Wildlife on Pitara Kids Network

A Friend in Need

Tue, 06 May 2003 06:54:12 +0000

It happened not very long ago. But when you’re a snail, days move at snail’s pace, too. So, if you were to ask our friend the snail when this happened, she’d tell you, it was y-e-ars ago…

Well, to get on with our story. In the shade of a cool, damp log, snoozed a shy snail. She wasn’t alone in her cosy home, oh no. She had company. There was a slug the snail called Cousin Glug because, you see, snails and slugs are part of the same family. Now, since they both lived on land, they didn’t know, of course, that they had other cousins in the ocean!

The Exotic Peacock

Mon, 04 Sep 2000 18:58:57 +0000

Come monsoons, and we immediately think about the beautiful peacock, dancing in the rain, with its luscious tail spread out behind it. Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful birds in the world and a native of the Indian sub-continent, it is not surprising that the Peacock was anointed as the national bird of India in 1963.

Hailing from the pheasant family, these exotic birds are cherished for their colourful plumes and eggs. The peacocks, more appropriately called peafowls, (peacock refers to the male) are found in lowland forests and hills usually in small groups consisting of one male and several females.

The Wonderful World of Insects

Mon, 27 Nov 2000 15:58:31 +0000

What is an Insect?

Insects are found all over India from the icy Himalayas to the burning sands of the Thar Desert. They are found in the murky depths of rivers and lakes, and in the grass in your neighbourhood park. In fact, insects are everywhere-flying in the air, hidden among leaves and flowers, buried deep in the ground and even swimming in the water!

Some insects are so small that you may not be able to see them while others like certain beetles are as big as a mouse. Yet the smaller insects are the more active. Did you know that ants and bees pull or lift objects many times heavier than their own weight, or that flies flap their wings as many as one thousand times a second? Insects are strange and fascinating creatures.

Animal Quiz - 2

Fri, 23 Apr 1999 13:34:38 +0000

It is the largest living creature on earth, and weighs the same as 30 elephants put together. What is it? Check out your animal facts. [A sciene quiz for children about animals]

Monu Makes his Mark

Sun, 24 Nov 2002 06:05:27 +0000

Monu the mongoose crawled out of the ditch in the back garden. His mother was already out with his three little brothers. They had long bodies with short legs. They had bushy tails and tiny ears. And they had bright eyes, which shone like beads.

They did things fast. They were already good hunters like their mother. But Monu was not smart like his brothers. He didn’t like chasing mice and garden rats like they did. He didn’t even like to go for frogs and lizards. And he disliked snakes most of all! His brothers laughed at him. “Little coward!” they teased, “Poor frightened baby!”

The Sparrow's Nest

Sun, 22 Dec 2002 22:29:26 +0000

Oh, why does the sparrow
build a nest in the rain?

Won’t the downpour
wash the nest away?
Asked the child, to her grandmother.

Monsoon is a time
when there are
lots of worms,
and that means food
for the little ones!

That’s why sparrows build
a nest in the rain,
said the grandmother with a smile

The Deadly King Cobra

Mon, 24 Jan 2000 17:09:40 +0000

Belonging to the family Elapidae, the name Cobra is popularly applied to African and Asian snakes that are capable of spreading long ribs in their necks into a hood when threatened. There are six species of cobras: the Naja, the south African ringhal (Hemachatus), king cobra (Ophiophagus), water cobra (Boulengerina), tree cobra (Pseudohaje), and shield-nose cobra (Aspidelaps).

The king cobra or Hamadryad holds a record length of 5.58 m (18.3ft) for a venomous snake.

Parrots in My Garden

Wed, 29 Aug 2001 10:57:26 +0000

When it’s early morning
Before it’s really light
A flock of parrots flies across
Looking trim and bright

They swoop down on the juicy grams
Which I love to throw
They are not afraid of me
The way they come and go!

Soon my lawn is clean and clear
Of every little grain

And then the parrots leave the place
To fly back once again.

Who am I

Thu, 19 Dec 2002 21:30:22 +0000

Just read the rhymes that we have made for you. Let us see if you can pick up the clue.

Have You Seen the Cuckoo Bird?

Fri, 23 Jun 2000 21:27:22 +0000

Have you seen the cuckoo bird
With raven-coloured wing?
Although I haven’t seen one yet
I’ve often heard her sing.

The cuckoo on our champak tree
Is hidden from our sight
Because the leaves are thick and close
But how she sings at night!

‘Cuckoo… cuckoo’ says the bird
‘I may be dark, it’s true
But there is not a single bird
That sings the way I do!’

Why do Beavers Build Dams?

Thu, 22 Jul 1999 20:24:04 +0000

Picture a giant rat with a flat tail and webbed feet. That’s what the beaver looks like.

There are two kinds of beavers: the American and the European. The European beaver, found in Norway, Poland, Germany and France, lives in burrows.

But the American beaver builds a dam across a stream or lake to construct his home or lodge. The lodges are made of huge logs of trees.

The American beaver constructs solid dams and lodges because it has the mind of an expert engineer among all the creatures in the animal kingdom. And it is hard-working too. Moreover, building fortress like lodges and dams helps it escape unfriendly animals.

How Many Kinds of Rhinos are There?

Thu, 19 Oct 2000 02:17:34 +0000

A modern day rhino or rhinoceros looks pretty much like its ancestor that existed on earth more than 30 million years ago.

Its status as an animal “biggie” hasn’t changed much either. The ancestors of the modern-day rhinoceros – the 4 feet tall Uintatherium and the 15 feet high Indricotherium – were the largest land mammals ever. Today’s rhino is the largest living land mammal, after the African elephant, in terms of size and weight.

Koel

Thu, 21 Dec 2000 07:56:24 +0000

When wisps of white
Sail across the sky
When the breeze blows warm
And the days grow long
From somewhere in the distance
You can hear my song
Coo-ooo, Coo-ooo Coo-oooo

When mangoes ripen
In the dark green trees
And hovering around
Are busy buzzy bees
Right over the wall
You can hear my call
Coo-o, Coo-oo, Cooo-ooo

When plump wild figs
Go squish under your feet
And juicy purple jamuns
Are munched by parakeets

Why Do Turtles and Tortoises Live So Long?

Sun, 23 Nov 1997 04:39:31 +0000

Turtles and tortoises have been on planet Earth even before the dinosaurs. They are that old. The difference between a turtle and tortoise is that the turtle stays in water while the tortoise stays on land. But both creatures have one thing in common: they live to a ripe old age, from 120 years to almost 200 years!

Some of them are huge, like the giant tortoises of the Galapagos Islands – they weigh beyond 200 kg; their shells are more than a metre long. The beauty is that they hatch from eggs that are no bigger than a hen’s!

The Fox and the Goat

Fri, 07 Sep 2001 13:40:17 +0000

Dabbu the fox was in a happy frame of mind. He had just made a hearty meal of the remains at King Lion’s den after the great king had gone out for a stroll. The meal had been fresh deer and it was smacking good. If only luck like this shone upon him every day, thought Dabbu.

Thinking such thoughts, Dabbu looked up at the clear sky and began to sing as he walked. He had watched Hindi film heroes do that when they were happy. This mainly happened when they were in love.

A Tale of Tails

Sun, 05 Mar 2000 17:55:47 +0000

Dear reader, I am sure you know that a snake and a mongoose are sworn enemies. They are always ready, willing and waiting to kill each other. But I do not think you know that this wasn’t always the case. Once upon a time, not very long ago, they were the best of friends. Surprised? Let me tell you the full story….
On the foothills of the Himalayas, there was a forest. In one corner of the forest, beside a huge river called Neera, lived a snake and a mongoose. The snake was called Sarpu, while the mongoose was named Mongu.They had grown up in each other’s company, hunting, eating and playing together.

Mammals

Fri, 02 Jun 2000 10:52:04 +0000

Most give birth to young ones, some lay eggs. But they all produce milk to feed their young. Would you like to know more about mammals? [A sciene quiz for children about mammals]

The Friends

Tue, 29 Jan 2002 15:26:37 +0000

Two friends, Hemant and Vikas, planned to go hiking in the woods. They packed their knapsacks, lugged them over their shoulders and started out.

One evening, while walking through the dense forest, they heard a bear growl. They were very scared and started to run away, but “Twick, twick”, they could hear the twigs breaking with each step the bear took towards them.

Desperate, Hemant saw a low branch hanging from a tree. He quickly caught hold of the life-saving branch and climbed on top of the tree as soon as possible. He was so scared that he did not even look at his friend once.

The Wise Doves

Sat, 16 May 1998 03:34:17 +0000

Once upon a time, there lived many doves in the jungle. One day they went out in search of food. They flew long distances but did not get anything to eat. All of them were now completely exhausted.

A young dove asked the King Dove, “Your majesty, please permit us to take some rest.”

The king replied, “Have courage, my dear young fellow. We shall definitely get something to eat very soon.”

The Wise Doves [Illustrations by Amarjeet Malik]

The young dove started flapping his wings with force and soon left everyone behind.

Birds

Thu, 18 Mar 1999 15:22:37 +0000

Which bird feeds its young ones so much that they become too fat to fly? And which bird can hold 13 litres of water in the giant pouches of its beak… It’s simply fascinating!

What is a Kangaroo Rat?

Mon, 17 Jun 2002 14:37:03 +0000

It looks like a small kangaroo for its hind legs are longer than its fore legs. And it uses its tail to balance itself. In fact, unlike other rats it does not run on all four legs but jumps around from bush to bush in search of food – like a kangaroo. And that’s why it is called the kangaroo rat.

The Mouse who Lived in the Lion's Cave

Sat, 16 Jan 1999 09:12:41 +0000

The king of the jungle, the lion, lived in a big dark cave at the foot of the hill. He was a good king, and used to hunt only when he was hungry. Every night, he would go out to hunt and bring back one animal to his cave. After eating to his heart’s content, he would go to sleep.

In his cave, a little mouse had made her house too. She would wait for the king to fall asleep, and then come out to eat, the leftovers. She was so small that leftovers were more than enough for her. She was very happy, as she got to eat the best food. Thanks to the lion, of course.

The Last of the Big Ones

Thu, 29 Mar 2001 10:48:16 +0000

The red-and-silver Dragonfly happily flitted across the pool:

“Zim, Zim, Zim,

Over the water I skim.

Now dart in,

Now dart out,

Dash across

And turn about.”

“Oh, bother,” croaked a hoarse voice as with a plop, a large Bullfrog settled himself on a lily pad. “A little less darting and dashing might be better all round. It’s hot and dusty enough without your hovering above my head.”
“Zim, Zim,

What are Truffles?

Wed, 08 Dec 1999 08:22:59 +0000

Every year, between November and March, people in southern France and Italy are busy trampling the woods, sniffing the air and peering under the roots of elm and oak trees looking for truffles. Truffles? Hey, its no trifling matter – there are organisations in France and Italy which let you take part in truffle hunts!

Truffles are a rare and delicate type of edible mushrooms that look like little potato nuggets. They grow in open woodlands in regions with a warm and moderate climate, on soil rich in calcium or limestone.

The Clever Lioness

Thu, 09 Aug 2001 12:57:49 +0000

There once lived a clever lioness in the champak forest. She had four healthy and really adorable cubs. They were very young and their eyes hadn’t still opened. They slept for most of the time and the only time they were awake was when their mother fed them. But if the mother was late even by a minute, they would wail so loudly so as to bring the whole cave down!

In the same forest, there lived another lion. He was old and feeble. His sight and hearing had become poor and many of his teeth and claws had also broken. This made him completely unable to go hunting for animals. The only food he therefore ate was fruits and leaves.

The Fearless Rhino

Tue, 16 Jan 2001 00:37:29 +0000

The rhino looks so fierce and strong
He has a pointed spear
His skin is rough and oh so tough
He knows not what is fear!

Do you want to meet him too?
Go eastward – if you care
Kaziranga is the name
You’re sure to find him there!

Is the Red Colobus monkey extinct?

Sun, 11 Nov 2001 06:37:01 +0000

Unbelievable but true! A large West African monkey has simply vanished from the earth. It has joined the Dodo, by becoming the first primate to vanish in the 20th century. After a six-year long survey, scientists and wildlife experts have declared the monkey, known as Miss Waldron’s Red Colobus monkey, extinct.

Primatologists (people who study the evolution of apes and monkeys) carried out exhaustive surveys in Ghana and the Ivory Coast, in Africa, but failed to spot a single monkey of the species. The last confirmed sighting of a Miss Waldron’s Red Colobus was over 20 years ago in Ghana’s rainforest. Soon after, the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) declared the mammals endangered.

Anacondas

Fri, 24 Dec 1999 10:52:15 +0000

You might have seen the recent English film Anaconda, where these snakes are shown as giant man-eating monsters. Well, that’s not all that can be said about these mighty creatures. Eating is but necessary for survival — and you never know, Anacondas might eat humans too, if one goes near them! But apart from their strange eating habits, these snakes are amazing in a lot of other ways too.

The Anaconda (Eunectes murinus) is a semi-aquatic snake found in Central America and mostly in tropical South America. It belongs to the Boa family, Boidae, and is dark green in colour with round black markings. A smaller species is the Yellow Anaconda (E. notaeus), which is yellowish green with irregular dark blotches. Not only does it have a bright looking skin with a distinct colour pattern, but also it is also BIG, I mean, really LOOOO……NG! It may reach a length of even 25 feet – which is roughly four times a reasonably tall adult human being! (Pythons, however, are much longer, and have been recorded to be of even 33 feet!)

Elephants Don’t Diet!....

Mon, 03 Dec 2001 06:40:28 +0000

Poor Gol Matolu’s always sad. Why? I don’t know. She looks like the most perfect elephant. Tall, broad big ears, long strong trunk. No one likes to be sad. So why don’t you come with me to find out what the matter is with Gol Matolu?
Ah! Here comes Hornbill, let’s ask him. “Hello, do you know why the elephant’s so sad?”

“Of course I know.
Just look at her if you will.
Would you call her nose a nose or a bill?
That snake which hangs in front of her face Makes her feel shy and out of place.”

Borrowed Feathers Help

Sat, 14 Jul 2001 06:25:58 +0000

Haka and Phaka, the twin jackals were feeding on some juicy berries. They sat eating their berries with their mouths and paws quite blue with the juice.

They were enjoying themselves thoroughly when they saw Mor, the peacock, strutting down the path hurriedly. The poor bird looked terrified!

“Hey, what’s up Mor bhai? What’s the hurry?” Haka asked.

“We peacocks are in great trouble Haka. Humans are hunting us for our feathers. There is not a moment of peace!” Mor was in tears. “I believe they are making fans and other things out of our feathers,” sobbed poor Mor.

The Frog King

Wed, 28 Mar 2001 18:56:40 +0000

In a large marshy swamp in South Africa lived a colony of frogs – happy frogs. The marsh was surrounded by tall weeds, dirt and muck, which attracted lots of flies. Every moment was mealtime for the frogs. It was a happy life, all fun and play.

Leapfrog was their favourite game. The younger frogs were dared to jump over a line of frogs from one end to the other end. Each time a young one managed to clear the jump, she or he would be added to the line — until the jumper fell on the last one, when the game ended.

The Spectacled Bear

Sat, 03 Feb 2001 07:16:48 +0000

Many of us wear glasses when we have problems with eyesight. But, have you ever heard of bears with glasses? No, not the bears who appear on the Cartoon Network on TV. Real bears.

The spectacled bear [Illustration by Shridevi]

There is a kind of bear which lives in the forests of South America. It is called the ‘spectacled bear,’ or the Tremarctos Ornatus.

It has white coloured fur around its eyes, which makes it look like it is wearing glasses. Some of these bears have only the bottom half of their glasses, whereas in some others the eye rings are so thick that they completely fill up the face.

Does a Sloth Live its Entire Life Upside Down?

Sun, 22 Jul 2001 14:07:26 +0000

Imagine living your entire life upside down. Sounds impossible? Well, it is not impossible for a sloth.

The sloth is a mammal which lives in South America. It spends most of its life on trees in an upside down position.

Unbelievable, but true. Sloths eat, sleep, make babies and even give birth to their young ones in this position! But, don’t they fall off when they fall asleep, one might wonder. They don’t.

A Lizard that Squirts Blood from its Eyes

Thu, 12 Apr 2001 11:47:45 +0000

Are you scared of lizards? There is no need to be unless you come face to face with one kind, called the Horned Lizard. It sprays blood from its eyes, and may just make you jump a bit.

A lizard that squirts blood from its eyes [Illustration by Shridevi]

Not all time. Only when it feels threatened.

Excerpts from Gay-Neck: The Story of a Pigeon

Wed, 14 Feb 2001 16:54:42 +0000

Gay-Neck’s birth happened exactly as I have described. About the twentieth day after the laying of the egg, I noticed that the mother was not sitting on it any more. She pecked the father and drove him away every time he flew down from the roof of the house and volunteered to sit on the egg. Then he cooed, which meant, “Why do you send me away?”

She, the mother, just pecked him the more, meaning, “Please go. The business on hand is very serious”.

The Donkey monkeys Around

Wed, 28 Mar 2001 09:43:21 +0000

Gopu the donkey was happily going munch munch on an extremely green patch of grass right in the heart of the meadow. So intent was Gopu on eating, that he did not hear anyone approaching until he looked up and gave an involuntary shiver. For standing right in front of him, was Shikari, the wolf.

Gopu began to limp and make a lot of ooh aah noises while doing so. Shikari watched him in silence for a while and then asked what was wrong.

My Squirrel Friend

Mon, 04 Dec 2000 06:03:08 +0000

Have you seen my little friend?
I call him nimble-feet
Because he moves so swift and fast
Is nimble – and discreet!

He runs away with all my nuts
And yet is never caught
His striped coat is ever bright
And clean – without a spot

He helps himself to all my things
Which I would never lend
And yet I cannot do without
My frisky squirrel-friend!

Animal Quiz - 1

Sun, 15 Dec 1996 12:14:49 +0000

You’ll be surprised and tickled to know how some animals behave! Each one has its unique feature, which distinguishes itself from the others. These ‘funny facts’ are given to you and all you have to do is guess the name of the animal. [A sciene quiz for children about animals]

Why Monkeys Mean Trouble

Fri, 16 Feb 2001 07:13:55 +0000

In the village of Sholingur in Tamil Nadu, is a temple dedicated to the Hindu monkey god Hanuman. The temple is on top of a small hill. In and around the hill in the thick forest live a group of monkeys. All they do is scare people and create trouble — even when people worship them as symbols of Hanuman. And there’s a story behind why they create trouble.…

The story goes back a long time. In the village lived an old couple. The old woman would make delicious sweets every day and take them to the market where her husband sat at a stall and sold them.

The Whopping Hippo

Fri, 11 May 2001 14:19:56 +0000

The hippo loves the waterside
Where it can bathe and swim and glide
And all the little fishes there
Swim away and cry – ‘beware’!

The hippo loves to laze all day
And snooze the winter noon away
He’s never cold, for don’t you see
He needs no quilt like you and me?

The Ridge Forest

Sun, 21 Feb 1999 20:24:12 +0000

A long time ago, when it was all right for men to hunt animals, there was a man who was known to be a perfect shot. He would always kill a wild animal in one shot. He never missed and he never shot an animal except when he was hungry.

One morning, he took his gun and headed off to the jungle to hunt. He walked for many a mile before he sat down to rest. As he was sitting, he saw a bear up on the mountainside. He quickly reached for his gun. As he took aim, he noticed that the bear was walking on a thin ledge on the side of the mountain. If he shot the animal now, it would fall into the deep gorge and would be of no use to him. So he put his gun down and kept watching.

The Peacocks are Dying

Tue, 02 Sep 2003 07:00:27 +0000

May 11: The residents of the Rajasthan State Electricity Board colony in Heerapur, 12 km from Jaipur, are in shock. They don’t know how to reconcile to the sudden, unexplained deaths of 19 peacocks in their colony in the first week of May. The priest at the Radha Krishna temple in the colony is inconsolable: there are no more peacocks to peck at the vessel filled with jowar.

In the first week of May, at Sirsiya village in Phagi district, a villager saw six of the birds die, foaming at their mouth as they tried to dance. After eating the jowar and wheat seeds kept outside households for them, the peacocks just collapsed on the roof of a building.

The Truth about Eels

Wed, 31 Mar 1999 03:53:10 +0000

Where: Florida, USA
October 16, 2000: The recent emergence of a large number of unfamiliar eels in the waters off the coast of Florida in South-east America, is causing worry to local ecologists there. They fear that the new arrivals, eels of Asian origin, will disturb the food chain of the region with their voracious appetites.

What exactly are eels ? They are slippery serpent-like fish, inhabiting shallow coastal waters throughout the world. They are fairly common in the freshwaters of eastern and south-eastern America.

Call them Together

Thu, 12 Apr 2001 14:27:07 +0000

When there is one of them we call it by its name but when they are in a group we give them a special name. Let’s take a look at a few of the animal groups.

Pretty bird no more

Mon, 06 Mar 2006 00:04:35 +0000

Where: London, England

April 24, 2007: For 40 years, the people of London have been happy to spot in their parks a bird that seems to have made its way from the Himalayas to the capital of England. With its shocking green body, red beak, long tail and noisy screech, the rose-ringed parakeet brought a vivid splash of colour to parks in and around London. The parakeet (psittacula krameri) is native to a great belt of land stretching from Africa to the Himalayas in India. So impressed were people with its colourful presence, that they started putting out bird feed for it.

Fox

Sun, 04 Apr 1999 00:04:34 +0000

If there is one animal that lives by its wits then it is our very own Fox. Sheer ingenuity has made him a survivor literally. And it is due to its own dexterity that the Red or common fox is doing very well in Britain, North America and North Africa unlike it’s cousins the wolf and the wild cat. Man is his only enemy. Ironically though, he still prefers to stay close to humans.

The fox is the smallest member of the dog family, Canidae. They are agile predators that usually weigh under 7kg. They scavenge carrion, wild fruits and hunt small rodents, rabbits, birds and invertebrates. They hunt small prey sufficient to feed only one animal and hence are solitary predators who do not hunt in packs.

Birds!!!

Sat, 23 Nov 2002 22:34:17 +0000

October 6: If feeding pigeons is your hobby, then the place to go is London’s Trafalgar Square. With about 40,000 pigeon tummies to fill, you can be sure that demand will never outstrip supply.

Trafalgar Square’s pigeons are a major tourist attraction. Thousands of pigeons can be found in the square at any given time, which has a fountain and the monument of famous English general Lord Nelson at the centre. Some tourists and residents visit the square only to feed the birds.

The Nest

Thu, 29 Jul 1999 11:33:53 +0000

Common Birds
Written by Salim Ali and Laeeq Futehally
Published by National Book Trust, New Delhi

Think of birds and you think of Dr. Salim Ali, India’s most famous ornithologist. He is the scientist who succeeded in communicating his passion for studying bird life in India to the ordinary Indian.

Generations of Indians have grown up on his wonderfully warm and crisp writings on birds and have squealed in delight on being able to distinguish a red turtle dove from a spotted dove. Those who have accepted him as a guide have been able to explore the complex societies that nature’s feathered creatures have created – as complex as human societies.

A Glider at the Railway Station

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 06:32:00 +0000

Where: Sarnath, India

December 11, 2008 : Passengers at the Sarnath Railway Station noticed that a paper box, left abandoned near a railway track, was behaving a little oddly. They alerted the railway authorities, who found that the box carried the inscription, “It is a rare animal, please send it to the zoo”. It was a Flying Lemur, a species native to China and the Philippines. The forest department sent a team that recovered the animal, identified it, and moved it to the local zoo.

Known in the Media

Thu, 17 May 2001 22:56:35 +0000

Rack your brains to think about some animals that have been featured either in a movie or a book and how they became well known.

ताती ताती तोता

Thu, 11 May 2000 20:46:43 +0000

ताती ताती तोता
पिंजरे में सोता
पंख जो हरे थे
उड़न से भरे थे
हो गये हैं पीले
पड़ गये हैं ढीले
ताती ताती तोता।
ताती ताती तोता
पिंजरो में रोता
झांखते हैं प्यारे
नन्हें नन्हें तारे
कहते है तोता
काहे को तू रोता
अंधकार छोड़ दे
पिंजरो को तोड़ दे
उड़ते उड़ते सारी रात
आके मिल जा अपने साथ
छोटे भाई तोता प्यारा
तू भी बन जा एक सितारा

बच्चों के लिए हिन्दी कविताएँ
Hindi poem for children

बंदर

Thu, 23 Mar 2000 11:22:30 +0000

देखो लड़के बंदर आया। एक मदारी उसको लाया
उसका है कुछ ढंग निराला। कानों में पहने है बाला
फटे पुराने रंगबिरंगे। कपड़े हैं उसके बेढंगे
मुंह डरावना आंखे छोटी। लंबी दुम थोड़ी सी मोटी
भौंह कभी है वह मिटाता। आंखों को है कभी नचाता
ऐसा कभी किलकिलाता है। मानो अभी काट खाता है
दांतों को है कभी दिखाता। कूद फांद है कभी मचाता
कभी घुड़कता है मुंह बाकर। सब लोगों को बहुत डराकर
कभी छड़ी लेकर है चलता। कभी वह यों ही कभी मचलता
है सलाम को हाथ उठाता। पेट लेट कर है दिखलाता
ठुमक ठुमक कर कभी नाचता। कभी कभी है टके जांचता
देखो बंदर सिखलाने से। कहने सुनने समझाने से
बातें बहुत सीख जाता है। कई काम कर दिखलाता है
बनों आदमी तुम पढ़लिखकर। नहीं एक तुम भी हो बंदर

Until the age of three months a cheetah cub has a thick mane of smoky-grey ...

Wed, 17 Apr 2002 07:15:52 +0000

Many birds that feed on plants swallow stones and grit to help their bodies...

Wed, 16 May 2001 19:30:32 +0000