Ornithologists are apprehensive that sparrows might be wiped out for the sake of seeking pleasure The latest to join the list of the depleting category of birds is the local Indian sparrow. The sparrows survive best if left alone in their habitat, say environmentalists. Recently, ornithologists raised an alarm when unani medicine practitioners recommended sparrow's meat for a sexual high. According to the unani pattern of treatment, various types of therapies are prescribed to correct disorders or overcome certain shortcomings. Ilaj bit tad bur (regimental therapy), Ilaj bil ghiza (diet therapy), Daz bid dawa (pharma-therapy) and jarhat (surgery) are some of the techniques employed in the unani methodology of correction. In the diet therapy certain fruits apart from vegetable and non-vegetarian diet, in the form of potions or portions, are recommended to correct the disorders. "By and large, the trend is catching up among the affluent and people who know about it," said Dr Farhan Jalees, a food expert and nutritionist from Jamia Hamdard, Delhi. Dr Gulati, a unani and ayurvedic medicine practitioner claims that history is replete with facts where Arab kings savoured small birds. Earlier, killing them was a past time. Later, small birds became delectable dishes that were recommended by the hakims in India to increase aphrodisiac power. These hakims followed the unani pattern of medicine, Gulati said. "Killing exotic and rare birds is considered a great offence. Out of the four types that exist in the sparrow family, there are now reports that the fourth type (the domestic sparrow) is missing," says ornithologist Harkeerat Singh Sangha. Surveys show that the first three varieties are decreasing in number. It has been a major concern for the environmentalists for more than a decade. "Recently, it is the fourth type, the domestic sparrow that frequents homes, that is being noticed in lesser numbers," said Sangha, who has studied more than 800 types of bird species. Environmentalists and experts have demanded strict laws and regular inspection to prevent this bird from being pushed to extinction. "Since sparrows have not been listed in any schedule, culprits often get away with light punishment or small bribes," says Sunish Subramanian of the Plants and Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). Experts have suggested a census of the bird to be carried out immediately. "No study has ever been conducted on sparrows in Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai, after reports of their being sold in large numbers there," he said. "A census is necessary to ascertain the current state of the bird population," said Karim Khan, founder president, the People in Defence of Animals (PIDA). According to Khan, the government needs to draft mandatory regulations for creating habitats for these birds. "Some people are trying to save this bird as its population is on the decline but at the same time thousands are being sold openly. This kind of sale must be stopped immediately. It doesn't matter what the status of the species is. It sets a bad and disturbing precedent," says wildlife biologist Fiaz Khudsar. Paradoxically our love for birds has not helped them either. "Almost a third of the world's 330 parrot species are threatened with extinction due to pressures from pet collectors. The decreasing number of birds is also affected by habitat loss and viral ailment," says ornithologist Harshwardhan. However, sexologists rubbish any idea of bird meat potions helping in enhancing aphrodisiacal tendencies. Dr Deepak Raheja of Paras Hospital says that such myths have survived through generations where neem-hakims used to suggest such potions for curing sexual ailments. "Sexual disorders are ailments caused by mental stress mostly, where these potions are less likely to work," said Raheja. "Sparrows are disappearing, but not because it would spice up things in the bedroom. It is a myth. They are losing ground because of environmental concerns. It would be a more precise way of summing it up," he said.