Activists turn sparrow-minded
They want strict laws to protect the species from extinction………Ashwin Aghor
After the news that sparrows were being sold in the city for their supposed aphrodisiac qualities, environmentalists and experts have demanded strict laws and inspection of Crawford Market to prevent the bird from being pushed to extinction.
“As sparrows are not listed in any schedule, culprits often get away with light punishment or a small bribe,” said Sunish Subramanian of Plants and Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).
Mohammad Dilawar, founder of Nature India, who pioneered the Sparrow Shelters, said the government should draft mandatory regulations to create habitats for sparrows. “Growing indigenous plants should be encouraged to help provide the birds insects,” he added.
Experts suggested a census of the bird should be carried out immediately. “We have asked the ministry of environment and forest for its approval to conduct the census,” said Girish Jethar, scientist in-charge of Envis Centre of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS).
“Hardly any studies have been conducted on sparrows or the birds in Mumbai. The census is necessary to ascertain the current state of the bird?s population.”
“Sparrows being domestic birds, they do not attract the attention of wildlife activists,” said Dilawar. “There is total apathy over the dwindling sparrow population. Also, there is no data on the bird,” he claimed.