February
14 is celebrated as Valentine’s day every year. It is a day reserved especially
for your loved ones and is celebrated all over the world. This year’s
Valentine’s day though, witnessed a unique event in Christ (Deemed to be
University), Bengaluru. A group of students from an organisation called Green
Army put up a Zoology exhibition in the university campus. Do not be fooled by
its name though. Surprisingly, the theme of the exhibition was Valentine’s day!
Six different tables, dedicated to six different groups of animals explained
about the courtship in animals. The exhibition went on from nine in the morning
to five ‘o’ clock in the evening. From song birds and colourful dances, to
spiders eating up their partners, the vivid pictures, videos and specimens on
display kept the audience enthralled.
Who
knew that there were so many different ways to woo your partner?! The Dance of
The Whooping Cranes, The Cannibalistic Praying Mantis, The Dancing frogs and
The Garter snake ‘Mating Balls’ were some of the many interesting behaviours to
choose from. Along with these, there were additional attractions like snake
scale counting and weighing an elephant’s tooth that caught the attention of
the passers-by.
There
were six more tables, with interesting information and facts about the
fascinating world of animals. The aim of the program was not only to educate
people about animal behaviour but also to spread the message of conservation
among them. From tiny insects to huge mammals, the importance of each and every
animal group in the ecosystem was explained by the students.
The
exhibition was a successful attempt by the members of Green Army, to show the
students the beauty and diversity in the animal kingdom and make them aware of
how important it is to protect our flora and fauna. It left many people more
aware about the world that they share with these wonderful beings, and the
importance of conserving our forests, rivers, grasslands and oceans, and the
wildlife that lives in it.
