Continued(22 march)....
We reached Daroji rest house at around 3:30(5/3/2011) and everybody started unpacking to settle down for the two days ahead. As even I started settling down to sleep for an hour or two Kodandaramiah sir came and pointed out that I could sleep even after I was back in Mysore but I wouldn’t get such an exquisite opportunity to stretch out under the clear night sky or take pleasure in just walking under the dreamy night sky with cool breeze blowing on your face. So thinking how dumb I have been thinking of sleeping when such pleasing weather is waiting for me outside. I jumped off the sofa and just as we were leaving vasantha mam who had heard our conversation said that even she would like to join us. So the four of us set out for a walk around the perimeter of the rest house. And just as I came out of the room it hit me that I would have done an appalling mistake by refusing such a precious prospect to sleep for a few hours[which I do(sleep I mean)most of the time I am free] and miss out on such an awe inspiring surroundings. Kodandaramiah sir explained which place was used for what when rehabilitating a bear. After a short walk under the clear star lit sky we settled down comfortably on the stone benches which are on either side near the staff quarter of the rest house. When I looked up into the lucid sky I realized what we city folks are missing out on, it was not just my realization because at that moment even Vasantha mam commented that she was realizing what a rare fortune it was to see such a marvelous sky with stars winking so brightly at us and it would probably be a dream come true to see half of this bright lit sky in B’lore. The sky was so clear then that a considerably illiterate person (in the subject of astronomy) like me was actually able to identify 3 constellations. I and My3 started trying to figure out how many constellations we could find and the result was we identified saptarishi mandala (also known as big dipper), Scorpio, Gemini and Orion. Apart from that we also saw the planet Venus (known as morning star) and tracked North Star (pole star) with the help of big dipper (it was like we were back in school doing some fun activity). We had lost the track of time when a staff member (who was in charge of seeing that we were fed properly throughout our two day stay) asked us if we would have some tea or coffee and we readily agreed. So he prepared some tea for us and we started having it still talking random things when Kodandaramiah sir remembered that there were few buns (special type) also to go with tea, so we savored on the special treat at that ungodly hour in the morning. And it was already 6:00 by the time we realized the sun was rising so we thought we will go freshen up a little by the time rest of the group got up. We were still deciding on whether or not to take bath when Kodandaramiah sir said who ever was interested in taking bath in Thungabhadra river could accompany rest of the group which was going. We thought we would take a chance and go with the rest (also we were expecting many of the senior members of the group to join but we were sourly disappointed that they had passed up on it for a more enticing one [because we wanted to interact more with them]). But when we set out in search of a comfortable and secure place to take bath more disappointment was waiting for us and we found that there was no suitable place around and we were running out of time. Realizing there was no use wasting more time on an endeavor which is fruitless we tracked back our steps. When we got back we were informed that those who had passed up on the opportunity had gone for bird watching, we felt a tinge of sadness that we missed out but we consoled ourselves thinking we would get a chance in the near future and we were not embittered because we did get a chance(and sooner too). We had our breakfast and everyone started preparing for the approaching session. I was a little late (which is not unusual for me and has some how become a habit with me) for the talk but thankfully they were still checking up on instruments so I quietly settled down on one of the bunk beds, with My3 sitting next to me.
First talk was from the pattanna panchayathi member. he spoke about Prince of Sandoor also a minister(MLA)[the very person who worked towards making Daroji a bear sanctuary] Mr.M.Y.Gorpade. Also with that he spoke a few words on the presence of different flora and fauna found in and around the region of Daroji and how white stone mining is affecting it adversely. After that Dr Harish Bhat (eminent scientist of IISc) spoke on do’s and don’ts when in forest. Also with that he talked about what are the animals (apart from bears), birds, insects and reptiles that can be sighted (or expected to be seen) in this area. Few things he mentioned were
· Bears – the white V shape just below their neck are identified as sloth bears.
- the sightings of bears were 44 in a day but have reduced and are lessening as time is passing.
- the disturbance level in and around the sanctuary is increasing.
- the behavior changes in every half an hour.
- they eat spiders and insects with other variety of things.
· Birds (seen in this area) – Flamingo’s ( Phoenicopterus roseus) but not sighted much now.
- White headed babbler (urdoides leucocephalus), yellow throated bulbul (Pycnonotus xantholaemus).
- Alexandrine parakeet (Psittacula eupatria) [produces various sounds], rose ringed parakeet (commemorates).
- Great Indian buster (Ardeotis nigriceps) [found around the area of sirgupa and only 10 are found all over India
- Also some of the insect species found include ant mimicking spider (Castianeira descripta).
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