Well, recently I came across an article in The Caravan, on the olive ridleys. The article was on the conservation efforts made by a group of people, on the beaches of Tamil, where these turtles come together as group for the Arribada (That is the females return to the shores they were hatched and lumber onshore,sometimes in the thousands,to nest.). What is worrying is that, the population of the olive Ridleys, that are considered to be one of the abundant turtle species, is decreasing substantially. The reasons are numerous. Changing habitats , stealing eggs, nesting females slaughtered for their skin and meat and the list goes on.
When I became the owner of a Tiny little piece of this wide earth, I firmly belived that my future was secure. It was a tow-acre plot with coconut palms and an old house that could be renovated.Those were the days when the price of coconuts was spiraling, I savored the thought of the palms laden with coconuts. It was a happy existence...But then arrived the interlopers,Trespassing, Flouting the legally of the ownership documents. Violating the fence at the boundary. Defying the sentry, my dog shan.
When I became the owner of a Tiny little piece of this wide earth, I firmly belived that my future was secure. It was a tow-acre plot with coconut palms and an old house that could be renovated.Those were the days when the price of coconuts was spiraling, I savored the thought of the palms laden with coconuts. It was a happy existence...But then arrived the interlopers,Trespassing, Flouting the legally of the ownership documents. Violating the fence at the boundary. Defying the sentry, my dog shan.
They did not seem to care for anyone in the world, not even the government!The first arrivals were birds and butterflies. A wide variety of birds. A so many, many butterflies! Perched on the boughs of the trees and plants, the birds chirped. The butterflies fluttered around in the courtyard, flashing their colors in the sunlight..We could not shoo off the chirping birds and the butterflies. But then came the crows... Their raucous cawing was more insufferable than the racket of other birds. Besides, they swooped down on the chicks.
They were followed by the hawks that perched on the coconut palms with the same intent. They kept watch and waited... Soon there were mongooses in the bamboo thicket. And foxes in the shrubbery patch near it, ready to pounce on the hens...
Even as I wondered what right these creatures had to be on my land, there emerged a fierce creature without hands or legs or wings, a cobra. It stood before me, dignified, majestic, its hood spread out as it asking me that what business I had on this patch.
I said, "You had better leave my two-acre land. Immediately."
But then, when could it go, Hadn't almost the whole of this earth been bought by man, bit by bit?My wife said, "The jackrabbit has ripened. But squirrels and crows are feasting on it. Brids and bats are eating up all the guavas. sapotass and graft mangoes."Almighty God, how unfortunate it is that rats have to be killed so that we can live. Can human beings not survive without destroying other creatures of the earth...?What we need is a scientific method, a novel idea that will make it possible for us to live without killing any creatures...
O Creator of rats, bear with us. They are going to be exterminated. Through treachery. The issue is the loss of nine hundred coconuts every month, the sole means of our livelihood. Forgive us, forgive us.After shopping for two hours, my wife returned home. Along with other items of purchase was a large tin of rat poison... The poison was mixed with bananas, rice, tapioca, and kept all over the place. Beneath the coconut palms as well.
In four days, Five hens, twelve squirrels, two hundred rats and cat disappeared behind the curtains of time forever.Dead rats rooted in the attic. Death was everywhere. The stench spread all over the house.
They were followed by the hawks that perched on the coconut palms with the same intent. They kept watch and waited... Soon there were mongooses in the bamboo thicket. And foxes in the shrubbery patch near it, ready to pounce on the hens...
Even as I wondered what right these creatures had to be on my land, there emerged a fierce creature without hands or legs or wings, a cobra. It stood before me, dignified, majestic, its hood spread out as it asking me that what business I had on this patch.
I said, "You had better leave my two-acre land. Immediately."
But then, when could it go, Hadn't almost the whole of this earth been bought by man, bit by bit?My wife said, "The jackrabbit has ripened. But squirrels and crows are feasting on it. Brids and bats are eating up all the guavas. sapotass and graft mangoes."Almighty God, how unfortunate it is that rats have to be killed so that we can live. Can human beings not survive without destroying other creatures of the earth...?What we need is a scientific method, a novel idea that will make it possible for us to live without killing any creatures...
O Creator of rats, bear with us. They are going to be exterminated. Through treachery. The issue is the loss of nine hundred coconuts every month, the sole means of our livelihood. Forgive us, forgive us.After shopping for two hours, my wife returned home. Along with other items of purchase was a large tin of rat poison... The poison was mixed with bananas, rice, tapioca, and kept all over the place. Beneath the coconut palms as well.
In four days, Five hens, twelve squirrels, two hundred rats and cat disappeared behind the curtains of time forever.Dead rats rooted in the attic. Death was everywhere. The stench spread all over the house.
But tender coconuts continued to fall. A fortnight passed. The coconuts palms climbers then said, "The owls are the culprits. They peck at the tender coconuts."So, it goes without saying that the next few articles would be on few of the endangered species, and may be, on how we can do our bit, in redeeming the rights of the rightful inheritors of the earth.
I took a decision then. In no uncertain terms I said, "Bats are not the souls of our ancestors. But they are one among God's many creations. Let coconuts be destroyed. That doesn't matter. Let us be satisfied with what we get after they have taken their share. They certainly have a right to the coconuts. They too are part of Almighty's creation, as are the palms. Remember the ancient right that God bequeathed at the auspicious moment of creation- "all living belongs are the rightful inheritors of the earth.
I took a decision then. In no uncertain terms I said, "Bats are not the souls of our ancestors. But they are one among God's many creations. Let coconuts be destroyed. That doesn't matter. Let us be satisfied with what we get after they have taken their share. They certainly have a right to the coconuts. They too are part of Almighty's creation, as are the palms. Remember the ancient right that God bequeathed at the auspicious moment of creation- "all living belongs are the rightful inheritors of the earth.
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