The Conservation Education Centre : July 2017

Friday 21 July 2017

Hustle in the Grass

Hustle in the Grass: A Poem by Sudipta Maity

Hustling in the grass, he awaits

For his prey, not to become a hunt for play

The king of jungle, Gods of ancient Egypt

Now behaves like a mere cat, with more dust than fur.

Once, his roar would make the clouds collide with the mountains

Now, the mountains over look his pride with apathy.

His mother was killed by the man, who roams free in the cities.

His brother was killed by the men, for roaming free in the city.

He regrets the day, Adam laid the foundation of modern civilization

And made the sapiens go savage on a demonic spree.

The once afraid species of animals now kills him mercilessly

The once green home of his, is now dying alarmingly.

He knows no other being, that kills the very foundation of life on earth

These beasts, they label as wild are more domesticated for their home.

What does the humans want? He fathoms.

To become the sole centre of attention for us, universe replies.

The hills of Aravalis, the grassland of Africa, the desert of China

This panther can take his black spots on a yellow stocky body through all.

With grace he will eat anything that nature has to offer

But, respect to his life, is far more than anything that humans tend to cater.

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You may reach author at cecbnhsdelhi@gmail.com

Sudipta Maity is an intern at Conservation Education Centre and a student of Bachelor of Science (Zoology) at Dr. Zakir Hussain Delhi College.

Friday 7 July 2017

Bountiful flowers and over those fluttering colorful butterflies; the idea of at home butterfly garden, appeals to everyone. One does not need a lot of yard space for the garden and even a small space in balcony can accommodate butterflies easily.

All you need is nectar-rich plants and host plants where they can lay their eggs. Give them proper space and butterflies and moths will definitely dwell in your garden.

Things to keep in mind as you plan your garden:

Size Matters: Many of the plants that attract butterflies require space to spread out, so choose large pots and planters, if you are planning the garden in yard, leave enough space around these plants.

Suitable Location: Butterflies generally get attracted to areas with ample sunlight, so place the plant pots accordingly. It is a good idea to situate the containers near a wall to block wind and provide the insects with shelter if needed.

Water Availability: Butterflies are not able to drink from ponds or birdbaths – they prefer shallow sources of water like puddles. So create an area where water collects after it rains, or create your own puddles around the garden to give your winged friends a place to sip.

Host and Nectar Plants: Choose a diverse range of host plants to attract different species, and be sure to include a few tall plants to provide additional protection from strong wind. Plants like Curry leaves, Lemon, Bryophyllum are known to be some of the most favored host plants whereas some of the nectar plants are Pentas, Verbaena, Kufiya etc. (This is the list for Delhi and most of the India states. Try to find out plants that are native in your localities.)

Climatic Preferences: The climatic preferences of various butterflies are important parameters and should be consider for butterfly gardening. For most of the butterflies May-November is the best season. In extreme climates during monsoon season, dry wind season and exhausting summers, the butterfly population tends to be sparse.

To know more, Write us at cecbnhsdelhi@bnhs.org

If you are in Delhi (India) then visit our butterfly park at Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary