एक अभागी कौआ

उस दिन सुबह रोज कि तरह में घर से नीकलकर कॉलेज के लिए जा रहा था। वैसे तो कॉलेज को जाने के लिए एक पक्की सडक बनवाई गयी है लेकीन सडक की इतनी दुर्दशा है की पता नही हर साँस के साथ कितनी धूल और मिट्टी फेफडौं में चली जाती है। इसलिए में सदैव ही दूसरे रास्ते से जाता हूं। पूना में होते हुए भी वह दुसरा रास्ता खेतो और बहूत सारे फार्म हाऊसेस से गुजरता है। साधारण पाँच किलोमीटर पैदल चलने के बाद मै कॉलेज पहूचता हूं। उस दिन भी रोज की हि तरह में उस रास्ते से गुथर रहा था तभी अचानक मेरी नजर रास्ते के किनारे खडे खंबे पे गई और मेरा मन दुख से भर गया। एक अभागी कौऐ की लाश वायर से लटक रही थी। उस दिन मनुष्य के आधूनिक विज्ञान के करिष्मे के कारण एक और जान चली गयी।

यह केवल एक ही उदाहरण नही है, और भी अनगिनत उदाहरण है जहाँ पर पशु पक्षीयौं को अपनी जान से हात गवाना पडा है। गाव में बिजली के खंबो से कितने ही बंदरो की जान गयी है। पता नही हम मनुष्य कब ये समझेंगे की यह धरती हम अकेले मनूष्य की नही है। हमे सबका ध्यान और संतुलन बनाना चाहिए। यह सभी पेड पौधे पंछी हमारे सहयोगी तथा मित्र है। इस धरती पर सभी को जीने का समान अधिकार है परंतू हमारे कारण पता नहि ऐसे कितने ही जीवों की जान चली जाती है। मुझे लगता है की सभी बिजली की तारें भुमिगत होनी चाहिए कि जीससे किसी भी तरह का खतरा नहि हो सकता। पता नहि हमारे भारत देश ने अलग से पर्यावरण मंत्रालय क्युं बनवाया है। शायद उन्हे यह पता नहि कि पर्यावरण का मुलभूत अर्थ ही है "सभी जीव"। यह मंत्रालय शायद सिर्फ प्रदुषण और अपारंपारिक उर्जा स्तोत्रों पे ध्यान देता है।

अब उस बेचारे कौऐ की क्या गलती थी? उसका भी एक परिवार होगा, माँ, पिताजी, पत्नी और बच्चे होंगे। लेकीन बिजली कि खुली वायरों ने उसकी जान ले ली। चलो अब यही उम्मीद करते है कि एक दिन यह परिस्थिती बदल जाऐगी।

Endangered animals in India - The Indian vulture

The Indian vulture (Gyps indicus) is an Old World vulture and is closely related to the griffon vulture, G. fulvus. It breeds mainly on hilly crags in central and peninsular India. The birds in the northern part of its range once considered a subspecies are now considered a separate species, the slender-billed vulture Gyps tenuirostris. These were lumped together under the name long-billed vulture.

The long-billed vulture is a typical vulture, with a bald head, very broad wings and short tail feathers. It is smaller and less heavily built than the Eurasian Griffon, usually weighing between 5.5 and 6.3 kg (12–13.9 lbs) and measuring 80–103 cm (31–41 in) long and 1.96 to 2.38 m (6.4 to 7.8 ft) across the wings. It is distinguished from that species by its less buff body and wing coverts. It also lacks the whitish median covert bar shown by Griffon.

The species breeds mainly on cliffs, but is known to use trees to nest in Rajasthan. Like other vultures it is a scavenger, feeding mostly from carcasses of dead animals which it finds by soaring over savannah and around human habitation. They often move in flocks.

The Indian vulture and the white-rumped vulture, G. bengalensis species have suffered a 99%–97% population decrease in Pakistan and India. Between 2000-2007 annual decline rates of this species and the slender-billed vulture averaged over sixteen percent. The cause of this has been identified as poisoning caused by the veterinary drug diclofenac. Diclofenac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and when given to working animals it can reduce joint pain and so keep them working for longer. The drug is believed to be swallowed by vultures with the flesh of dead cattle who were given diclofenac in the last days of life.

Diclofenac causes kidney failure in several species of vultures. In March 2006 the Indian Government announced its support for a ban on the veterinary use of diclofenac. Another NSAID, meloxicam, has been found to be harmless to vultures and should prove to be an acceptable substitute for diclofenac. When meloxicam production is increased it is hoped that it will be as cheap as diclofenac. As of August 2011 the ban for veterinary use for approximately a year did not prevent diclofenac use across India. Small numbers of birds have bred across peninsular India, in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_vulture

Endangered animals in India - The Great Indian Bustard

The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotisnigriceps) or Indian Bustard is a bustard found in India and the adjoining regions of Pakistan. A large bird with a horizontal body and long bare legs giving it an ostrich like appearance, this bird is among the heaviest of the flying birds. The deep buff coloured wings with black sides, a conspicuous black crested crown, an outstretched neck which is whitish in colour and the white underparts are the distinguishing featutes of this bird.

 Once common on the dry plains of the Indian subcontinent, today very few birds survive and the species is on the brink of extinction, being critically endangered by hunting and loss of its habitat, this consists of large expanses of dry grassland and scrub. They are confined mostly to the arid regions of Rajasthan, Gujarat and the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra

Source: 

DIVISION OF EDUCATION SERVICES

(VISITOR SERVICES)

NMNH (MoEF),NEW DELHI

Eagle

General Information -We all know Eagle for his strength and power. Eagle holds top position in the food chain as a predator. There are more than sixty species of Eagle in the world and most of them are found in Africa and Europe.

There are some species commonly found in India and Asian countries such as Indian spotted Eagle. Eagles are large, powerfully built birds of prey, with a heavy head and beak. The beak is typically heavier than that of most other birds of prey. Eagles' eyes are extremely powerful, having up to 3.6 time’s human acuity for the martial eagle, which enables them to spot potential prey from a very long distance. This keen eyesight is primarily attributed to their extremely large pupils which ensure minimal diffraction (scattering) of the incoming light. The female of all species of eagle known is larger than the male.

Nest- Eagles normally build their nests, called eyries, in tall trees or on high cliffs. Eagles don’t like human presence near their nests and hence generally the nests are built on very high trees or on the hilly areas where human and other animals can’t reach. The nest is made up of sticks, leaves and tree branches. The size of the nest is large so that nest can accommodate two hatchlings at a time.

Eggs- Generally two eggs are lay by Eagle. They are white in color. Some time only one egg get hatched and other get wasted. Around 37 hours are required for complete hatching and it is reported that the older hatchling will kill and eat the younger one. When there is food and water scarcity, Eagle parents’ hatches only one egg so as to manage the workload of parents.

Food habits- Eagles mostly eat smaller animals like rabbits, turtles, lizards, fish, frogs, snakes, squirrels and other smaller birds.

Life Span- Around 30 years.

Peacock (Indian Peafowl)

General Information- Peacock is a colorful bird commonly found in India. Peacock is famous worldwide due its colorful feathers and the rain dance. The male is called a peacock, the female a peahen, and the offspring peachicks. The Indian Peafowl is found mainly on the ground in open forest or on land under cultivation where they forage for berries, grains but will also prey on snakes, lizards, and small rodents. Their loud calls make them easy to detect, and in forest areas often indicate the presence of a predator such as a tiger. Peacock cannot flight at high altitudes and even cannot flight for longer distances, instead of that peacock can run fast to protect himself from the enemies. Peacock can fly for smaller distances with lower heights from one tree to another. Most of the time peacock presents on the ground for searching of food and water. Small bushes are the favorite locations of peacock as they provide shelter from the other animals. During mating seasons the male attracts the female by showing her the beautiful feathers. In India, it is believed that when rain comes, peacock starts dancing with feather show because peacock likes rain very much.

Nest- Peafowl are forest birds that nest on the ground but roost in trees. The nest is made of grass and tree branches. Generally we cannot find the nest easily because it is located in the roots of the trees.

Eggs- Peacock can lay 4 – 5 eggs at a time. Eggs are white in color. Around 28 days are required for hatching the eggs. Hatching is done by female.

Food habits- Peafowl are omnivorous and eat seeds, insects, fruits, small mammals and reptiles. They also eat crops such as groundnut, tomato, paddy, chilly and even bananas.

Life Span- Average 20 years.

Greater coucal (भारद्वाज)

General Information- Greater coucal (भारद्वाज) is a big bird from Asian country having brown wings on the black body with red color eyes. They are large, crow-like with a long tail and coppery brown wings and found in wide range of habitats from jungle to cultivation and urban gardens. They are weak fliers, and are often seen clambering about in vegetation or walking on the ground as they forage for insects, eggs and nestlings of other birds. They have a familiar deep resonant call which is associated with omens in many parts of its range.

Due to less flying power, these birds prefer walking and running near small bushes and often they are spotted during crossing the roads. Due to road crossing, many of the Greater coucals found dead due to striking with the cars. Greater coucals have spiritual importance in India. It is believed that watching the Greater coucal will make your day very good and happy. Also many people search for the bird on the Indian New Year which brings the entire New Year with happiness and prosperity.

Nest- The nest is built mostly by the male over about three to eight days. The nest is a deep cup with a dome in dense vegetation inside tangles of creepers, bamboo clump or Pandanus crowns. They can be built as high as 6m above the ground. But generally we cannot locate the nest easily.

Eggs- Greater coucal generally laid 3 to 4 eggs. The eggs are chalky white with a yellow glaze when laid that wears off. Eggs required around 15 days of incubation.

Food habits- Greater coucal generally eat insects, bird eggs, nestlings, fruits and seeds. They are searching the food on the ground around the bushes and on the grass land.

Life Span- Not available.