Fwd: Cow and Leopard: Fascinating yet non-scientific observations

[Guest guest]

>Bal Ram Singh <bsingh

>bsingh

>Cow and Leopard: Fascinating yet non-scientific observations

>Wed, 14 May 2003 12:23:42 -0400

>

>Dear Friends,

>

>Although there are amazing things going on all the time, we rarely stop to

>think and notice them. How do we explain the following report with all our

>science and technology? Granted, this is perhaps the rarest of rare case,

>but it is still an observation that must have its basis.

>

>Bal Ram

>

>http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=21293

>

>Leopard befriends cow in Gujarat village

>

>Press Trust of India

>

>Vadodara, May 12: In a rare case of predator-prey friendship, a leopard

>coming to 'visit' a cow at night has literally become the talk of the town.

>The incredible ways of the two animals at Antoli village in Waghodia Taluka

>of the district have attracted the attention of one and all, including the

>wild life activists.

>

>According to honorary wildlife warden Rohit Vyas, who has visited the

>village several times with other enthusiasts, "the leopard has been

>visiting the cow from October last year at regular intervals".

>

>"After the villagers informed us about frequent visits of the leopard to

>the sugarcane field for its close encounter with the cow in the field, our

>team comprising conservator of forest H S Singh and others including

>wildlifer Manoj Thakkar and Kartik Upadhyay, visited the village for

>verification", Vyas told PTI here on Monday.

>

>"It was unbelievable", he said adding, "they approached each other at very

>close proximity and the fearless cow would lick the leopard on its head and

>neck".

>

>Giving further details about the animals-bond, Vyas said "the dogs would

>start barking when the leopard came to meet the waiting cow every night

>between 9.30 PM to 10.30 PM".

>

>The Forest Department, which was trying to capture the beast, gave up its

>efforts after learning about the friendship. Moreover, the leopard did not

>harm other animals in the village and its visits have benefited villagers

>as other animals kept away from damaging crops in the fields and crops

>yields went up by 30 per cent, Vyas added.

>

>

>Bal Ram Singh, Ph.D.

>Director, Center for Indic Studies

>University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

>285 Old Westport Road

>Dartmouth, MA 02747

>

>Phone: 508-999-8588

>Fax: 508-999-8451

>Email: bsingh

>

>Internet address: http://www.umassd.edu/indic

 

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