#Sita and Akbar
The naming of a lioness 'Sita' and a lion 'Akbar' at the Siliguri zoo reflects a problematic trend. This practice violates the inherent dignity of animals by reducing them to simple caricatures. It also perpetuates stereotypes and reinforces cultural biases.
Naming a lioness after Sita, a revered figure in Hindu mythology, and a lion after Akbar, a historical Mughal emperor, and keeping them together can be seen as a calculated attempt to hurt the religious sentiments of some people. Additionally, such naming practices can contribute to the distortion of cultural narratives and misunderstandings about wildlife conservation.
By reducing animals to homonyms of human figures, attention is diverted from the ecological importance of these species. What we need is urgent protection of these animals' habitat.
Although it seems harmless, the naming of animals in zoos should be approached with care. Otherwise, it would lead to communal hatred and unwarranted discussions like “Love Jihad” among animals.
-KA Solaman
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