Managed to recover this article that was carried by the Bombay Times, a supplement of The Times of India, in the year 2000. The description in the article is no longer valid as the whole area described in the the below article has changed - from a beautiful wilderness to concrete 'development'...

The Concrete Jungle

courtesy: Bombay Times, 2000




The readers will probably laugh at me, if I say I watch birds in Andheri! But ever since my college days, I 


have been watching birds at various locations in Andheri (W) like Four Bungalows, Lokhandwala Complex andVersova. For anyone who is familiar to these places, it will be hard to believe that bird life actually exist in such crowded areas, overflowing with people and vehicles. Though I agree that over the years, the number 

of bird species have gone down, still a walk on a Sunday morning from December to February will give you a fair idea of the potential of these places as birding areas.






Just next to the Four Bungalows signal is a vast stretch of open land almost 3/4th the size of the Oval 

Maidan. The area is completely covered with reeds and grasses, with pockets of small water bodies. The rain water accumulates here, July onwards. Close observation reveals the presence of Purple Moorhen, Indian 

Moorhen and White breasted Waterhen. All these are typical water birds around the size of a domestic hen. Purple Moorhen is not a common bird in the city limits. Both the species of Jacana - Pheasant tailed and 

Bronze winged, are commonly seen in fairly large numbers walking among the reeds. Jacanas are brilliantly coloured birds and are also called  Lily-trotters as they nest on the leaves of the water lilies. The shrubs and the trees nearby provide an excellent resting place for the Little Cormorants, which are large black birds

occasionally swimming underwater to catch fish. They are commonly seen drying their outstretched wings in the sun. Cormorants lack the oil glands present in other water birds and hence cannot give a coat of oil on 

their wings to make them waterproof. Among the tall grasses, lies hidden the Pond Heron. This grey 

coloured heron waits patiently for a fish to come near and then with great speed and accuracy catches it 

with its long beak.



Couple of occasions, I have managed to sight a pair of Chestnut Bitterns. These birds are great skulkers and are rarely seen in the open. By November end, migratory sandpipers start ,making their appearance. Most commonly seen are the Common Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper and Redshank. I remember one afternoon about 8



years back. When I was returning from the college, a sight of some unusual birds caught my attention. I returned to the spot with my binoculars for investigation and almost fainted with joy! What attracted me, was none other than a male Mallard (migratory wild duck). The Mallard stayed with us in Andheri for a week and then disappeared. I didn't have good camera then for documenting the beautiful birds I saw. The same year, almost 7 pairs of Lesser Whistling Teals (wild ducks), which bred in this miniature wetland. Flocks of



Shovellers, Gadwals and Common Teals spent some days in the water body near in the land belonging to the Airport Authority of India, near D N Nagar. Marsh Harriers used to frequently soar above the marsh to catch one of the ducklings.






Apart from these, Redvented Bulbuls, Magpie Robins, Rose ringed Parakeets, Pied Mynas, White breasted

 Kingfishers are resident and common. The Indian Coral Trees (Erythrina indica) and Silk Cotton Trees

 (Bombax ceiba) attract Rosy Pastors and Greyheaded Mynas in the migratory season. Common Swallows are the most abundant and occupy each and every telephone cable passing overhead. Their twittering calls and 

zigzag flight to catch the mosquitoes and gnats in the evening, is what one remembers the most. Come

 twilight and one hears the kwaak call of the Night Heron proceeding towards its hunting grounds.



Lokhandwala Complex is situated entirely on the reclaimed land. Just outside its concrete walls, one can 

explore the beautiful Mangrove ecosystem. Yes, the same plants growing along the creek water and normally referred to as 'wasteland'. These are the same mangroves, which have been protecting the city of Mumbai for ages from tidal waves and rough weather, acting as breeding grounds for a variety of fishes, prawns and other estuarine species and preventing coastal erosion in Mumbai and elsewhere in the world. Such an 

important and unique ecosystem is being destroyed in the name of 'development' in Andheri, Goregaon, 

Malad and right upto Gorai. Much of this area still needs to be explored to understand its biodiversity. 

Hundreds of Common sandpipers, Wood sandpipers, Redshanks, Greenshanks, Marsh sandpipers and Little 

Stints are seen feedingon the mudflats. The Black winged Stilts with their long red legs wade into the creek water. Little ringed Plovers, Kentish Plovers, Sand Plovers and Golden Plovers are seen along with the 

sandpipers. The mangroves provide excellent hiding place for thousands of Great Indian Reed Warblers 

feeding on insects and smaller invertebrates. The Fantail Flycatchers song gives you sweet company as you move further inside. Bluethroats and Wagtails are seen feeding on the ground. White cheeked Bulbuls 

replace the Redvented Bulbul as we enter the Mangrove ecosystem. It can be easily identified with a white 

cheek patch and yellow colour on the vent.



Lesser Black headed and Brown headed Gulls are seen swimming in flocks in the small water bodies. Though we are talking of birds, sightings of Jackal and Common Mongoose is not very uncommon. The dumping of 



garbage attract a number of jackals. Versova and the shores of Madh island too attract large number of our feathered friends. Last year, when WWF-India members and NSS volunteers were cleaning the beach at 

Seven Bungalows after the Ganesh immersion, a group of around 30 Greater Flamingoes were seen flying towards the Madh island!





The list of species is far more but by now it is quite obvious that, one does not always have to travel to 

Bharatpur or Corbett to see birds, which are anyway common in our own backyard. Just a keen eye for 

observation and a little patience, will bless you with some of the best sightings of your life.

Thank you Mr. Javadekar

Shri. Prakash Javadekar
Honourable Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change
Government of India

Respected Sir,

You have shown the easiest way to mitigate human-wildlife conflict - just kill those 'errant' animals by declaring them as vermin! Wow, your thinking is extra-ordinary. I wonder why none of your predecessors ever thought about it, if it was so simple? Sir, you have created history. Why should we even debate about alternative crops, putting up bio-fences or other wildlife-friendly measures? Too much time would be wasted in all this, isn't it? Just kill (in the name of wildlife management) and the matter is over. You know Sir, some villagers have been secretly killing these animals by using snares, live wires and even guns! But now they don't have to worry as they can kill 'problem' animals openly and legally. Truly 'acche din' for people.

You have excellent judgement to take decisions. How does it matter if the decisions taken are against the ethos of the ministry you are in-charge of? After all, you are worried about 'acche din' for the nation, isn't it? (wildlife is not a part of this nation, is it???) Your ministry should be proud that it has managed to sanction the road construction through the Rann of Kutch, which is only breeding habitat for the flamingos in India. So what if it is the ONLY habitat in India? It is for the flamingos to find an alternate breeding site.

Even the tigers, sloth bears and many other species who inhabit the forests around Pench, where your ministry has cleared the road expansion along NH7, will find an alternate habitat to survive. If only the National Green Tribunal would have thought the way your ministry did...sigh! Why don't you construct a neatly designed housing colony for these creatures Sir? But please ask your team members to design the cages aesthetically. After all, all of us look upon you as the saviour of wildlife in India.

The birds and animals of the Karnala Bird Sanctuary celebrated the World Environment Day with much fan-fare this year. Why? Because that was the day when your ministry cleared the expansion of the highway that passes through this forest. What timing Sir! Just 2 hectares of forest will be destroyed. And many of your colleagues have planted saplings in so many places on World Environment Day. All this will compensate for this loss. Nothing to worry.

Sir, lots of minerals are waiting to be extracted from several forest areas across the country. I am sure this work will soon be started, with your ministry's penchant for 'fast' decisions. Already too much time has been wasted in doing these honours.

Few days ago, I read that our honourable Prime Minister has appealed to the people of India to keep a bowl of water for the birds. I was touched by this gesture. I hope he is aware about your decision to declare Nilgai (Blue Bull), Wild Boar (and scores of other animals included in Schedule II [Part I], Schedule III, IV, V) as he is very compassionate towards animals. Remember the beef ban?

And lastly, please don't mind if your decisions taken in the interest of 'acche din' are criticised. All those critics are 'natural fools', who only think about wildlife conservation, protection of India's precious natural resources, preserving the few remaining natural ecosystems and biodiversity hotspots, mitigating the effects of human-induced climate change and many other 'useless' things that would only benefit India's natural treasures and no one else!

Looking forward to more such 'sound' decisions from your ministry.

Yours truly,

A Natural Fool

P.S. Sir, by the way, I hope your ministry is working on your statement of 'donating' tigers to other countries!!!