Our Ainimals Of Yore...
The wolf holds a special position in world chronicles
, appearing in the
Babylonian epic of Gilgamesh.
In
Norse mythology,
the wolf is represented as the warrior Fenrir who causes havoc. The depiction of
she-wolves is quite different though
— the Turkish legend of
Arsena
sees one nursing an injured child while
Romulus and Remus
, the founders of Rome, were raised in legend by a
tough but tender wolf-mom
The
eagle
, admired for its powerful, soaring flight, was considered both a form and messenger of Zeus, king of gods, in
Greek lore
.
The Romans placed the 'aquila' on the Roman Legions' standard
, carried to battle by 'aquilifers' —
the Silchester Eagle
, a prized bronze sculpture of this bird, was found near Reading in Calleva Atrebatum, a town in
the Roman road system
. With its imperial ambitions,
America's
adopted it, often remarking,
'The eagle has landed'
In India, the tiger represents incredible courage
— it is the carrier of divinities while in
Korea
, tigers
bring good luck
. Western culture has seen tigers as terrifying — think
Sher Khan in 'The Jungle Book'
— or playthings like
Tigger in 'Winnie the Pooh'
. While First Nations consider the
Amur tiger of Siberia as divine
, these were later seen as vengeful beings, despite the poaching that's made them
endangered
Research: National Geographic, BBC, Smithsonian Magazine
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Indian Express
27 minutes ago
- Indian Express
To feed its predators, Danish zoo asks pet owners to donate rabbits, horses
A zoo in Denmark has appealed to the public to donate their healthy unwanted pets to be 'gently euthanised' in a unique effort to provide food for their predators. Aalborg Zoo has requested the owners of chicken, rabbit and guinea pig to donate their respective pets in order to be eaten by the animals as whole, including European lynx. The zoo said the pets will be 'gently euthanised' by trained staff and that the zoo will accept donations of live horses and the owners would benefit from a potential tax break. Though horses donated to the zoo must have a horse passport and the opportunity for tax deduction on the horse's value would be calculated based on the horse's weight. The zoo informed in a post on Instagram that chicken, guinea pig and rabbit make up a significant portion of the diet of predators, especially the European lynx which needs whole prey that resembles to the one it would naturally hunt in the wild. The zoo said that 'nothing goes to waste'. A post shared by Aalborg Zoo (@aalborgzoo) In the Instagram post, alongside a picture of a lynx, the Aalborg Zoo said 'If you have a healthy animal that needs to be put down for various reasons, you are welcome to donate it to us. The animals are gently euthanised by trained staff and then used as food. That way, nothing goes to waste and we ensure natural behaviour, nutrition and wellbeing of our predators.' Other than European lynx, the predators kept at the zoo include lions and tigers. The social media post by the Aalborg Zoo has gained a wide range of reactions, with some criticizing the appeal. A comment on the zoo's appeal said 'sick invention'. Deputy director of Aalborg Zoo, Pia Nielsen, said 'For many years at Aalborg Zoo, we have fed our carnivores with smaller livestock. When keeping carnivores, it is necessary to provide them with meat, preferably with fur, bones etc. Therefore, it makes sense to allow animals that need to be euthanised for various reasons to be of use in this way,' reported The Guardian. (with inputs from The Guardian, BBC)
News18
4 hours ago
- News18
‘Nothing Goes To Waste': Zoo In Denmark Asks For Pet Donations To Feed Predators
The zoo assured prospective donors that their pets would be 'gently euthanised' by trained staff. A zoo in Denmark has sparked widespread public outrage following a controversial request for pet animals to be donated as food for its carnivorous residents. The Aalborg Zoo, located in northern Denmark, recently shared a Facebook post asking locals not for money or supplies, but for their unwanted pets. According to a report by the Associated Press, the zoo made the appeal as part of its effort to create a more natural feeding environment for its predators. In the post, the zoo explained that the initiative was aimed at mimicking the natural food chain, describing the move as being 'for the sake of both animal welfare and professional integrity". The zoo assured prospective donors that their pets would be 'gently euthanised" by trained staff before being offered as feed. The post stated, 'If you have a healthy animal that needs to be given away for various reasons, feel free to donate it to us." In a translated version of the post, zoo officials clarified that they are particularly seeking chickens, rabbits, and guinea pigs, animals that, according to the zoo, better contribute to a predator's diet and can be fed whole. 'That way, nothing goes to waste, and we ensure natural behaviour, nutrition and well-being of our predators," the zoo wrote. Surprisingly, the zoo is also open to accepting horses as donations. According to information on the zoo's website, horse owners who donate their animals may be eligible for a tax deduction equivalent to the horse's value. However, specific criteria must be met before a horse can be accepted: the animal must be free of illness or treatment for at least a month prior to donation, and it must meet certain size requirements and be transported safely. The Facebook post was accompanied by an image of a wild cat with its mouth wide open, seemingly yawning. The zoo also included a direct link to its website for further information on the donation process. In an interview with the BBC, the zoo's deputy director, Pia Nielsen, defended the appeal, stating that the carnivores at Aalborg Zoo had been fed smaller livestock 'for many years." She said, 'When keeping carnivores, it is necessary to provide them with meat, preferably with fur, bones to give them as natural a diet as possible." She further explained that such practices are not unusual in their country. 'In Denmark, this practice is common, and many of our guests and partners appreciate the opportunity to contribute. The livestock we receive as donations are chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, and horses," she added. News18's viral page features trending stories, videos, and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments Location : Denmark First Published: August 05, 2025, 05:52 IST News viral 'Nothing Goes To Waste': Zoo In Denmark Asks For Pet Donations To Feed Predators Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
Pune's Mirza Ghalib Road: A forgotten ode to the great Urdu poet
Stepping out from the Mandai metro station, one is greeted with the full flavour of the markets of old Pune: vegetable sellers, food joints, and shops selling everything from crockery to fake flowers sprawling from the chowk outside the station. However, to an observant eye, an unremarkable signboard informs that the street straight across is named after one of India's most remarkable poets—Mirza Ghalib. Born in Agra in 1797, Ghalib moved to Delhi at a young age and lived there till his death in 1869. A poet at the royal court of the last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, Ghalib lived a testing life during tumultuous times. He witnessed the 1857 War of Independence firsthand and wrote heartbreaking accounts of his city's destruction. A humble memorial museum has been constructed at his haveli in Ballimaran at Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi. But not many refer to the road by its official name. Prakash Gandhi's grocery shop, just a few steps away from the signboard, was established over 60 years ago. However, he was not aware that the street is named after Ghalib. 'People call this Shukrawar Peth, Nehru Chowk. And now that the metro has come we say opposite the metro station. This is a problem everywhere, even where I stay people don't know the name of the street. Subhash Jagtap, the owner of an 88 year-old pan shop at said, 'The older people know that this is called Mirza Ghalib street. The name has been there since forever. But no one refers to it that way anymore. Everyone names the chowks.' When asked if he knew who Ghalib was, Jagtap said he was a 'shayar of the Muslims'. During his time, Ghalib challenged orthodoxy through shers like like Hum ko maloom hai jannat ki haqeeqat lekin, Dil ke khush rakhne ko 'Ghalib' ye khayal acha hai (I am well aware about the reality of heaven but, for the heart's comfort the thought is surely good). According to an account, a British Colonel named Brown, after looking at Ghalib's Turkish-style turban, asked him if he was Muslim. Ghalib replied by saying, 'Half', and when Brown asked what that meant, Ghalib explained, 'I drink wine but I don't eat pork.' Countless ghazals by Ghalib, like Hazaron Khwahishein Aisi, have been sung by Jagjit Singh and popularised among the masses in India. Recently, the Hindi movie Metro In Dino adapted Ghalib's ghazal Aah Ko Chahiye Ek Umr Asar Hote Tak into a soundtrack sung by Papon. The Mirza Ghalib Chowk is present a few hundred meters down the street. Neither the local shopowners nor people at the nearby Masjid knew about members of the 'Mirza Ghalib Chowk Samaj Seva Committee' mentioned on the board, or had any contacts for them. 'The nameplate saying Mirza Ghalib Chowk has been here since before I was born. People know the name of this chowk. But I don't really know who he is. I'll have to call two-three previous generations of my family for anyone to know that,' says Suraj, owner of the chowk's corner shop Shree Rajhans, with a laugh. Public memory of Mirza Ghalib at the street named after him in Pune is symbolic of the state of so many of India's great poets and musicians: everpresent, but not always remembered. Soham is a Correspondent with the Indian Express in Pune. A journalism graduate, he was a fact-checker before joining the Express. Soham currently covers education and is also interested in civic issues, health, human rights, and politics. ... Read More
