Page 49 - Mann Ki Baat English

Armored Titan of the Grasslands-
Indian Rhinoceros

The Indian rhinoceros is a living relic of prehistoric
times. With its single horn and thick, folded skin,
it dominates the floodplains of Kaziranga and
Assam.

Swamp Prince of Kanha- Barasingha

The barasingha, or ‘swamp deer’, is a graceful
denizen of India’s wetlands and grasslands. Known for
its striking antlers, which can be up to 12 in number, it
once thrived across central and northern India. Today,
it finds sanctuary in Kanha National Park.

The Deer Whisperer of Andaman

"My name is Anuradha Rao and I am the fourth
generation of this island. I was very young when I
first arrived here on a fisherman's boat and I saw
the deer for the first time. The British had brought
the deer to this island. I have been connected
to this place from the beginning. I used to come
here regularly to feed the deer, despite my family's
objections. I paid no attention to their concerns.
Whenever I closed my eyes, I could see the deer in
my mind. These small animals cannot climb trees to
eat and, as a result, often go hungry. If they are not
given food, they will only eat what is available on the
ground. They remain healthy when they receive proper
care and timely feeding. There was a time when people
were killing the deer and taking them away, leading to a
significant decline in their population. I then sought help
from the authorities to protect them. Initially, the number
of deer had decreased dramatically; I started with just 17.
45
45 Today, there are 550 deer on Ross Island."