Food Chain:
November 21/2011: The death of 5 tiger cubs at Nandan Kanan has been in the news lately. We, with our busy schedules, probably take it in the same breath as we would the report of a chain snatcher getting beaten up by bystanders (very rare occasion indeed) or a municipal drain overflowing and inundating low lying areas while everyone becomes a mute spectator. These are daily mundane issues. Let us not treat the tiger cub deaths in a similar fashion. The matter is very serious.
The concept of safeguarding the ‘Food Chain’ has gained much credence in today’s world. Like the Shark in the oceans, Tigers and Lions are the apex animals at the top rung of this Chain. Down below, every other creature, bugs, plankton to household pets upwards, all have some negative aspect to their survival. Their extermination on a regular and naturally planned manner does not make them extinct but on the contrary, negates their ill effects on the environment.
Onwards and upwards, this Chain supplies food to the next strong creature till it reaches the last One on top. This manner of existence may seem cruel (like some of us feel when we watch Nat Geo or Animal Planet) but this very process, developed by Nature, alone protects the existence of human beings who could easily be termed the weakest in this Creation. Therefore, it is ridiculous to get swayed by opinions aired by some that when humans are not able to survive comfortably, who bothers about how animals manage to exist. Any educated and conscious citizen of this planet will be able to understand that for the happier existence of humans, it is vital the Food Chain survives all the way up. That it should not be allowed to break at any one point. Not comprehending this fact would imply a suicidal tendency on the part of man.
When seen in this light, we discover how carefully a continent like Africa and all the nations in it have managed to co-exist with animals in the wild. Certainly human greed in the form of poachers wanting to sell animal body parts must exist there too. Yet these negative efforts are successfully thwarted by the positive attitude of the common folk. For instance, elephants in Africa destroy crops. They at times attack human habitations. As a precaution, farmers use the African Bee to build hives in such areas that these winged insects keep elephants away from fields and villages. Certainly a natural way of self protection. Here in Orissa, as also in most parts of India, we would not hesitate to use electrified wires or poison to destroy complete herds of elephants. Man’s desire for ‘more of more’ seems unquenchable in this country.
Instead of using Nature for our needs, we have been exploiting it for our greed. In the process, destruction may be sooner than any of us could ever imagine.
Back to the tiger cub deaths. The Minister, Secretary and other senior officers of the Forest department of the Government of Orissa may have rushed to Nandan Kanan, had tea and snacks there and probably seen some snakes too. The truth however is that these gentle people are not experts in any related fields. A zoo of the stature of Nandan Kanan does not boast of an array of good veterinary doctors or trained animal keepers. We may demean such professionals but their level of efficiency is clearly lacking here. Most jungles of Orissa are bereft of tigers, leopards and such other local breeds that the Chain has already been upset here. This reminds us of the deaths of 12 tigers (out of which 7 were White or albino) during less than a month’s time (23 June to 7 July) in the year 2000. The then Forest Minister was a decrepit old man who could not take care of his own mental faculties. Expecting him to handle such an important portfolio was insane. Nevertheless, there were many environmentalists and naturalists who supported all that the Minister blabbered. The reason is simple. These so called environmentalists were keener on personal benefits rather than social good. A fact finding committee was set up then as it has been done now. No reports ever reach the public. Implying no corrective steps are taken. Things always, not invariably, fall back to the usual rut.
The zoo authorities claim the 5 cubs died due to their mother disowning them. It is said the mother, named Priyanka, stopped feeding the cubs. If that be the truth, there are umpteen examples of wild animal cubs being fed with bottled milk and surviving gloriously. Sadly, no one explains why this was not done at Nandan Kanan. Shift the blame is the name of the game here. Since common people are not aware and do not have the time to question, these slimy authorities get away with murder.
Another angle that needs research is whether the cubs were infected due to exposure to human trash. Nandan Kanan is the epitome of a dirty zoo. The officials are callous. The visitors are criminals who not only make the place filthy but also torture and harass the caged beasts. Feeding a banana to a monkey may imply poisoning that creature. Since they do not peel the fruit, the skin laden with carbide and many other pesticides would wipe the day light of that poor mammal. This kind of an uneducated love does destroy many species. Add to this the usual story doing the rounds about this zoo that senior forest officials are siphoning off great amounts of money by permitting sub standard meats and other food meant for the mute animals.
Ideally, a team of experts, vets and animal lovers should be created. They should make sporadic surprise visits and check the health, food and enclosure conditions of Nandan Kanan. Exemplary punishment must be meted out to staff responsible for neglect, death or injury to animals. These may seem trivial but such a beginning may, hopefully, create awareness and bring about some changes. If we do not react now and safeguard the FoodChain, starting from Nandan Kanan but spreading out throughout the State, we will surely and certainly damage the quality of life of the human beings of this part of the world.