Meet Your Neighbours: The Most Commonly Spotted Wildife in the City

The city of Bengaluru is a quintessential example of the concrete jungle, a title we have come to use to describe the habitat of the human species. It symbolises the pinnacle of industrial and technological advancement, a sprawling abode of skyscrapers and flyovers entirely constructed by us. And yet, as is true for any ecosystem in our vast home, planet Earth, we inevitably share our spaces with a wide variety of other species. These species coexist with us and directly or indirectly support us as well as depend upon us in an intricate web of connections that together define the urban ecosystem. These species that live amongst the asphalt roads and glass facades, within pockets of parks and mini-forests, on tree-tops along avenues or in nooks and crannies of human residences, perhaps even in your own backyard, together have come to be known as Urban Wildlife.

These animals are our neighbours and call the city their home as well. They are sometimes coy and conspicuous, while at other times they make their presence known. Regardless, they share a complex relationship with the humans in the city. At times a mutual benefit develops into a bond of affection, such as the once populous and now elusive sparrows who learnt to display an affable demeanor in exchange for being fed scraps. At other times, however, a struggle for food and territory escalates into a hostile relationship, such as the persistent and prevailing encounters between humans and monkeys in the swathes of residential areas across the city.


Cold-blooded Companions
Snakes are everywhere, even if they may be relatively rarer to spot. They live in abandoned pieces of land or anywhere that they can nest in a burrow without much disturbance. They can be active during the day or the night, though due to their cold-blooded nature, they are unable to regulate their own body temperature and thus they avoid coming out during harsh sunlight. They are also easier to accidentally encounter in the dark as they become difficult to spot. Snakes are one of those neighbours we probably regret spotting and avoid running into at all costs. However, they are also greatly revered in Indian culture. However, when it comes to encountering one of them, fear will always take over reverence. Citizens must avoid venturing into abandoned or overgrown pieces of land, especially after dark, and always wear shoes and socks when venturing into greener areas. However, snake sightings are also being increasingly reported because increasing mounds of unattended garbage attract rodents, which in turn attract snakes. Snakes thus provide us with free rodent control services.


Feathered Friends
Birds are some of the most populous wildlife found in urban landscapes. They easily find nooks and crannies among houses or buildings to nest or roost, high out of reach of humans and other predators. Due to their capability of flight, they are able to occupy a whole other stratum of the concrete jungle. They also find plenty of food sources, from seeds of plants growing in pockets of greenery, to insects, lizards and even small rodents. While some birds are more herbivorous, such as the rose-ringed parakeet, others lean towards carnivorous, such as the Brahminy Kite. Our Avian amigos, with their fabulous plumage, are easily some of the most popular in the neighborhood, with plenty of Bangaloreans engaging in activities such as bird-watching as well as aiding in protection and conservation. Many in residential areas hang up bird feeders in their gardens and even go out to feed them in parks. At one time, sparrows had become immensely populous in the city and would display affable behaviours towards humans who would in turn feed them with scraps. While the more easily spotted birds may be the Indian Rock Pigeon, Black Kite and Common Myna, other species that dwell amongst the treetops of Bangalore include Asian Koel, Jungle Myna, White-cheeked Barbet, Purple Rumped Sunbird, Great Tit, Common Tailorbird, Barn Owl and Spotted Owlet. On most occasions, many of us would welcome a visit from our feathered friends. However, they can become a nuisance if they nest within our homes or balconies, prompting city dwellers to install pigeon nets in their residences.

                                                     

                                                                             A Black Kite  



Primate Pals
Amongst non-domesticated mammals, several creatures such as feral cats and dogs, Jackals and various rodents inhabit the city. However, the creatures who make their presence felt most by far are monkeys, mainly the Bonnet Macaque. The sight of our long-tailed evolutionary relatives invading residential spaces must be ingrained into the minds of children all over India. These animals fight for our territory because of the increasingly vanishing canopy that would previously serve as their habitat as well as a source of food. This has forced them to venture into human residences in search of food and shelter which in turn has caused an upsurge in the conflict between humans and monkeys. While we may feel that our lesser evolved counterparts are invading living space, the truth is that all the land now covered by urbanization was at one point their habitat. In fact, the Slender Loris, a primate endemic to India and Sri Lanka was once fairly abundant in Bangalore. It has even earned the nickname Kadu Papa, or “Child of the Forest'' due to it being widespread across Karnataka. However, Slender Loris has severely declined in recent years, and its population in the city of Bangalore especially has dwindled due to rampant clearing of forest cover leaving no canopy as habitat for this little monkey.

                                                                                       Bonnet Macaques

As human civilization expands further and further, we must be increasingly aware of the impact of our actions on the delicate balance of the environment. Clearing forest covers to make space for human settlements may give us more space to live, but deprives other species of shelter and food, resulting in loss of biodiversity and an imbalance in the ecosystem. It is important to remember that the world does not belong to us. Rather, we as humans are neighbours to several other species with whom we must coexist to ensure a sustainable existence for all living beings.