In this book, John Valliant mentions of ethnologist Jacob Von Uexkull’s concept of umwelt ( an imaginary soap bubble around each creature to represent its own world and when we then step into one of the bubbles our reality is transformed…” Umgebung is the objective relative we live in; but each of us experiences it differently from our own umwelt (subjective reality). This reference in the story is poignant – did the tiger step into the umwelt of its victim to kill it?

The gruesome site where Andrei Markov a tayozhnik (forest dweller) was killed rather annihilated by the tiger in a remote taiga (forest) in Russia left the investigators and Markov’s friends or for that matter everyone around shocked and bewildered. Such ferocious brutality against man was unknown. The Inspection Tiger (the team charged to address tiger related issues in the taiga) saw in the evidence an intentional and calculated act; as if the tiger had marked out Markov, dictated the narrative and executed its plan to perfection. But why was the tiger angry with Markov?

John Valliant recounts this fascinating story of man and tiger encounters that took place in December 1997 in one of the remotest part of Russia, Primorye near Sea of Japan. The encounter itself is riveting, but Valliant is in no hurry to tell the story. His narrative fills in rich details of the Primorye region, the taiga, its indigenous people, the townspeople – the displaced Russians, life post perestroika in this bleak region and the insatiable Chinese appetite for tiger organs. The discussions of each of these elements are engrossing in themselves and they also have a significant bearing on this story.

Siberia evokes a sense of remoteness, Primorye or Maritime Territory, is farther south of Siberia; its biggest city Vladivostok is closer to Australia than Moscow! The taiga in this region is as remote a place on earth as can be. In its vastness and desolation there are no witnesses. The closest material evidence was Markov’s friend who could only hear the threatening growls from the site . The evidence of what happened was in the white book - snow- the meticulous record keeper. It is fascinating to see how much the investigating team reconstructed from the tell tale signs in the snow at the attack sites.

In this region, between the epochal changes in Russia the plight of the common people became pathetic. During the communist regime many western Russians were displaced or shunted to the taiga, an area alien to them. That is how both Markov the victim ( a suspected poacher) and Trush the Inspection Tiger leader ended in this remote part. Post perestroika the townships in Primorye were stripped off their economic activity and became desolate islands of habitation. Very few could get jobs and the rest of the townsfolk were reduced to primitive living - hunting gathering in the taiga in the 20th century. Markov turned to fur trapping, bee keeping and in that bare existence poaching with lucrative returns was too difficult to resist. Many times Trush took a lenient view of illegal activities dismayed by the poverty of the tayozhniks.

The indigenous people Udege, Nanai and Orichi have lived off the taiga for centuries. Their myths and legends have led them to believe the tiger is just and fair and their collective memory has groomed them to live in mutual respect with the tiger. The Dunkai family, of Nanai lineage, whom Markov met before his final encounter recalled that they had come face to face with a tiger and were not hurt. (They did not indulge in poaching) It was the city dwellers, the displaced Russians, the whites, who were attacked, as they lacked the understanding of the unwritten code of the taiga. The leap of faith required for this was beyond them.

The taiga is not only remote but also unique; its diverse ecosystem defies classification. The Taiga Matushka (mother) provides for all and has its own nuances, unwritten rules, discerning sounds and many immanent features of which the author helpfully apprises the reader. Some are intriguing, how animal or humans making tracks serve ‘unintended courtesy’ for those who will use the same route (be it animal or beast); it saves energy something in short supply; how the entire ecosystem could collapse if the humble Korean pine nut were to disappear.

The tiger by design nature’s majestic, lonely, nomadic yet the most efficient killing machine. The myths and legends surrounding it add to its potent and mystical presence. The tiger in question literally wields a psychic leash on Markov- Why did Markov refuse requests from friends to stay back and return to his cabin when he knew that there was something amiss between him and the tiger? Tiger’s gaze can mesmerize and its roar can be soul shattering and its power brute and lethal, yet it can catch a fly in its paw and release it unharmed. The locals aver that if a tiger does not want to be seen you will not be able to see it. The investigators on the Markov site become aware of the tiger’s presence by the barking of the dogs, they can’t see but can feel its potent presence and its intent in informing the of his presence. The loggers mention how the tiger is known to keep a count of those living in its area, it can wait for even a month to avenge those he feels abrogated on him. It almost seems that tigers are believed to be capable of abstract thinking.

In this loci and with the given set of characters something had changed, Markov had done something which had disturbed the delicate balance between man and the top predator. Valliant’s portrayal of the events in December of 1997, of the encounters with the tiger in the taiga and the response by Inspection Tiger read like a thriller, the final showdown breathtaking. His analysis of the forces at play is scholarly yet accessible. The various research stories are informative, delightful as also they help in explaining our atavistic tendencies once we humans are thrown in primal settings.

One aspect of the book which stood out was Valliant’s mastery of the language and his eye for detail. His power of expression and his vivid description create a multidimensional experience for the reader to visualize in slow motion the tiger bursting and landing on its victim, hear the snap of a twig, sharpened sounds of funeral bells in snow laden ground, the unmistakable yet unseen presence of the tiger, the amba the powerful one and the messages in the snow.

It is sad that this majestic creature is under severe threat now due to indiscriminate killing and lack of serious attention it deserves. As Valliant rightly brings out in the epilogue that Taiga matushka is for men and the tiger. A multipronged approach is needed to address the complexities that exist if this beautiful being is to be protected.

I enjoyed reading this book and which gave me many insights these will help whenever I read a similar story. The book shed light on many other aspects such as the efforts of many Russians who were willing to stick their neck out during the Communist regime to protect this rare species as well as other conservationists who led to the formation of Inspection Tiger.

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The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival