Having clicked even the most elusive animals and birds, Coimabtore – based wildlife photographer T.R.A. Arunthavaselvan points to one thing that he experienced in a career spanning over 40 years: the gradual change in animal behaviour.
“The most elusive ones have become easily sighted”, he says. A significant change Mr. Arunthavaselvan, now 67, observed in the four decades-long wandering in the wild is behavioural changes in elephants, mostly due to shrinking forest cover and human presence.
“Elephants used to avoid direct sighting with humans in the wild in olden days. They would attack only in case of a close accidental encounter. Now, they are not afraid of human movements and even charge if we go beyond a particular distance,” says Mr. Arunthavaselvan.
He attributes the changes seen in the forests and water bodies could be due to two things, well protected forests and increased awareness. “The population of several animals has increased. Nocturnal mammals and birds were rarely sighted in those days. But they are easily sighted now a days. carnivorous animals like tiger, leopard, hyena, civet, pangolin, four horned antelope, and mouse deer can be sighted at Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve,” he says. He also observes increased migration of birds from many parts of the country to Erode and Coimbatore districts. Among the migrators, water birds and raptors settle at suitable water bodies they find.
“Though many water bodies were dry due to monsoon failure, birds like osprey and peregrine falcon were spotted at Sulur Tank last year. Greater spotted eagle was found at Sathyamangalam Forest Division as well,” he says. Another significant change according to Mr. Arunthavaselvan is that increased presence of gaur and sambar deer in planes unlike frequent visitors such as elephant and spotted deer. He says that straying of gaur and sambar deer to human habitation could gradually attract their predators such as tiger and leopard, the latter already seen in many forest fringes.
Invasive plant species like Prosopis juliflora (Seemai Karuvelam), Lantana and Parthenium are vehemently spoiling the growth of native plants and grass reducing the fodder in forests.
