Chapter 1.3 - Autobiography of a Great Indian Bustard
In this lesson, the author acquaints us with the different physical characteristics of the Great Indian Bustard. He also talks about their habitat, their eating habits, and other details, apart from providing information about their young ones.
He further elaborates that, though it is the state bird of Rajasthan and despite having ten sanctuaries for their protection, their number is on the decline.
Due to the uncontrolled population explosion created by man, the Indian Bustards were being pushed away from more than 90 percent of their home regions.
There are other reasons for their decline in number, like hunting, electric shock, loss of habitat, etc. With only 200 birds left in the world, the lesson reminds us that the birds need our love and support for their survival.
The lesson also enlists various ways in which we can do our part to stop the birds from becoming extinct.
pouch : Here, it means a pocketlike space
resonating : producing a loud, clear and deep sound
predators : animals that hunt, kill and eat other animals
POINTERS
1. Read the passage aloud.
Ans: Students should do this on their own.
2. You are going to meet a Great Indian Bustard very soon. Prepare at least 10 questions to interview him.
Ans: Hello! It is nice to meet you! Please answer a few questions:
(i) What can you tell us about yourself?
(ii) Where are you and your friends found in India?
(iii) When are you the happiest?
(iv) Why are your numbers on a decline across the globe?
(v) Which are the organisations which are supporting you in your struggle for survival?
(vi) How can the government play a role to help birds and animals on the verge of extinction?
(vii) Whose initiatives have led to increased awareness about the plight of the Great Indian Bustard?
(viii) How can the media help you in creating awareness about the problems faced by you?
(ix) What would you like the children to do to support you in order to survive?
(x) Do you have any message for human beings?
3. Play the roles of an interviewer and a Great Indian Bustard and present the interview in the classroom.
Ans: Students should do this on their own.
4. Write a letter to your friend about the Great Indian Bustard. You may use the following points :
- Why do we need to protect the bird?
What do you plan to do to help the bird?
Ans:
7C/7 Taximen’s Colony,
Kurla (W),
Mumbai – 400 070,
3rd July 2022.
Dear Rajani,
Hi! Hope this letter finds you in good health and happiness. I am writing this letter to express my concern about the fact that only the last 200 of the Great Indian Bustards are left in this world.
The animals, birds, insects, trees, rivers, seas and other elements of nature including man are all the part of a link which binds us together, and which keeps us going. It is high time we protect the Great Indian Bustard and other species which are on the verge of extinction.
How right are the words, “Let’s preserve nature, if not for anything else, For the beauty and strength it inspires!” We can protect the birds by creating awareness through our school magazine. We can write letters to the government officials too. We can discuss this issue with the elders. We can ask our teacher to take us to sanctuaries to have a better understanding of the life of the Great Indian Bustard
Let us remember: ‘The future lies in our hands. Let us conserve, preserve and protect all the elements of nature.’ Please think about the issue I shared with you.
Your loving friend,
XYZ
5. Form pairs and decide whether the following statements are those of a Great Indian Bustard or not.
| Statements | Great Indian Bustard | Some Other Bird |
|---|---|---|
(a) I am the heaviest flying bird in India. | ||
(b) I am known as Maldhok or Hoom in Marathi. | ||
(c) I live in mountainous regions. | ||
(d) I don’t like grasshoppers or beetles. | ||
(e) We don’t believe in building nests. | ||
(f) Our chick stays with the mother for a period of nearly one year. | ||
(g) I am the State bird of Maharashtra. | ||
(h) We have been pushed away from more than 90 percent of our home regions. |
Ans:
| Statements | Great Indian Bustard | Some Other Bird |
|---|---|---|
(a) I am the heaviest flying bird in India. | 🗸 | |
(b) I am known as Maldhok or Hoom in Marathi. | 🗸 | |
(c) I live in mountainous regions. | 🗸 | |
(d) I don’t like grasshoppers or beetles. | 🗸 | |
(e) We don’t believe in building nests. | 🗸 | |
(f) Our chick stays with the mother for a period of nearly one year. | 🗸 | |
(g) I am the State bird of Maharashtra. | 🗸 | |
(h) We have been pushed away from more than 90 percent of our home regions. | 🗸 |
6. With the help of the internet and other sources, obtain more information about the critically endangered birds and animals in India. Find the names of their sanctuaries.
Some critically endangered birds and animals in India :
‘CR’ or critically endangered birds or animals are those that are likely to become extinct in the wild. We may never see them again.
- Forest
- Owlet
- Indian Vulture
- Siberian Crane
- Deolali Minnow (fish)
- Asiatic Cheetah
- Himalayan Wolf
- Amboli Toad
Ans: Students should do this on their own.
7. Prepare a poster on the need for the conservation of the Great Indian Bustard.
Ans:
8. Write a short autobiography of any bird or animal of your choice.
Ans:
Hello friends! I reside in a dense jungle. I love rain and I express my joy by dancing in the rain. People say watching me dance is indeed a beautiful sight. Yes, I am a peacock.
I long to fly in the high blue sky like the pigeon. I wish I could fly above the clouds and beyond. Alas! It is not possible. But I count my blessings. My beauty and the fact that I am the National Bird of India gives me reasons to rejoice and celebrate. Next time you see a graceful bird with a bright shining tail, dancing to its heart’s content in the rainy seasons, you can be rest assured, it’s me.
I have a humble request. Please preserve and protect us. Many of us – my fellow beings – are on the verge of extinction. Please save us, else we will soon become a part of history.
Come, together let us co-exist.
9. Make a list of the channels available on your TV under the following categories :
News, entertainment, sports, movies, music, etc.
Which are the channels on which you can watch programmes on animals, wild life, conservation of environment, etc.?
Ans: Students should do this on their own.
10. Ask your parents to show you TV programmes on animals, wildlife and conservation on channels like the following :
DD National, National Geographic, Discovery and Animal Planet.
Ans: Students should do this on their own.
11. You have won a prize to visit a wildlife sanctuary or National Park in Africa or Australia. Choose a location, read about it. Imagine that you are visiting it and write a letter to your friend about it.
Ans:
7C/7 Taximen’s Colony,
Kurla (W),
Mumbai – 400 070,
3rd July 2022.
Dear Anita,
I was glad to receive your letter asking me about my journey to Australia. Well, I am writing you this letter to tell you all about my trip!
As you know, a few of my classmates and I won a prize to visit a wildlife sanctuary in Australia. We visited the “Moonlit Sanctuary”, which was situated in Melbourne. When we entered the zoo, we were greeted by the keeper of the zoo, who gave us a tour and told us interesting facts about the animals we saw. We first paid a visit to numerous Australian animals such as kangaroos, dingoes, emus, and giraffes as tall as buildings. My friend was able to get a picture with a beautiful snowy owl. Next, we spent time with the national animal of Australia, the koala, and I held one and fed eucalyptus leaves to her. We also trekked to the reptile house, where we saw exotic types of snakes and large lizards. I got to witness one of the snakes shedding its skin! At the end of our tour, I was sad to say goodbye to the keeper and all the wonderful animals.
I am joyful to have been able to have this experience. We should visit Australia together one day! Give my love and regards to your family.
Yours truly,
XYZ
12. Language Study : Identify the following from the list given in the box below :
4 nouns, 4 verbs, 4 adjectives, 4 adverbs, 4 pronouns.
bird wonderful friends gather humans we healthy grasslands helps directly protect arrive together away happy slowly afraid you us
| Nouns | Verbs | Adjectives | Adverbs | Pronouns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
bird | gather | wonderful | directly | we |
friends | helps | healthy | together | I |
humans | protect | happy | away | you |
grasslands | arrive | afraid | slowly | us |