LETTER TO A FRIEND

Continued(23 march)...

Next talk was by Range forest officer- Mr. Ravindranath, he more in the lines of when the sanctuary was declared, how much area it covers, what is the progress made to improve the sanctuary and how the sanctuary area is being exploited by the localities and other entities. Few things he spoke were

• The area were Daroji is situated was known as Kishkinda were jambuvantha lived and jambuvantha gudda (a hill named after the mighty jambuvantha) has a temple at its peak.
• Bears have sharp ears but do not have that good vision and insects are its favorite food.
• There are only 3 range officers to take care of about 30 villages in and around the sanctuary area.
• The precautions taken to protect the sanctuary from getting cut or destroyed are something like SMC work (soil and moist conservation), building trenches, stone walls and so on.
• Lot of improvement has been done in the last 5 years (like building tanks, waters holes and providing food for the bears).
• EDC that is ecodevelopment committees have been made which work towards educating the villagers about the prerequisite of protecting the sanctuary with providing the basic necessities like digging bore wells, free vaccination, gas, street lights and so on.

Last was a presentation from Mr. Ravitheja (BE student). Youngest of all the speakers his talk was as effectual as the other speakers if not more. His presentation was on rising concern regarding climate change and their effort to dawdle it. He spoke about how he and his team CLeaIN (the people behind all the work) united (atleast prepared them to talk to each other) two opposing clans or communities. How a village which had constant problem of electricity is now self sufficient and powered by solar energy. Also how ladies in the village who used to sit in front of the fire (lit by wood which produces a lot of toxic and harmful gases) for hours to cook now spent only an hour or so to cook using solar cookers, this saves them a lot a of time and also saves them from other health problems (which they might be prone to in the long run). They also made sure that kids of the village who went to work for daily wages now started attending classes (this is because all the kids who go to school are given a lamp [as powerful as a reading lamp] which needs to be charged every day and only the teacher knows how to charge it, so if they need to use the lamp they have to go to school first). After that he spoke a little about changing climate scenario after which there was a short question answer session with him simultaneously showing the gadgets he and his team had come up with. With his being the last presentation everyone hurried towards the main building where lunch was being served. Everyone finished their lunch in a jiffy as all us where excited with the prospect of seeing bears. So we set out for Daroji (core area) at around 2:00 in the afternoon.

We reached at 2:45 and walked towards a secure place were we could sit quietly and watch the happenings around us. As we were walking we spotted a burrow which I was informed was of long tailed mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus). As we continued we spotted collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto) [or rather Deepak sir spotted it and we were lucky to see it as it is an endemic species], purple sunbird (Nectarinia asiatica) and rufous treepie (Dendrocitta vagabunda), robin (Saxicolides fulicata). As we came to the place (a cluster of rocks under the shade of a tree) most of the group was already present so we quietly joined them, to observe. And in matter of minutes (at 3:01 to be exact) we saw a bear descend from the rocks above, also on closer observation we realized that there was a cub too with the bear. We were very delighted to see the bear and its cub so shortly after our arrival so everyone was keenly observing what the mother and cub were doing. It methodically went about eating its food. First it ate (rather licked) the jaggery paste off the rocks and then it went for the bananas. All the time the cub was with its mother only (moving only a feet or two away and coming back within seconds). I was under the impression that the cub was afraid to venture out so it dint go more than 2 feet away from mother (but I later learned that it was the other way round and it was the mother which dint allow its cub to wander out on its own until it is six months for the protection of the cub). After a few minutes of arrival of bear a wild boar followed its suit and came to have some food which was kept for the bears. But the wild bear was clever enough to keep its distance from the bear as if showing it respect and as if it was saying it knew its place in the hierarchy. After having eaten its fill the bear and the cub left (later at the time of discussion I remember distinctly someone commenting how unlike humans these animals are as they take only what they require and are never greedy like us, which I felt was a very apt description about us). After 20mins or so a male bear came followed by another wild boar, keeping a safe distance as usual. They both had their fill and left. But in between and before the appearance of the appearance of the 2^nd bear we also spotted a mongoose (Herpestidae), and 2 peacocks (Pavo cristatus). And at around 4:15 it was time for us to leave too so we started back towards the bus. After everyone boarded the bus we left for Kamalapur Lake for birding.

We reached Kamalapur Lake just half an hour before sunset so we even got to see the sunset (like a golden ball falling into water) and more than 20 types of birds. But an illiterate when it comes to birds I just tried to see the bird which Harish sir and Deepak sir showed and also tried to memorize their names as identifying them is not my cup of tea (atleast until I have seen them twice or thrice and then identified which bird it is all by myself-which will probably take some more time). But it was dark before long so we started back towards forest rest house. After reaching we attended one last talk of the camp. The speaker was Mr. Samad Kottur (one among the very few people with an interest for birds and animals also happens to be an active member in protecting them and rescuing them). The topic was “Ritual Hunting” a very agonizing and excruciating practice and tradition of the local villages at the time of Ugadi. He spoke about how hardheartedly and cruelly the village men hunt for wild animals (like pangolins and wild boars) and kill them for nothing but to JUST display these animals. It is more a question of prestige for these villagers (more like bigger or more are the animal/s more is the respect they get). But in all this it’s the poor animals which suffer. Samad sir spoke about all this with illustrations (our hearts wept for those poor animals). He also spoke about what are the protection measures undertaken in these past 2-3 years. But he mentioned that there is not enough man power to keep a tab on all the villages a few villagers may slip under their eyes and go hunting and this could do a considerable damage to the wild life. So he asked us if there was anyone who was ready to volunteer in patrolling at the time of the festival as it would help maintain the discipline better (and there were many people thinking of volunteering including me of course). After the talk most of us where silent for a few minutes, it was as if we were observing a minute of silence to mourn the dead animals.

All of us left for dinner and soon after dinner Ravitheja (Mr. solar power) accompanied by Samad sir left for bus stand where Samad sir dropped Ravitheja and left for his place. We saw them off and assembled in one of the buildings as it was time for some entertainment. And it was time to see Deepak sir back in action. Having glimpsed what a nice actor he is in the bus all of us were expectantly waiting to see him in action as the stage was all set for him. And he as always (although I am newer to the group I don’t think anyone would object when I say this) was making all of us laugh until we were wiping the tears and holding our stomach from pain as we were laughing so hard. Some of the things he did were tell his college experience, his drama moments and enacted (rather mimicked) many of his teachers and old actors (it was like we were watching those actors come alive [like seeing them in person]). Also he sang a few verses of some old songs on audience request. All of us were so immersed in watching him that we dint realize it was time for bed. So all of us left to our respective rooms. I slept off as soon as I hit the bed and it was already morning (5/3/2011) before I knew it and time for Hampi visit.