Animals were not only important to empires, but to the colonies of empires as well. For example, tigers were important to India while it was under colonial rule by the British. The princes of the southwestern Rajput states, called maharajas, maharanas, or maharaos, found tigers to be critically important to their regions. Declining tiger populations often accompanied social, cultural, economic, and political downfall. They knew that in order to protect themselves, they needed to save the tigers (Hughes, n.d.).
Despite their desire to maintain the tiger population within their regions, these princes are well known for tiger hunting. Under British imperialism, the princes were prohibited from raising armies or engaging in war or diplomatic contact with other states. However, they still had free reign over the hunting ground. With their local interests and animals in mind, some princes did occasionally limit exploitation of the tiger. Others even worked to reestablish locally extinct populations (Hughes, n.d.).
Tiger hunting was reserved for the privileged few. With the exception of self-defense, tigers were not allowed to be killed without express permission from the maharana. If a tiger was causing trouble for a villager or if a nobleman was seeking to kill a tiger for sport, a petition would have to be filed with the maharana (Hughes, n.d.).
Princes not only hunted tigers but captured them as well. Cubs were often caught in gunny sacks and hand raised by their keepers. When they reached the age of two, they were then sold, gifted to a zoo, forced to fight other animals for sport, or used to bait wild tigers. Tigers were frequently pitted against wild boars. Rajput princes loved wild boar for their strength,endurance, and combative nature (Hughes, n.d.).
Tipu's Tiger
Tipu's Tiger is a life-size figure of tiger devouring a European in 1790s costume. A crank handle located in the tiger's shoulder pumps the bellows that produce the sounds of a tiger's growl and the victim's cries. The victims left hand is able to be raised and lowered over the victim's mouth. Also located within the tiger is a miniature organ with 18 pipes. Tipu's Tiger is located in the Victoria and Albert Museum (Tipu's Tiger, 2006).
The figure belonged to Tipu, who was Sultan of Mysore in South India from 1782-1799. He was an enemy of the East India Company and was obsessed with both the symbolism of the tiger and his hatred towards Europeans, both of which are apparent in this figure (Tipu's Tiger, 2006).
References
Hughes, J. E. (n.d.). Indian Princes and Royal Tigers. Animal History Museum . Retrieved April 18, 2014, from
www.animalhistorymuseum.org
Tipu's Tiger. (2006). Victoria and Albert Museum. Retrieved April 21, 2014, from http://www.vam.ac.uk
www.animalhistorymuseum.org
Tipu's Tiger. (2006). Victoria and Albert Museum. Retrieved April 21, 2014, from http://www.vam.ac.uk