Believe it or not, the internet has helpful suggestions on what to name lions, not merely dogs or cats. It must be acknowledged on anecdotal evidence, though, that there are probably more Golden Labradors named Simba than African or Asiatic lions. However, it is comforting to know that the internet offers options—which sundry wildlife wardens and others charged with the onerous and uncommon task of naming lions can perhaps consult, to avoid complications later.

As with any controversy, the buck stopped at the top when it came to the issue of who had named a pair of lions Sita and Akbar in a Tripura wildlife sanctuary, leading to the suspension of the state’s Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, PL Agarwal last week. It was found that “wildlife officials” had put the two names in the dispatch records when transferring the pair to West Bengal but as the seniormost, Agarwal has been suspended.

No doubt the officials will be cleared soon enough, but the Calcutta High Court’s Jalpaiguri Circuit Bench has brought up serious questions about naming animals after deities of any faith as well as famous personages. Presumably, the honourable judge excluded the naming of entire species after well-known Indians, of which there are countless examples from the dinosaur Barapasaurus tagorei to jumping spiders Bristowia gandhii, and Marengo sachintendulkar.

But it may be germane to cite a few examples of animal names that did not excite controversy—probably because of the context. The cynosure of the Sri Manakula Vinayagar Temple in Puducherry was an elephant named Lakshmi, who passed away aged 32 in 2022. She was the star attraction for nearly 25 years and was accorded a ceremonial burial with everyone from the Lt Governor........

© News18