Comments on: Why weren’t large mammals exterminated in India like they were in many parts of the world?

By: Alex M Thomas

Alex M Thomas — Thu, 22 May 2008 16:11:35 +0000

Nita,

Brilliant photo.-the Bishnois!

I did not know people who cared so much for animals existed.

By: Destination Infinity

Destination Infinity — Mon, 19 May 2008 16:21:57 +0000

I think humans have a tendency to think that our survival depends on their destruction.

I think the lions have been killing the deers for a long time but neither of them have become extinct because of that. Maybe humans fear more than they ought to.

Destination Infinity.

Well, thats another way of looking at it…because humans do kill for survival…at least in the old days they did. Today I see more of greed. – Nita.

By: Shefaly

Shefaly — Fri, 16 May 2008 06:05:27 +0000

Your entire post seems to have been copied here: http://khulachittha.blogspot.com/2008/05/my-writings-wide-angle-view-of-india.html It pings back to my blog as well which is how I know. Thanks. Thanks Shefaly. I have flagged the blog and also complained to Blogger. Hopefully they will do something. - Nita p.s. Am just adding the blogger link here about copyright violation: http://www.blogger.com/content.g because I have a feeling that they come to know faster if the post is linked. That happened to me last time a blogger stole my post.

By: Madhu

Madhu — Fri, 16 May 2008 05:45:02 +0000

Nita,
I agree there is much compassion in Hinduism vis-a-vis animals. But I believe it did not save the Asian Mammals. IMHO It’s too simple of an anwer for a series of complex events over eons that shaped up our today.

On the politicians and women — couldn’t agree more. Suffices to say

“Politicians are like diapers, always full of crap; if not it’s a matter of time..”

Absolutely agree! This issue is far too complex to have one answer and as you say not all mammals were saved. In my own limited way I am trying to understand what humans are doing to this earth and why. – Nita.

By: Nita

Nita — Fri, 16 May 2008 03:39:59 +0000

Ankur, yes isn’t it! When I first saw that picture in the Hindustan Times I was deeply moved and saved it on my pc….

Raj, yes I too believe the human race will pay a price, or rather is already paying a price..

thoughtroom, thanks. Yes I agree that its the interdependency that creates the love, we can see it in relationships between human beings too!

Amit (wordpress), yes both your points make sense. Interdependency and technological advancement…the latter means not just sophistcated weapons but lands used for industries and agriculture, which takes away from forest land, depriving animals of their habitat.

Amit (blogspot), thanks. I have added that link here at the bottom of the post. Thanks for reminding me…at times posts get orphaned and now I will add links in that post too. Er, sorry to call you blogspot but even though I am not confused, readers might think you are the same Amit commenting twice.

Tajbinder, we are no less and in fact we are worse because we are not improving. They have changed, they have embraced conservation while we are still going downhill.

Madhurao, I think our culture deserves a lot of credit, but its gone now. Today’s modern Indian culture just pretends to be our “culture.” All that people in power know about is how women should behave and dress. That is the only aspect of “Indian” culture they want to enforce, and make a fuss about. Just check the news and you will find more politicians being moralistic about sexual mores and the clothes women wear than talking about kindness to animals. I think these issues are related, because these politicians are constantly talking about Indian culture when they talk of women. What about the Indian culture of taking care of animals? What about the Hindu religion which worships animals? Are even cows treated humanely? Not at all.

Suburban, thanks. I agree that humans as a species are insatiable devourers, I couldn’t have put it better.

By: suburbanlife

suburbanlife — Thu, 15 May 2008 21:55:09 +0000

Nita – we still have the moose and the grizzly Bear as large mammals in North America. The large buffalo that were hunted out to near extinction are being bred on large national parks. They are magnificent animals. We have the orca off our waters. However, on land, expansionist interests paved the way for the near extinction of the buffalo. The grizzly and the moose live in kinds of land undesirable for human habitation, and that’s why they have been spared, although these animals are hunted for sport, which is sanctioned extermination, in my opinion. It seems to be, that the greater our own numbers as a species, the more living room of other animal we encroach on and make unlivable, or that we exterminate as pests or eat as food. We, as a species are insatiable devourers, and only catastrophes which put us at peril seem to redress the natural balance. G

By: Madhu Rao

Madhu Rao — Thu, 15 May 2008 20:40:17 +0000

A thought provoking post! It beautifully chronicles reasons that could have led to the tragic loss of so many species.

If anything needs twisted it’s the ears of morons in power who do not do much for the Indian Tiger. Taking solace in the fact that other civilizations wiped out beautiful creatures is too twisted to sit on while a magnificent animal inches toward extinction.

I love animals, am a vegetarian and a PETA supporter. I am very much for prevention of cruelty to animals. But it has to be Darwin’s Theory of Evolution many times over than human cruelty. Sure man with his hobbies, machines, and germs added to the mix, but it does not explain why some species survived the same onslaught better — rats and roaches for instance. The onslaught on these species is intense and still ongoing, but they, miraculously find ways to overcome.

Though I would love to hope we Indians did better, I ought to agree with some who have said that we are giving our culture a bit more credit than is due.

On the need to ensure we do not lose any more species, Himanshu’s picture says it all. The noble woman there is not thinking about what anyone(including the govt) will or will not do. She is doing her bit . Thanks to Himanshu, but if we ought to tip the hat, it is to this wonderful lady…

By: Tajbinder

Tajbinder — Thu, 15 May 2008 18:59:41 +0000

The only reason i give for my being an agnostic is that had there been a force called GOD , then animals would not be going through such suffering.Just visit PETA site and see the videos of cruelty meted out to the animals and you’ll know what i mean.Its hell on earth. Had there been God, he wud have answered their prayers as well.As far as we indians are concerned we are no less than Americans, Australians or the Japanese when it comes to slaughtering of animals.

By: Amit

Amit — Thu, 15 May 2008 18:41:14 +0000

Nita, I’m reminded of your other post on the mistreatment of dogs. Perhaps a link to that in ‘Related Reading’ would be apt and we can see how much we love animals?

By: Amit

Amit — Thu, 15 May 2008 17:52:12 +0000

This was one different post. Now when I think of it, whenever we think of wild animals, Africa and Asia come in the mind. I think the animals survived here because of a sort of interdependency created with them. They were useful to us and it never occurred to us that they have to be terminated to create space for us. Secondly, I am not sure but it might also be proportional to the technological advancements of the region. The more developed a region is, the lesser are the chances of finding animals there.