An ontological crisis? A review of large felid conservation in India

• Published in: Biodiversity and conservation Vol. 22; no. 11; pp. 2665 - 2681
• Main Authors: Ghosal, Sunetro, Athreya, Vidya R., Linnell, John D. C., Vedeld, Pål Olav
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.10.2013; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biodiversity; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts; Conservation; Conservation biology; Conservation Biology/Ecology; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Ecology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Knowledge; Landscape ecology; Life Sciences; Lions; Mammalia; Ontology; Original Paper; Protected areas; Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution; Asia; South Asia; India; Science and technology studies; Conservation in India; Large felid research; Carnivora; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Technology; Conservation; Review; Predator; Crisis
• ISSN: 0960-3115; 1572-9710
• DOI: 10.1007/s10531-013-0549-6

The need for a solid knowledge base to inform conservation activity is now universally recognised. We critically scrutinised the scientific knowledge of large felids in India located in peer-reviewed research papers to assess the information available to make landscape-level management decisions that aid conservation, which is a stated goal of both the Indian government and the international community. We found two striking patterns: the biological sciences dominate in the published literature, and nearly all the research has been carried out in protected areas, though a substantial number of large felids also live outside protected areas. We argue that these patterns are not incidental, but the result of the dualistic ontology of science that uses processes of ‘purification’ and ‘translation’ to fit complex realities into disciplinary prerogatives organised around creating dichotomies (like nature–culture). In addition, since this body of scientific knowledge locates large felids in ‘pure’ biological landscapes, there is little or no insight from multi-use landscapes. These findings, we believe, highlight important knowledge gaps in our present research-based knowledge of large felids in India, which urgently need to be addressed if progress is to be made in conservation.