ANALYSIS
"There is a special providence in the fall of a sparrow," Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet. There is an ominous ring about those lines today.
Just when environmentalists were wondering if the only way future generations would be able to see frogs would be in natural history museums, comes the disturbing news that entire colonies of bees are on the missing list in the US.
Parents may wonder how they will bring up the subject of the birds and the bees, but jokes aside, this is serious cause for worry. Bee-keepers in more than 20 states have reported entire colonies missing; the combs are intact and loaded with honey and larvae, but there are no live bees. No dead bodies, nothing with which to start investigation.
The worry is not just about honey stocks diminishing, but about the fate of crops, of all the fruits and flowers that the bees help pollinate, and of the natural ecological
balance.
Shocking, also, is the discovery that no records of demographics and movement patterns of pollinating bees, either in the wild or those from kept hives, have been maintained. It’s a mystery that has baffled the experts.
If that is the state in the world’s most advanced country, is it surprising that the disappearance of entire species from parts of the Indian subcontinent goes unnoticed and unlamented?
Since they started disappearing in the 1950s, almost 120 species of frogs, an amphibian with a 125 million year-old history, have disappeared. The Western Ghats have the dubious honour of joining Costa Rica and Australia among others, which have lost many of their frog species to pesticides, traffic, pollution and general changes in habitat that strike at their immune system and predispose them to infections. Frogs are a wonderful indicator of the health of the ecosystem around their habitat, so their disappearance is another cause for concern. Many of the world’s butterflies are extinct too.
The situation in Mumbai is grave. Microwave-emitting towers, and a growing crow population are supposedly responsible for the diminishing numbers of sparrows and mynahs, and the sound of a raucous parrot might soon be a cause for celebration among those who care.
Can we afford to be sanguine? Only if we realise these species are important. Nature links each living being to another and creates a chain that can be broken only with risk to all. “There is a special providence in the fall of a sparrow,” Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet. There is an ominous ring about those lines today. It’s an alarming situation that the authorities need to study and, if possible, reverse before it is too late.
Delhi residents defy firecracker ban, illuminate night sky with Diwali celebrations
'Since I've retired...': Rohit Sharma reacts after Mumbai Indians retain him for IPL 2025
Diwali 2024: How to get rid of acidity, bloating, constipation post Diwali binge?
IND vs NZ, 3rd Test Dream11 prediction: Fantasy cricket tips for India vs New Zealand match
IPL 2025: What is the remaining purse and RTM cards for all teams ahead of mega-auction?
Meet Indian man who secured job at Elon Musk's Tesla after sending...
'Isse zyada sundar...': Viral video captures aerial view of Diwali celebrations in Noida, WATCH
THIS company got richer by Rs 29878 crore on Diwali day due to...
Delhi's air quality deteriorates to 'very poor' category, likely to worsen after festival
IPL 2025: Rishabh Pant released by Delhi Capitals, CSK retains MS Dhoni as...
Meet woman, who quit NCPI as COO, now set to lead India's largest...
Viral: Businessman gifts Rs 1 crore Rolex watch to contractor for his...
Post-Diwali hangover? 5 easy tips to detox the liver
Pushpa 2: Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna share film's NEW poster to wish fans on Diwali
Gautam Adani's companies set to supply 6500 MW of power to THIS state
WTC 2023-25 points table update after South Africa clean sweep Bangladesh 2-0 in Test series
Meet woman, college dropout who earns Rs 1494000 monthly, works just 4 hours a day, she is...
Why KL Rahul decided to part ways with Lucknow Super Giants ahead of IPL 2025 retention deadline?
Sebi issues Rs 154 crore demand notices to Anil Ambani's companies, asks them to pay within...
IND vs NZ: Jasprit Bumrah to miss third India vs New Zealand Test? Report says star pacer is....
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder? Why it happens in winter?
New Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem open to truce with Israel, says, 'we accept but…’
BSNL continues to rise, deploys over 50000 4G sites with Tata Group company in India's most...
'Either this or nothing': Elderly couple dances at Mohit Chauhan's concert, WATCH viral video
'That's so cheap': Sana Makbul CRITICISES pap after he tells her 'mazze nahi aa rahe' in viral video
Indian, Chinese troops at LAC exchange Diwali sweets after border disengagement
Dawood Ibrahim was fan of this superstar, invited him for tea, confessed a murder to him, then…
NEET entrance 2025 exam to happen online? Here's what high-level panel suggests
Jadeja to enter IPL auction? CSK eying THIS star player as MS Dhoni's successor
Ratan Tata once surprised his dog trainer at Bombay VT: 'You hold the pup, I’ll take...'
Woman finds bundle of old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes during Diwali cleaning, netizens call it...
IPL 2025: List of players set be retained on deadline day, CSK, RCB, MI will retain...
Kartik Aaryan says his film Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 doesn't need cameos: 'Hume humaari...'
Meet man, who secured AIR 2644 in JEE, did B.Tech from IIT Kanpur, has now started doing...
Noida: Stunning drone footage captures Diwali celebrations, watch viral video
Is stock market open or closed on Diwali? Know details here
Don’t Move on Netflix movie review: Psychological thriller with enjoyable moments
Cricketer Ben Stokes' house burgled by masked robbers, England captain shares harrowing details
Diwali delights: Bengaluru man surprises mom with Apple iPhone 15, viral video wins internet, watch
'Divine festival of lights...' PM Narendra Modi extend his wishes on festival Diwali
Diwali 2024: Dos and don'ts, subh muhurat, rituals and more
Delhi pollution: National capital's air quality dips to 'very poor' on Diwali, AQI hits...
Varun Dhawan finally reveals daughter’s name on Amitabh Bachchan’s KBC 16: ‘We named her…’
Elon Musk is hiring Hindi tutors for his firm xAI, offering pay up to Rs...
When Abhishek Bachchan broke his silence on divorce rumours with Aishwarya Rai: ‘Will you let me…”
Triupati Laddo row: Andhra Pradesh govt appoints BR Naidu as new chairman of Tirupati temple board
Meet man who left his IT job to build Indian brand, competes with Domino's, Pizza Hut, he is...
Diwali 2024: Know puja vidhi, shubh muhurat, significance, rituals and more
Meet man, whose father is a taxi driver, clears UPSC with AIR...