Dear Dr. Marcot:

At the outset, I apologize for my hasty email, which might have sounded
accusatory and harsh.  I have great respect for persons like you who care
deeply about wildlife and our forests.  I just wrote the email in the heat
of the moment!  I am sorry for not being specific; I did not by any extent
mean that you were disrespectful.

I also had a talk with a friend of mine who is from the North India.  You
see, I was born in the South of India and I have lost touch with India for a
long time.  Anyway, he tells me that the Nepalese do perform certain animal
sacrifices; however, he wasn't sure if it would be a rhino.

Even though many High-caste Hindus do eat meat, the Brahmins do not.  Then
again, I am going by the tradition I used to know; who knows what is going
on these days!!  I abhor the evil 'caste' among Hindus; it is definitely not
part of the central Hindu philosophy.  But then again, other religions also
have 'castes' (e.g. Sunnis, Shias in Muslims) except they don't call it as
such!

Please keep up the excellent work you are doing.

Best regards,
Ranga



-----Original Message-----
From: Bruce Marcot [mailto:brucem@taos-telecommunity.org]
Sent: Friday, March 17, 2006 11:42 PM
To: Ranga Nathan
Subject: Re:

Namaste Dr. Nathan,

I truly appreciate your email.  I would like to amend my web page that
section that understandably disturbed you so.  In no way did I intend it
to be a denigration of any faith, belief, or caste.  In fact, the respect
given to this "unicorn" (rhino) has served to save it from extinction.

You stated that you do not know where I got that information.  I cited the
specific source, actually, which has been one of the main sources of
information on mammals of India for decades (Prather 1971).  However, I
did not try to recreate or trace the source of that source; perhaps the
story is apocryphal?  If so, then it would be worth knowing and stating
that.  

Regardless, I meant no disrespect, and will amend the page accordingly.
If you know of any other sources I could or should cite in this vein, I
would be happy to learn of them.

Respectfully,

- bruce




-----Original Message-----
From: "Ranga Nathan" <rnathan7479@comcast.net>
To: <brucem@Taos-Telecommunity.org>
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2006 20:25:05 -0500
Subject:

> Dear Dr. Marcot:
>
>  
>
> As an animal rights activist and an Indian-born American, I always read
> up
> everything about animals.  I came across your article "Unicorn of
> India"
> very interesting.  However, the last footnote (copy given below)
> disturbs
> me.  I was born as a Brahmin (the so-called High caste Hindu) and the
> most
> important tenet of the Hindu religion is non-violence and compassion
> and
> kindness towards all living creatures.  I am not sure how or where your
> got
> your information about the High caste Hindus killing these rhinos and
> offering its blood for religious beliefs.
>
>  
>
> I wish you would check and verify your sources before writing these
> articles.
>
>  
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Ranga Nathan, Ph.D.
>
>  
>
>  
>
>
> Image of the Day: The Unicorn of India
>
>  
>
> High caste Hindus and most Gurkhas offer libation of the animal's blood
> after entering its disemboweled body.  On ordinary Sraddh days the
> libation
> of water and milk is poured from a cup carved from its horn.  The urine
> is
> considered antiseptic and is hung in a vessel at the principal door as
> a
> charm against ghosts, evil spirits, and diseases.  These beliefs
> connected
> with the rhinoceros are prevalent in varying forms in Burma, Siam, and
> China.  
>
> --Bruce G. Marcot
>
>  
>
>  
>
>  
>
>