Deciphering animal language in Bengal

[Guest guest]

*There was never a king like Solomon,

Not since the world began,

Yet Solomon talked to a butterfly,

As a man would talk to a man.*

**

* - Rudyard Kipling*

 

 

ASK THIS MAN, HE KNOWS WHAT THE DOG IS SAYING, LITERALLY

 

Mohammed Asif, Kolkata, June 13

 

It is no hidden fact that dogs read human commands. But do we humans

comprehend the canine language? Many of us may wince at the very thought of

trying such a bizarre act, but a teacher in Burwan has not only spent his

entire life listening to barks and whines, he has also taken leaps to

understand their moments of melancholy and happiness. And believe it or not,

dogs are his claim to fame today.

 

Meet Dr Sunil Pal, a life science teacher at Bharati Bhavan High School in

Katwa whose canine census - arguably the first of its kind in the world - in

1994 has fetched him an invitation to participate in an international

seminar scheduled to begin on July 30 this year on canine and feline

population dynamics in Mexico. The 48 year old says he fell in love with

man's best friend more than a decade ago. " The sorry state of some street

dogs in our locality prompted me to try and understand their needs and

behavioural pattern. Initially, I noticed while they could understand my

commands and even mood, I failed to read their minds. However, after

research for years I began comprehending their behaviour, " he said.

 

Pal began his census in early 1994. He took photographs of street dogs in

different areas of Katwa and, in the process, also took nasty growls and

bites in his stride. The census continued for 4 long years and his thesis on

canine behaviour earned him a Ph.D from Burdwan University in 1999.

 

According to the teacher, this is the first time a dog census has been

carried out anywhere in the world. " Census of tigers, elephants, rhinos and

even snakes have been conducted, but no one ever cared for a canine census, "

he claimed, adding that his work has received appreciation from home and

abroad.

 

Pal said he went to a particular area, photographed the dogs and classified

them on the basis of their colour, size, length of tail and tint on eyebrow.

Three months later, he once again went to the same area to count new

additions to the canine family.

 

" I collected data on a seasonal basis and along fixed routes. In Katwa

alone, for every square kilometre there are 156 to 214 dogs and their

population dwindles every year. However, for the past one year there has

been a rise. During research, I also noticed that dogs showed both maternal

and paternal care. Researchers abroad have acclaimed this finding, " he said.

 

 

This is not the first time the life science teacher will fly abroad. In

2005, Pal went to Sagamihara, Japan, on an invitation from the International

Society for Applied Ethology. He was the first and only Indian to attend the

seminar. This year, too, he is the only representative from the country. The

four day seminar, organised by the World Society for the Protection of

Animalsin Merida, Mexico, will see research scholars pouring in from across

the globe and Pal will make India proud by being a part of it.

 

mdasif

 

Hindustan Times, Kolkata edition, Thursday, June 14, 2007