Animals, Birds, Pets
TRANSCEND MEMBERS, 30 Jan 2023
Dr. Ravi P. Bhatia – TRANSCEND Media Service
There are countless numbers of animals and birds in the world we live in. Scientists–anthropologists inform us that mankind has also evolved from the animal world over the course of thousands of years–from four-legged creatures to the two-legged mankind of today. The approximate time period of this evolution is also known through carbon dating.
Birds and how they evolved is also a subject of study of scientists. Birds that can fly at various heights and speeds is also an interesting area of study. Some small birds often called chics were often seen in or near our homes earlier. Some of these small birds were sparrows, flowerpeckers, goldcrests, etc. How these birds would build their nests and lay their eggs was a pleasant sight to behold. Unfortunately these tiny birds and their nests have become a rare sight today in this mechanised world. But the green coloured parrot (tota) is a beautiful bird and can be often seen in forest lands.
Sometimes sights of their flying and diving acumen were easily observed. There were birds that would sit together peacefully on electric poles and wires; then a sound was heard by them and they would rapidly fly away. Again this was an interesting sight to behold. A question was often asked by children as how they could sit on these poles and not get electrocuted. Other children — slightly older would try to answer this puzzle in various ways.
Like animals, birds have also evolved over time. There are some studies and books aimed at decoding this question. Sometimes big birds were used to catch small birds and cooked for eating by some people in India.
Pets are of various kinds, sizes and looks. A common pet is a dog that looks nice and lovingly fondled by its owners. Parrots or other type of birds are also enclosed in bird cages by some people and often proudly displayed by their owners to their friends.
When I was a student in the USA more than forty years ago, I was amazed to know that another rich student had kept a horse enclosed safely in his backyard. He would invite some friends to come and see his pet that was not a dog or a bird but a horse. Once I was also invited for this unusual privilege. I was honestly struck by this unusual pet.
As indicated earlier, dogs are often kept as pets by many people. Once I also had a pet dog named Gappu, who provided me and my family company and pleasure for about fifteen years. Imagine my sorrow and grief when he passed away despite the care we took of him.
People who live comfortably in their homes generally keep pets of different types. I am sure that many readers of my essay will write about different types of pets and the care they take of them. In return they get love and togetherness.
Over to the other pet lovers.
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Dr Ravi P Bhatia is a member of the TRANSCEND Network for Peace Development Environment, an educationist, Gandhian scholar and peace researcher. Retired professor, Delhi University. His new book, A Garland of Ideas—Gandhian, Religious, Educational, Environmental was published recently in Delhi. ravipbhatia@gmail.com
Tags: Animals, Humans, Theory of Evolution
This article originally appeared on Transcend Media Service (TMS) on 30 Jan 2023.
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