Unnatural Harmony

Over dinner with colleagues the other day, I got talking about wildlife and jungles back home. It scared them a little to know our jungles have tigers and leopards roaming freely, and wondered whether it was safe for people to be going there. The conversation led to the kind of animals one finds around these parts, and the only animal they considered dangerous here, is the wild boar. One colleague said – there are really too many of them and they are a serious problem, although fortunately they are good meat. This is the only way to control their population. I was pensive for the rest of the meal, my mind wandered off, and I was wondering how serious a problem should be that it becomes all right to eat the cause of the problem! I suppose in this case, the boars probably dug up a few roots from a garden, or made a bit of a mess – a mistake unforgivable – I don’t suppose they’d have the same reaction if their children did the same thing! So it’s not really the crime that matters, it’s the perpetuator who determines the kind of punishment deserved, and if the perpetuator is tasty – um well, there couldn’t be much argument, could there.

I always had this impression, that the developed world had more ethics when it comes to nature. They have much more compassion for pets and they like to spend their time with nature, they don’t litter – just as long as nature doesn’t inconvenience them. However, if nature turns out to be the rat in their backyard instead of a squirrel, or a wild boar instead of hedgehog, it becomes worrisome, and what is worrisome, must go. Maybe back home, we don’t care about anyone else other than ourselves, and we don’t pretend to either. Most people I know freeze at the sight of a pet, and wish all animals were always in cages or tied to a leash. Back home, a snake in the backyard is almost always killed, a person with a pet is ridiculed, and picking up trash is beneath dignity. However, there is no exception to the rule; it is like it is; no hypocrisy. So I wonder what the lesser evil is – I am sure if Europe had elephants, there would be wild elephant meat available in all traditional restaurants – unfortunately, here one has to be satisfied with only rabbit, deer and boars.

Domestic and wild together - buffaloes at a salt lick while elephants wait patiently in the darkness of the bamboo behind

I have seen a few and heard of innumerable encounters between animals that can leave one astonished. A documentary I saw, made by National Geographic, has heart rending scenes of the leopard Lakadema and the baby baboon she found after she killed the baboon mother in a hunt (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gpfvkeo0KBc). Equally amazing is the footage of the lioness and the baby Oryx (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svbm9Z7yoyA). I have heard of so many stories where prey and predator have been caught in the same camera frame, completely oblivious of one and another. Without human intervention, the animal world has a perfect sense of balance. A hunt is only driven by hunger, not greed. At all other times, the “lesser” creatures with “smaller” brains appear to have a perfect sense of balance in life, and can coexist with other species without rocking the boat.

Two of the most dangerous and unpredictable animals with their young ones - the bear crosses the path with her cub, while the elephant and the calf are nearby at the salt lick.

Spending a few hours, watching the jungle in complete silence, can bring one across the most amazing interactions. From the smallest to the largest, every animal appears to have its own set of things to do for the day. The birds play in the water, the deer graze, bears walk down to the stream while elephants have their mud bath. The jungle is alive and the amount of activity all around can well equal the hustle of a big city – except without any arguments and loud unpleasant noises. Not only is it difficult for people to coexist with another species, they even find a million petty reasons to fight amongst themselves, be it about language, territory, money, oil, and the list is endless. One must step back and wonder, which one really is the “intelligent” species here. It’s funny to answer the question whether people are safe venturing into a wild jungle where predators roam freely – we all know quite clearly which species is really more at risk in a man-animal encounter.