Fins, Feathers, Paws

UNDERSTANDING NATURE'S BEAUTY

- Atharva Chaturvedi  (VIII B)

Mumbai University's Kalina campus ushered in the New Year by doubling up as a temporary shelter for chirpy exotic birds and a slice of acquatic life.  University officials organized an educational exhibition with the pet lovers association, Sanjeevan Trust from 3^rd Jan 2013 to 6^th Jan 2013.  Breeders from the city set up stalls with unusual pets from around the globe.  There were about 120 schools registered to attend this exhibition.  St. Joseph's High School (Wadala) was one of them.

Fifty-one students (representatives from Stds. IV to VIII) from our school were given an opportunity to take part in this exhibition.  At the site, the students collected an enormous amount of information on the exotic fishes and birds.  Everyone present there were amazed to see that majority of the birds there were not caged!  There was enough supply of food and food products for the birds and some of these were kept for sale too. 

We came across a variety of exotic birds - the long tailed fin, the lava sparrow, the sulphur crested cockatoo, the eclectus parrot, the blue and yellow macaw, the Goffins cockatoo, Barnard's parakeet, the great palm cockatoo and many more.

The variety of fishes were amazing – there were the eels, the tire track eel, the tiger fish, the flower horn, the black piranha, arowana, the golden Oscar, starfish, the black ghost, the feather queen… to name a few.

Aficionados of fins and feathers making a beeline to a pet shop or a park will find the brief information about the most viewed pets at the exhibition noteworthy:

1. The macaw: Originally from South America, colourful macaws are fruit and seed- eating birds.  There are 999 known species of macaws, and breeders admit that the birds find Indian weather conditions comfortable and conducive.  The military macaw is one of the largest birds in the macaw family.  They live in large flocks with a lifespan of 50 - 60 years in the wild.

2. The flower horn cichlids: This is an ornamental man-made fish that does not exist naturally and lives for about nine years.  Found in Taiwan they cost up to Rs. 30,000 each.  The male is identified by the nuchal hump, while the female doesn't possess the head bulge.

3. Golden Pheasant: Native to the mountains of China and despite their showy appearance, the birds are difficult to spot in their natural habitat.  Although they can fly in short bursts, they spend most of their time on ground.

4. Sun Conure:  Native to South America, baby birds will have green-tipped wings.  But as they grow, they twin predominantly yellow with hints of orange. 

5. African grey parrot: Found in rain forests of Africa, this species of parrot usually lives to about 80 years.  Compared to other parrots, breeders consider them to be the quick learners and say their IQ matches that of a five year old child.

6. Zebra Eel: Zebra morays are found primarily in rocky and coral reefs on the east coast of Africa to the Red Sea.  Unlike most other moray eels, it feeds almost exclusively on crustaceans, sea urchins and mollusks.  One of the most docile of eels, it is naturally reclusive staying hidden, emerging only when food is offered. 

7. Pouter: Pouter pigeons are found in the dessert region of America and live for an average of seven years. 

8. Cockatoo: Pet lovers call the cockatoo the most affectionate bird in the sky.  Native to Australia and Indonesia, the Goffin cockatoo is white in colour while the Moluccan Cockatoo is salmon-crested and the black variant is pitch black except for a red tail.  Gallah cockatoo is pink in colour.

The exhibition of Fins, Feathers and Paws proved to be an enriching educational programme filled with thrills and laced with a sense of wonder.  The mad rush among friends and companions to share notes of this visit is an indication of the excitement and exhilaration that follows a rewarding activity.