Al-Risala (English), November 1989

The Marvels of Nature

1989 11 November 2-3 The Marvels of Nature (576) When a national census is taken, it is a fairly straightforward matter to count individuals, because they can be distinguished from each other on the basis of names, places of residence and information given by relatives. But when it comes to taking a census of tigers, how can they be counted when it is never known exactly where they are at any given moment? And then you can hardly go up to a tiger, ask him his name, and whether he has any brothers and sisters! So how is it to be done?

In 1970, this problem was solved, to a large extent, by the late Mr. Saroj Raj Chowdhury, wildlife expert and former field director of the Simplipal Tiger Reserve. He came up with a simple, but ingenious device, called the ‘tiger-tracer’ which enabled census-takers to record and examine tigers’ pugmarks. It consisted of a rectangular clear glass plate, just 3 milIimetres in thickness, 25 centimetres in length and 20 centimetres in breadth. It was easy to manipulate by means of wing nuts at each corner, and could be placed squarely over pugmarks. It was then an easy matter to trace the distinguishing features of the pugmarks on the glass with a fountain pen. No two tigers have exactly the same pugmarks, just as no two human beings have exactly the same finger prints. This has been confirmed by superimposing the tracings on glass of the pugmarks large numbers of identifiable tigers. It was by this method then that the national tiger census was carried out in 1984, taking footprints which had gone at least 0.5 cm. into fine loam as being the most representative. Records were kept-by transferring the glass tracing to paper for greater performance. The second all-India summer census taken in 1979 revealed the presence of 173 tigers in Orissa’s reserved forests, comprising 57 males 170 females and 16 cubs.

The ‘tiger-tracer’ also confirmed the swinging movement of the Great Cat’s gait and the fact that it does not amble along like a camel. The two feet on the same side are never lifted simultaneously and the relative distance between the hind and front pugmarks indicate the speed at which the tiger moves.

Because the front paws bear the extra weight of the head, neck and shoulders, the latter being more heavily-built than the hind quarters, the forepaws are generally bigger and more squarish in both sexes, like the elephant’s front feet which are larger and leave roundish prints. Because sexual dimorphism is more distinct in the hind paws, it is the hind pugmark which is considered the better distinguishing feature to put on record.

All men are on God’s divine record

All God’s creatures likewise have their distinguishing features, which are clearly recorded on Nature’s list on living beings. By such phenomena the Creator knows every individual as a separate entity, and metes out his divine justice accordingly. This concept is stated thus in the Holy Quran:

“The unbelievers say, The Hour will never come to us. Say, Yes indeed, by my Lord, it shall come to you, by Him who knows all that is hidden. Not an atom in heaven or earth escapes Him, nor is there anything smaller or greater but is in a clear record. He will surely reward those who have faith and do good works (34: 3-5).

The information on the ‘tiger-tracer’ was taken from a report published in the Times of India, April 6, 1984.