with 'The Birdman' told me that here was a person who understood these issues.  He understood that physically fighting for wildlife does not have enough support and that corruption made it even harder to be heard, for arrests to be made.  In short 'The Birdman' understood what everyone involved in battling the trade understands, that it will never die and that it is a serious threat.

Yet 'The Birdman' was prepared to stand up against an angry mob while he confronted a bird trader on a hot, busy, dusty street.  He was prepared to dig deep and follow his heart and do what is right.

I'll be able to tell you more of his story at another time.  For now he is better resourced, armed with a few more ideas and connections.  He is making a difference.  The work is not easy, it is not glamorous at all. This is not the movies, not James Bond.  This is pure courage and passion in difficult circumstances.  It requires a very special, dedicated type of person.  'The Birdman' is gifted in his ability to produce valuable data. He also possesses real endurance.

Combating the bird trade and illegal wildlife trade in general requires people of real passion, people who are prepared to make real sacrifices.

'The Birdman" is one of those people.

Watch this space...