dexter & anita, Mangalore/ Auckland

Congrats, Dr. Anand & Geeta on this amazing article.Perhaps one of your shortest articles, however in no way does it detract from the pertinent message that you have conveyed as it strongly implores and urges each of us to take ownership and be part of the solution in tackling this man-made disaster - no longer in waiting - but as the pictures depict - one that has already endangered the livelihood of our wildlife.

If these photographs do not compel us to act right now, I don't know what else will. The comments from your readers along with suggestions were so interesting - nice brain-storming session. Am hoping there is a way to circulate these to schools as the earlier we increase awareness among young ones, the better the chance we have to make an impact. Besides, children have the unique ability to think outside the box and are so creative with solutions. It should be our sacred responsibility to the Earth and all the Creatures to reverse the damage caused by human activity which probably began a hundred and fifty years ago.

“Water and air, the two essential fluids on which all life depends, have become global garbage cans.”
― Jacques-Yves Cousteau

R.Bhandarkar, M'lore

Very beautifully put across the
message that cleanliness is indeed the need of the hour.

Dylan Farias, Mangalore

Dear Anand and Geeta a good eye opener for whoever reads this article. Keeping our surroundings clean should be taught in school, specially in the lower class', then it would register in the minds of that individual that he/she should keep the surroundings clean. Good photography, this is only a little waste in the water bodies, we can just imagine the plastic or water bottles in the sea bed. Looks like we humans are indirectly advertising to the birds, reptiles etc.

Dr.Anand & Geeta, sakleshpur/Kadri

We are deeply indebted to all who have whole heartedly supported us. The deep and thoughtful comments are a testimony of the concern Citizens have towards making our Planet Earth a better place to live in.

Thank you for your valuable suggestions.Yes, together we can make our Mangalore a better place for humans as well as wildlife.

Dr.Anand & Geeta, sakleshpur/Kadri

We are deeply indebted to all who have whole heartedly supported us and for the deep and thoughtful suggestions.

Yes, together we can make our Mangalore a better place for humans as well as wildlife. Thank you.

Sr. Supriya, St. Agnes Convent

Congratulations Dr.Anand & Geetha,for the beautiful pictures and your motivational article. It is my duty too to keep the place clean and educate our students too. We will do this.

Fr Balthazar Castelino, Nakre/Karkala, Lauris/France

Pictures are beautiful with beautiful birds & snakes but sad to see the collection of garage around. Hope that we become conscious of the need of cleaning our surroundings and teach our children to do the same.

jacintha colaco, Mangalore

I showed this article and pictures to my two children and they were shocked to see the state of affairs of our environment. They have now taken a pledge to keep their surroundings clean.

vivek colaco , sakleshpur

This article is a timely reminder that we need to protect and safeguard wildlife habitats because wildlife act as excellent environmental indicators of pollution and degradation of surrounding places. ThankYou Dr Anand and Geetha

Veera Dsouza(Gomes), Shivabagh, Mangalore

Beautiful pictures... Nice article. Keep it up Dr. Anand & Geetha

JOSEPH REGO, Mangalore

BEAUTIFUL, KEEP IT UP DR. ANAND & GEETA

Vincent Praveen Castelino, Pernal / Mumbai

Great job and the pictures speaks itself to the danger we created by human beings to the mother nature.

We are still not late...the recent initiative which started by our present P.M is an eye opener to all of us irrespective of which ever party we belongs/supports to.

Together and unitedly we as "Indian Citizens" to do our duty.

It's the "Awareness" that works today because 70% of our Indian population is below 40 !!!

Dr Anand & Geeta Pereira are the great example to our children and the youth and 'CSR' can also do a great difference/wonder in our cities because the Corporates have budgets for such initiatives to make citizens aware in-terms of various modes of advertisements(F.M Radio, T.V Commercials, Bill Boards/Hoardings OR even the least in Print Media)

ivan frank, Mangalore

We should set a good example to the children and youngsters by giving topmost priority to cleanliness. Then again civic authorities should take stern action especially against Construction companies and roadside eateries(which are mushrooming at every nook and corner) to name a few on dumping all kinds of waste wherever they please. It is also the responsibility of the civic authorities not only to collect cess but also to properly utilise it by creating proper infrastructure to collect the disposed waste, to demarcate dump sites/processing plants/landfills where people can dispose waste.It is the collective responsibility of the people and authorities to keep our cities clean. Yes Prime Minister Modi has realised the importance of cleanliness and has put a right step forward with the clean India campaign. At least now more and more people are being aware that it is not enough to just keep our house clean but also our neighbourhood and surroundings clean. We have now reached a stage where cleanliness cannot be a choice, it must become a law.

Vijay, Mangalore

Beautiful Pics!!! of Beautiful Mangalore Wildlife... Keep it up Dr.s

Joe Britto, Nakre/Bangalore

Just a few suggestions that may help.
One cannot follow every thing but maybe a few which are possible by each individual:

1.Maintain a healthy Eco System by helping in growing plants and if possible grow your own food/veggies/fruits.
2.Recycle waste products.
3.Drive your vehicle less.
4.Use your electrical gadgets less often.
5.Reduce use of chemicals & pesticides.
6.Reduce your carbon footprint.
7.Reduce contamination and avoid pollution.

Lourdes D'Sa, Mumbai

Highly commendable article. The pictures an eyeopener. A lot of education to our people required.

julia pereira, sakleshpur

anand&geeta i highly commend you on this WAKE UP call to all of us It is high time that we co-operate and make our Mangalore as clean $beautiful as can be

Ruben Pinto, Australia

If a picture can say a thousand words, these pictures did it 10,000 times. Great photography with a telling article. I did not see any rejoinders from the majority community as unless they are part of it, it would be a lost cause.

ad, mangloor

Indeed mangalore is a paradise, many mangaloreans forget and spoil it with our negligence. Sad but a true story. Thanks for highliting this tragedy. Can we mangaloreans do something to preserve our land and its beauty and creatures?

Please can you all publicize this tragedy on an Indian news channel, like Doordarshan? You will be saving our country and its rich natural habitats.
In my mind what is happening is criminal to say the least.
we want to modernize , at what cost?

Samson Rebello , Kallianpur/Dubai

Nature will take a diversion. So dont worry about creatures they will migrate.

We have to clean our environment.

Rohan Pa, Mangalore / Dubai

Nice thought ....good pictures too

Joe Britto, Nakre/Bangalore

The creatures in these live pictures appear shell shocked. Their pathetic looks tell it all. Plastics have become the curse and the cause of death of innocent animals & birds

The delicate balance of nature has been totally upset .
There was a time when water was freely available and we could drink directly from taps. Now even with the price of petrol getting cheaper than water we are unable to get water suitable to drink.

I am quoting from some greats

“The bee is more honoured than other animals , not because she labours, but because she labours for others” – Saint John Chrysostom

“If Honeybees & Birds became extinct, human society would follow in a few years” – Anon

The Cycle of nature has truly been upset.... Paulo Coelho.....
In the cycle of nature there is no such thing as victory or defeat: there is only movement.
The winter struggles to reign supreme, but, in the end, is obliged to accept spring’s victory, which brings with it flowers and happiness.
The summer would like to make its warm days last for ever, because it believes that warmth is good for the earth, but, finally, it has to accept the arrival of autumn, which will allow the earth to rest.
The gazelle eats the grass and is devoured by the lion. It isn’t a matter of who is the strongest, but God’s way of showing us the cycle of death and resurrection.
And within that cycle there are neither winners nor losers, there are only stages that must be gone through.
Thanks Dr. Geeta & Dr.Anand for this.

geoffrey, hat hill

Agreed, proper disposal of domestic waste 100% achievable. But is the large scale pollution arising from the stack emissions of chemical factories/refineries, radiation emitted from mobile towers stoppable? When we, with exponential growth of population are desirous of possessing all the amenities and luxuries, pollution becomes a part of the package. I'm not just talking about the fuel that we burn in furnaces and combustion engines, but almost all the synthetic stuff (including some pharmaceutical products) that we use, has petroleum as base source which we are distilling/processing in columns in hundreds of thousands of petrochemical units on this planet contributing in global warming, green house effect etc etc. Can we do away with cell phones, cars, televisions, footwear, refrigerators, fibre pipelines etc? If the answer is yes, then we can think of making planet earth a better place to dwell on.

JC Pinto, Mumbai, Mumbai

A real eye opener for all of us. The place once clean, refreshing and brimming with life, is degenerating. The sad part is, it is not the old illiterate people, but the present educated and youth who are more insensitive. Gone are the days of plenty of fish in rivulets, honey bees in the jungles and even in the neighbourhood. It's time we introspect where we are heading, what we can do to prevent this and initiative for a better posterity. Let's all start, now, without any blame games.

John DSouza, Mangalore

Dear Dr. Anand and Geeta,
Thank you for presenting beautifully the unpleasant and miserable situation of our environment by which not only all the living beings but also the trees, plants and vegetation too suffer.

Do we really wish to have a change? Are we concerned to have solutions?
It is possible only through the collective education, desire and action of all since the mess and disorder has been created (or being created) jointly by all of us, directly or indirectly.
The proper implementation of “reduce, recycle and reuse” approach can be a best solution to clean and maintain our environment for us and for our future generations.
With a think different and implement change approach, we can have a rapid revolution in the surface transport sector which can eliminate health hazardous air pollution and peace disturbing sound pollution from multiplying and mushrooming vehicles on roads.
Doctors can only prescribe the medicine but it is the patient to follow it to get healed.
Discovered treasure can be enjoyed only by using/utilizing it.

readerwriter007, pune

I do agree on both the parties Anand & Geeta Pereira who are the authors and Lydia Lobo, Kadri whose comment I could see as of now. Our people are not ready to change unless they are forced to change ( except small % yes ). So, strict rule should be applied for those who doesn't adhere to the rules. Or else if we just wait for people to change their mind, it will never happen ( referring other % of people ). There should be strong penalty for those who found disposing waste irresponsibly. Also Corporation should arrange for proper places and arrangements where public can dispose the waste and arrange for proper collection. Also have the awareness in the school , starting from small classes where they are taught where and how to dispose their waste, whether it's their empty refills, chewing gums... what ever... bring an awareness, that will help to grow the awareness naturally among the kids and then the youth.

Lydia Lobo, Kadri

A word 'Beautiful' is no doubt a paradox to Mangaluru, considering the pictures you have posted in this article. For both Drs. Geeta and Anand, who live in the precious environment of the Hills, surely the surroundings of the city they have witnessed and recorded may have been nothing less than disgusting. Nevertheless, you have put a lot of efforts to educate the mass through this article for which I will always remain obligated.

As far as what I have noticed, leave alone segregating waste, it will be a blessing if people in the city care to bundle up their waste and dispose of it properly. I have seen tossing out the garbage out of windows (home and vehicles), throw it into neighbour's yard or dump in any area that is low, may it be a road side stream path irrespective of the fact whether the contents are degradable or not.

I cultivated a habit of using all organic waste in my garden, food waste to my pets, paper (including used envelopes and school books) to the vendor and plastic/glass tightly tied and placed in municipality bin. If everybody slowly start step-by-step I am sure our earth will be a better place to live.