Karanth

Inspired by Schaller's writing, Karanth realized there was more to these wild cats than just looking at them in zoos.

Bill Chameides: Save the Tiger ... Indian Style Bill Chameides 2010

In 1965, as a freshman engineering student, Karanth read an article in Life magazine entitled "My Year With the Tigers" by naturalist George Schaller.

Bill Chameides: Save the Tiger ... Indian Style Bill Chameides 2010

In 1988, George Schaller, the very man who'd inspired him, hired Karanth to the staff of the World Conservation Society and he was on his way.

Bill Chameides: Save the Tiger ... Indian Style Bill Chameides 2010

Something I had not known is that each tiger's stripes form a unique pattern, much like a fingerprint, that allows Karanth to identify individual tigers.

Bill Chameides: Save the Tiger ... Indian Style Bill Chameides 2010

In 1984, Karanth got his first small grant from the World Wildlife Fund, formed the Centre for Wildlife Studies, and entered graduate school.

Bill Chameides: Save the Tiger ... Indian Style Bill Chameides 2010

Using his own substantial collection of tiger photographs plus photographs sent to him by tourists and the occasional photograph of a tiger skin taken by the authorities from an apprehended poacher, Karanth has been able to track individual tigers over their entire lifetime and thousands of miles of migration.

Bill Chameides: Save the Tiger ... Indian Style Bill Chameides 2010

Karanth recognizes that such people-relocation programs are generally frowned upon by the environmental community, but is undeterred.

Bill Chameides: Save the Tiger ... Indian Style Bill Chameides 2010

Our first stop at the park was the rest house, which Karanth explained is one of many park buildings built by the British in the early part of the 20th century to house members of the Imperial Forest Service which largely managed India's forests at the time.

Bill Chameides: Save the Tiger ... Indian Style Bill Chameides 2010

According to Karanth, only about one percent of the land in India is monitored and protected; if 99 percent is for people, he argues, one percent is not too much to ask for the tigers.

Bill Chameides: Save the Tiger ... Indian Style Bill Chameides 2010

While we drove to the Nagarhole National Park, Karanth had assured me we'd see lots of wildlife, but he also warned that tigers are "stealthy and secretive" and so seeing a tiger was entirely a matter of luck.

Bill Chameides: Save the Tiger ... Indian Style Bill Chameides 2010