KABINI QUEEN | 𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒅 𝑨𝒕𝒍𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔

In this painting from the Wild Atlas series, titled “Kabini Queen”, we see a scene with a distinct Indian flavor.

A Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) has just taken down a zebu (a particular variety of domestic cattle native to the southern Indian subcontinent, Bos taurus indicus) and is now preparing to feed on it. In the background, we see a sunlit hill during sunset, with a herd of zebu walking, accompanied by an Indian elephant in the center. In the far background, we can observe a bend in the Kabini River and the namesake dam.

This piece, although it may appear simple, carries a deeper meaning. It addresses the challenging relationship between humans and wildlife in countries like India. In such geographic contexts, large wildlife not only coexists but competes directly with our species for resources like territory, food, and living space. It is not uncommon for agricultural communities to find themselves in conflict with tigers, leopards, elephants, wild boars, crocodiles, and large snakes over resources.

This theme can be found in both the foreground and the background of the scene. In the foreground, the tiger has killed a zebu, an action that will surely provoke the anger of some livestock farmers. It is common for large predatory wildlife, due to the disappearance of their natural prey, to turn their attention to domestic livestock, creating conflicts with farmers.

In the background, we find an elephant that seems to be accompanied by a herd of domestic cattle, the zebu, indicating an increasingly evident process of domestication. Asian elephants are among the wild animals that are most commonly raised and trained to perform tasks and work for human benefit.

In the background, there is a dam, symbolizing how humans have shaped and altered the territory in their favor.

Hence, the dual nature of the title “Kabini Queen.” The tiger is still the queen of the wild part of Kabini, but she is the ruler of a shrinking kingdom, ironically becoming the domain of another type of sovereign: human beings.