Read the following two
poems − one about a tiger and the other about a panther. Then
discuss:
Are zoos necessary for
the protection or conservation of some species of animals? Are they
useful for educating the public? Are there alternatives to zoos?
The Tiger
The
tiger behind the bars of his cage growls,
The
tiger behind the bars of his cage snarls,
The
tiger behind the bars of his cage roars.
Then
he thinks.
It
would be nice not to be behind bars all
The
time
Because
they spoil my view
I
wish I were wild, not on show.
But
if I were wild, hunters might shoot me,
But
if I were wild, food might poison me,
But
if I were wild, water might drown me.
Then
he stops thinking
And...
The
tiger behind the bars of his cage growls,
The
tiger behind the bars of his cage snarls,
The
tiger behind the bars of his cage roars. PETER NIBLETT
The Panther
His
vision, from the constantly passing bars,
has
grown so weary that it cannot hold
anything
else. It seems to him there are
a
thousand bars; and behind the bars, no world.
As
he paces in cramped circles, over and over,
the
movement of his powerful soft strides
is
like a ritual dance around a centre
in
which a mighty will stands paralysed.
Only
at times, the curtain of the pupils
lifts,
quietly. An image enters in,
rushes
down through the tensed, arrested muscles,
plunges
into the heart and is gone. RAINER MARIA RILKE
Read the following two poems − one about a tiger and the other about a panther. Then discuss:
Are zoos necessary for the protection or conservation of some species of animals? Are they useful for educating the public? Are there alternatives to zoos?
The Tiger
The tiger behind the bars of his cage growls,
The tiger behind the bars of his cage snarls,
The tiger behind the bars of his cage roars.
Then he thinks.
It would be nice not to be behind bars all
The time
Because they spoil my view
I wish I were wild, not on show.
But if I were wild, hunters might shoot me,
But if I were wild, food might poison me,
But if I were wild, water might drown me.
Then he stops thinking
And...
The tiger behind the bars of his cage growls,
The tiger behind the bars of his cage snarls,
The tiger behind the bars of his cage roars. PETER NIBLETT
The Panther
His vision, from the constantly passing bars,
has grown so weary that it cannot hold
anything else. It seems to him there are
a thousand bars; and behind the bars, no world.
As he paces in cramped circles, over and over,
the movement of his powerful soft strides
is like a ritual dance around a centre
in which a mighty will stands paralysed.
Only at times, the curtain of the pupils
lifts, quietly. An image enters in,
rushes down through the tensed, arrested muscles,
plunges into the heart and is gone. RAINER MARIA RILKE
Some
species of animals might be safer in a zoo than in a forest. In a
forest, they could be hunted down, poisoned by some wild food, or
could drown in water. However, a zoo is not the correct substitute
for a forest. In a zoo, an animal would feel caged, bound, and not
free to roam about in the wild. It is for this reason that wildlife
sanctuaries and national parks have been instituted in order to
conserve several endangered species. These places provide protection
as well as natural surroundings to these species. They can roam about
freely in their habitats and are safe too. The public can visit these
parks and get educated about the animals and their lifestyles. The
parks and sanctuaries are run using a strict set of rules, the most
prominent being the ban on hunting. Since the animals are in the
open, visitors would not be able feed them and would not misbehave or
try to play with them as they are under strict guidance. Such
incidents have been recorded in zoos where people irritate and tease
the animals. Hence, a wild life sanctuary is a good alternative for
animals to be safe as well as in their natural surroundings.
Some species of animals might be safer in a zoo than in a forest. In a forest, they could be hunted down, poisoned by some wild food, or could drown in water. However, a zoo is not the correct substitute for a forest. In a zoo, an animal would feel caged, bound, and not free to roam about in the wild. It is for this reason that wildlife sanctuaries and national parks have been instituted in order to conserve several endangered species. These places provide protection as well as natural surroundings to these species. They can roam about freely in their habitats and are safe too. The public can visit these parks and get educated about the animals and their lifestyles. The parks and sanctuaries are run using a strict set of rules, the most prominent being the ban on hunting. Since the animals are in the open, visitors would not be able feed them and would not misbehave or try to play with them as they are under strict guidance. Such incidents have been recorded in zoos where people irritate and tease the animals. Hence, a wild life sanctuary is a good alternative for animals to be safe as well as in their natural surroundings.
