Chat Archives

Chat on "Decreasing tolerance of backyard wildife" dated February 16, 2014

Susan Sharma: Welcome to IWC chat on "Decreasing tolerance of backyard wildlife"
Susan Sharma: Welcome Soham Mukherjee Our moderator today.
Soham Mukherjee: Thank you Susan
Susan Sharma: Till others join in, you can start with an introduction to the topic?
Soham Mukherjee: Apologies for the delay Susan. My family including myself is down with flu and hence the delayed responses.
Susan Sharma: Sorry to hear that. Shall we postpone the chat? Give a date convenient to you.
Soham Mukherjee: Yes I can surely introduce the topic. We always talk about wildlife conservation and habitat protection but somehow are growing less tolerant of the wildlife that was once in our backyard.
Soham Mukherjee: Should be fine today
Susan Sharma: Thanks. I agree with you. The tendency has been to kill all pests including insects
Soham Mukherjee: And unfortunately 'wildlife' is a web of life
Soham Mukherjee: One cannot choose the one's compatible species and leave the others out
Susan Sharma: I believe you are a wildlife scientist. What is your specialization?
Soham Mukherjee: My main interest is reptiles and amphibians
Susan Sharma: Ah-lizards, snakes, frogs
Soham Mukherjee: Crocodilians, chelonians too
Susan Sharma: Welcome Ananaya
Susan Sharma: What are chelonians?
Ananya Sharma: Thankyou Susan.
Soham Mukherjee: Turtles and tortoises
Ananya Sharma: I'd like to know more about the backyard wildlife.
Susan Sharma: Welcome Dipu
Ananya Sharma: If we talk in general.. not many people consider to have any sort of wildlife around the place where they stay. Especially reptiles. So, how can we make them understand about their importance?
Susan Sharma: Soham, are you there?
Ananya Sharma: And apart from this.. what is the importance of backyard wildlife?
Susan Sharma: Welcome Mohammed
Mohammed Rafiq: Thank Susan
Soham Mukherjee: I am sorry. As I mentioned before, we are down with flu here. I need to take my son to the clinic as his fever is shooting high. I am sorry but I will have to leave. Apologies for all the inconvenience.
Susan Sharma: OK, Soham. Thanks for logging in inspite of the difficulties.
Susan Sharma: Dipu, I understand you are a naturalist. Can you answer Ananya?
Mohammed Rafiq: I would like to know whether the statement of chat is referring at an individual level or community level
Mohammed Rafiq: I think the causes and implications are slightly different in either case
Susan Sharma: Individuals make the community. So I guess we are talking about the individual prejudices.
Ananya Sharma: I agree with Susan.
Susan Sharma: Prejudices and sheer intolerance can be overcome by creating awareness
Susan Sharma: Visiting National Parks and staying in forest huts or basic accommodation is a good way to get rid of prejudices.
Susan Sharma: The Internet has info on almost all creatures we see around.
Dipu Sasi: Sorry susan I got busy in an offical phone call. Regarding the Backyard wild life i thing they are indicator for a healthy sourrounding
Susan Sharma: Yes, Dipu you are right.
Dipu Sasi: it is difficult to create awareness to many of the lay mes as they are struggling for their survivals
Dipu Sasi: but we have to keep on doing and focus the young
Dipu Sasi: They arge the one who can make difference
Ananya Sharma: I agree. I think its important to include the youth in order to bring the change.
Susan Sharma: Schools are doing a good job generally but do think we must continue to educate the adults too
Dipu Sasi: Consistent efforts from individuls can make many changes in small circles
Dipu Sasi: probably the group which we havbbe to approach is the dicision makers
Susan Sharma: Back yard wildlife is a very interesting subject which has a direct connection with organic gardening.
Ananya Sharma: How?
Dipu Sasi: Look at our politicians and most of the bureaucrats
Dipu Sasi: Look at our politicians and most of the bureaucrats
Susan Sharma: I have been addressing groups of women who are members of kitchen garden associations about how to recognizeand apprecite the bees and wasps, the lizards and bats which make a pesticide free garden their home.
Ananya Sharma: Ok. Glad to know that.
Dipu Sasi: Our development concept is a single species oriented. it is difficult for people to come out from that platform
Susan Sharma: I have also discovered that it is possible to have a micro environment around your house even with a very small backyard.
Susan Sharma: Yes, Dipu our development is man oriented
Susan Sharma: people like us should not stop talking about the web of life.
Susan Sharma: Worldwide the realization about the importance of the web of life is growing.
Dipu Sasi: If you look at the centre wetland bill, CRZ notification, EIA also WGEEP report as some example, all these are environment protection initiatives from government. but how people responding to all these
Susan Sharma: This movement can be grass root based and we need not depend on politicians and decision makers.
Dipu Sasi: I think i am going out of context
Dipu Sasi: Susan I agree with you
Susan Sharma: Backyard is your property and it is upto you how you use it. Growing organic vegetables in your balcony can give sustenance to some butterflies.
Susan Sharma: Yes, Dipu, we have little control over some of the BIG changes, but we can make a start with bugs, ants, bumble bees.
Dipu Sasi: yes
Dipu Sasi: true
Susan Sharma: Welcome Shashi
Ananya Sharma: Thanks for all the info, Susan and Dipu.
Susan Sharma: Thanks Ananya. for being there.
Susan Sharma: Please participate in future too.
Susan Sharma: Thanks to all who came. Shall we close the room now?
Susan Sharma: Good night.
Ananya Sharma: Sure. I'll be there again.
Ananya Sharma: Good night.