Google

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

A Crime Not Noticed!

It was a few years back; I visited Chennai and its Marina Beach, a memorable experience in itself. What could be a better way of relaxing in a summer evening than to take a walk along the sea-beach? I can remember the day as vividly today as I did on that same day. While I was enjoying my walk, I came across a young kid; he may be fifteen or sixteen years old. He was carrying a bag filled with some coral reef, star fish and sea-shell. He insisted me to buy some as a momentous. I was fascinated by the items in his bag and curious to see more. After a tough bargain over the price, I decided to by a piece of coral reef and two dried up star fish. The beauties of these items were irresistible. Back home they enhanced the beauty of my living room. They often reminded me of that day.

A few days back I learn some more details about coral, and the threats faced by it due to human activities. I did not know that the ocean took thousands of years to produce it so that countless number of other organisms could live with it in a symbiotic relationship. I have taken away a part of it and disturbed the ocean ecology. Like me, there are thousands and thousands tourist who might have taken it as a momentous. If all of us continue to fulfill our greed, it will not be long that the entire coral reef will be destroyed and eventually lead to a disaster in the ocean ecology.

I, now, realize that the kid was doing a crime, and I helped him to do more. I did not notice that I was involved in a crime against the nature. May be the kid did not know what he was doing just like I did.

Now the piece of coral reef in my living room reminds me of the crime every time I look at it and I suffer for the crime I committed.

I am sharing my story so that other should not suffer like I do.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Fastest Land Animal on Earth is Moving Fast towards Extinction.


I am talking about Cheetah, the fastest land animal which is a critically endangered species in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals, especially the Asiatic Cheetah. After the extinction of Indian Cheetah, only the Iranian Cheetah is left with a meager population of 50-60.

It is far more saddening that this animal received its name from the oldest Indian language i.e. from Sanskrit word chitraka meaning “speckled”, yet Cheetah is extinct in India.

Cheetah was always associated with Indian hunting stories. It is said that Emperor Akbar had 1000 hunting cheetah which is depicted in many persian and indian miniature painting. Now though trials are going on to clone the Indian Cheetah and bring back these beautiful animal ,but only increasing the population of Cheetah can not solve the problem. We have to recreate its habitat and also balance the feeding ecology. As Cheetah feed mainly on antelope, so return of Cheetah may lead to extiction of some of these species like the Blackbuck and Nilgai, both are near threaten species.

We, as a superior species than rest, have the moral responsibility to protect all other creature.
Let us do it.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

BAIJI, The goddess of Yangtze is EXTINCT!

Yes, I am going to share sad news today, Baiji, the rare river dolphin of the Yangtze is functionally extinct as reported by the National geographic. According to National Geographic news, Pfluger, a Swiss economist-turned-naturalist who financed the expedition, said in a telephone interview from Wuhan, China, that baiji is functionally extinct.

"If there are any baiji left in the river, they won't have any chance of survival."

This rare dolphin which survived in the Chinese river for more than 20 million years is the first aquatic mammal to go extinct within fifty years due to human activity. The major reason could be the Yangtze dam.

Chinese people, who nicknamed it as the goddess of Yangtze, will never be able to see it or show it to their children. Baiji can not be brought back to existence but at least we can still save the other four types of river dolphins still available in the world from disappearing. Out of these the river dolphins of Brahmaputra and Ganges are in the most critical condition.

I am optimistic that a little effort together can save our River Dolphins.

My Friends, Let us save our Planet!