YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE You are UNIQUE! This means YOU have special gifts to help
change the world. Talk to your parents about ways in which
you can recycle or conserve at home. Ask the wonderful
folk at zoos and conservations close to you how you can get
involved in all kinds of fun and educational activities. Get
your friends and neighbours involved. Look up websites for
zoos and wildlife conservations, and check out what’s going
on around the world!
The Patels have a deep love for all animals and birds, having grown up on the Patiyak
Wildlife Conservation managed by Mr. and Mrs. Patel, Rohan’s parents. Rohan, his two
sisters, and their cousin Nimal – independent youngsters – have lots of fun and laughter,
especially when they are together and indulge in teasing badinage, but, they are also
good buddies who look out for each other. They have varying talents and ambitions, for
instance, fourteen year old Rohan is determined to become a detective when he grows
up. Nimal, a year younger than Rohan, has a talent which is the envy of all he meets –
he can make friends with any animal or bird! He will definitely be a Conservationist. Anu,
the same age as Nimal, wants to be a writer; while Gina, at eight, has not quite made up
her mind what she wants to be, although she does have a knack for nonsense verse and
music!
Travelling home from boarding school for their summer holidays, the children acquire a
new addition to their ‘family’ – Hunter the dog – who has some quaint habits! On the train
they also meet Peter, a young detective, who grew up on the Conservation with them,
who informs them that he has been asked to deal with the problem of Peacocks being
killed on their Conservation. Peacock feathers are sold at exorbitant prices. The
youngsters, horrified to hear that these beautiful birds are being destroyed, and that the
crooks have not been caught as yet, resolve to help Peter to the best of their ability. He
is very grateful for their assistance since he has been assigned to work on another case
as well, which is outside the Conservation.
While making plans to save their Conservation from the poachers, the Patels decide to
form a group called the ‘Junior Environmentalists and Conservationists’ (the ‘JEACs’ –
pronounced ‘Geeacks’). They are determined to encourage all young people, who want to
protect animals and save the planet from further destruction, to join their group.
Once they reach their home, the JEACs, as they now call themselves, chat to their
parents and the rest of the staff and gather information as to how the birds are being
killed. The staff having reached the conclusion that the poachers must be hidden on the
Conservation, convey this information to the JEACs, and the JEACs do some careful
planning as to how they can keep a look-out for the crooks. They decide to hide in the
jungle, in a cave overlooking one of the largest waterholes frequented by numerous birds,
including peacocks, and lots of animals. The girls take turns in watching from their
hideout, while the boys each go to the other waterholes.
And ;
Read the book and find out how their first exciting adventure ends. And, don’t forget, we
all have talents! Use them!