When Jane Met Raja...............................Sparks didn't fly

[Guest guest]

The headline is fantastic, a parody on the film 'When Harry Met Sally'..

 

 

 

www.hindustantimes.com

HINDUSTAN TIMES CITY, KOLKATA, Sunday, January 21, 2007

 

When Jane met Raja...

....Sparks didn't fly. HT City accompanies renowned primatologist Dame Jane

Goodall as she takes a walking tour of Alipore Zoo

 

Sudipto Shome

 

On a scale of one to 10, renowned primatologist Dame Jane Goodall placed the

care taken of chimpanzees at Kolkata's Alipur Zoo at five. For some big

cats, the rating was four. " Though the chimpanzee enclosure is in no way up

to the mark, the chimpanzees are not unhappy. But look at the cages of the

big cats. They are horrible and are like prison cells. Inspite of that I

give them four as the cats are well fed, " she said.

Goodall's short visit to the zoo on Friday morning, accompanied by her

assistant Mary Lewis and the toy-monkey Mr H, was primarily to see the

chimpanzees.

The first stop was the chimpanzee enclosure where the male chimp Raja was

patrolling his territory, picking up morsels of food. Goodall read from the

information board nearby to point out, " It says they live up to 37 years.

However, they live beyond 60 years and very often up to 70. "

While the conversation was going on, an unfazed Raja drenched his face with

his own urine. Seeing that both Goodall and Lewis said in unison, " Oh! The

poor boy is so bored. That's what they do to amuse themselves when they are

extremely bored. "

However, she also observed that Raja wasn't unhappy. " He has a shiny coat

that is an indication. Otherwise his hair would have thinned out. "

To reduce the boredom and improve the condition of the enclosure, Goodall

suggested that the authorities put telegraph posts,a termite mound and grow

trees to offer shade to tehchimps. " They should be engaged in activities to

make them feel happy, " she advised.

On the other hand, Rani was sitting alone in her cell. " That's terrible.

Why isn't she allowed to meet Raja? " asked the primatologist.

Goodall was even saddened by the plight of monkeys caged next to the

chimps. " That's really horrible. Why haven't they put branches inside? It's

so bleak in there. It wouldn't cost them much to put branches inside the

cage, " she commented.

The sadness was evident again when she saw some of the big cats. The

lethargic lioness, jaguars and leopards were all alone in their cages, she

pointed out. " So boring. They have nothing to do and have only a bit of sand

and dirty water. Imagine yourself being confined there day after day.

There's nothing you can do, " she said.

A block ahead, near the cages of the white tiger a large group of school

children - in their teens - accompanied by teachers were shouting at the top

of their voice. Goodall was visibly disturbed. " Why isn't anybody telling

them to stop? This is terrible. How can one allow such things? " she asked.

As we passed cage after cage, the same scences unfolded. The United Nations

Messenger of Peace ultimately said that she would write a letter to the zoo

authorities to highlight such issues. However, Goodall appreciated the

elephant and the white tiger enclosures in the zoo.

" They make you feel much better. I pity the other cats, which are not as

much lucky as this one, " she added, pointing to the lone white tiger roaming

in its specified green zone.

 

sudipto.shome