Lezo Zimpukane Ezinyanyekayo—Ingabe Ziwusizo Kakhulu Kunokuba Ucabanga?
ABANINGI bethu babheka izimpukane njengeziwuhlupho noma njengengozi esobala emphakathini. Kodwa izazi zezinto eziphilayo zithola ukuthi izimpukane, nakuba zingase zibe inkathazo, ziwusizo kakhulu kunokuba sicabanga.
Izinhlobo eziningi zichitha ingxenye enkulu yosuku zivakashela izimbali, okuyizindawo zokudla ezinikeza amakhasimende azo ayizinambuzane umpe nempova. Ezinye izimpukane ezingakhipha izakhi empoveni—okungewona umsebenzi olula—zithembele kulokhu kudla okunika amandla ukuze zibekele amaqanda azo.
Lapho zivakashela izimbali ezihlukahlukene, lezi zimpukane ngokungenakugwenywa zithatha izinhlamvu zempova ezinamathelayo, ezinamathela emizimbeni yazo. Enye impukane eyahlolisiswa izazi zezinto eziphilayo yayinezinhlamvu zempova ezingu-1200 emzimbeni wayo! Njengoba kuye kwenziwa ukucwaninga okwengeziwe endimeni yezimpukane yokusakaza impova, ososayensi baye bathola ukuthi ezinye izimbali zithembele kuzo ukuze zibe khona.
Umagazini i-Natural History uchaza uchungechunge lokuhlola okwenziwa eColorado, eNyakatho Melika. Izimpukane ezivamile ze-muscoid, ezifana nezimpukane zasendlini, zachelwa ngemibala egqamile ukuze zilandelelwe kalula. Ngemva kokulandelela imisebenzi yazo yansuku zonke, abacwaningi bamangala lapho bethola ukuthi kwezinye izimbali zasendle lezi zimpukane zazingabasakazi bempova ababaluleke kakhulu kunezinyosi nokuthi zazifinyelela endaweni eqhelile kunezinyosi.
Ubaluleke kangakanani umsebenzi wezimpukane? Ezinye izimbali zambozwa ngamanetha ukuze zingavakashelwa. Lezi zimbali azikhiqizanga neyodwa imbewu—ngokuphambene ngokuphelele nalezo eziseduze ezathela ezazitholé impova ngezimpukane. Nakuba ngokuyinhloko ezinye izimbali zathola impova ngezinyosi, kwezinye izinhlobo njenge-flax noma i-geranium yasendle, ezindaweni ezithile eziphakeme izimpukane zazenza amaphesenti angaphezu kwangu-90 alomsebenzi.
Saba yini isiphetho sikaCarol Kearns noDavid Inouye, ababili babacwaningi? “Khona-ke, ezimbalini eziningi zasendle kumaRocky aseColorado, izimpukane zidlula izinyosi, izimvemvane, nama-hummingbird . . . Ngaphandle kwalezi zinambuzane, abantu abaningi abazithola zinyanyeka, iningi lezimbali zasendle ezenza kujabulise kangaka ukuvakashela imfunda belingeke lithele imbewu.” Ngokuqinisekile, izimpukane ziwusizo!