Our dictionary describes the word “ Beast” in a number of ways. But the act of rape among HOMO SAPIENS (humans) is not beastly, because beasts that are wild animals do not rape ever.
Rather, beasts fulfill their biological urge to perpetrate their species, which follows Darwin's natural selection theory where the physically fittest of the males mate with the most receptive of females. Here the males win their females and then mate. The female then bears, feed and finally detaches from the progeny.
In case of birds, the annual bonding among the couple extends till their young fledge. But in case of some other birds like pigeons, geese, sarus crane they pair for life. Here the sacredness of the act is renewed every year or as their biological clock with the joy of an act of faith by both the partners. The male wins the heart of his lady all over again by wooing display with ardour and total commitment.
In case of certain birds the commitment is so strong that in case of death of one member the other perishes too in its partners love but never pairs again.
Of course there are aberrations to the rule, as among certain Primates. Monkeys and chimpanzees, indulge freely in the incest but with consent of the female and no sigma in the clan.
Among the mammals also, the male may pair with more than one female in the same season but always with the consent of the female. For example the largest land beast, the Asian elephants. They live in large herds but mating is performed in strict privacy by detaching from the herd and then rejoining again. The gestation period extends to two years after which only the bull pairs again. Such is the love and commitment. The cows and the bulls of the entire herd shelter the pregnant cow from all harm. The birth is given in a secluded place near a river or near a water body. While the expectant female bathes, a few members guard and the rest prepare a cushion of branches and leaves as the maternity cushion. They then circle the area in security from a discreet distance, leaving the cow to bear in privacy. The birth is signaled with loud and joyous trumpeting, which if witnessed is an experience of lifetime.
Man has much to learn from the beasts. So let us not belittle the nobility of animals by calling rapist a beast. For beasts do not rape.
