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Slingshots used to injure wildlife

Mar 04, 2013 Letters

Dear Editor,
It was just after 8 am on January 12th 2013; I was driving along Vlissengen Road, just before passing the Zoo gate. I saw a small bicycle on the parapet at the side of the road anda neatly dressed young man looking up into one of the beautiful trees full of parrots. He slowly removedan item from his pocket. I got the feeling something was not right and stopped my car to investigate.
As soon as the young man saw me approaching he hid his hand behind his back (he knew he was doing something wrong). I asked him what he was doing; he said nothing then showed me a slingshot and said he was going to try to shoot down a parrot. I asked him what he was going to do with an injured parrot; he said “mine” it.
I asked him if he thought the bird would be happier in a cage or chattering free with his friends in the trees. He thought about it and said they would not like to be in a cage. He then picked up his bike and was about to ride off. I asked him for the sling shot, but he declined to give it to me.  I asked what school he was going and he said a trade school in Sophia.
Others have told me of seeing groups of young men walking around the city armed with slingshots trying tocapture birds. These young menseem to have too much idle timeon their hands and when told to stop shooting birds sometimes become very abusive.
Some people say: “Boys will be boys”. I think that all good citizens should be on the lookout and take actions to protect our feathered friends.
These young men need words of wisdom from teachers, police officers, firemen, school students and other animal lovers. The right words spoken at the right time can go a long ways in improving life for Guyana’s wildlife.
“We never miss the music until the sweet voiced bird has flown away”….O. Henry
Syeada Manbodh

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