Not so long ago, I visited Calcutta. Yes, I like to stick to the old name, it just rolls out with so much more ease. Calcutta grows on you. The people, the food – it’s a ball. My father and I decided to visit the Sundarbans National Park there. The road trip wasn’t exactly as riveting as my father constantly complained about the weather. Upon reaching, we showered and quickly found a guide.
The charm of this place is unparalleled. It’s almost like staring at a beautiful girl, simply because you can’t take your eyes off her irresistible pulchritudinous. We started by taking a tour of the local villages and then to the Sajnekhali Bird Sanctuary. We later proceeded on a boat cruise safari took us to the open area of a river crossing the towering and interwoven mangrove forests, where the adorable dolphins were all prepared to offer an incredible display of the dance. My father agreed to click pictures of me and I returned the favor.
But, I have to admit, the Royal Bengal Tigers are the souls of this place and the heartbreaking fact is that these exalted creatures are very close to extinction. It’s distressing because these animals don’t deserve to bear the brunt of our wrongdoings. Not just the Bengal tigers, but many animals like the West African Black Rhinoceros, the Sumatran elephant, the Himalayan Quail, the Cheetah, are amongst the many animals that have already become extinct in India. This is mainly due to human activities and I need not list them out for you. We’re all aware but there’s not much we’re willing to do about it.
Doesn’t this feel like losing a loved one?
A week ago, my friend lost her dog. She’s still grieving and she tells me it’s similar to losing a friend. The term “extinction” has many synonyms and “gone” is one of them and overall, it may be said that both these terms are intertwined. In my opinion, they (loosely) mean the same thing.
On that note, here’s a list of 5 dogs that are on the brink of extinction (I can literally hear my heart breaking into pieces as I type it)
Mastiff
As the name suggests, these dogs are massive in size. These dogs have served as guards, and war dogs. They’re otherwise well natured and social. They’re also very protective. These dogs are believed to have descended from one of the most ancient types of dogs- the Molosser. This type originated in the mountains of Asia, perhaps in Tibet or Northern India. Mastiffs are active dogs and need daily exercise and stimulation. It would be a shame, a tragedy (to put it more accurately) if these beautiful dogs are no longer found.
Glen Of Imaal Terrier
“Glen” or “Wicklow Terrier” originated in Ireland. They belong to the ‘Terrier’ breed and these are one of the other four Irish Terriers. The Glen is playful and very friendly around children. These dogs have been used to hunt small prey in Ireland since the 16th century. They were first bred as a working dog. “Small-but-strong” is a description often used with the Glen. They’re fast learners too. These delightful dogs are very close to extinction. Unfortunate.
Bloodhounds
Don’t let the perpetually sad faces fool you! These dogs are very gentle and affectionate. These dogs belong to a group of dogs that hunt together by scent, known as ‘Sagaces’. They’re anything but lazy and can follow a scent trail for miles at a go. They need long daily walks and runs. Bloodhounds are docile, yet stubborn; affectionate but sometimes shy around strangers. They’ve descended from hounds in Belgium. In 2015, only 77 Bloodhounds were registered according to the Telegraph.
Sussex Spaniel
This breed of dog was developed in Sussex County. They’re the “long and low” dogs and make for extremely compassionate companions. They were originally used for hunting and are very agile. They need to socialize with other dogs or else they can turn rather aggressive. They’re very intelligent and very quick learners. This dog is full of energy and is one of the few dogs that “howls when it smells their prey”. According to the Telegraph, only 43 of them were registered in 2015. What a regrettable turn of events!
Curly Coated Retriever
These dogs are exceptionally clever. They’re confident, proud and stand the tallest amongst all other retrievers. It is one of the oldest retriever breeds. They make excellent jogging companions and are terrific in all ways and senses. These dogs are known as the “Curly” and can easily be mistaken for a cross between a retriever and a poodle. In other news, they shed only twice a year! It is believed to have descended from the now-extinct English Water Spaniels and retrieving setters as well as other retriever-type dogs. These fun-loving dogs, however, are diminishing. The Telegraph reports that only 66 of them were registered in 2015.
What have we done? Man’s best friends are slowly disappearing and we’re gradually going to run out of luck! Let’s try to save our comrades.
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