Biodiversity, a talk only activity

Was visiting Coringa Mangrove near Kakinada. About 237 Sq Km mangrove at the confluence of River Godavari and the Bay of Bengal. There are some boats arranged by the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department to ferry passengers around the mangrove.

Most favourite activity seems to be bird watching in this mangrove in addition to spotting Otters n few types of snakes. The time we went was not the best time for bird watching. Our trip was used for visiting the centuries old Lighthouse (abandoned). Long trip to the place and bit tiring by the end of the day.

We had for company a Research scholar, who was explaining to us the place and we could feel the pain in his heart at the disappointment he faces whenever he submits a research paper and no action is taken.

Rat Nest

According to him, neither people nor the department really cares for the Biodiversity and Live and let live method it preaches. We the people take pride in polluting the place with enough plastic, which we carry for our food and water, by dumping it in the waters. This plastic is eaten by the endangered species like Olive Ridleys as they mistake the plastic for Jellyfish and inevitably choke to death thereafter. We are most happy to clone and talk about creating more rather than saving what is existing.

He was mentioning about a report submitted by him to the department about a study on the same species of fish found dead during a particular time of the year. However, this study is gathering dust, since no one wants to disturb / hurt the fisher folks for the fear of losing their votes.

Old Lighthouse

While a wooden bridge has been constructed to access the lighthouse, the condition of it is not conducive to the heavy flow of tourists, maybe it is one way better, that there will be less pollution in the waters with less plastic floating around with fewer people visiting the place.

This situation seems to be the same all over our country, with many of our sanctuaries, National parks, fighting the plastic menace and people's apathy towards the other living beings. As a researcher of wildlife, his explanation, sounded convincing, about the Delhi Zoo death of the man who fell into the Tiger enclave was indeed an effort of the Tiger to save him from other people who were throwing stones to scare away the tiger. He also says, wild animals only react to our actions, they  are not the natural predators, wonder when the man will realise this fact and co-exist with the other creatures on this earth.