As the years went by , I am glad that I retained the hide of the marauder of Talpatti . Sometimes , sentimental value supersedes financial value . I returned the doll to the father of the unfortunate little girl , whose innocent life had been the final one to be claimed by the marauding Royal Bengal tiger . He tearfully accepted it and told me that his daughter’s name was Rehnuma .
I would like to dedicate this story to the memory of Rehnuma , that poor little seven year old girl who lost her life due to the cruelty of nature . As a personal opinion , I firmly believe that the number of marauding Royal Bengal tigers in southeast Asia would greatly be reduced if a form of regulated trophy hunting existed to reduce the number of elderly males ( who have passed breeding age ) which inhibit the countless forests of the region . The funds generated from these trophy hunts , would aid greatly in a better and more sustainable conservation of the species in the long run . They would also greatly reduce the immense human - wildlife conflict which occurs in this part of the world . Like it or not , the reality of the way the world works is this - The greatest approach to conserving a species , is by always putting a monetary value on it .
Of course , I am only a college professor and not a world leader .
THE END
View attachment 370911
The only known photograph of Rehnuma , collected by the author . 1972
