The living laboratory for students of life sciences — Biodiversity Park — here was laid waste by the cyclone Hudhud.
Winds had uprooted most of the trees and, along with it, destroyed the fragile eco-system that had evolved on the premises of the RCD Hospital.
The only park of its kind in the State is run by the VUDA with the help of volunteers of the Dolphin Nature Conservation Society (DNCS).
Trees providing shade for the shrubs have fallen on them. As a result, many of the plants have been destroyed.
“Some biological oddities such as the Mickey Mouse Tree and Mad Tree, which have inspired many students learn the subject on the field, have been uprooted,” a student volunteer of the DNCS S. Pavani lamented.
Even the gymnosperms like ‘Agathus fern’ have been uprooted. The living fossil — gingko biloba — has been uprooted.
DNCS volunteers — A. Rohini, S.T.P. Ushasri, P. Sharon. and U. Jytosna Rani — along with other student volunteers — R. Pavani, Ch. Brahmendra, M. Kishore, Chaitanya, and Prudhvi — are helping clear the fallen trees, Ms. Pavani has said.
The greenhouse that is essential for growing new species of plants has also been destroyed. Many orchids don’t have a host plant as the trees are dead. “An interesting feature is that the fallen trees are all burnt,” she says.
The park was evolving into a popular learning destination for the students and there was a proposal to get funds from the government.
“But this is a major setback,” Ms. Pavani says.
