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VIEWPOINT: FLIGHT TO EXTINCTION?

by J.C. Daniel

We are a people addicted to rituals that we observe religiously and forget the next moment. One such ritualistic program is wildlife week. Every year in the first week of October, forestry departments throughout [India] become active. The minister makes a speech, a simple rehash of the speech made by his many predecessors, or plants a sapling. It is safer for the department for the minister to make the speech; saplings have a way of dying and it would be awkward to have the minister plant again in the same pit the next year. Of course there is always the happy chance that the minister may not last the year. We feel that the members of the [Bombay Natural History] Society spread all over the country should spend the wildlife year, starting with the Wildlife Week in October, more constructively. Why not do something as simple as keeping a count of the vultures that you see in the skies or the world around you for a year. Vultures, once an abundant and common species are now endangered. But this is an opinion not shared by everyone, largely owing to lack of data on their population throughout the country. Why not keep a diary of sightings and send the diary to us at the end of the wildlife year in September 2002. You would have made your contribution to conservation.

Reprinted by permission from Daniel, J.C. 2003. Cassandra of Conservation. Bombay Natural History Society, India.

JC Daniel received a 2007 Distinguished Service Award from the Society for Conservation Biology for the range of successful activities he has undertaken to attract attention to India's biological diversity and conservation needs.

Back to SCB LAUNCHES MAJOR INITIATIVE TO APPLY SCIENCE TO NORTH AMERICAN AND GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

Up to Table of Contents

Ahead to 2007 SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY AWARDS