Question

how was hunting viewed by the colonial government?

Answer 1

In India hunting of tigers and other wild animals became a game or source of entertainment for the kings and nobles. But under British rule the scale of hunting increased to such an extent that various species became almost extinct.

The reasons behind this condition are (i) The British saw large animals as signs of a wild, primitive and savage society.

(ii) They believed that by killing dangerous animals the British would civilise India.

(iii) They gave rewards for the killing of tigers, wolves and other large animals on the grounds that they posed a threat to cultivators.

(iv) Over 80,000 tigers, 150,000 leopards and 200,000 wolves were killed for reward in the period

1875-1925.

(v) Certain areas of forests were reserved for hunting.