It is a shame that our only wildlife in Punjab will end up being on the Indian border. How sad is that?http://jang.com.pk/thenews/aug2011-weekly/nos-28-08-2011/foo.htm#2
Deer endeared
A sequel of love, distress and ultimate unison of two Sambhars in Lahore’s Jallo Park
By Syed Rizwan Mahboob
With ever-increasing habitat destruction and shrinking bio-diversity, news about existence of endangered wildlife in any particular locality always comes as a pleasant surprise. Areas closer to international boundary or line of control in tehsils of Narowal and Shakargarh can be included in categories of such rare heavens. Meandering bed of River Ravi, a labyrinth of seasonal nullahs, abrupt inundations and presence of defense fortifications may have discouraged the spread of human population. However, these very constraints have also helped a precarious wildlife population to continue its survival struggle against multiple odds.
The richness of wildlife biodiversity in the above-mentioned localities has few equals in the province. For instance, the areas boast of good populations of grey and black partridges in the broken terrain. The river swamp areas and nullah beds along the international border are home to small pockets of blue bull (nil gai), hog deer (para) and if you are lucky, sighting of Sambhar (Swamp Deer) should not come as a complete surprise.
The latter exists both as miniscule resident population besides odd animals occasionally crossing over from neighbouring territories. But Sambhar are not the only trespassers as regular sightings of common leopard are also reported almost annually. Last but not the least are several varieties of snakes including kobra (reported in Kartarpur area near Baba Guru Nanak shrine) and pythons who love to await their prey along beds of many seasonal streams.
However, the story that I am now going to narrate does not relate to ferocious leopards or wily pythons but portrays sequel of love, distress and ultimate unison of loved ones against all odds. As already explained, it is not uncommon for the various categories of deer to occasionally cross over the international boundary.
On a freezing winter morning some years ago, local wildlife staff was overjoyed to find a beautiful Sambhar stag who had accidentally crossed over to Pakistan near Ravi. Being young and full of vitality, it was only after some truly strenuous efforts that the wild beast could be subdued and immediately shifted to a large wildlife pen in Jallo Park in Lahore.
It was first specimen of its kind from across the border ever to be brought to Jallo Park and it can be safely assumed that the animal curator did everything possible for keeping the animal happy and healthy. However, the male Sambhar simply refused even the choicest feed, typically offered to deer in zoos. Experienced vets were summoned who testified to perfect health of the stag but could find no reason other than initial shock for staying hungry. Days changed into weeks and then months but this particular deer continued its forlorn existence while accepting bare minimum quantities of feed at odd hours.
As none of the zoo functionaries wanted to lose such a beautiful animal, every trick under their belt was tried. They even went to the extent of importing a few female Sambhar from different zoos within the province but to no avail. The forlorn Sambhar meted out some of the roughest treatment to these forced consorts who had to be hastily withdrawn from its enclosure. It was fast becoming clear that the trespassing Sambhar would never adapt to captive life and continue his pitiful life of solitude. Strangely enough, these wilful privations did little harm to his toned up body as he continued to grow in strength and bulk.
The ordeal of Sambhar continued for a couple of years with wildlife functionaries losing hope of pairing the Sambhar for a happy family life. It was at this gloomy juncture that something strange — almost straight from Bollywood silver screen — happened. The word spread amongst wildlife functionaries that a young female Sambhar had recently crossed over the international boundary and, strangely enough, had given up without any resistance to officials manning a defense post. The news of capture of a wild and young female Sambhar gave a great idea to the wildlife managers. It was agreed that as a last resort, the wild female Sambhar may be freed and paired with the forlorn male in Jallo. To their credit, the concerned security officials readily agreed to the idea as the female Sambhar was immediately transported to the Sambhar pen in Jallo Park.
Those who were lucky to witness the moment of entry of female Smabhar in the male’s pen would never forget the display of spontaneous love that the unison brought. The wild Sambhar who had lived like a destitute hermit for the last few years suddenly appeared to be transformed. Endless display of congeniality and innocent love amongst the wild beasts brought tears to the eyes of many who witnessed the moment.
Mr. Shah, the unassuming in-charge of wildlife pens in Jallo Park was prompt in narrating the saga of lost love, connecting the missing links. In unequivocal terms, he pointed out that the two Sambhar had already paired on the Indian side of border before the male accidentally crossed over to Pakistan and lost touch with her beloved. Thereafter, he patiently awaited his soul mate for several years. The female must have known about her loved ones’ ordeal in some inexplicable manner which ultimately forced her to cross the border and accept captivity.
In Shah’s words, the subsequent events leading to the re-union were scripted by Heavenly forces. He would even go to the extent of linking the capture of female Sambhar close to Guru Nanak’s shrine as yet another proof of the celestial nature of this love story. This rhapsody of love is told and re-told by Mr. Shah to select visitors to S?mbhar’s pen in Jallo wildlife Park who usually tend to accept it on its face value. The forlorn Sambhar and her coy female have lived happily since then, having successfully raised an impressive family of hinds and stags while testifying to the millennium-old adage that love knows no borders.