In a gradual break from the system, where stakeholders in the eco-tourism business christen tigers and create an aura around them, the authorities at the Tadoba-Andhari tiger reserve, which is Maharashtra's richest tiger ecosystem, warn against naming these big cats. Instead, they are insisting that the felines be called by their official numbers, which begin with 'T' (for tigers). This is meant to ensure that individual tigers are not glorified at the cost of the larger species.

"We are stopping this. We will issue an order against tigers being named. There is no reason to give names to tigers," said a senior forest department official, adding that these instructions would be given to the guides and gypsy operators.

"The department never gives names (to tigers)... and will not give them," said Girish Vashisht, divisional forest officer (DFO) and spokesperson of the state forest department's wildlife wing, adding that naming tigers was done by wildlife photographers and tourists. The forest department however names its domesticated elephants.

"However, this practise of naming tigers may be harmful in the long run," the official noted, pointing out that the 'disappearance' of Jai, the dominant male at the UmredKardhandla wildlife sanctuary near Nagpur, since April, had sparked off a panic. Allegations were levelled by an MP from the ruling BJP, that the tiger had been poached. The state government requested the CBI and the state CID to investigate the matter.