I’ve been doing some reading on India’s plans to do massive development projects to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This will involve destruction of large parts of the currently forested lands, displacing both animals and local people to try to create a massive shipping port to rival Hong Kong.
There are supposed to be conservation efforts as part of the projects, but locals have claimed they have not had any involvement, when they are the ones familiar with numerous species found only on these islands.
If you would like to familiarize yourself with this story, here are some resources to get you started.
Wikipedia: Great Nicobar Island Development Project
Massive infrastructure project threatens Great Nicobar Island
Misguided Mega-Projects Threaten to Devastate the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
I will share with you the native owls if this island chain, as well as some other endangered birds of note.
Narcondam Hornbill (500-1500 remaining)
Nicobar Scops Owl
Andaman Masked Owl
Nicobar Pigeon (less than 1000 remaining)
Andaman Scops Owl
Andaman Hawk Owl
Nicobar Megapode (mound building bird, 750-1500 remaining, extinct on 2 Islands already)
Hume’s Hawk Owl
Andaman Woodpecker (1000-2500 remaining)
Walden Scops Owl
Stunning birds. Sad to hear their numbers are that low already even before this big project.
This group is just a small sample of the endemic animals on these islands, and there are just as many unique plants.
It’s so mind-blowing how many types of creatures exist in this world. So many can slip away before most people ever know they were even here.
It’s unfortunate we haven’t learned to live more with nature instead of always trying to overcome it.
I’m happy to get a chance to see these birds, even if only in pictures. I hope they will still be here decades from now, but it’s a reminder there are no promises in life and to appreciate the experiences we have.
Rare things can be around us too. I read this story today about an Austrian TV show accidentally cooking an endangered fish on air.
Austria fishermen fume over protected fish fried on public TV
Mistakes are made, but it’s when we knowing continue to do wrong that it becomes something else.
I try not to do too many posts with dark overtones, but when I do, it’s not meant to depress anyone, just to remind us all to appreciate what we have today, since it may not always be there.
I’m glad I got to see them and share them with you all.
It’s unfortunate we haven’t learned to live more with nature instead of always trying to overcome it.
I think for some of us, “we” are perfectly welcoming to living with nature. But Big Money wants more money. And Big Corporate Media is a subsidiary of Big Money. Thus, the world we see in front of us. That’s my $0.02 take. Happy Solutions include: making big money through: renewable energy, sustainable housing, improved cities and eco-tourism. Less happy solutions also exist.
It’s good there are numerous individual opportunities for people, but it’d be nice to see broader societal movements that make a massive impact, like on the scale when whole cities were jacked screwed up to add sewers.
It doesn’t feel like humans as a species have felt enough of a pinch yet to have woken up from our daydream of limitless growth though.
Until then, I am glad for the people that do realize we can make thoughtful choices without them needing to be sacrifices just yet. I assume we’re all thoughtful of nature in this group though, do I try to be mindful of preaching to the choir.
