Once upon a time, tiger hunting in the Sundarbans was considered a matter of pride. Armed with guns, groups of recreational hunters would venture into the forest to kill tigers. They would return with trophies—skins, teeth, claws, and other body parts—and regale people with tales of their bravery. In those days, the royal Bengal tiger was unjustly branded a man-eater, while tiger hunters were even awarded state-recognized heroic titles. Since no census system existed at the time, the exact tiger...