Nita Smith

USTAD Master of Ranthambhore Nita Smith

On the 16th May 2015, a Tiger named Ustad T24 was dispatched from Ranthambhore reserve to Sajjangarh Biological Park, suspected of killing his 4th victim in 5 years. All standard protocols were flouted as there was no evidence or eye witnesses to the killings. Around this time, I was befriended by someone who worked at Ranthambhore as a safari guide and hotelier. When I questioned him about the Tiger, he insisted that Ustad was innocent. Later, he changed his story and sided with the ones who wanted him sent away. This is the story of the lies, deceit and corruption I uncovered when I began to research about the case. It is not the first story of abuse of an innocent Tiger labelled a man-eater and got rid of. What it highlights is the grave injustice done to these Big Cats in the name of conservation. This particular case divided India and went right to the High Court and the Supreme Courts of the land of the Tiger. This is the story of Ustad, Master of Ranthambhore.