A City at the Crossroads

-
When Kempe Gowda I, the famous ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire and the founder of Bengaluru, first built a fort here, the place was a jungle with diverse wildlife. While the human population in the city has grown to over 12 million spread across 740 square kilometres today, up from 6 million a few decades ago, the animal density has sharply dropped alongside.

Are we keeping an eye out for the changes that have been going on in the ecological environment of our city? Have you ever noticed the decline in the number of sparrows in Bengaluru or the arbitrary changes in its climate? Can we imagine our city without birds adorning its skies, or their chirping in the parks, or chasing squirrels in the trees around? Who wouldn’t like to stroll in a park listening to the humming of birds?

Our understanding, built over the years, has enabled us to recognize that any growing city’s ecological sustainability is deeply connected to the state of its urban wildlife population, present in not only its lakes, parks, fields, and trees, but also in the city’s buildings, roads, sewage lines, and waste management centres. Natural green cover proliferation, vector and disease control, the impact on soil – all have connections to urban wildlife, much like in a wholly natural ecosystem. The ‘Garden City of India’ has lost one-fourth of its green cover and one-third of its lakes in recent decades. With the current trend of depleting groundwater, our city as we know will soon turn out to be a mirage from the past. We look forward to working with the conscientious citizens of our city hand in hand to build a sustainable Bengaluru and set an exemplar for the generations to come.







Excerpts from ‘Living With The Wild’ - A Coffee Table Book Published by PfA Bangalore.
To get yourself a copy, write to us on communications@peopleforanimalsbangalore.org

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Smuggling the Stars: Illegal Trade of the Indian Star Tortoise

-
Image
On May 1, PfA Wildlife Rescue & Conservation Centre faced the grim reality of illegal wildlife trade yet again. We responded to a call from a bus conductor and rescued 218 Indian Star tortoises, which were all tightly packed into three small bags. They were all juveniles, ranging between just a week old to 4 to 5 years old. Unfortunately, one of them had already succumbed to the horrendous conditions in which these tortoises were being transported.   The demand for the Indian Star Tortoise in the exotic pet market is fueled largely, but not entirely by the superstitions that surround the animal. Some believe that the star tortoise can fix the “Vaastu” of a house or simply bring good luck to the house it’s kept in. Others, allured by the beautiful patterns of the shell,  simply want to keep them as pets.  You might be wondering “But why shouldn’t they be kept as pets?”. Other than the fact that it’s illegal, there are various reasons why keeping them as pets is harmful...
Read more

Avian Treasures of Bengaluru: A Guide to the Birds of Its Urban Wetlands

-
Image
Bengaluru, known as the "Garden City" of India, is not only famed for its green spaces but also for its thriving urban wetlands. These water bodies, though surrounded by a growing metropolis, provide a haven for an extraordinary variety of birds—both resident and migratory. In recent years, the wetlands of Bengaluru have become important hotspots for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts alike, showcasing the city's rich biodiversity. The Importance of Bengaluru's Wetlands for Birds Wetlands play a crucial role in sustaining a variety of bird species by offering food, shelter, and breeding grounds. Bengaluru, despite its rapid urbanization, still has several lakes and marshes that act as key habitats for waterfowl, waders, and even raptors. These wetlands serve as both stopovers for migratory species and year-round habitats for local birds. Key Wetland Areas in Bengaluru Some of the most prominent wetland areas in Bengaluru include: Puttenahalli Lake : A lesser-known bi...
Read more

Doing the "Imp"ossible: The Science and Art of Feather Implantation

-
Image
The idiom “to clip someone’s wings'' in the English language refers to metaphorically restricting someone’s freedom. But when it comes to the world of urban wildlife, metaphors can turn quite literal. Hundreds of birds a month suffer from brutal wing injuries. Electric cables, network towers, paper kites tethered to Chinese Manja thread, and collapse due to dehydration are just a few of the myriad dangers they face every day. When a bird has a wing injury and loses feathers in the process, it can take around six to nine whole months for them to grow back naturally. A bird that is biologically capable of flying cannot survive being flightless for too long. Being flightless, you’re an easy target for the likes of cats, snakes and even other birds. Assuming thirst and starvation don’t get you first. It’s essentially a death sentence. But as it turns out, to ensure a bright future for our feathered friends, we had to but look at the past. An ancient practice used in falconry over t...
Read more