Learn...to Care
is a series that discusses issues relating to Pet Care. The Q & A have
been drawn from an interactive dialogue between Mrs. Maneka Gandhi, renowned animal
activist and discerning common people concerned about the cause. The discussion is laid
before you with her consent. Your comments are welcome on the series at pfa_mg@hotmail.com
You can mail your queries on Pet Care to Mrs. Maneka Gandhi at manekagandhi@mid-day.com answers to which will
be posted at Mid Day's Web Site.
Part
- I
Part - II
Part - IV
Part - V
Part - III
Q.
Should I let Bats round my house? People say that they attack the Human Ear.
A.
No, Bats attack man. On the other hand they are of enormous value to the neigborhood. For
one they eat mice. For another each bat eats thousands of mosquitos a night.
Q. I
have small patch of Garden. How do I make it birdfriendly?
A.
Firstly do not use any chemicals, fertiliser, weedicide, pesticideartificial growth
hormones etc. All this kills birds and frightens them away. Do not pull out weeds. Weeds
are merely plants brought in by the birds themselves. Many of these are herbal and food
plants which the birds eat. So let them be. Of course don't let weeds like Congress Grass
(Parthenium) grow. These are poisonous all. Let the grass grow long, it will cross a
certain height and many more unusual plants will come in. Plant woody bushes of different
heights to provide shelter from the elements and perches. The plant textures should be
diferent ranging from feathery to prickly. Make corner hiding spots. Select trees and
shrubs for their fruit and seed production so that the birds have nesting and food
throughout the year. Mulberry (Shehtoot), Peepal (this may be too large for your garden
but you should certainly have it outside your house as this is home for about 30-40
different species of birds), Erythrina Indica, semal, rain tree, mango, jamun are some
that come to mind but each place has its own native trees. See what they are and what your
garden can take. If you can make a small pond that is good but if the logistics of
draining it and maintaining it are too much then just put earthen bowls of water all over
the garden and change the water every day.
Q. I have just read that India's Dolphinarium has opened in Chennai. As
asn animal lover is this something to celebrate.
A.
Absolutely not. These dolphins have been imported from Bulgaria which has a completely
different climate from ours. As a result of their water temperature will have to be
artificially maintained, their diet will change, their immunity will suffer and there is
good chance these beautiful animals willl not last out more than a year. In any case, it
is terrible to capture wild creatures for these foolish so-called entertainment shows.
Dolphins are taken from the sea. In the process a number of them are killed and wounded
and family groups are cruelly broken up. Schools of dolphins are chased by powerboats,
netted or roped and transported in crates on strechers to dolphinaria. Here they are
drugged, treated with Vitamins and antibiotics and trained using a mixture of isolation,
starvation, beating and forcefeeding.
Q.
My father is in army and was posted in Nagaland. I was horrified to learn that the
people there eat dogs.Isn't there anything that can be done to stop this brutality?
A.
Yes, it is true that several tribes in Nagaland eat dogs which are, in fact, considered a
local delicacy. As a result you will not find any dogs loose there, they are all caught
and traded in the market. Then they are killed with great cruelty, their bodies are
stuffed with rice and roasted on a spit so that the rice cooks within the flesh and
everyone partakes of the feast. It sounds brutal but actually is no different from what
other parts of India do to young piglets, while you yourself probably eat chickens and
goats which again have been killed for you. What people need to understand is that when
killing becoms a part of life, what is the difference between puppies and lambs or even
day old chicks?
If we are to change things begin
with yourself. Turn Vegetarian and encourage others to do so.
