Source: Excerpt from the Pillars of King Ashoka of the Mauryan Empire, c. 250 BCE. The Mauryan Empire was an empire in India. Twenty-six years after my coronation, various animals were declared to be protected—parrots, mainas, ruddy geese, wild ducks, bats, queen ants, terrapins, boneless fish, fish, tortoises, porcupines, squirrels, deer, bulls, wild pigeons, domestic pigeons, and all four-footed creatures that are neither useful nor edible Which animals does Ahoka want to protect? Which ones does he not think should be protected? What explains the difference? Do you agree or disagree with this reasoning?