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Indian Legion presents to you Voice of The Wild, an...
One drowsy afternoon of a lazy day, I laid aimlessly on a bench pondering upon my life, I heard a kid squeal. Though he was at a good distance, as I goggled at him, I could notice he was crying at my glimpse. Wondering what made the lad howl, I glanced at myself. My sacred skin, untidy face, ungroomed hair, muddy nails, droopy muscles, prominent ribs, injured knee, cleft on my left cheek, bruises on my back and scratch marks on my limbs took me abash.
"Don't cry! You always wanted to see him, isn't it? Look at the gigantic body, majestic look, sparkling eyes and ferocious face. Just the one you see on T.V; King Leo,"said the boy's father.
"No, he is so different, king Leo is so magnificent but this one looks no regal, in fact uncivilized and savage. Please take me from here. I'll never argue over eating veggies please."cried the boy.
Their conversation got me recall who I was. Hi, I am Leo, the king of forest, the jungle was my estate and not a bee hustles against my will. To be precise I belong to Seshachalam hills, I am brought to SV zoological park, Tirupati in the name of conservation as I am endangered and among the very few lions left. But what protection is it to seize all my might, ensconce, the bodily me and exhibit to entertain the visitors.
"Oh! my! , Did you see that? under the tree on the perch? Look! there!" came a voice and a sudden chaos. A group of young folks along with a middle aged man stepped out of their battery cars and crowded before my cage. It is unusual for visitors to cross the ridge and reach the cage, but these should have come with a special permission. My trainer waved his stick and commanded me to come close. I curiously stood up and staggered to discover my obscure unusual visitors. All of them had a hand book, a pen and few of them cameras in their hands making it clear that they were students and came to see me as a part of their study tour.
"Students! Maintain silence! Do not disturb it, look, it's already very angry." warned the middle aged man, perhaps the teacher.
Angry?Was I am really angry?and how did he come to know of it? May be humans regard come to know of it? May be humans regard me as angry and may be he guessed I could be angry because I am showcased here.
But what is my anger up to? Up to these fastened chains? I thought and sighed.
The middle aged man started describing how mighty I am, how strong my paws are and how fierce I can be as the students listened to him with excitement. "Its a he or she?" asked someone and the man elaborated. "Look at the bear, the male has a beard and the female is devoid of it." My thoughts then shifted to my imperfectly cut beard.It was my pride,my golden long traces! They cut cut it because it can attract mites.
"How do you feed it?" inquired a curious kid. "We provide it 5kgs of beef and 3 liters of milk a day." answered my trainer. I used to chase my prey and earn my food but here, they feed me of course,but what is like grabbing whatever is provided,its like eating only because otherwise I'll die of starving.
"Uncle, Does it not go mad over you?"asked another. "It does, sometimes. but we will remain precautions, moreover we have trained people," he answered.
"Uncle! I heard you mix mild sedatives in its food..." "No no no, we don't interrupted the guide."
Well!Someone like me, who has nothing to do in life despite all the abilities does not need any depressants I thought. "Has it got teeth?"asked another girl. Good question little one I don't need canines to eat this processed meat, I regretted.
"Yes,smirked my guide and slid his stick across the cage mesh and I leapt upon the cage opening my mouth and everyone jumped away from the cage screaming. My trainer does this generally to attract visitors showing how i violent I was.
"Don't worry it can do you nothing," giggled my trainer. I don't like him, saying so. They first forcibly chain me,put cuffs around my paws then prison me into a completely sealed cage and finally say I can do nothing! Let me out and i'll show you what I can do! I thought.
When I question myself what could be the reason for my ailment,I have no answers. I s it because I am more powerful? Because smaller and less harmful animals are at least put in a large open cage where they can at least freely move. They are put in groups,though in a cage they have a family but I have no one even to share my tears with. Visitors visit other animals with delight but when it comes to me..a boy just wept at my glance!
Questions went on and on followed by respective explanations and soon the class was over. "You can take photographs now," announced the teacher. Few of them came forward, some were posers, some were photographers, a few just wanted to capture me in their memories and kept on gazing rest were watching all the drama that others made while clicking photographs.
They wanted to click good photographs but with palms trembling. They wanted to pose for a courageous snap with me, the Lion, the ferocious but with lots of hidden fear. They jumped back as I stepped forward. This entertained others. A few tired to show that they are very brave and stood close to the cage but on their toes making it clear, they were pretending. Among them there was a girl who tired to grab maximum attention showing out how sensitive she was, chirping at my every movement. Soon they had to leave, they all waved me a Good bye. Through their talks, I could guess they were next going to the dark chamber, where white tigers were put. White tigers are the hybrid breeds, along with ferociousness they had very gigantic body and white colour. Their specialty is the reason they are put in an even more closed place, devoid of sunlight just because they look more attractive in a place with dim light. I am happy I get to see at least the sun. I am glad I am not as blessed as them, for humans to manipulate my boon to bane.
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Love and hugs. ⚫️⚜️⚫️⚜️⚫️⚜️⚫️⚜️⚫️⚜️⚫️ October 17, 2020 (Saturday)
