“It was late in the evening, when we trekked into the forest. After a few hundred metres, we stopped beneath a mammoth Jamun tree. Suddenly, the silence was pierced by the shrill call of raptors. We looked up and there were thousands of glinting pairs of eyes staring at us. It was a group of Indian Flying Fox, a fruit-eating bat,” narrates Kumaresan Chandrabose, a student of The American College, who was part of the team from Madurai Nature Forum that visited the Tamil Nadu Forestry Training College in Theni district. A short detour from Andipatti leads to the patch of protected thorny scrub forest, right on the banks of the Vaigai.
The College offers a Trek and Learn Nature Programme that encourages trekking and bird watching during daytime and night. After undertaking a night trek and bird watching, the MNF members have documented over 50 species of insect-eaters and raptors. “Dotted with waterholes and blessed with thick vegetation, the place is a haven for bush-dwelling birds and hunting birds. There is also a teaming population of 200-odd Chitals that live in no fear of predators or poachers,” says Ravindran, a Retd., Range Officer and Forester Course Coordinator at the College.
“When the Vaigai Dam was constructed in 1959, large amounts of soil and rocks were excavated for erecting the bund. The activity left a 500-acre wasteland depleted of its rich soil and resources,” he adds. “In 1961, the area was handed over by the Public Works Department to the Forest Department and today is a reserve forest rich in bird life and biodiversity.”
“The soil depth and value is poor in the area and hence only shrubs form the natural green cover. The Kodai Velan trees (Acacia Mellifera), an introduced species forms the single largest vegetation. However, since it’s a protected piece of land, we see a number of native species growing over the years. Continued conservation efforts will improve the quality of the soil and the vegetation,” says Ravindran. “The college imparts training for guards and foresters posted all over the state. It comes under the control of the Tamil Nadu Forestry Training Academy in Coimbatore.”
Senior birder Dr. Badri Narayanan, says, “The campus seems to be a good place for birding. It’s a kind of terrain that supports small birds and in the winters, there are possibilities of sighting migratory birds as well. During this trip, I sighted a single Great Sandpiper, probably an early migrant that comes in from the Himalayas.” “Though, the introduced species of Acacia is not a native tree, it’s not self propagating and hence we were able to identify a good number of native plants alongside. One mention worthy plant was the Toothbrush tree (Salvadora Persica), usually found in Gujarat and Rajasthan and used as a toothbrush, akin to neem.” Charles Naveen, a nature lover lists out the native plants found at the campus -- Mul Kiluvai, Aacha, unni, velvel, adhandai, korandi, aavi, sengaarai, thankku, aathi, chinna kumil, thadasu and kundrumani that bears small red fruits which attracts lots of birds.
“In winters, there are also chances of the reserve forest being home to birds flying in from the nearby Periyar Sanctuary,” suggest birder N. Raveendran. “Our night stay at the forest was punctuated by calls of owls, eagles, bats and other nocturnal birds. The snake numbers must be under check due to the population of mongoose and peacocks.” Red vented bulbul, Indian Robin, Yellow Billed Babbler, Common Hoopoe, Common Mynah, Rose Ringed Parakeet, Indian Night Jar, Spotted Owl, Scops Owl and Honey Buzzard were some of the birds sighted. Among other small mammals that live in the college campus are Black naped hares and monitor lizards. “Pangolins and Slender Loris can be introduced as the scrub terrain is suitable for these endangered animals,” suggests Ravindran.
