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Sunday, February 1, 2004 |
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Sunday, February 1, 2004 |
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A Field Guide to Indian Mammals The focus is not on romancing only the “stars” and the “flagship” large animals like tigers, lions or elephants, but an equal attention has been paid to all creatures big and small. In fact, it is not often realised that most of the animals that we encounter in our daily lives are small mammals; and therefore, a special need to have more books and literature on them. The importance of producing such handy field guides can be gauged from the fact that it was only after Salim Ali’s famous guide on the Indian birds that widespread interest in the subject started soaring! This book lists over 400 mammals found in India ranging from the largest mammal—the whale—to the smallest—the pygmy shrew. “Besides colour photographs, the book has a short note on the behaviour, size and habitat of these animals and conservation threats faced by these. It was an ambitious project for which the support of over 80 photographers and dozens of biologists was enlisted,” says the author. Vivek Menon is a renowned conservation-activist and author of earlier works like the The Story of Asian Elephant and Ethics of Nature Conservation in Asia—and quite a man on mission. As a crusader for educating people on the long neglected—smaller mammals—he is quite the God of Small Things. The book, like a genuinely good field guide, is structured in a user-friendly manner with comprehensive essays on the world of mammals, their characteristics, origin, classification, feeding habits, social behaviour and habitats. It gives you a macro picture of the micro world of animals. A fascinating and easy to use aspect of the book is the chapter How This Book Works. A compact chart provides all the basic information along with an excellent photograph and a small write-up on a particular animal. A well-researched glossary and index make it even more comprehensive and useful. Knowing more about animal behaviour and some queer habits can be quite amazing. Few of us would know that many males turn more colourful and grow spectacular appendages during the breeding season, none more so than the males of the deer family. “In the non-breeding season, stags may be antler-less or may have small velvet knobs, but in the rutting season they sport the most impressive headgear among the mammals.” Who said only human males had vanity and preened hard to seduce the females? The book also tells us that in certain sub-species, male langoors possess a harem and do not tolerate sub-adult or even very young males in the troop! There couldn’t be a better place than Chandigarh to put this useful field guide to work; for it abounds with the bounty of nature. Take a walk in the city’s Leisure Valley and you will notice a large variety of squirrels (especially the five-striped one), hedgerows and small rodents. A good place to observe the various species of monkeys is the PGI and PEC campuses where these are well-entrenched and have made habitat; much to the chagrin of the residents, who are pestered by their “monkey business”. And now that ‘Hanuman Langurs’ have been especially brought in to give the mischief-makers a good run for their money, there would be more opportunity to watch wildlife in “police action!” Similarly the city’s Kansal and Nepli forests have various species of sambhar and spotted deer, besides other animals. The book is well produced and affordable—and above all, easy to use. However, one wishes that the cover was not clichéd (of a leopard)–but of some small creature—and also better photographed. So, just pick up your field glasses, the guidebook and the picnic hamper and take a Sunday off for a romp into the nearest park or forest. You will come back with renewed kinship with “all things bright and beautiful” made by God—and our friendly neighbours on the planet Earth. |
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