Mumbai’s beaches. The first word that comes to mind when we
think of them, sadly, is ‘filth’. Over the years, we have so got used to seeing
our beaches in a mess, that we rarely give a thought to the marine life teeming
there. Our eyes were opened to the incredible marine bio-diversity of Girgaum
Chowpatty, (more popularly called Chowpatty Beach), when we recently went on a walk with Marine Life of Mumbai
and INatureWatch Foundation.
Over the last few weeks, I have racked my mind about what to write about our
experience, but I have finally decided to cut out the words, and show you
instead, through my photographs, the incredible life that manages to survive
despite all odds….
think of them, sadly, is ‘filth’. Over the years, we have so got used to seeing
our beaches in a mess, that we rarely give a thought to the marine life teeming
there. Our eyes were opened to the incredible marine bio-diversity of Girgaum
Chowpatty, (more popularly called Chowpatty Beach), when we recently went on a walk with Marine Life of Mumbai
and INatureWatch Foundation.
Over the last few weeks, I have racked my mind about what to write about our
experience, but I have finally decided to cut out the words, and show you
instead, through my photographs, the incredible life that manages to survive
despite all odds….
Shells are everywhere, which is not surprising. But what is
surprising is the fact that each of them, small and big, have creatures within
them – the molluscs whose natural homes these are, as well as hermit
crabs, which occupy them once they are abandoned.
surprising is the fact that each of them, small and big, have creatures within
them – the molluscs whose natural homes these are, as well as hermit
crabs, which occupy them once they are abandoned.
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| Hermit crab in spiral shell |
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| a different type of shell, with the mollusc inside |
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| Hermit crab which has grown too big for its adopted shell |
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| Hermit Crab |
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| Hermit Crab |
And here is a video… of a hermit crab moving with its shell…
Then, there are the crabs… of all sizes and colours… this one
is a Blood
Spotted Swimming Crab…
is a Blood
Spotted Swimming Crab…
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| Blood Spotted Swimming Crab. Notice the three red spots? |
And Sea Snails…
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| Sea Snail |
But the most fascinating among all the creatures that we saw,
were the Sea Anemones….
were the Sea Anemones….
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| Sea Anemone |
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| Sea Anemone This one seems to be partly closed, and you can see the bulk of it under water |
They seemed to be all over, hidden in the sand, yet in plain
view, uncovered by the low tide…
view, uncovered by the low tide…
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| Sea Anemone |
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| Another sea anemone where you can see the base underwater |
It seemed such a wonder that we had never seen them before!
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| Yet another sea anemone |
On bits of rock, or pieces of wood, we saw these….
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| Egg capsules |
They are egg capsules of molluscs, from which they emerge with
their shells….
their shells….
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| Egg capsules on a piece of wood |
We also saw Decorator Worms, which adhere to broken shells and
other debris from the sea, and use them as a natural covering or protection,
which also helps them camouflage with their surroundings.
other debris from the sea, and use them as a natural covering or protection,
which also helps them camouflage with their surroundings.
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| Can you spot the Decorator Worms in this pic? |
It was most exciting to spot a sea-fan, a type of coral, which,
we were told, would most probably have been caught in a fishing net and discarded.
Never having imagined its existence, let alone in our very own city, you can
imagine how excited we were!
we were told, would most probably have been caught in a fishing net and discarded.
Never having imagined its existence, let alone in our very own city, you can
imagine how excited we were!
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| Sea Fan |
A flock of geese flew over, reminding us that there was avian
life around too. In the horizon were small rocky outcrops, isolated enough for
marine life to thrive. Standing there, our feet washed by the waters of the
Arabian Sea, we wondered how long this marine life would thrive, with all the
‘development’ planned in the coming years.
life around too. In the horizon were small rocky outcrops, isolated enough for
marine life to thrive. Standing there, our feet washed by the waters of the
Arabian Sea, we wondered how long this marine life would thrive, with all the
‘development’ planned in the coming years.
But most poignant was this sight… of an abandoned Ganesha idol
on the shore….
on the shore….
Sometime next month, when the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is
celebrated, many more such idols will find their way to the sea, to meet just
such a fate, endangering all the marine life here in the process. I wish we
could realise that this is no way to celebrate our gods, our city, or indeed
our culture. How much better it would be, if we could celebrate by recognising
the presence of the divine all around us, including in these creatures, which
we threaten by our actions, and our indifference, every single day.
celebrated, many more such idols will find their way to the sea, to meet just
such a fate, endangering all the marine life here in the process. I wish we
could realise that this is no way to celebrate our gods, our city, or indeed
our culture. How much better it would be, if we could celebrate by recognising
the presence of the divine all around us, including in these creatures, which
we threaten by our actions, and our indifference, every single day.
Meanwhile, I can only ask you, the next time you visit one of
the beaches in this island city of ours, to keep your eyes open for all the
life that lives and breathes, just beneath our feet!
the beaches in this island city of ours, to keep your eyes open for all the
life that lives and breathes, just beneath our feet!
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| Bubbles… signs of life |
A very special thanks
to Marine Life of Mumbai
and INatureWatch Foundation,
for their impressive work, in making us aware of the marine life teeming in our
concrete city.
to Marine Life of Mumbai
and INatureWatch Foundation,
for their impressive work, in making us aware of the marine life teeming in our
concrete city.
To see more images from the walk, click here.
Disclaimer: This is NOT a sponsored post. I participated in the walk as
a member of the general public, and paid the full fee for the same.
a member of the general public, and paid the full fee for the same.
