Baby Tragedy & the Steel Monster

Hello friends,

I am 'Baby Tragedy'.

This name was given to me by the lovely and caring mother of all elephants Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick.

She wanted me to share the story of my short journey to this world so that you good people out there can help me fight the battle against 'Steel Monsters' who have been making tragedies of our lives.

I was in my mother's womb sleeping when she was knocked down by a powerful 'Steel Monster' that night, forcing me to eject into this world prematurely.

The 'Steel Monster' then killed my aunt who was a little ahead.

The 'Steel Monster' supposed to be moving at only 20kmph in that elephant corridor which we used to transit between the Deepor Beel, Assam's lone Ramsar site wetland and the adjoining forests.

But see below the bolts in the track (more than seven of them) had bend down to almost 45 degrees due to the impact my mother was knocked down.

As soon as I was born my mom who was left seriously injured with a hip fracture dragged herself to the adjoining forest and was calling me from the hill. I was too weak to to walk and so the people came and wanted to help me reunite with mummy. But they came too late 6 hrs after the incident happened and then they were also shouting, making noise that scared both mommy and me. They wanted to help me but sadly they did not know how to.

I could barely see my mom in the jungle but her cries everyone could hear. She was so much in pain.

I was then tied with a rope and whisked away in a rickshaw to the Assam State Zoo which became my home. That was last I saw mom.

The ride was so bumpy and traumatic, I kept falling in that vehicle which served as a makeshift ambulance.

My aunt who lay dead was paid tributes by the local people who lighted incense sticks and prayed.

We are also respected in India as Gods you know.

After the tributes, another 'Steel Monster' (not the one that kills) came and dug a grave for aunt. She was buried after a postmortem. They do this to find out how she was killed.

Meanwhile my mommy was left unattended deep in the jungles. Many had forgotten about her and thought she was fine. But in a few days her hip injury turned worse and she had to hit the ground near 'Sattargaon' village.

The people of the village were so good, they all came out including children to try and help mommy.

But mommy was too weak to get up, so they made glasses of bamboo stem and carried water and banana plants for her.

The villagers informed some good animal people who put pressure within the authorities and the best Veterinarian was sent to see mommy. He found out that mommy would not recover and advised that she be put to sleep.

Meanwhile, I was loosing my battle for survival. I tried my best but just could not make it.

And less than a month after I was born, I too followed my mommy and left the world. I died of enteritis.

Dear friends,

that was my story- Baby Tragedy's true story.

We elephants are stronger that humans, but we do not have a voice as powerful as yours.

If my story has moved you then please do voice for me and my family.

Please share this with all your know.

Please make sure that the 'Steel Monsters' do not kill us any more.

Please write to the 'Steel Monster' guardians and do your best.

I know you will,


love,

Baby Tragedy.

___

Indian Railways Feedback Form: https://www.indianrailways.gov.in/indianrailway/common/feedbackForm.seam

Indian Railways Complaints & Suggestions: http://customercare.indianrailways.gov.in/criscm/common/complaint_registration.seam;jsessionid=C5C1A5743718416B788CECF0E05F4976.cms109

Skins shall not RIP

one of the billion fur stores across the world. Pic: azam

Suddenly the news media, facebook and twitter updates of many animal people was abuzz with a news item where PETA- the organisation better known for its hardcore animal rights activism was found playing Santa to needy and destitute human beings.


Donations to the needy, that's a noble cause?


Well, yes indeed it is. But not when you donate stuff that you would not like to wear or endorse yourself with, neither would the hundreds of employees at PETA or the millions of their members would volunteer to.


So what exactly are they donating?


Its is recycled FUR- skin of animals most of which is ripped off even when the animal is alive.


Is it then 'unethical' to be donating recycled FUR among the poor, isn't it much better than just throwing it off?


Well if you ask the receiver, he wont mind. He is happy and thankful because he is in need.


But FUR is not just an ordinary piece of clothing.
It is a wildlife product and could well invite a penalty or imprisonment or both in many countries if found in possession. PETA's actions can send a wrong signal to the ethics of animal protection & conservation of wildlife.


If it is acceptable to donate animal products like animal fur in USA, is it acceptable to donate elephant ivory, rhino horn, tiger skins, mongoose pelts and deer antlers in India and Asia?


I come from northeast India where a majority of the population in this region is below poverty level, their economic condition is far worse compared to the homeless in the US. Some of their ancestors were head hunters, not anymore but animals they do hunt. Wildlife they do kill. Since India's independence the Wildlife Protection Act is applicable to each of these places, on both those with homes and also the homeless. Despite that wildlife is at risk, animals are killed including the largest mammal on earth, not for tusks alone but also for meat.
One elephant's flesh can feed a village and many villages for days.
There have been several instances when elephants were found dead, poachers managed to escape.
Should the PETA formula apply to these people?
The elephant is dead, how about donating it among the villagers?


Indeed, it has been a longstanding debate at CITES regarding what to do with stockpiles of wildlife products.
If giving away fur costs is acceptable, why not also sell and distribute wildlife stockpiles and other wildlife and animal stock?


It might also be acceptable then to give away shahtoosh shawls obtained by killing Tibetan Antelope.
It can be justified on the same grounds to distribute meat to poor people as is the norm in religious festivals.
Where does one draw the line on what is acceptable for usage of animal products?
After all, some of us are very vocal in opposing sustainable use.


Or maybe the real difference and the acceptability threshold lies in the varying standards laid down in  the West and those employed in the East.
Donating furs is acceptable in US for homeless people but doing the same would amount to outrage in India.
Imagine what would be the reaction in the West if people started distributing their old shikar trophies of tigers and lions in India.

Many of us do not talk about these issues because we have our purse strings tied to many of the big groups that indulge in such antics. Apathy comes together with ignorance and vested interests.

Comments and opinions invited.

__________________

PETA Gives Away Fur Coats To Homeless

Group Says Those Without Are Only Ones Who Need Them

Read more: http://www.wlwt.com/news/29953256/detail.html#ixzz1g9gyewFq