It was a pleasant afternoon with cloudy sky, when Sai Vijay was totally occupied in quenching his gluttonous appetite. Standing on a green carpet of well-maintained grass, in close proximity to his Mother – called Shakuntala – Sai Vijay, pure vegan that he is, was content by eating grass and bushes. He looks well-built, muscular, and has a height of around 170 cm. Because of his bulky size and shape, he takes all his time, with remarkable calmness, to move around. The Sai Vijay I am talking about is the one who has become dear to my heart in our first meet. He is the Indian Rhinoceros.
Sai Vijay lives in Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad. My team members have adopted him by taking care of his expenses for a quarter.
Indian Rhinoceros at Nehru zoological park, Hyderabad.
We went to Zoo not just for hangout with team – which we did! – but with a bigger purpose in mind. All team members have contributed money to adopt Sai Vijay because unfortunately due to human greed his species has become endangered.
A lot of Rhinoceros are hunted for their horn. Poaching of these harmless, peace-loving beasts is rampant in north-eastern parts of India and South East Asia. Their horns are used for making traditional medicine which, some believe, has incredible healing power. In the last count only about 200 Indian Rhinoceros are left and hence they have been classed as endangered species and are protected.
Forest officials and ‘friends of animals’ all over the world have taken many measures to deter poaching and save Rhinoceros. September 22 is marked as World Rhinoceros Day to create awareness and educate people about the dire situation. Many volunteers have come forward to adopt animals at Zoo and pay their expenses for a particular period. In return they get some perks like tax benefits, free Zoo tickets, free car entry pass, and their name board is displayed near the animal’s field. Above all this, the love one feels after adopting an animal is priceless. Some people have joined various organizations that work closely with Zoo staff and educate visitors.
My team and I have made a humble effort by adopting a Rhino. You can also help to preserve endangered species by taking one or all of the below actions:
- Spread awareness about endangered species.
- Visit near by zoo park, national park or national reserve.
- Avoid plastic use. Try to recycle, reduce, and reuse.
- Plant a tree in your backyard.
- Build a bird water tank in your balcony.
- Group with your friends and adopt an animal.
For more information about endangered species, visit the below sites:
Khalid Khan's Blog 