Jallikattu and Jailbirds
Sanctuary Asia|February 2017

The year has started with two reversals for conservation and animal welfare. In Rajasthan, the High Court has acquitted actor Salman Khan in the infamous blackbuck poaching case and in Tamil Nadu the state has promulgated an ordinance that overturns the Supreme Court ban on Jallikattu, the ancient sport of bull taming. Both are unrelated cases that are only linked overtly by the fact that they deal with animals, one wild and the other domesticated. But I have been fascinated by both for the fundamental lessons that they give those of us who wish to protect the natural world.

Vivek Menon
Jallikattu and Jailbirds

TAMING THROUGH TALKING

Let us start with Jallikattu. This sport of bull taming is an ancient Tamil practice that involves training and letting certain prize bulls of native breeds into arenas where contestants tame them by hanging on to their humps. Taming bulls is not essentially a Tamil sport. The Spanish revel in bullfights, the Texans round up cattle in rodeos and even the Epic of Gilgamesh records the sport of bullfighting some 2,000 years before the birth of Christ. The epic Mesopotamian poem narrates: “The Bull seemed indestructible, for hours they fought, till Gilgamesh dancing in front of the Bull, lured it with his tunic and bright weapons, and Enkidu thrust his sword, deep into the Bull’s neck, and killed it.” There are Indus Valley seals that depict the sport and cave paintings of bulls and men in apparent fighting or taming postures.

Denne historien er fra February 2017-utgaven av Sanctuary Asia.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra February 2017-utgaven av Sanctuary Asia.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA SANCTUARY ASIASe alt
Why Children Are Needed To Help Save The World
Sanctuary Asia

Why Children Are Needed To Help Save The World

On my very first day in India, I encountered many marvelous new customs not practiced in the United States, my home country. But the most curious by far involved trees. Here and there, alongside the roaring streets of Mumbai were rings of marigold wreathed around twisting banyan trunks like dried rays of afternoon sunlight…

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2019
Who's Who?
Sanctuary Asia

Who's Who?

Fact: all toads are frogs, but not all frogs are toads! Let’s unpack this...

time-read
1 min  |
September 2019
The Sea Raptor
Sanctuary Asia

The Sea Raptor

The White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster is one of the most common raptors along the Indian coastline. Nevertheless, the sight of this soaring, broad-winged, white and black bird of prey is nothing less than majestic

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2019
Bringing Up Bob Hoots.
Sanctuary Asia

Bringing Up Bob Hoots.

While we were visiting a friend’s farm in the village of Yelachetty, near Bandipur Tiger Reserve, we found Spotted Owlets nesting on the tiled roof… and one of the chicks on the kitchen floor!

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2019
Yala, Land Of The Leopard
Sanctuary Asia

Yala, Land Of The Leopard

Yala is not only Sri Lanka’s second-largest, but also the most-visited national park in the island nation.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2016
Sanctuary Asia

The Wizards Of Oz!

Australia is not only a country, but also a continent. The land down under, cut-off from the rest of the world has an abundance of unique species of native animals, birds, reptiles, insects and plants.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2017
Scales & Tails
Sanctuary Asia

Scales & Tails

I was really excited and looking forward to the workshop on reptiles and amphibians at Nature’s Nest in Mollem, Goa, between June 24 and 26, 2017. It was my opportunity to meet renowned herpetologist Varad Giri.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2017
Big, Brilliant And Endangered
Sanctuary Asia

Big, Brilliant And Endangered

When one thinks of elephants, the first word that probably comes to mind is BIG! But elephants, while they may be the largest creatures on land, are not just big and powerful, they’re wise and sensitive as well. Recent scientific studies have established that they are among the most intelligent animals in the world.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2017
Earth Manners
Sanctuary Asia

Earth Manners

Everyday habits matter! Let’s be kind to the planet, animals and ourselves!

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2017
World Scan
Sanctuary Asia

World Scan

CHINA’S IVORY TOWNAn explosive investigation by the Environmental Investigation Agency has revealed how criminal gangs originating from an obscure town in southern China have come to dominate the smuggling of ivory tusks poached from African elephants.

time-read
3 mins  |
August 2017