A photoshoot is in progress inside the jungle. A group of wildlife enthusiasts, lugging DSLRs and binoculars huddle around a tree. Their cameras are directed to the top, the highest branch on the tree, where a peacock rests. The little girl in the group squeals and hurriedly makes a note in her bird diary. While the rest of us look awestruck. The bird poses unselfconsciously.
We couldn’t have asked for a better start for our trek at the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Kerala. Our route covers the Kariyanshola track, which includes a moist deciduous forest and an ever green forest.
The trip which begins at Pollachi is organized by Thadam Experiences, founded by Pramodhini Kalingarayar, Lingesh Kalingarayar, Pravin Shanmughanandam and Keerthana Balaji, who are based out of Pollachi. It is the latest venture by Pollachi Papyrus , a magazine that tracks Pollachi’s culture and wildlife, says Pravin, the owner. “Our main aim is to serve as a middle path between the hard core conservationists and the locals; sensitise people to nature through birding trips and forest treks and also promote culture and tradition of Pollachi.”
In fact, there has been an increasing number of young activists in this region who are chucking up lucrative professions to join this cause, says Pravin.
“Ironically, Pollachi has a tradition of hunting because of the British influence. Our grandfathers hunted for sport. But not us. As many of us live with the forest in our backyard, we feel more responsible about nature conservation.” As we go deeper into the forest, we spot a battalion of bright yellow butterflies, jungle lizards, drongos, owlets, Nilgiri langurs and woodpeckers. Also a few endemic species such as the emerald dove and the Rufous Bellied Eagle.
We are accompanied by forest guides Natarajan and Lakshman, who tell us that this reserve is also home to snakes such as pythons, cobras and vipers. “But they will not attack you if you leave them in peace,” he reassures us. Our route is strewn with deer skulls, tiger pug marks and bear droppings. Lakshman says, “Everything in a forest is precious. Nature recycles everything – from fruit pulp to an animal skull – for the benefit of other creatures.”
After the two hour trek, we rest near a gurgling brook. By now we are tired, sun burnt and prey to leeches. We dip our legs for some comfort in the cool, crystal-clear water and de-leech outselves with dettol and neem oil.
We round off our trip with a final ride on the bamboo rafts at the Parambikulam dam. Four forest guards row the raft for us. The ever green trees, the Ghats and fauna swirl around us as the raft glides around the dam. There is a nip in the air and soon it begins to drizzle. But that does not stop us from singing and taking selfies. On our way back, we also halt near the Kannimara Teak, which is one of the world’s tallest living teak tree. “It is around 600 years old. The story goes that when some people tried to fell it, blood spurted out. They worshipped the tree as the ‘Virgin tree’ and considered it divine,” says Natarajan.
As dusk falls, we refuel with a quick cup of strong hot tea and then jump back into our tempo for the drive back home. As we leave the forest, there is one last act of the jungle drama. An apparent spat between a spot bellied eagle owl and drongos. “The drongos, are jungle bullies, and are known to wreck the peace of other birds,” Lakshman informs us. And, it looks like they are living up to their bad name! They are circling around the owl and screeching at the top of their lungs. The owl puts up with the noise for some time. But when it all gets too much, he flaps his wings and shoos the drongos away. Peace is restored. The bird goes back to its meditation. And the Parambikulam forest plunges into silence.
For more details about Thadam Experiences, call 918344330416, 094439-11979 or visit http://www.thepapyrus.in/.
