Man in a soup

How does one tell a man to mend his ways? A new series begins with Kea, Kaka, Kiwi, Tuatara and Weta. Watch them closely as they counter the wicked ways of humans.

October 23, 2014 04:03 pm | Updated May 23, 2016 07:37 pm IST

On a fine summer afternoon in January, Spook Club had its weekly meeting somewhere in New Zealand. Its five permanent members sat around a large table. Its president, a strong-beaked and tough-looking kea stared at a large picture of a moa bird on the wall across the room. His eyes hardened and he spoke sternly.

Voicing aloud “Good afternoon, members. Let us resolve once again not to allow any of our species to go the moa way. There will be no more extinction of species of animals and plants due to follies of man. As members of the Society for the Protection of Our Own Kind (SPOOK), we are committed to spook man so that he would stop hurting others on the planet.”

He then turned towards the green parrot sitting by his side and said, “Kaka, tell us who is going to come on Skype on our ‘Make Your Complaint Hour’.”

“Sir, a hammerhead shark will come on shortly to speak to us. He says his species is now endangered and he wants us to do something about it.”

When the hammerhead shark came on to the big screen, Tuatara could not control his laughter. “His head is really like a hammer with eyes on either side. What big pointy fins! He looks so ugly and quite funny.”

“He he,” said the reptile with a bulging head and spiky crest down his spine.

“You are not Mr. Handsome nor is the large prehistoric insect sitting by your side,” retorted the shark, “I think all of you are a bunch of weirdos!”

“Stop it!” thundered Kea, “what is your problem? This nearly 20-ft long, dark-grey hammerhead shark has a really sad story to tell. Members of his family were killed for their fins, oil and meat by man. Sometimes, they were accidentally caught in the nets of big fishing trawlers.”

Ms. Kiwi was listening keenly. She nodded wisely and said, “Shark-fin soup is a special dish at some Asian weddings and banquets. Shark meat is also a great delicacy. Ask me anything about food, I will tell you.”

Kea and Kaka looked at each other thoughtfully.

“How do we frighten man enough to stop him killing the shark?” asked Kaka, looking at all the other moa-ists.

“Say boo!” said Tuatara with a giggle.

“Fool!” said Weta angrily.

“Be serious!” said Kea, “I think I know what we should post on our website. Kaka, take this down: Man, beware of shark, dead or alive! Sharks are one of the most contaminated fish in the oceans. They eat thousands of little fish that are toxic with mercury. It was you who polluted the oceans with industrial waste. Hey man, what you give is what you get in return. Be smart! Save the sharks and yourselves too! ”

Thus the meeting ended on a happy note.

“Even man cannot be so stupid that he does not understand this logic. Hope he will mend his ways,” said the kiwi bird as she left the room ahead of others.

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