This week in the anime world, Dragon Ball fans celebrated Vegeta’s epic Super Saiyan 3 transformation! What an exhilarating moment for the Prince of Saiyans! To commemorate this milestone, I’ve decided to draw an intriguing parallel between Dragon Ball and nature. Thanks to a local birder Leonard Kok who gave me an inspiration to write about it.
In 1994, whilst I was hospitalised for a severe medical reaction, my parents presented me with a colourful Dragon Ball manga volume to boost my spirits and encourage my recovery. The book showcased the familiar heroes like Goku, Krillin, Piccolo, and Gohan, alongside some new antagonists. I was particularly captivated by the main villain – Cooler, who is, in fact, Frieza’s elder brother.
For nature enthusiasts, many of you may immediately find yourself connecting this character with exotic creatures you’ve encountered in the wild. For me, however, it wasn’t until more than two decades after reading that manga that I realised Cooler’s final form bears a resemblance to one of my favourite caterpillars: the Plain Nawab (Polyura hebe plautus) caterpillar or the Blue Nawab (Polyura schreiber tisamenus).
Fast forward to today: I stumbled upon an incredible connection between nature and anime on the Bird Sightings Facebook Group. The star of this unexpected crossover? The Chestnut-Winged Cuckoo (Clamator coromandus), a migratory bird that has recently graced Singapore with its presence. Several of these stunning creatures have been spotted in the newly renovated Jurong Lake Gardens, and Leonard Kok, one of the lucky and dedicated birders, managed to capture a beautiful shot of it.
What makes this sighting truly extraordinary is the uncanny resemblance Leonard noticed. Alongside the cuckoo’s photo, he cleverly juxtaposed a picture of Son Goku from Dragon Ball Z in his original form, sporting his iconic blue and orange outfit. The similarity is nothing short of striking! The cuckoo’s distinctive crest mirrors Goku’s gravity-defying black hair, while even the colour combination seems to match perfectly.
But the parallels don’t stop there. Remarkably, the bird’s posture exudes the same positive energy and confidence that Goku is known for.
Imagine this cuckoo can get into a Super Saiyan form! LOL. Now that would be a sight to behold – a golden-crested cuckoo with glowing aura.
Interestingly, just as Goku ultimately defeated Cooler in an epic battle, nature has its own version of this showdown. The Chestnut-Winged Cuckoo, our Goku lookalike, is known to feed on various insects, including caterpillars. So, in a twist of cosmic irony, our cuckoo friend might actually prey on caterpillars similar to the Nawab that reminded us of Cooler! It’s as if the natural world is playing out its own version of Dragon Ball Z battles right before our eyes.
These delightful comparisons not only showcase the beauty of nature but also remind us of the unexpected ways pop culture and wildlife can intersect. It’s a testament to the keen eye of nature enthusiasts and the magic that can happen when we view the world around us with a touch of imagination.
Written by Lucas
birdbrainsg 
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