The only beauty that matters
This narrative follows a vain red-crested pochard named Ruddy who lives on a lake in West Bengal and prides himself on his celebrity status among birdwatchers. Despite warnings from other resident birds, Ruddy isolates himself from the flock in a misguided attempt to gain more attention from human visitors.
Why it matters
The story serves as a fable about the dangers of vanity and the importance of community and humility in nature.
H idden in the small village of Purbasthali in West Bengal was a large crescent-shaped lake. In winter, it was transformed into a carnival of birds. Naturally it attracted bird lovers who came there to get a glimpse of these exquisite beauties from faraway lands. Especially the beautiful red-crested pochard that came all the way from Europe.
The content is a fictional narrative with no political or social bias.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in