Nature and I

Lourdes Mata Mandir: Where peace and owls prevail

2011-05-09T09:22:00.000-07:00

Sitting under the shade of the Karanj tree on which Indian Scops Owls roost, I was observing an active nest of Black-rumped Flameback woodpeckers, amidst the occasional flitting of Paradise-flycatchers and Black-lored Tits, when Thambi, the caretaker called me ahead. He was pointing at the top of a bare teak tree. The emanating raucous screeches were redolent of a nest belonging to parakeets. Then he led me to another woodpecker’s hole which he said was occupied by Brahminy Mynas. He showed birds with respect and a bit of care…I knew I had to write. About this bijou church where Man and Nature co-exist.

Nestled in the teak forests of the Seminary Hills complex in Nagpur, the Lourdes Mata Mandir lies in chastity. According to sources, its history dates back to the mid-nineteenth century. There had only been a small chapel at that time encompassed by verdant deciduous forest where people feared prowling leopards. A lot has changed since then- schools, colleges, a miniature golf course, jogging track, children’s park; infact a whole city has come out of the forest. But unchanged is the strong faith people have shown in the principles of Mother Mary, which is so causative of the prevailing harmony between Nature and Man.

Owls, woodpeckers and other memories

The most popular residents of Lourdes Mata Mandir is the pair of Indian Scops Owls, who have been roosting here for the last three years. During daytime these owls don’t do much more than sleeping and an occasional pedicure (which is also done with the eyes shut!). They remain oblivious to people standing under the Karanj tree with hands folded in prayer. Even though this devotion sprouts out of greed (owls are considered as symbols of Goddess Lakshmi), what is special about this association is that at any other place, owls are considered as unwelcome guests, and in worst cases fall prey to poachers, smugglers or religious fanatics. But in the aegis of the church, they feel most at home.

Though owls are the most popular, my favourite residents are the Black-rumped Flameback woodpeckers to whom most of my fond memories belong. In April / May 2011, I had observed a nest of these woodpeckers. During that period, I religiously visited the church at different times of the day to make temporal observations of their nesting behaviour (knowing I’m an atheist and that only the plagued visit God, I think people speculated that I was under tremendous depression!). While the male was wimpy, the female was an impressive character. At nest, she seemed sincerely loving but any intrusion could make her bellicose. I have seen her defend the nest ferociously against mynas and babblers (often in the male’s presence!) and even chase squirrels away. Though as a guy just out of teens, I look up to the male for inspiration, for he has all the answers to ‘how-to-tackle-your-wife’ queries. Once out of nest, this guy mostly took his own sweet time to return. Often after returning to the nesting tree he would realise that he hadn’t enough food, and would start picking insects from the same tree before scurrying to the nest. And once inside the hole, he would seemingly work with reluctance. But when the female came, he would refuse to leave, pretending that his parental fervour is undying! After an association spanning nearly twenty days, and as many pages of my field diary, I thought it important to name them. So he came to be known as Woody (Allen) and she- his leading lady Scarlett (Johansson)!

During the same time, a pair of White-throated Fantails was also building their nest on a jackfruit tree. Although it was well-shaded their ungainly whistles were easy indications. In the two days that I watched them, there was little progress made. It would’ve taken very little time for the unseasonal rains to wash it away.

When Woody was out, I would while away my time (knowing he would not return soon) watching other birds. There were a couple of Black-lored Tits who would frequently perch on a halogen lamp in the grove and peck at the reflector. For some time I assumed they were picking moths, but Rohan, my brother suggested that they were infact pecking at their reflection!

In 2006, when I started birdwatching, it was here that I saw my first Orange-headed Thrushes. Five years later, on the Saturday after Good Friday, there was no mass. But suddenly it felt like Christmas eve- an Orange-headed Thrush had begun singing in full exuberance!

Apart from the owls, another permanent resident of the church is the young, yet wise Cormorant. It is seen almost throughout the day- basking at the edge of the church’s artificial pond, or fishing in the pond. As a student of zoology with keen interest in ecology and ethology, what seems interesting is whether this animal would sacrifice its rich feedstock (on which it has complete monopoly) for a mate. If yes, then would it breed here and pass off its skills?

Nevertheless, being among such interesting characters whose drama unfolds amidst a mix of mournful reverberating hums of Spotted Doves, the hurried whistles of Tickell’s Blue Flycatchers and the livening songs of Common Hawk-Cuckoo, science often takes second preference.

‘The Breadman’

The church maintains a small artificial pond lined with a slightly high stone bordering, which is surrounded by coconut groves and an overhanging Silk Cotton tree. Every morning at around eight, all animals anticipate the arrival of their favourite devotee. ‘The Breadman’ as I call him, is a morning walker who has made it his routine- to pray to the idol of Mother Mary, pray to the owls, light a candle, and then throw bread to the fish. And as the first slice of bread touches the water, a food chain is sparked.

Pond herons take off from their perches on coconut leaves and repeatedly try catching fish in flight. White-throated and Common Kingfishers perch on cement platforms to time their dives. But it is most intriguing to watch the Checkered Keelbacks. The snakes have occupied every cranny on the stone boundary of the pond. Three to four of them squeeze into one hole and put their heads out. As the restless fish get closer to the crevices, the snake at the right position darts. If it has struck successfully, the snake will slip into the pond and swim across with its meal to the stairs at the opposite end to gulp its meal.

‘The Breadman’ also throws crumbs to squirrels and babblers, which lead to violently playful gang-wars. I have seen a flock of babblers rob a squirrel of its bread crumb. Once Rohan was eyewitness to a virtual gangwar. A flock of babblers had mobbed a squirrel who was running to safety with a slice of bread. The squirrel didn’t give up. It shrieked till other squirrels came to its rescue. In the meanwhile, other flocks of babblers had also joined in. It sounded like a scene straight out of some Japanese yakuza movie!

The only one who is unperturbed by all the gamboling, is the wise Cormorant. With his skill and adaptation, he needs no bait to catch fish. During all this action, he simply basks and watches (perhaps even smirks!)

One afternoon while observing the pair of White-throated Fantails, an elderly woman came and sat next to me and asked me to show her the birds I was watching. As she saw the Fantail opening its tail, she said to me, “Yeh Ishwar kya kalakar hai!” (God is such an artist!). The Lourdes Mata Mandir, I felt, is a microcosm of sacred groves!

It is known that artificial environments intrude natural habitats. But here in the midst of natural environs, it’s amazing to see how animals adapt and survive…And as I write this last sentence, Woody and Scarlett’s chick, for the first time, sees the light of the divine atmosphere which offered him his first meal!

A new recruit…a hope for the future!

P.S. I click a picture and realise it’s not one…but two chicks!

Nagpur has only purred

2011-04-21T22:59:00.000-07:00

An eventful month complete with mass activities- signature campaigns, photography contests, experience-sharing, wall painting- all of Times of India’s commendable efforts have paved way for Nagpur’s new identity- Waghpur, the Tiger Capital of the World (http://www.facebook.com/waghpur?sk=wall). Although justified that it is by geography, a question that naturally emerges is- from here, where are we headed?

A few quick possibilities come to my mind…

The first and the easiest to occur is that the name and title will remain on paper, with nothing materializing on the field. City streets will be flanked with hoardings welcoming visitors to the newly recognized tiger capital and reminding citizens of newfound distinction. As time passes by, this, like all other events of the city will be a forgotten memory.

The next and most likely possibility is a gargantuan growth in the tourism sector. Now with the city adorned with hoardings of Waghpur, every tour operator would want to cash in on the scenario. Though tourism comes with a package of disasters like overcrowding (both in and out of the park boundary), disturbance to animals, recklessness, illegal land-use; in the flip side it has its own advantages.

One, there is increased vigilance and patrolling, apart from generating huge amount of revenue for forest management. With respect to this, a stark contrast is seen in the Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh (MP) sides of Pench Tiger Reserve.

Two, in tourism zones of MP, guides are well-trained. They can identify miscellaneous wildlife which invites a (less) tiger-centric tourist to look beyond his quarry. They also have a deeper respect for the forest which feeds them. This is found wanting in low tourism protected areas (PAs) of Maharashtra. Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (the highest eco-tou

rism zone in Maharashtra) had once been infamous for incidents where guides were mute spectators to tourists getting off their vehicles for a better view of the tiger! In MP, guides can be very stern regarding forest rules.

However, it is imperative to stress upon two aspects for ideal conservation-based eco-tourism- ‘the concept of equity’ and ‘creating a sense of belonging’. Equity defines an impartial stake of local tribesmen in the revenue generated from tourism. In early 2009, forest guides had called a strike for demanding an increment in salary. This was a valid demand and put a blot in the name of Central India’s premier tiger country. But some resort houses have been exemplary (while others have been reckless drivers inside the park!). Taj group, since its inception has been running a community development programme. Moreover, recruitment of local boys in the resort staff has given a major boost to creating employment opportunities. This is where eco-tourism can be so instrumental in creating an umbilical relati

onship between locals and tigers, who then get a feeling that their livelihood is dependent on the tiger’s existence (and not in its culling)

But at deeper thought, there are also unavoidable drawbacks with funds being directed towards the tourism industry. Rapid influx of tourists would mean a need for better roadways. Already a louche four-lane highway (for the number of trees felled in laying it) runs in a stretch between Pench and Kanha. Expansion here or creating an alternative highway would add more impact to an already devastating roadway traversing vital corridors. Besides this in-situ crowd control has always been a problem in MP.

The third possibility is the ideal condition where conservation gets a massive headstart. Nagpur has become ‘The Gateway to Tigerland’ not only due to its position on the map, but also because the Central Indian land

scape is fairly rich in tiger densities making it an important conservational zone. The newfound title will fetch Nagpur international recognition, which is precisely the first step towards drawing the government’s attention. This could help in diversion of funds to Forest Depar

tment, NGOs and other affiliate bodies. There are plenty of problems in this region- man-tiger conflicts around Chandrapur (the worst crisis at present), less prey base in Melghat, Naxal infestation in Gadchiroli, corridor disconnectivity in Bori-Satpuda WLS, poaching in Achanakmar and tourism pressures at Pench, Kanha and Bandhavgarh. Eradication of these may require additional funding and international attention (except that of the World Bank!). Very recent news towards this direction is that talks have been in favour of notifying three new tiger reserves in Maharashtra- Navegaon, Nagzira & Bor.

Another significance of the creditable appellation is that all proceedings will be under the watchful eyes of the media, which at least in Nagpur has consistently been reporting environmental issues with fervour.

At this point, it is essential to ensure that positive action actualizes. Ultimately, conservation is the desirable outcome.

Meanwhile, Nagpuris should understand that they haven’t roared merely for a new geographical identity…They have roared to keep the roars alive!

In the bigger picture, it seems more like a purr…The real roar still awaits!

Note: Article is open to critique, comments and debates.

Happy (?) Diwali

2009-10-16T06:28:00.000-07:00

Introduction: This is in accordance with my note Happy (?) New Year (http://mywilddiary.blogspot.com/2009/03/happy-new-year.html) dated 31st Dec '08.

Around 700-500 B.C: Valmiki wrote Ramayana.
12th Century A.D: The Chinese invented fireworks
21st Century A.D: Indians burst fire crackers on Diwali, as they believe that Lord Rama was welcomed in the same manner, when he returned to Ayodhya after his 14 years of exile.
Strange, isn’t it? Now read this-
1. In 2008, Kolkata experienced the warmest winter in 60yrs. Similar stories from many other cities.
2. Feb 2008: Temperatures in Mumbai plumett to below 10 degree C. Nearly unheard of in the past.
3. 2009 was one of the driest years in India with rainfall occurring infrequently and irregularly. Agriculture at stake.
4. Nagpur reported failure in blooming of oranges on account of abnormally less rainfall- another uncommon occurrence.
5. The most recent of all disasters- parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh & Goa flooded in Oct ’09.
This is one endless list of oddities!
Now isn’t this strange? It isn’t! Why? What else would you expect when we manipulate with the earth’s climate patterns; the way we did with our own mythology…only to meet our luxuries, our pleasures? So what’s the fate of our future? Aah! I just heard a boom outside my window!
Wake up! Climate change is real. Climate change is happening.

Even then, if today you burst a cracker and burn yourself up; I don’t care! What I care for is that the planet too will burn with you.
If today, you burst a cracker and get hearing impaired; I don’t care! What I care for are those around, whom we fail to understand. They can hear upto ten times better than us…I care for them.
If today, you burst a cracker and lose your vision; I don’t care! What I care for are those of your age, who lose their childhood; who lose their eyes, their limbs…or themselves, while making crackers for you.
As Channel V very fittingly put it up last year, “Diwali is a festival of light and not of sound”. Let it be so.Those who intend to stand by the message may well remove the ‘?’ from the title. For the rest- uncaring and sceptical types- I’ve just this one question to ask- “If you don’t care for the environment, to which planet do you belong?” (courtesy Greenpeace)

Harsh Realities- an insight into Speciesism

2009-08-03T09:45:00.000-07:00

Today the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) Census kickstarted in Nagpur. And, Mother Nature, I reckon, chose this as an opportunity to teach me a lot more than just tracking a bird; to make me understand the harsh realities of the speciest society we live in, and what lies ahead in the fate of the victims of speciesism.

To hell with those who invented the word ‘humanity’ and to hell with the makers of the dictionary who assigned it the meaning ‘sympathy & kindness’. Humans, by nature are dominant and tyrannical. In its true sense, ‘humanity’ should ideally mean ‘domineering, devastating and destructive’. Here’s how I justify that through three misadventures of this fateful day.

Misadventure # 1: We were en route to Bhivapur- a village on Umrer Road, where we to start our search for the GIB. The highway wasn’t calm, but doves of all 4 species found in Nagpur flew onto it to peck or court, and flitted away just on time. The jeep behind us was honking. And one oblivious Red Collared Dove landed on the road ahead. We slowed down, and the jeep kept honking. In no time, it overtook us with a zoom…and white down feathers; many of them, frantically floated, searching for their owner, who they knew not, had started its flight towards heaven sans them.

Misadventure # 2: After a futile search at Vakeshwar, we decided to check on an unconfirmed GIB habitat on the Umrer-Butibori bypass. On a hillock at Umrer Road, we spotted a Great Horned Owl perched…unpeacefully. Reason? Three young men were attempting to capture it. The owl had taken cover in a short tree. Pretending to be officials from the Forest Department, we took photographs and names of the men involved and waited till they were sent off. Meanwhile, the owl after preening, had flown away to seek shelter in the cliff. Its behaviour suggested it had probably sustained minor injuries due to the stones pelted at it.

We were just on time. Seconds later, and the planet would’ve lost a precious denizen. More so, a precious resident for Umrer as it rids the farmers’ fields of rodents- a thought that seemed way beyond their understanding. People like us who protect wildlife for ethical reasons, had the feeling that an owl who had nothing to do with the street he overlooked; who knew nothing of the myth (read- crap) about Laxmi; who only wanted to have his world in an isolated cliff, feasting on all that he liked- was prized at lakhs of rupees at local / national markets for the (un)holy sacrifice to Goddess (?) Laxmi. Anyway, at the end of the day, the Great Horned lived to see another day. Wish the Russell’s Viper shared his fortune…

Misadventure # 3: Following local knowledge that the Hoom was mostly seen in the afternoon, we were back at Vakeshwar before evening. Fruitless, as it had seemed throughout the day, we had just withdrawn our search when we were alerted by the words, “Maaro! Lo maaro usko” By the time we turned around, three blows of a stick with an iron tip, had already been struck. We shouted to stop, horrified at the sight of the merciless final blow. “Kya hai?”..”Saanp”, wasn’t shocking to hear the simplicity with which it was said by the farmer. I immediately jumped to the spot. Dismal! “Russell’s Viper”, I said to Rohan and Haseeb in utter dismay. The following minutes passed in negotiating with the farmers. The snake wriggled its tail a bit…It was living to die. We tried all possible, polite explanations and when things turned sour, Rohan spoke his heart out. “Tum jaison ko goli se maar dena chahiye.” We had to reverse. Knowing they are pantheists, the least I could say before retreating was, “Shaap lagega aapko.”

I found nothing wrong in what Rohan said. What the farmers did was not an act of self-defence. It was tyranny, nothing else. The man who knew he was at least a hundred times taller than the little ‘creep’ that had crept in (only to indirectly help him) had his chance of expressing dominance over the fiercest snak which undeliberately kills over 7000 people a year in India. Three blows was all he needed. Since he had spotted it resting harmlessly, he could’ve scared it away; but wouldn’t that be too kind of a speciest? Even more disturbing is the thought of imagining the number of snakes which meet the same fate.

All the way, Rohan echoed, “In jaison ka koi ilaaj nahi. Yeh log laaton ke bhoot hai.” I agree. Things won’t be any better, ten years down the line. Speciesism won’t end. Casteism almost has, raceism will; simply because the victims can speak out. Speciesism can’t…not until we see an extinction of Homo sapiens.

P.S. Rohan & I abused a man for kicking a dog…Some things never change, you see!

Greening Solutions- Let the Seed Sprout

2009-03-16T08:30:00.000-07:00

Ever imagined a Nagpur sans oranges? Not until now, I bet. And from now on, you need not imagine as it is slowly but surely turning into a reality. With a failure in blooming of oranges coupled with the warmest and shortest winters in over 30 years, Nagpur is showing definite symptoms of a victim of anthropogenic (human induced) climate change. As the mercury maintains an arrogant stand close to 40 degrees C, and you beat the heat in the comfort of your ACs and water coolers (syn. to doing nothing!), here is your chance to bring in some hope; make an investment for the future.

I have a neem tree in front of my house which bears fruits in summers. A sinful delight, it attracts bulbuls, mynas and koels. After a sumptuous meal, the birds visit my water cooler for a sip and subsequently vomit or defecate the seeds out. Here their role as seed dispersers (a job well done for thousands of years) ends. But having dropped the seeds on concrete, courtesy my home; the seeds do not sprout’ unlike what happens in nature where birds drop them on soil, until monsoon brings life to them. So, mine is a house which should not have been there, and so are many other Indian homes. This is where Nature hands over the baton to you. You simply have to collect the seeds, keep them dried till monsoon and eventually sow them. This is my 'Let the Seed Sprout' campaign. (read postscript)

At strategic locations, seed collections (for neem) can get higher than 50 (!), hence rooftops are the most convenient places to create nurseries. Birders to note- these are great haunts for wagtails. To make things ‘eco-friendlier’, you could devise methods for reusing or recycling water while watering the saplings. I placed a tankie under my water tank, wherein all the water that overflowed got collected in addition to some rainwater. This, I used to water my plants (it surely isn’t the most efficient of methods). Apart from this, some other precautions that need to be taken are-
1. only seeds of native trees should be planted; exotics and ornamentals to be avoided strictly.
2. seeds should be kept dry till monsoon.
3. having a variety in the nursery is preferred.
4. any kind of chemical fertiliser / pesticide should not be sprayed.
5. sapling plantation (after 1 year preferably, in monsoon) should be done in suitable areas and not more than 3 saplings of the same species should be planted in a small patch; variety preferred.
Rest all depends on your gardening skills, which in my case are poor!

So it is basically about adopting orphans who ask only for a few cups of water, some shade and lots of love and affection, yet in return; apart from all the uses you studied in school, they sequester carbon.

So go ahead! Make a meaningful contribution in stabilising our climate!

Postscript: I sincerely feel I'm not the only one doing something like this. There might be, and infact there are many people / organisations in India who are collecting dropped neem seeds and sowing them. However, I know none of them. So at the end of the day I do not wish to be dragged into a controversy regarding a stolen idea or publicising my work using other's ideas. I've just given it a name in order to brand it as a campaign and promote it for the cause of tackling climate change.

Happy (?) New Year

2009-03-16T07:46:00.000-07:00

Introduction: Old article dated 31st Dec '08. Written on New Year's eve...

Today is 31st Dec 2008. Tomorrow a new year begins, bringing with it a new joy, new hopes, new desires, new ambitions, aspirations....You see, we're all greedy, that's why the list becomes endless! But look at them, living out there in the woods and the deserts; the lakes and the mountains; those with whom we share our planet. For them, tomorrow will be like any other day. Life is a challenge, and at every single second, they battle to win over it. Be it any time of the year, not sparing even the new year's day, they know, humans- rich and poor alike would encroach upon their domains. Be it any month of the year, they know they would have to be wary of gunshots and deftly concealed metal traps. And they've realised, those gunmen, if caught, would soon be out on bail, for committing what the law calls 'an unbailable offence' just to shoot 'em down some other day. Be it any day of the year, they know they would be admired in tiny cages (where they don't fit in) or relished on expensive crockery, more than being seen in the wild. Also be it any season, (they don't know!) the climate would fluctuate unimaginably!So new years come and go; but new hopes, new joys, desires, for them, are never born. Perhaps, we never let them take birth. Whenever I write or speak about Mother Nature's plight, these beautiful lines from Mr.Mike Pandey's film, 'The Vanishing Vultures' come to my mind- "Nature is resilient. Given a chance she will bounce back." Yes she will; we know it; if we give her that chance..to let that new hope take birth. And what's a better birthday, than any day in 2009?

(Green) Journey of a Lifetime

2008-08-30T08:59:00.000-07:00

The plane landed with a bump, as I looked out of the window at buildings that looked so exotic. My feet paused for a while before they stepped for the first time on a land which was not mine; but eventually it happened in style as I thought about the two weeks that would follow.

I was at Beijing, not for the Olympics, but to attend the ‘Chinese Green Journey’ organized by the British Council (BC), China for which four Climate Change Awareness Ambassadors from each zone of India were selected, and I was the lucky one from West India. My colleagues from India included Aditya Kumar from Delhi, Angshuman Hazarika from Guwahati and Agastya Muthanna from Bangalore. All of us were dead tired after the three long air journeys we went through to reach our destination. Outside the airport we were received by Sophie Lashford from British Council, China and a student at the Cambridge University, who would lead us for the next fifteen days. After a brief rest at the hotel, Sophie and Steve Lipscombe (another British working with BC, China) took us for dinner to Hard Rock Café where we met our colleagues from Hong Kong. Next day onwards our Green Journey began in full swing and here’s an account of what we did in each of the cities we visited.

Beijing- On 14th July, young ambassadors (YAs) from different cities of China namely; Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Chengdu and Guangdong (province) arrived at the hotel and we had lunch together. We Indians had our first Peking Duck, a speciality of Beijing. Despite getting a lot of help from Chan Yuk Pui (English name- Kurt), my HK friend, my first experience of handling the chopsticks turned into a huge failure. In the evening, Mrs. Rebecca Nadin and Mr. Robin Rickard briefed us about the Green Journey programme; which was followed by a few educational games which we were to play with the public, the next day. The following morning, we visited the National Climate Centre, where Prof. Zhong, Chief Scientist, gave us a lecture on climate change and Madamme Zhou from the Beijing Green Olympics committee gave a presentation on the Green Olympics. After this we had a vegetarian eco-lunch and left for the Beijing Planetarium. At the planetarium, we played games on ‘Food Mile’ and a ‘Complete the sentence’ game and distributed eco-friendly pencils. Whichever city we went to, we carried our ‘Green Tree’ with us. People were asked to cut paper (British Council office papers which were re-used) in the form of leaves, write down their opinion about Climate Change and stick them on the ‘tree’. The Food Mile game which made people aware about how imported food items damage the environment was my favourite. In the evening we did some shopping at the Silk Market and later dined at Pizza Hut. After dinner I came across an Arctic fox muffler and a Snow leopard fur coat on sale at a supermarket for 3000 yuan and 50000 yuan respectively! My first tryst with China’s illegal wildlife trade. (for more on this issue read next article)
On 16th July, we visited the energy-efficient building of Tsinghua University and went to Beijing’s most popular tourist attraction- the Tiananmen Square and the adjoining Forbidden City. The monuments at the Forbidden City showcase Chinese architecture at its best.

Shanghai- We reached Shanghai by train on the morning of 17th July and straightaway headed for the BC office for a press conference. YAs from different places shared their opinions about Beijing with the media. Angshuman represented India. At noon, we visited the eco-building at Xinzhuang Industrial Park. There was a guided tour at the eco-building and a presentation explaining the eco-friendly features of the building. In the evening we left for Chong Ming island, which is an hour’s ride from Shanghai by ferry. Next day, 18th July, was my seventeenth birthday, and one I can never forget. Early morning we visited Chong Ming Dongtan Nature Reserve, a wetland committed to the protection of migratory birds. Though it was not the right season for twitching, walking on the marshes and watching crabs and mudskippers had its own fun. A perfect start to my birthday! At the head office of the nature reserve, we watched a documentary on bird conservation. The big problem with the film- it was in Chinese without English sub-titles! At noon, we ferried back to Shanghai. It was dinner time and little did I know that there was a surprise in store for me! Post dinner, two birthday cakes awaited to be cut by Chan Kai Lap (Kenny from HK who was the other birthday boy!) and I. According to Chinese culture, if you eat noodles on your birthday, your life becomes as long as a strand of noodles. So, following the tradition, Kenny and I ate noodles too! It was a special day, which I celebrated with my special friends.
On 19th July, we collected tips on environmental protection form the people of Shanghai at East Nanjing Road and distributed eco-friendly pencils.

Chongqing- We reached Chongqing at around 19.00 hours on 20th July after a tiring 29-hour train journey. Next morning we had a grand media conference at Intercontinental Hotel. The event, that became the start attraction was our eco-fashion show. Girls from our gang looked pretty as they walked on the ramp, dressed in costumes made out of recycled materials. The very next day, the news appeared in many local dailies. Thereafter we visited the Haishi Eco-park, once a barren wasteland, which is now a stunningly beautiful landscape, all thanks to its creator. Planting trees in that amazingly beautiful park delighted us all. The dinner of that day is worth mentioning. ‘Hot Pot’, Chongqing’s speciality has a huge ‘pot’ filled with boiling hot, spicy curry. Chicken, pork, beef, mushrooms and vegetables have to dipped first into the curry and the into sesame oil. What next? Put it straight into your mouth and say, “Yummy!”
The demonstrative eco-farmland (where we went the following day) which uses methane as its prime source of electricity and the sewage treatment plant provided us with a good learning experience. After working throughout the day, one seeks entertainment too. So there we were, partying at Man Jiang Hong, a floating restaurant on the Yangtze River. We played games, sang songs and had loads of fun!
On 23rd July, before we bade goodbye to Chongqing, we attended a lecture at the Chongqing CDM Centre. Just a few minutes after the lecture began; all I saw with my sleepy eyes was a bunch of sleeping chinkies! To add to our agony, the lecture was in Chinese! So I did not have to think twice before dozing off!

Guangzhou- On 24th July, at noon we arrived at Guangzhou and after having lunch we moved to the BC office (need I mention the purpose of visit?). The media had gathered in good numbers. BC staff briefed the media about the Green Journey programme and ex-YAs from Guangzhou shared their experiences with us. Interviewers moved here and there taking our interviews. I was interviewed by Guangzhou TV and Guangzhou English Channel. To introduce the concept of Food Mile to the press, we organized a group-fruit salad-making competition. Next day we visited the Likeng Waste Incineration Plant which is the only facility in Guangzhou that incinerates waste to produce electricity; and attended a lecture on rising sea level and its effects on Guangzhou. On our way to the Likeng Plant, I saw restaurants openly selling snake meat, turtle meat and reef fishes. The people of China need to be alerted of the adverse effects, these delicacies have on eco-systems.
Next day, we traveled to Dongguan (approx. 2 hours drive) by bus to visit the Guanyin Mountain Tree Museum which gives an insight of past climate records and its effects on the natural vegetation of South China. Thereafter we left for Hong Kong which is another 2-hour from Dongguan by road.

Hong Kong- On 26th July, a grand dinner at the Mandarin Oriental welcomed us to Hong Kong. Vietnamese Spring Roll, Butter-garlic Chicken wings, Salmons…Ah! It was so yummy!
27th July was the best day of the Green Journey. It was an activity day at Ark Eden on Lantau Island. Ark Eden is an eco-cottage in the making and its owners, Mrs. Jenny and Mr. Dave are two very dynamic people. They are old but still too young! Mrs. Jenny taught us about the native and exotic trees of Lantau and asked us to jot down methods for using oil judiciously in order to avoid an oil crisis in future; while Mr. Dave imparted his knowledge of composting and resource management. Later, at noon we trekked to the top of a hill to plant a few native trees.
Next day, we attended lectures and presentations at the Hong Kong Observatory, City University of Hong Kong and CLP’s Castle Peak Power Station. All the slideshows were interesting, though they all provided nearly the same facts. In the evening, we went to Hong Kong Wetland Park, which has excellent facilities for educating the public about the importance of wetlands and other eco-systems.
The following day was the last day of our Green Journey, yet our activities went on with inexhaustible spirit. In the morning, we paid a visit to Lamma Power Station, the only wind power station of Hong Kong. From noon to evening we had our last press conference (where I represented India) and the final debriefing at the BC office. Thereafter we left for ‘The Peak’ for a final get-together and a farewell dinner. For us Indians it was a very special dinner. The reason being; they served us Tandoori Chicken! Obviously, it was nothing close to our authentic Indian taste but we still relished it. It was fun to watch our Chinese friends eat the chicken and naan with forks and knives. It was a happy ending to our 15-day long, but still too short, Green Journey.

Next morning, on the flight, I woke up from sleep when I heard the attendant say, “Chinese Tea”. It was my last tryst with China; and as I finished the second cup (!), all my memories attached with China- memories of my dear Chinese friends who had been so friendly and helpful; memories of Sophie, our funny, loving and caring group leader; memories of Zhao Jie, our friendly and affectionate tour guide; memories of Michael (who was with us at Chongqing) who taught us how to eat the Hot Pot; and of course of Steve with whom we Indians had our first Chinese Tea. All these special people find a special place in my heart.

For more photographs log on to http://picasaweb.google.com/rohitchak77

China- A Threat to Wildlife

2008-08-05T08:42:00.000-07:00

China is renowned worldwide for its illegal trade in wildlife products. Goods from all around the world are supplied to Chinese markets, where they fetch a high price. The sale of wildlife products poses a serious threat to eco-systems and is a cause of immense concern for wildlife conservationists across the globe. My trip to China, revealed just a bit of the so many anti-wildlife activities that happen each day in China.
These make-up brushes made of mink hair (as told to me by the saleswoman) were being sold at Beijing’s famous ‘Silk Market’. Minks belong to the family of weasles and are poached for their fur which is used to make coats.

The most horrifying of all my revelations. These coats were for sale in a popular and also probably the oldest supermarket in Beijing. I took these photographs secretively with my mobile phone. I have no clue about the first one (top left), but the second coat (bottom) is undoubtedly an authentic Snow leopard fur coat, which cost a booming 50000 yuan (approximately 3 lakh INR). It is most probable that the Snow leopard has been shot somewhere in the Indian Himalayas and smuggled into China. The third photograph (top right) shows a dead Arctic fox, costing 3000 yuan (approx. 18000 INR) which is worn as a muffler!

Hill Mynas are birds found in the Inidan Subcontinent and South-east Asia. Their excellent ability to mimic calls makes them vulnerable to poachers who cage them and earn a good income by smuggling them to China and South-east Asia.
This is why I hate the food of South China. Restaurants in Guangzhou openly sell snake meat, turtle meat, reef fishes and corals. The photograph on the top left (please click on image to enlarge) shows a few snakes kept in an aquarium, ready to be chopped for 500 yuan! The image to the right (please click on image to enlarge) is of the menu card of President Hotel, Guangzhou. Bird’s nest (obtained from nests of Cave Swiftlets & Edible-nest Swiftlets) and Shark fin soup are popular Chinese delicacies. For the shark fin coup, sharks are caught in large numbers. Their fins are chopped off and they are dumped back into the sea. Once the fin is gone, the shark loses its ability to swim, and dies within minutes. The increasing demand for shark fin soup in Chinese restaurants has made many species of sharks endangered (including the Whale Shark). At the Bangkok airport, a packet containing 6 roasted Bird's nests cost 8400 baht (over 10000 INR)! The photograph to the right is of a coral polyp, which is another delicacy in China. If coral bleaching and pollution weren't enough, here comes another threat to the most fragile eco-system in the world!

Although it’s not illegal to sell sea cucumber soup(left) and octopus meat(right) ; personally I’m against it as I have a feeling that it disturbs the underwater eco-system. Sea cucumbers caught in the Andamans, are illegally smuggled into China through the Nathu-la Pass.

With the illegal trade flourishing and extreme lack of awareness among Chinese citizens, there’s little hope of survival for our wildlife. Snow leopards, tigers, rhinos; all have already become (highly) endangered because of the trade. Sharks lie on the edge. Poaching marine turtles for meat or capturing them as pets is strictly banned; yet China doesn’t care!

I don’t have the right to blame everything on China, as people from every country (India included) contribute to the prospering of the trade, either by poaching or by consuming illegal products. It’s a problem of global concern. But together we all can make a difference. By boycotting tiger skins, bones and claws; by boycotting the snow leopard coat hanging in that wardrobe; by boycotting that shark fin soup…indeed, we can make a difference! No other message, apart from this one, being propagated by the TV channel Animal Planet describes our role in putting an end to the wildlife trade…
“If the buying stops, the killing can too!"

Postscript- My dear Chinese friends, please dont mind my words. Feel free to post your comments / compliments, your views, your opinions about this article. If you disagree with any of the points mentioned in the article you may write to me or post it on the comments section of my blog.

Seasoned Singers

2008-02-02T05:50:00.000-08:00

Come summer and the forest becomes a music room! Melodious voices coming from all directions, but nothing visible. After spending hours looking for that ‘Melody Queen’ (like the hero of an old Hindi film searching for the heroine singing the song!) you finally find it (or sometimes you don’t and simply give up the search) hidden deep in the canopy or foliage; partly visible. And surprisingly, its not a ‘Melody Queen’; it’s a ‘Melody King’. Yes it’s a male cuckoo. After spending an utterly silent winter, these seasonal as well as seasoned singers sing their love songs, originally composed by them, throughout the summer and monsoon months.

Cuckoos are extremely secretive birds but their enchanting voices drive any birdwatcher crazy. Some species closely resemble one another, making them difficult to separate in the field. But all have their own unique calls and in their world there are no ‘copy cats’ (mimics in other words). Cuckoos are parasitic, that is they lay their eggs on other birds’ nests. The fact that koels lay their eggs on the nests of crows is known to all.

Getting back to the musical tale; the cuckoo that you are most likely to hear, sitting in your houses is the Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopacea). The all-black male has a sweet ‘ku-ooo... ku-ooo’ call which is repeated continuously in the summer months. The female, on the other hand, has a harsh and ‘domineering’ voice. Unlike other cuckoos, this species is not difficult to find and can be heard throughout the year (others are silent in winter). Another cuckoo, that you might find near your houses is the Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis), locally called Bhardwaj. It is a large, aggressive looking and non-parasitic (builds a nest of its own) cuckoo with a heavy booming voice. Though shy, it is commonly seen and heard (often in winters). Its chestnut wings contrasting with its black body give it a well-deserved name- Crow pheasant.

The Common Hawk Cuckoo (Hierococcyx varius) is commonly heard in forests and well-wooded areas, but is not easily seen. More active in monsoon (when it often comes to the open to make a ‘guest appearance’), this bird is thought to be an indicator of the wet season. Its call can be described as a musical ‘pee-pee-ah…pee-pee-ah’ (interpreted as ‘brain-fever…brain-fever’, hence the common name Brainfever bird) which rises to a crescendo, slides down and the initial lines are repeated. Last summer when I was in Maneybhanjang in Sikkim as a part of an excursion, I used to wake up at four in the morning to do my ‘business’. It was then when another cuckoo, the Large Hawk (Hierococcyx sparverioides), a slightly larger cousin of the Common Hawk Cuckoo, would entertain me in that isolated hill city. Its call is similar to the Common Hawk, but breaks off suddenly while coming down the crescendo. That guy would keep me glued to the loo!

The Pied Cuckoo (Clamator jacobinus) is a black and white bird, with a short crest, which migrates to most of the country in summer. It is easily seen in wooded areas and sometimes even close to habitations. Its musical whistle, ‘piu-pi-pi-pi-piu’, repeated continuously, is a delight to the ears.

The Eurasian Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) is perhaps the bird from which the name ‘cuckoo’ has been derived. Its call, a plain ‘cuck-oo…cuck-oo’ is repeated monotonously. My very first sighting of this bird has been most memorable. It happened when my brother, I and another friend of ours; all three of whom were new to birding, had set off to Telangkhedi Lake in Nagpur. Suddenly this bird emerged from nowhere and left us with wide mouths and scratchy heads as we tried to identify it. But in the very next moment, the bird said “cuck-oo” and flitted away. Our doubt was resolved! Its more secretive cousin, and my personal favourite- the Indian Cuckoo (C. micropterus) is the most melodious of all the cuckoos I have heard so far. Its call can be interpreted in many ways (like ‘crossword-puzzle’ by Dr. Salim Ali) When I went to Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra to volunteer for the waterhole census, I spent the entire night listening to this bird and the Common Hawk Cuckoo. One gave me a ‘brain fever’, while the other cured it! I also saw a male courting a female at dusk from a close range; and that is when I realized how loud cuckoos actually are.

So far I have seen only two more cuckoos in my life- the Drongo Cuckoo (Surniculus lugubris) and Grey-bellied Cuckoo (Cacomantis passerinus). The Drongo Cuckoo is a special bird for all those lucky Nagpurians who had seen it at the Botanical Garden as it was a new record for our city. Its melodious whistle- ‘pi-pi-pi-pi-pip’, a collection of ascending notes is constantly uttered. I still remember the day when one of these birds, without any ‘stage phobia’ gave us a live performance. We gathered under it and recorded its call with our cell phones. Now it has become a famous ringtone! On the other hand, the Grey-bellied Cuckoo’s call is a loud ‘pee-pipeee’ in a somewhat complaining tone.

As winter ceases to recede, there is a lot of music in store for the next season. Thinking about the months to come, my enthusiasm goes high with the hope of seeing and hearing more of those musical tunes and their rightful owners. With an inborn singing talent, cuckoos indeed are wonders of the natural world.

'Flights' to Vidarbha

2008-01-28T10:34:00.000-08:00

Note: This article is for an essay-writing competition organised by Nisarg. The topic is 'Winter migrants coming to Vidarbha- a study'. I've modified the essay into an article to upload it on my blog. Though a poor piece of literature, the content could be useful for birdwatchers.

Life on earth is a challenge for all living creatures. From the tiniest of insects to the largest of whales, all animals face several difficulties throughout their lives; but nevertheless, they adjust, they adapt to the situations and fight back. As winter approaches, life becomes difficult for many mammals because of a sudden decrease in food supplies. Hence to protect themselves from the winter chill, some mammals grow a winter coat; others store food in advance, while the rest go in for hibernation. Birds can do none of these. Therefore in winter, birds leave their breeding grounds in search for warmer climes with adequate food supply. This is called migration; an interesting adaptation to survive the challenges of life.
The Vidarbha district, with its large and small wildlife sanctuaries and national parks and green cities like Nagpur, plays host to plenty of winter migrants. Different birds prefer different habitats. The following is a report on the winter migrants coming to Vidarbha, on the basis of their habitats-

Forest & Secondary Growth- Birds like the flycatchers favour lightly wooded areas. The migratory flycatchers found in Vidarbha are Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa daurica), Red-throated Flycatcher (Ficedula parva) and Verditer Flycatcher (Eumyias thalassina), and another flycatcher, the Grey-headed Canary (Culicicapa ceylonensis), reported recently from Seminary Hills in Nagpur could passibly be a winter vagrant to the region. The Ashy Drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus) is another winter migrant; a breeder in the Himalayas and North-eastern India, is commonly seen in forests and well-wooded areas of Vidarbha. The Oriental Turtle Dove (Streptopilia orientalis), an uncommon winter migrant to this part can also be seen along forest edges and wooded regions (usually near water bodies). The Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) is essentially an open forest raptor. Warblers like the Greenish Warbler (Phylloscopus trochiloides), Common Chiffchaff (P. collybita) and Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca) are also found in lightly wooded areas. The Blue-capped Rock Thrush (Monticola cinclorhynchus), a bird of dense, moist forest, was recorded in Seminary Hills on 7th October ’07. It could be on passage to Western Ghats, which is its regular wintering range.

Wetlands & Marshes- Wetlands attract the highest densities and species of migratory birds, of which ducks are the star attraction. Migratory ducks like the Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula), Common Pochard (A. ferina), Ferruginous Pochard (A. nyroca) Red-crested Pochard (Rhodonessa rufina), Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea), Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata), Northern Pintail (A. acuta), Gadwall (A. strepera), Common Teal (A. crecca), Garganey (A. querquedula) and Eurasian Wigeon (A. penelope) can be found here. Northern Shovelers, Tufted Ducks and Common Pochards are the earliest to arrive, while Garganey make a late arrival (usually in late December- early January) along with Ferruginous Pochards; a near threatened bird that is now rarely seen in Vidarbha. The Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus), a summer migrant and breeder in Ladakh, migrates down south in winters and is seen in large lakes. Many species of waders also migrate to the wetlands of Vidarbha. These include Common Redshank (Tringa totanus), Common Greenshank (T. nebularia), Green Sandpiper (T. ochropus), Wood Sandpiper (T. glareola), Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), Little Stint (Calidris minuta) and Temminck’s Stint (C. temminckii). Among the widespread but rarely encountered snipes, possibly 3 species occur in Vidarbha- Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago), Pintail Snipe (G. stenura) and Jack Snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus). Snipes are essentially marsh dwellers and are difficult to look for. The Ruff (Philomachus pugnax) which arrives just after the monsoon is an uncommon winterer to this region. The Black Stork (Ciconia nigra), a rare bird, is commonly seen in Pench National Park. Where there is prey, there are predators. The large congregations of waterfowl attract raptors like the Eurasian Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) which specializes in hunting ducks and waders. Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus), which have nearly a worldwide distribution, are exclusively fish-eaters are a common sight in lakes and reservoirs. Great Crested Grebes (Podiceps cristatus) and Whiskered Terns (Childonias hybridus) are uncommon migrants to Vidarbha. Brown-headed Gulls (Larus brunnicephalus) had straggled to Nagpur in November ’07. Among the warblers, the Blyth’s Reed (Acrocephalus dumetorum), Clamorous Reed (A. stentorius) and Paddyfield Warbler (A. agricola) are found in reedbeds. 2 species of wagtails- Citrine (Motacilla citreola) and Yellow wagtail (M. flava) are exclusively found near lakes and jheels. The Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), a resident in the Himalayas, spends the winter mainly around water bodies. Over thousands of these tiny birds can be seen perched on the wires above Telangkhedi Lake.

Open country & Scrub- Dry, arid terrain is most suitable for larks and certain species of pipits. The Greater Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla) is the only migratory lark to be found here, though its status in Vidarbha is poorly known. Kamptee could be a potential habitat to see this species. Kamptee is a pipit hub, housing 3 migratory species- Tawny (Anthus campestris), Long-billed (A. similis) and Tree Pipit (A. trivialis); of which the Long-billed Pipit breeds locally and possibly migrates to Vidarbha in winter. Larks and pipits are an easy prey to the Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), which migrates from the Himalayas. Another migrant from the Himalayas, Tibet and further north is the race- lineatus of Black Kite (Milvus migrans), commonly named Black-eared Kite (M. m. lineatus). This wintering sub-species outnumbers the local populations in Vidarbha. The Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus) is another open country raptor. Other migratory birds, characteristic of this habitat are Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus), Common Stonechat (Saxicola torquata), Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius) and Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus), a rare migrant to this part of the country.

Grassland & Cultivation- Grassland eco-systems are primarily dominated by the harriers. 3 grassland species occur in Vidarbha- Montagu’s (Circus pygargus), Pallid (C. macrourus) and Pied Harrier (C. melanoleucos). All these are rarely seen in Vidarbha; infact the Pied Harrier has been recorded only thrice from this region! More research needs to be done on the status of these raptors in Vidarbha. The Blyth’s Pipit (Anthus godlewskii) is a rare migrant, whose status also remains unknown, though there have been sight records. Cultivations give a perfect hiding place for Common Quails (Coturnix coturnix) apart from providing prey to Common (Strunus vulgaris) and Rosy Starlings (S. roseus) and Black Redstarts (Phoenicurus ochruros). 2 species of buntings supposedly occur in Vidarbha but their status demands confirmation.

Vidarbha attracts over 70 species of migratory birds, yet their future looks bleak. There are countless threats to their survival, of which global warming and habitat destruction top the list. Climate change, a consequence of global warming, has changed patterns of bird migration. Untimely migration can adversely affect breeding behaviour. For example, I once saw a Wood Sandpiper in breeding plumage at Ambazari Lake on 20th May. Habitat destruction, like degradation of wetlands has affected many migratory waterfowl. Poaching of waterfowl, mainly ducks is another constant threat. Destruction of grasslands and use of pesticides has had negative impacts of grassland birds, particularly the Pallid Harrier, which is now endangered. Unplanned development on open country has disturbed the eco-systems existing there.
With so many problems to tackle, action must be taken immediately. Each and every individual’s contribution is needed to fight the climate change crisis. Awareness is the need of the hour. People must be educated about the phenomenon of bird migration and how it is being affected by global warming. Scientific researches and periodic bird surveys would help devise improvised methods for conserving habitats and protecting birdlife. Poaching, overfishing and the use of pesticides need to be controlled.
At this moment, every small step towards conservation matters a great deal. We must act immediately to ensure that our present does not become a thing of the past.

Climate Change Crisis in India

2008-01-28T10:30:00.000-08:00

Note: The following article was written by me for a competition organised by the British Council, named 'Indian Climate Champion, 2008', an initiative to combat the crisis of climate change.

In an era of unabated and unplanned development, there is greatest possibility of the environment being irreversibly affected. One such crisis which has created a worldwide impact is global warming. With a sudden rise in temperatures throughout the world, climates have changed drastically, endangering the existence of each and every life form on earth. Here we look into climate change issues related to India.

Cause of the crisis- The primary cause of global warming is the increased emission of greenhouse gases particularly carbon dioxide and methane from automobiles, industries, burning of biomass etc. which has led to the depletion of ozone layer and has formed a ‘blanket’ for the outgoing ultraviolet rays causing a rise in temperature. In India, overpopulation and bursting fire crackers during Diwali are of major concern. More people mean more space to live in, which is supplemented by deforestation. As per the universally known fact that plants inhale carbon dioxide and release oxygen, it is easily understood that less number of trees means more carbon dioxide going to the atmosphere. Hence deforestation is another cause of climate change. From energy consumption to population explosion; virtually everything around us contributes a bit to global warming.

Impact on India- Rising temperatures throughout the world is being accompanied by the degradation of permafrost (the area covered by ice & snow). The most significant depletion is being observed in the polar regions posing a threat to Polar bears (among the first mammals to be recognized as endangered by IUCN because of global warming), several species of Penguins and the Red Knot (a critically endangered bird). Similar is the case with the Himalayan ranges. Melting of ice and Himalayan glaciers is a grave danger to the survival of Himalayan endemics (species with a range restricted to the Himalayas) and other life forms including human beings. Of all, the Snow leopard has been worst affected. Glaciers are an important source of perennial water supply. Melting of Himalayan glaciers will lead to acute water shortage, and lives of the people dwelling in the Ganges floodplains will be at risk. Glaciers like the Pindari glacier have already receded by over three-fourths of their original range. Like the increase in sea levels due to melting of polar ice caps, melting of Himalayan glaciers has caused a rise in water levels of inland drainage systems, which might submerge vast areas of land (for example, the Sunderbans delta is being threatened by rise in levels of the Ganges’ waters). Powerful floods along major river systems are an aftermath of the rise in water level. Heavy rains in western Maharashtra and contrastingly, poor rainfall in regions like Cherrapunji are similar symptoms. This suggests that the monsoon pattern in India itself is undergoing an erratic change.
The Indian coastline and island groups share the same plight as that of the Sunderbans and adjoining areas. It is estimated that by 2012, most of our coastal cities including Mumbai (already experienced a devastating flood off late) and Chennai (affected by the 2004 tsunami) will be submerged by the tremendous increase in sea levels.
Amphibian populations have reduced while an increase in the numbers of antigens and viruses has been observed. Amphibians breathe partially through their skin, hence any fluctuation in local environment affects local populations. On the other hand, rising temperatures provide a hospitable climate for antigens and viruses to perpetuate. This has led to a rise in diseases all over the world.

Role of NGOs- The role of Non-governmental Organizations in tackling global warming has been of great importance. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) enforced the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) instead of unleaded petrol in metropolitan cities like New Delhi to reduce vehicular pollution. Sanctuary magazine has played a major role in spreading awareness through interesting articles and through its ‘Kids for Tigers’ programme. It has also organized a Climate Change Photography Contest in association with Worldwide Fund for Wildlife (WWF), India, Hewlett-Packard and ABN-Amro Bank with the motive of spreading awareness, as photographs are considered to be an effective conservation tool. Greenpeace, Indian and Bombay Natural History Society have been instrumental in promoting the use of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), which consume less energy compared to incandescent bulbs. Other local organizations are also working for the same cause at the grassroot level; for instance a Mumbai-based organization had recently organized an hour’s power cut in the city to reduce energy consumption.
The work of NGOs in tackling the crisis is commendable; but it may not have the required effects unless individuals support the cause and contribute their bit. At the grassroot level, we, as individuals can take small steps like conserving water, paper and electricity; supporting the use of renewable energy, replacing incandescent bulbs with CFLs, and most importantly- protecting our forests as they act as major carbon sinks. The 3 Rs- Reduce, Reuse and Recycle are also to be implemented. Such small steps by all of us can have a significant impact. Afterall, ‘if a lot of us do a little, a lot gets done’.

The Fauna of Nagpur (2007)- A Field Report

2008-01-28T10:04:00.000-08:00

The year 2007 began with the second half of the winter session of birding. The endangered Comb Ducks (Sarkidiornis melanotos) were seen at Telangkhedi Lake. Waders were plentiful at Ambazari Lake. The race- melanogrisea of Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) arrived in this season in good numbers.

In Feb, Rohan Chakravarty photographed a Black Eagle (Ictinaetus malayensis) in flight at Bor Dharan, about 50 kms from Nagpur. This was a significant record, with photographic evidence of a bird rarely seen in Central India. Another sighting of his that needs special mention is of a Rufous Sibia (Heterophasia capistrata) at Bor WLS. Unfortunately no photographic evidence is available. Later, on 17th Feb, Rohan Chakravarty, Jay Kulkarni & Azar Ali saw a fight between a Little Pied (Ficedula westermanni) and a Red-throated Flycatcher (Ficedula parva) at Kamptee Cantonment. Again, photograph of the Little Pied Flycatcher, which is another new record for the region is lacking. On 18th Feb, a juvenile Laggar Falcon (Falco jugger) and a Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris) were seen at Kamptee, both of which are local rarities. A pair of Eurasian Marsh Harriers (Circus aeruginosus) had spent the winter at the lake in Kamptee. It was common to see them attack waterfowl at the lake. A Blue-winged Leafbird (Chloropsis cochinchinensis) and a Grey Nightjar (Caprimulgus indicus) were seen at Kamptee Cantt. A pair of Black Ibises (Pseudibis papilossa) was seen at a field in Kamptee.

In early March an immature Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala) was photographed at Sonegaon Lake by Anurag Ghatole. At the camp adjoining Jhilpi Lake, many Savanna Nightjars (Caprimulgus affinis) were seen hawking insects with Microchiropterans [Pipistrellus ceylonicus (?) & Pipistrellus coromandra]. The next morning, Grey Junglefowls (Gallus sonneratii) were heard. Jay Kulkarni and Rohit Chakravarty saw a male Crested Bunting (Melophus lathami). A solitary Long-billed Pipit (Anthus similis) was photographed at the campsite. This was the first photographic record of the species for Nagpur. In late March, egg-incubation of the Indian Courser (Cursorius coromandelicus) was observed at Kamptee by Rohan Chakravarty & Azar Ali.

On 8th April, a Laggar Falcon was seen for the second time at Kamptee. Early in April, Anurag Ghatole reported the hatching of the eggs of the Courser and the emerging of 2 young ones. On 21st April, at around 9.30 pm, Rohan & Rohit Chakravarty saw a dead Common Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) at Seminary Hills. On 22nd April, flocks of Yellow Wagtail races- thunbergi & zaissanensis were seen at Telangkhedi Lake. Kamptee was revisited on 29th April, and this time a Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis) was photographed by Rohit Chakravarty at a farmhouse; giving a proper documented record of the species. A pair of Asian Paradise Flycatchers (Terpsiphone paradisi) and an Ashy Drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus) were also seen.

On 20th May, a Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) in breeding plumage, was seen at Ambazari Lake. Chestnut-tailed Starlings (Sturnus malabaricus) were seen in plenty.

On 3rd June, the first Pied Cuckoo (Clamator jacobinus) of the season was recorded from Telangkhedi Lake. A Common Ratsnake (Ptyas mucosus) was seen near the Citrus sinensis plantations. Flocks of Large Grey Babblers (Turdoides malcolmi) were seen on 3rd & 10th June. A pair of Blue-winged Leafbirds was also seen. On 16th June, the termites flew out for the first time and atleast 2 mating pairs of Common Indian Toads (Bufo melanostictus) were observed. On 17th June, the first breeding male Baya Weavers (Ploceus philippinus) were seen building nests on Phoenix dactylifera. An injured Fulvous Fruit Bat (Rousettus leschnaulti) was rescued at Sitabuldi by Pritish Panke, which was handed over to N-Nats. On 24th June, Nagpur recorded its first Drongo Cuckoo (Surniculus lugubris) from Botanical Garden. Also a Grey-bellied Cuckoo (Cacomantis passerinus) was photographed for the first time. Eurasian Cuckoos (Cuculus canorus) were seen/heard regularly at Telangkhedi Lake. On 25th June, termites flew out another time and many juvenile and sub-adult Black Kites (Milvus migrans) were observed feeding on them at Seminary Hills. A Black-lored Tit (Parus xanthogenys), another local rarity, was photographed at Seminary Hills. Many mating pairs of Bull Frogs (Hoplobatrachus tigerinus) were recorded on the same day. 2 geckos- Hemidactylus brooki & H. leschnaulti (?) were also seen at Botanical Garden. Velvet mites were common in the monsoon.

On 1st July, the Drongo Cuckoo numbers had multiplied at Botanical Garden to about 7, with reports of around 4-5 males and 2-3 females. They were last seen at Botanical Garden on 5th July. Drongo Cuckoos were later heard near Jhilpi Lake on 15th July. At Jhilpi Lake, Grey Junglefowls were heard again and a dung pile left by a Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) was found. An Indian Cuckoo (Cuculus micropterus) was also seen. Partly-metamorphosised tadpoles of Burrowing Frog (Tomopterna breviceps) were seen at a short stream. Immature White-eyed Buzzards (Butastur teesa) were observed courting.

In August, at Botanical Garden, a juvenile Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach) was observed for 3 weeks. On 5th Aug, Bronzeback Treesnakes (Dendrelaphis tristis) were seen twice and on 12th Aug, a Trinket Snake (Elaphe helena) was seen near the fountain. Checkered Keelbacks (Xenochrophis piscator) were common in the ‘Kingfisher Pond’. A Burrowing Frog was seen at the fountain. A solitary Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis) would be seen in flight after every 10 minutes, from the viewpoint. Nesting colonies of Baya Weavers were observed on Albizia procera & Roystonea regia and individual nests were seen on Ficus religiosa & Acacia nilotica. Shrikes preferred Bauhinia racemosa for nesting. August ended with a visit to Kamptee, which yielded rare sights of a Rock Eagle-Owl (Bubo bengalensis) & an Indian Fox (Vulpes bengalensis) both of which were photographed for the first time.

September began with the discovery of a nest of Spotted Owlets (Athene brama) at Telangkhedi Road and a sighting of the Rock Eagle-Owl at Botanical Garden. Male Baya Weavers were observed feeding the newly nest-independent juveniles. The Roystonea regia nesting colony had become inactive. The Eagle-Owl was again seen on 2nd Sept. An active nest of a Plain Prinia (Prinia inornata) was observed. In the first week of Sept, Swapnil Kuldiwar photographed a Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela) at MIDC, Ambazari. On 9th Sept, 2 Indian Nightjars (Caprimulgus asiaticus) were photographed at MIDC. A moth, Pseudomicronia coelata of the family Uraniidae was photographed at MIDC, which turned out to be a new record for the city. The area had a good population of Syke’s Larks (Galerida deva), Indian Bushlarks (Mirafra erythroptera) & Large Grey Babblers. By mid-Sept, Common Kestrels (Falco tinnunculus), Greenish Warblers (Phylloscopus trochiloides), Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) and Black-eared Kites (Milvus migrans lineatus) had arrived. On 30th Sept, a Short-nosed Fruit Bat (Cynopterus sphinx) was rescued at Anant Nagar.

On 7th Oct, a roost of a Barn Owl (Tyto alba) was discovered at Botanical Garden and the Rock Eagle-Owl of Telangkhedi was seen by Ambarish & Rohit Chakravarty. Shishir Dongre & Dr. Abheek Ghosh recorded the first Blue-capped Rock Thrush (Monticola cinclorhynchus) for Nagpur from Japanese Garden. Verditer Flycatchers (Eumyias thalassina) were seen by Neeraj Gade & Swapnil Kuldiwar at Seminary Hills & MIDC, Ambazari. A Whiskered Tern (Childonias hybridus) was seen at Ambazari Lake by Rohan Chakravarty & Pallavi Talware on 7th Oct. Other migrants seen on that day were Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla) & Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) at Botanical Garden & Telangkhedi; Northern Shovelers (Anas clypeata) at Ambazari Lake and Ashy Drongo at Maharaj Bagh. On 21st Oct, many Eurasian Thick-knees (Burhinus oedicnemus) were seen at Telangkhedi. Nest-building of the Black-headed Cuckooshrike on ornamental Bambusa vulgaris was seen. Nests of Paper wasps (Polistes sp.) & Dwarf bees (Apis florea) were observed on B. vulgaris.

Early in Nov, a male Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius) and an albino Jungle Babbler (Turdoides striatus) were photographed at Kamptee by Rohan Chakravarty. Meanwhile, Common Pochards (Aythya ferina) & Tufted Ducks (Aythya fuligula) had arrived at Ambazari Lake. A Blyth’s Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus dumetorum) was also seen and a solitary Brown-headed Gull (Larus brunnicephalus) had straggled to Ambazari; which was the first gull to be seen in the city in 9 years. The next day a Eurasian Wryneck was photographed by Rohan Chakravarty at Ambazari. On 12th Nov, a Leafbird pair was again observed at Telangkhedi and a juvenile Bonelli’s Eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus); a bird rarely seen in the city was also recorded. Early in the month, an Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) was seen at Sonegaon Lake and later on 13th Nov, another was seen at Telangkhedi. A juvenile Common Hawk Cuckoo (Hierococcyx varius) was observed for 2 weeks and a Checkered Keelback was found in a well at Botanical Garden.

December was a bonanza month for Ambazari Lake. On 6th Nov, Neeraj Gade & Ruchik Pande recorded the first Pied Harrier (Circus melanoleucos) from Ambazari. The next day, Nagpur saw its first Jerdon’s Bushlark (Mirafra affinis). A sighting of an Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) still awaits confirmation. On 8th Nov, 2 more new records were added to the list- a Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus) & a Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus). An Osprey was regularly observed. Ambazari attracted the largest number of waterfowl including species like Ruddy Shelducks (Tadorna ferruginea), Gadwalls (Anas strepera), Red-crested Pochards (Rhodonessa rufina), Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope) & near-threatened birds like Darters (Anhinga melanogaster) & Black-headed Ibises (Threskiornis melanocephalus). Great Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) were also seen. Wild Pigs (Sus scrofa) were common around the lake. The year ended on a happy note with a final visit to Botanical Garden, where a Spectacled Cobra (Naja naja) & a 6ft long Rock Python (Python molurus) were seen.

For additional information about the sightings of the year, following links could be useful-
http://www.dropshots.com/rohitchak_77
http://www.dropshots.com/rohitchak77
http://picasaweb.google.com/rohitchak77

Statements Change; but is the Tiger Same?

2007-12-08T08:47:00.001-08:00

The question in everyone’s mind; still unanswered! With each passing day, the Maharashtra Forest Department changes its statement; sometimes admitting that the tiger they killed was not the true man-eater and at another moment they would strongly feel that the Talodhi man-eater is dead.
The incident took place in Talodhi village near Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, where a man-eating tiger (tiger or tigress?)had been creating havoc, which was finally gunned down on 30th November ’07 following an order passed by the Principal Chief ‘Conservator’ of Forests (PC’C’F). The reason for putting the word conservator in single quotes is clear. At a stage where the world is battling to protect the tiger, curb man-animal conflict; our dear PCCF…oops! PC’C’F has found a new solution to this crisis. PC’C’F- inspired by Corbett, eh? But let me tell you, situations have changed now and this solution will take us nowhere.
Moving on to the next flaw in the issue- the incorrect sex determination. Earlier the tiger was supposed to be a female. A photograph taken using camera trapping methods revealed a tigress with prominent mammary glands. But after the tiger was shot dead, it was found to be a male! So now the big question; has the forest department killed the right one or not?? To this the forest department on the day of the killing expressed conformity in having shot the right tiger. So is it that the tiger changed its sex?!? Hmmm…I’ve never heard of a sex changing tiger, have you? Well lets ask our forest officials about this unusual phenomenon. So what’s your answer, forest department?
For a few more days the forest department was rigid with its statement that the Talodhi tiger (whether the man-eater or not, no one knows!) is dead. Then suddenly came a bolt from the blue, with one of the officials claiming that the tiger which was shot dead was not the real man-eater! So what do the officials say about this ‘pseudo’ man-eater? The Deputy Chief ‘Conservator’ of Forests (Dy’C’F), Brahmapuri Forest Division admitted the change in statement saying, “The tiger was not the man-eater but a threat to humans.” A threat to human lives?!?! But why may I ask? Just because it strayed into the village? And hence the department felt the need for killing it! What a policy to follow! When the entire nation is desperately struggling to save the tiger, these people, who claim to be their real ‘protectors’ have started taking steps which endanger its existence even more! Utterly shameful! Disgraceful comment, Mr. Dy’C’F!
If this much was not enough, another twist in the tale was added on 6th December ’07 when the Veterinary Doctor who performed the post-mortem of the tiger (which was supposedly a ‘threat to humans’) charged the forest department of tampering with a key tiger sample. The Vet claimed that the officials had interchanged the samples which had wild boar’s flesh and hair with bullock’s meat and paddy grass. All this to support their earlier claim, that the tiger had killed and eaten a bullock, hence posing a threat to humans lives! Nothing much surprising because everything from tiger numbers to other important data related to forests are all manipulated by the forest department! So this one does not shock me. All I have to say is, “Good presence of mind, department!”
Next, and the last of all the surprises till today was the killing of another villager by a tiger! What next forest department? Another shoot at sight order?
So before the forest department sets off to commit another crime, we- the people, the citizens of this country must all awaken together to Mother Nature’s call for help and save our National Animal from the clutches of its so called ‘protectors’!

Mother Nature We Are With You!

2007-08-24T07:21:00.000-07:00

A poetry for N-Nats' song on nature conservation.

When there’s no one to wake me up,
A sweet bird call awakes me,
So if I’m asked about my second mother,
My answer would be thee,
When I’m out of bed on a gloomy day,
A colourful butterfly makes me happy,
So if I’m asked about my second mother,
My answer would be thee.

In today’s world, deforestation is being done,
On top of that, the burning UV rays of the sun!
All adding to our mother’s pain,
And her tears fall to the earth as acid rain!
In this world only a few care for you,
But remember mother, we are always with you.

For money and for fun, they kill our dumb cousins,
I understand dear mother, you are suffering from their sins,
It’s horrible to see you dying in front of our eyes,
My request to developers, ‘Please be a bit wise’.
In this world, your protectors are so few,
And remember mother, we are always with you.

Life in a Metro

2007-05-05T10:23:00.000-07:00

Introduction- As time went by, the human civilization became more and more advanced. Under the dominance of the human race, trees were and are still being chopped off, as jungles are being converted into urbanized settlements. Yet in these concrete jungles, people share their homes with a variety of creatures and this article is an ‘ode’ to their extreme adaptability. The title of this article has been inspired from Anurag Basu's film. The only difference being in the content matter as Mr.Basu's film portrays the life of people in cities, whereas this article deals with how animals adapt themselves to urban conditions.

People hold a popular misconception. They feel that, to sight animals visiting jungles is a necessity; quite ignorant of the fact that they share their home with plenty of creatures. These wild animals, deprived of their natural habitat are forced to seek refuge in and around human settlements. But even in this modified habitat they are equally at home as they would have been in the jungles.

To begin with mammals, the Common Mongoose tops my list of extremely adaptable animals. The Common Mongoose is a specialised city dweller with its body perfectly designed for its respective mode of life. The short limbs and elongated body give it easy entrance into houses, while its non-retractile claws help it in digging holes to capture its prey (mainly ground dwelling shrews and rodents) and to climb the compound walls. In places of high human interference, Mongooses may also become nocturnal. Rodents like the House Rat (Rattus rattus) and House Mouse (Mus musculus) have purely become a commensal of Man. Spread to almost every part of the world through human agency, these creatures have become parasitic on Man. The Rodents emerge from their daytime haunts (usually dark areas in kitchens, pipelines etc) at night, where they come face to face with another nocturnal forager- the Grey Musk Shrew. Shrews feed exclusively on insects and are thus helpful to Man. On the other hand, Rodents being carriers of diseases are parasitic on Man. Unfortunately Shrews, sometimes are persecuted for their mouse-like appearance. Other mammals showing notable adaptability are the Civets. Civets spend the day hidden between boulders or in hollows on trees and emerge at night. At night they raid plantations along with fruit bats or predate over small game like hares and other rodents.
Cities host a rich array of birdlife. Birds show a preference for particular habitats, but some like the White-throated Kingfisher are equally at ease around habitations and scrub jungle as in ponds and deciduous forests. In cities, White-throated Kingfishers feed mainly on frogs, crabs and even snakes! Among others, commendable adaptability is displayed by Mynas, Bulbuls, Sunbirds, Sparrows, Doves, Pigeons (Passerine birds) and likewise. Mynas and the Passerines build their nests on grilled windows, bathroom windows and along parapets; whereas Sunbirds and Bulbuls feed on spiders, moths etc which roost on the walls of buildings during the day. Another specialised insect-hunter is the Black Drongo, sometimes seen hawking winged insects at night with the help of glowing street lights and halogens. Other night predators are Owls, Owlets and Nightjars. Owlets spend the day in tree hollows, while Nightjars stay concealed among leaf litters, both coming out at night from their respective haunts to feed on insects along with insectivorous bats. Owls (mainly the Barn Owl) reside in old buildings, emerging at night to hunt rodents, thus proving beneficial to agriculture. Raptors like the Black Kite and Shikra and in some places even the Peregrine Falcon are very well adapted to the city life. Shikras are successful in every habitat, whereas Black Kites prefer open country. In Pune city, Black Kites are found in large numbers, where pairs can be seen nesting on trees, forts and on high street lights.
Extreme urban adaptability among the herps is exhibited by the Hemidactylus geckos (House geckos). Of these, the Northern House and Brook’s Gecko are widespread and are almost inseparable from the buildings. Geckos being nocturnal, benefit from the glowing bulbs and tube-lights which attract moths in large numbers, thereby providing an easy prey for the geckos. Common Tree Frogs again are a commensal of Man. These frogs can be seen in buildings where they find the atmosphere of toilets congenial.
With thousands of creatures sharing homes with millions of people, cities are a miniature jungle. These creatures have their own distinct lifestyle, well adapted to succeed in this artificially modified environment. Man might be the most intelligent animal, but these are animals which have fought, and are still fighting against all odds. As far as intelligence is concerned, these animals are at par with Man. After all, surviving in an environment continuously altered by ‘the most intelligent animal’ also needs brains!

Changing Seasons, Changing Phases...a la vision of Botanical Garden

2007-04-26T09:00:00.000-07:00

Situated in the heart of the city, adjacent to the Telangkhedi Lake, lies the Botanical Garden of Nagpur. It is a heaven for birdwatchers and a paradise for birds. Because of its location, Botanical Garden and the areas surrounding it have 5 major eco-systems namely- garden, lake, pond, plantations and forest. The varied habitats make it a rich bio-diversity hotspot of Nagpur. To support such a vast diversity and to maintain these habitats and ecologies, seasons play a vital role. With every season, Botanical Garden turns over a new look. The wildlife changes too. Lets have a look at how seasons affect the diversity, the habitats and the appearance of Botanical Garden.

1. Summer- After four months of cold weather, the hibernating reptiles come out of their burrows. Summer is the season of the Garden Lizard. By mid-April, the males sport a handsome breeding plumage to attract the females and can be seen displaying their bright red colouration from elevations. Skinks are frequently encountered in the gardens. Reptiles thrive in this dry weather. Apart from reptiles, Botanical Garden has its share of summer migrants. Minivets are common near light forests and Paradise Flycatchers- the most awaited summer migrants choose to reside among plantations and gardens. In the summers, Little Terns migrate from the coasts to inland water bodies. The Telangkhedi Lake and the Kingfisher Pond(called so because the unfailing attitude of Kingfishers to be present there always) inside Botanical Garden dry up, but still sprout with life. Just after sunrise, Peafowls, Pheasant-tailed Jacanas and Yellow-footed Green-Pigeons can be seen around Telangkhedi Lake. Even the Eurasian Cuckoo had once been sighted by our group on a tree on the banks of Telangkhedi Lake. Due to acute water shortage inside the garden, Bull Frogs and Skittering Frogs seek refuge in the fountains. Summer is the blooming season of the Flame of the Forest(Palas) which adds beauty to the forests adjoining Telangkhedi Lake.

2. Monsoon- After a long dry season, the monsoons bring a much needed relief. Monsoon is a season of renewal. The gardens turn green again, Kingfisher Pond gets filled up to the brink and even more, water of the Telangkhedi Lake spreads over vast areas. The forests adjoining Telangkhedi Lake become lush green and inaccessible. Some parts inside Botanical Garden become inaccessible too due to high density of plants and water logging. Birdlife also changes considerably with the arrival of Pied Cuckoos and Scaly-breasted Munias, who drop down for nesting purposes. The clever polygamist- the Baya Weaver also begins to nest in this season. Bitterns, though mainly nocturnal, may be encountered in the day time as well. The most noticeable of all the migrants is the Blue-tailed Bee-eater. Large numbers gather on the banks of Telangkhedi Lake, which at this time is full of Coots and Moorhens as the monsoons mark the beginning of the breeding season for them. Snakes also come out of their burrows. Ratsnakes can be seen swimming in the Kingfisher Pond. Bull Frogs return to the Kingfisher Pond, while Skittering Frogs can be spotted in stagnant water bodies.

3. Winter- Winter marks the beginning of the breeding season for most birds. Many species migrate from far off lands to this place- the Botanical Garden and adjoining areas. Winter is Green Bee-eater time in Nagpur, who come here as a result of their seasonal local migrations. Bee-eaters can be seen perched on any wire, from where they launch aerial attacks on winged insects. Inside Botanical Garden, Red-throated and Asian Brown Flycatchers are commonly seen. The rare Verditer Flycatcher is also seen from mid-October to November end. But the delight of winter is the Osprey which stays in Telangkhedi Lake from November to mid-February. Other migratory raptors recorded from the Telangkhedi Lake region are Western Marsh Harriers and Booted Eagles. Our group had also spotted a Bonelli's Eagle and a Crested Serpent Eagle in this region in December, 2006. The huge Grey Heron is also seen in the winter months. In the orange plantations, Rollers remain engaged in performing their elaborate courtship rituals. Migratory waders like Stints, Sandpipers and Snipes are common around lakes and ponds. This is not a season for the herps as they return to their warm burrows for hibernation.

As time goes by and seasons change, Botanical Garden too sports new looks. Species keep coming and going. Water level rises at one time and then suddenly drops down. But whatever the season is, this paradise is always full of life.

Hymn to the Himalayas

2007-04-25T10:57:00.001-07:00

Here's a short verse i've written on the beauty of the Himalayas. I went for an excursion to Sikkim and Darjeeling and this verse is completely based on what i saw during the treks. I wrote this verse in the train, on our way back to Nagpur from Kolkata.

Out from the concrete jungle to the Mountains of the God
From Kanchenjunga, the Prince, to Everest, the Lord.
days unforgetful and sightings beyond imagination,
Swallows to Vultures, all adding charm to this hilly nation.
My heart filled with joy on sighting rare birds,
to describe its beauty I went short of words.
Scenery equally amazing, wildlife so diverse,
Its description isn’t possible in only a verse.

A Homely Wild Encounter

2007-04-25T09:41:00.000-07:00

In my days of ‘House Arrest’ (the board exam preparatory leave), birding was banned and photography was prohibited. So the only way to be close to nature was reading more and more about her. Among all the books I’ve read, my favourite is the ‘Book of Indian Animals’ by S.H.Prater. On reading that book (for the second time!) my attention was drawn towards creatures which usually kids of my age would ignore for being unappealing- Bats, Mongooses, Civets, Ground Shrews and even Rodents! Of these I found mongooses the most interesting.
In front of my house there is a small nullah which provides an ideal location for the mongooses to flourish. From my balcony I’ve seen generations of mongooses following this pattern to reach their feeding grounds- moving stealthily from the nullah to my neighbours to the right, climb their boundary wall and jump exactly adjacent. But on a fine afternoon, the route had changed. An adult mongoose entered the house of the left neighbours and as usual I had seen it. Luckily no one was at home so I did not want to forgo the opportunity to photograph it. I ran to my backyard hoping to get the right angle. But what I saw next was bewildering. Stealthily I strove to my backyard and not an inch away from me was the mongoose I was looking for. It ran backwards to get away from the nuisance (me). I ran towards the verandah and yet again missed it by an inch. This time it moved backwards slowly and flashed an angry look leading me to clasp my claws. From my balcony, mongooses looked so cute but when it was just a foot away from me, it was just too frightening. Yet without budging a bit, I carefully picked up my camera but sensing my move the mongoose, intelligent as they are known to be, again ran to my backyard from the other side proving its wisdom. Even I ran to the backyard from the opposite side to get a front view of the creature. I felt as if I were a press photographer running everywhere to capture a controversial celebrity in my camera! So finally at my backyard I got a good snap of the mongoose. After this, the mongoose climbed a small tree and jumped to the compound of the apartment behind my house.
Such was my first face-to-face encounter with a wild mammal and surprisingly it was in my own arena! Obviously my enthu grows more to see more of these wonderful creatures.

Humans & The Web of Life

2007-04-25T04:45:00.000-07:00

The natural world is like a web in itself. Each and every organism, from the tiniest bacteria to the largest of whales is directly or indirectly, in one way or the other, dependant on each other. Every organism does its bit, which helps in maintaining a balance in the natural world. But over the years it has been witnessed that the threads connecting one species to another have started loosening as Man is attempting to conquer the web of life, thus threatening the existence of every living organism.

1. Population Control in Nature- It has been observed that smaller organisms have healthy populations, they fall prey to creatures larger than them, who have comparatively smaller populations, and finally come the super predators(tigers, lions etc), who reproduce at a very slow rate, and thus have low populations. In this way, nature has devised her own method of population control.

Human Invasion- Humans in their attempt to rule the web of life have caused a severe ecological crisis. Poaching and hunting(mainly of super predators) and trapping of animals for monetary purposes have led to a drastic increase in populations of smaller animals causing an imbalance.

Immediate Aftermath- In the absence of natural predators, the populations of smaller animals increase and they become parasitic on man.

2. Pest Control in Nature- Rodents and insects(like locusts) are a major pest to Humans. Their populations have increased worldwide due to the absence of natural predators. Yet snakes, mongooses, owls, frogs etc do great service to Man by ridding him of these unwanted pests. In return Man punishes them with death.

Human Invasion- Snake skin (mainly of cobras, pythons and ratsnakes) is used for making leather bags, boots and other accessories. Mongooses are trapped in cages by baiting, where they starve to death. Mongoose hair is used in making paint brushes. Owls fall prey to myths and superstitions. Frogs become victims of inhuman experiments as they are used for dissections.

Immediate Aftermath- Increase in pests means reduction in agricultural productivity and increase in the number of diseases.

3. Tree Plantation in Nature- Tree plantation in nature is a continuous process. Butterflies and other nectar-sucking birds and insects transfer pollen grains from one flower to another. Frugivorous bats, civets, parakeets, hornbills etc are important animals which help in seed dispersion and cross-pollination. These animals feed on fruits and the undigested seeds fall on the ground along with their scats. These seeds lie preserved in the ground until the monsoons when they first experience the joy of growing tall. Though this process is continuous, unplanned development is also a continuous task in the present day world, for which thousands of trees are chopped off.

Human Invasion- Human invasion in this case comes mainly from the illegal pet trade. Parakeets, even today, are trapped in large numbers and sold as pets. Bats face persecution due to myths and have been directly affected by concretization. Major threats to the survival of hornbills is the lack of suitable nesting trees and hunting for their casks. Civets are again sufferers of habitat loss and urbanization.

Immediate Aftermath- Slaying of ‘tree-planters’ and uprooting of trees will directly affect humans. In a world bereft of fresh air, survival would become difficult or rather impossible.

In any case, Humans will have to suffer in the days to come. Over the years, we have tried to modify the environment to meet our needs. In doing this we might have been successful in the present, but will the future be similar? Every creature on earth is playing its role with perfection in maintaining the right balance in nature. But are we doing our bit? Humans are the most intelligent and superior animals of our planet. Their role is to protect all other creatures in their surroundings and not to interfere in the web of life. Our efforts have brought us to such a crisis that even restoring ecological balance has become difficult. But there is hope. After all nature is resilient. Given a chance she will bounce back.