In our deep read today from India, conservationists celebrate the triumphant resurgence of big cats. Leopards and tigers are majestic creatures – but their increase has been mirrored by a surge in violent attacks on people. This unintended consequence has sparked new questions about safety, balance, tolerance, and coexistence.
It is a tale told the world over – from wolves in the United States to the southern white rhino in South Africa. In the past, humanity has confronted such challenges with brute force – and near-extinction of species. But there is recognition that another way is possible. As Sanjay Sondhi, a founder of Titli Trust, says, “There are no easy answers, but the solution must be coexistence.”