My craze for wildlife dates back to the time when I started understanding the fundamental difference between man and animal ….I was told that both are living beings but a man is more intelligent than all animals…but as time passed by , I grew up to understand that the reverse is true ….man has conditioned intelligence , which grows with time , in the folds of the cerebrum inside the brain whereas an animal has unconditioned intelligence , which is sharp and agile .The animals which are at the peak of intelligence are the mammals , and in mammals , dolphins outsmart the rest.
I had heard a lot about Gangetic dolphins and the Irrawaddy dolphins , the species of dolphins found in Asia. Some days back I visited the back waters of Bay of Bengal to trace the Irrawaddy dolphins found in this part.
Irrawaddy dolphins are small than their European counterparts and don’t move about in groups and they travel thousands of kilometers in search for food. As I ventured out along the coast line, in search of the dolphins, I entered the chilika lake , the largest fresh water lake in Asia , located along the coast line of Orissa.
Chilika is famous for various reasons, it’s a bird sanctuary, has a rich treasure of flora and fauna, and the place is a paradise on earth.
I started on my journey to unravel the mysteries attached to this fascinating mammal …the ride along the coast line was thrilling , I encountered small islands filled with red crabs , the water was as clear as crystal , I could see shrimps and other kinds of fishes on which the dolphins thrive …I Came to know that the local fishermen earn a livelihood out of these dolphins and for a change not by killing them but by protecting these lovely creatures. The locals here claim that the dolphins are their friends as they aid in fishing, these creatures drive the fishes right into the fishing net. I was amazed by the peaceful co-existence between man and animal .As time passed by , my desire to have a tryst with these mammals grew ….I waited patiently , jus for that glimpse….while I was traveling on the boat , the boat entered into shallow waters near to the shore , and the engines of the boat were switched off , slowly the boat drifted along the waters ….I was excited as the boatman told me this was the place the dolphins frequent the most…I wanted to jump into the water , the silence was deafening , it was pure bliss , everything was music to my ears ...then suddenly it happened …manna from heaven , a glistening glimpse of the famous Irrawaddy dolphin ...at first I couldn’t see it but then as it drifted past my boat , I could see why these mammals are the favorites among human beings , they are so friendly , I wanted to jump into the water and swim along side the dolphin….it was a dream come true for me…always saw them on animal planet , saw them on magazines , saw them on internet and now right in front of my eyes…I spent some million photographs on these lovely creatures…it was like meeting a friend after a long time...then as another boat passed by , it was time my friend bid adieu to me and meet up other human beings ….as i returned back , I just looked back at the creek , how I wished I could take him to my place and keep him for life…How I wished I could have become one of those and moved about freely , without any inhibition , without any prejudice ...
