karmakerala.com news

In the Monday morning madness when people were running behind buses and office goers jostling for that extra space to inch their way through the milling crowd, this sight  arrested my attention. On the footpath leading to a busy junction in Cochin a young boy was sitting under the shade of a huge rain tree with many tiny colorful chirping birds and parrots in tiny cages. These hapless creatures were put up for sale for rupees twenty per pair.

Curious onlookers gathered around the boy, some where haggling and some were taking a closer look at the specimens put on display. The boy was boasting that these birds were procured from the hill ranges. It was when a customer asked whether these birds will be able to survive the hot and sultry climate and the pollution of the cities. The boy admitted  that some of these birds will die as he lunged at his top voice to attract more customers.

The birds were fluttering their wings and crying in panic and were making all attempts to free themselves from the confines of the dingy cages and suddenly someone informed the wild life department so that these birds can be released back into the wild. It is an irony that men have not only encroached into the forests but also are putting the original inhabitants of the wild on sale! It is high time that we put an end to the brutal killings and maiming of these mute animals in the name of hobby. A leopard skin will look best on the animal and not in your living room so next time when you scout for an ivory sculpture to deck up your showcase, remember that man and his vicious hobbies have pushed many animals into extinction and  now the time has come to follow the golden rule of “Live and let live” to make this world a better place to live not only for us but also for the future generations!