How do we lose our identity?

After visiting Bharatpur bird sanctuary I am wondering about the way a place builds its identity. Bangalore is known for software development, Bihar is known for backwardness while Chattisgarh is known for Naxalites. The reasons could be the business, history or political or any other activity. Bharatpur is known for the migratory birds. These birds are the essence of the town. We had a buffer day when we were at Karanprayag, but we decided to make best use of it by visiting Bharatpur and Fatehpur Sikri. We travelled 480km riding for 14 hours through Uttarpradesh late in the evening just to reach Bharatpur on 12th of June. But to our dismay the Bird Sanctuary (also known as Keoladeo National Park) had a board on the main gate announcing the closure of the park for two months - May and June. But we were lucky to speak to the guards and locals around the park.

Through the conversations we came to know that in last 3 years the number of migratory birds has drastically reduced. This is mainly because the lake that supports the avifauna is dry. The lake is rain fed during monsoons. But the water is not sufficient during winter season. Water to the lake is fed from the other rivers such as Banganga. Since 2004 the water flow to the park has been reduced by almost 95%. This is because some farmers wanted this water for their livelihoods.

The park supported a large variety of migratory birds. The hotels and restaurants around the park are named after these birds. Though the park has been declared as world heritage site, it is now just a dry patch in the outskirts of Bharatpur. Recently there has been heavy logging leading to almost no place for birds to build nests and with the lake being dry, birds have started to change their migratory pattern. They have been choosing non-protected regions to breeding and are getting killed by people for meat.

This sanctuary was created about 250 years ago. Since then the park has given Bharatpur a new identity. Thousands of birds have bred and returned to this park again and again over centuries with all the trust in the people of Bharatpur. They have been flying here from as many as 12000km just to find water and a small place to build nests, lay eggs and raise their hatchlings. Now this pattern has been broken.

We human beings have started to believe that we are the only species that are meant to live on this planet. Our respect for other living beings and our understanding about their importance/role in our live is decreasing gradually. Time is not far before the park will be closed forever. Today by stopping water to the park people and government of Rajastan have made their first attempt to ruin the identity of Bharatpur. The public interest litigation on this issue alludes to the power and control we human beings have over our fellow creatures.

But we leave Bharatpur with a big question in our heart - are we here to dominate and live alone on this planet or are we here to co-exist and live in harmony with all other living beings? Is the Earth meant only for homo-sapiens?