My first leopard sighting.

27th Nov. 2008
11:56 pm

Today is a very important day in my life. It was my first leopard encounter. I don't know whether to call it an encounter but
it happened as follows:
It happened so that we were returning from the 'Khandepar Jatra (Feast) in the night in our car. I was gazing at the roadside
bushes which skirted around the huge wilderness which was soon to be converted into a garbage dump (refer my earlier post).
It would have been around 11:30 pm when I was disturbed by the exclaimed vocalizations of those in the car with me. But
before I could turn to find out the reason, the reason itself disappeared in the same bushes which I was staring at. They
said it was a leopard and looking at the size of its tail and hind quarters (These were the only parts I could see) I
suspected it to be a juvenile. I felt jealous about everyone else in the car as they had seen it fully while crossing the
road in front of our car, emerging from the steep ravine on the far side of the road & disappearing in the bushes. This is the
second account of sighting an exclusively wild animal crossing the road in this week, previous being a sambhar which I had
spotted in Anmod ghat 6 days ago. I have decided to go to have a look for it tomorrow morning while the tracks are fresh.
May be it is a start of a new phase in my life.





28th Nov (Day 2)

I got up early at 6 and started preparing to set out. College or ant other work didn't seem to interest me. I called up Saish
and informed about the incident. He agreed to accompany me. I packed and left. I got down at the place where the said
incident had happened. It is a long stretch and looks similar throughout. It took me around half an hour to find the exact
spot. But as I did, it was a great feeling which I never felt before. The night had not ditched me. It had preserved the
pugmarks exactly as they were on the loose soil at the roadside. This was the time when I felt that I would have got a camera
with me to capture how beautifully it was preserved.
I headed in the direction in which it had gone while Saish joined me. We followed the line. But didn't get any obvious
evidences as urine smell or scats, but Saish noted a broken tree. It had broken due to load imposed on it. It was very thin,
straight and less branched, on which a fully grown adult will never make a mistake of climbing in spite of having lot other
trees which can accommodate it properly. If the marks appearing on the bark of the tree indicate that it is the leopard who
broke it, then its climbing on such a tree strengthens my prediction of it being a jouvinile. Searching that area for long,
we found nothing more. There was no point in looking for more pugmarks as when you are searching for a leopard, every mark
for you is a pugmark.
We then decided to head towards the grassland from where it had possibly descended into the field and then made it for the
road. We reached the grassland which Saish calls 'Hunter's Playground' in few minutes. We inspected the area and headed for
another grassland a kilometer away. There, we found a cave, possibly used as shelter by deers. We found scats of hare, jackal,
wild cat, but no sign of a leopard. May be it is not a resident of the area. But I am not disappointed. The search is on.

The "Dump" issue

While going from Ponda to Khandepar, there is a small road going up the hill.
There is a small village their and it is an ecologically rich area.
But now as the garbage ghost is rising and there is no place to throw the garbage, the Sarpanch has decided to throw the garbage around this village.
The villagers are agitated and are opposing this act. This, nowadays, is on the rise which we have witnessed in the mining and megacomplex issues.
Co-ordinator of our nature club (GNSC), Mr. Ajay Dongre, has assured them his support to the villagers. We also will be participating in this capaign.
The villagers are capable of fighting for themselves and we will stand for the environment.
Anyone interested in supporting this campaign can join us in the village at 10:00.
I will be uploading the happenings the day after tommorrow.

Good News

Following is a post published by Mr. Prakash Pawar who has been working for tiger conservation for several years in an orkut community.

Sahyadri Tiger Reserve.
Four districts namely Ratnagiri in Konkan, Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur in upper region of Maharashtra has been declared as Sahyadri Tiger Reserve. This demand has been fulfilled by Central Government after two years long wait. Above mentioned four districts consists of 180 villages out of which forty one villages are from Ratnagiri district in
Konkan.This Tiger Project has total area of 1627 Sq,Km. of which 629 Sq.Km is part of Koyana and Chandoli Sanctuary which also is part of project. According to last census nine tigers were counted in the region besides numbers of leopards, bears and bisons.

This is really a good news for all wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers.

Dudhsagar Day-2

We left Sonaulim in the early morning as we had to reach our destination as soon as possible. It was around 5 kms. more. We walked and finally reached the spot where we were supposed to stay on the previous day - The Dudhsagar viewpoint.

The Milk Sea was looking as beautiful and fresh as ever.Parag sir lit a 'chool' over there and prepared the tea.

The Milk Sea in its full Glory

We enjoyed the beauty of Dudhsagar while taking the sips.We climbed up till Dudhsagar and explored the area.

A Mushroom



Xyleria (Dead man's Fingers)



Another species of Xyleria



Nephrolepis (Fern)




Plane



Malabar Torrent Dart (Male)

The first and only mammal sighting was over there. We saw around a dozen of bonnet macaques(Macaca radiata). Some on huge rocks and some, walking skillfully on the railway track.

We also spotted a monitor lizard.
It was already time, and we decided to come back by train. We finally got the train after waiting for around 2 hours.It was a carriage train and it was fun travelling on it standing outside.Finally we reached Collem and drove back home in the car.Our Dudhsagar expedition was successful.

From Railways to the Milk Sea

It’s been a long time from when I had last gone for a trek.
I needed an escape from the hectic schedule.
Finally, I had the opportunity.
As the starting point of the trek was away from home, we reached there in the car.
I, Kaustubh and Omkar unloaded all our bags, sleeping bags (as we had planned to stay overnight) and a bag which had something secret in it. (will tell you later)
Parag sir and his friend Nitesh was there with us. They had brought their net for collecting rare species of Dragonflies and Damselflies for identification.

We started our journey from Collem Railway station. We walked along the railway track.
Walking on the stones was quite difficult, but as time passed, we started loving it.

We spotted different species of Butterflies, Dragonflies and Damselflies, spiders, caterpillars etc. on the way.

Caterpillar

Giant Wood Spider

Giant Wood Spider having food

Golden Dartlet

Draco

Frog

Omkar was successful in collecting Pantala Dragonfly in the net.
It was rare one and Parag sir kept it for identification.
The trek was 12 kms. and we were already late. We knew we had to hurry.
But the gushing water, rustling leaves and the winged beauties all around us wouldn’t have let us sprint.
The sun started going down which means photography was no more be possible after sometime.
That’s why we hurried and decided to unpack the secret bag.
The moment for which I was waiting for last 3 hours had come.
Everyone was set. Ready and excited to see what happens next.
And then, Omkar opened the bag.......................................................................................................... and a 3 feet Russell’s Viper sprung out of the bag.

Everyone was set and excited. Ready to see what comes next.Omkar opened the bag and a 3 feet long Russell's Viper sprung out of the bag.

Ready

Steady

Hiss

We were excited to see how swiftly it moved. It was rescued by the people from a rescue squad and we had taken it with us for releasing it there. Now,as it was near to the track,we had to take it away from the track.
It was an amazing and thrilling experience handling it. What makes it more thrilling is the potential of the venom of this snake. Even if the person is saved from a bite, the area to which the venom is spread can get affected with Gangrene.
We completed the task which I was waiting for, right from the beginning of the trek.
Then we continued our journey as it started getting darker.We had the torches, but nothing is as exciting as walking in the dark. So we decided to keep them off.

Me on the dark track

The place we were supposed to stay was still 4-5 kms. So we decided to stay in a village called Sonaulim on the route. We kept all our bags in village temple. The temple of the "Milk Sea" - the "Dudhsagar".(Waterfalls)
The only temple I've seen where nature is worshiped. The Dudhsagar has been given the place of god over there.
We all were hungry and rushed to the chool(the traditional indian stove).
Parag sir cooked magi noodles for us.

We had our food and slept.



To be continued......

Photography exhibition at Chowgule College

Date: 4 and 5 July 2008
(Could not upload promptly because of busy schedule.)

The 'G.V.M.'s Nature Study Centre,Ponda' had organized an Exhibition known as 'Birds and More' in the Chowgule College.It was an exhibition of photograph of birds and other organisms found in Goa, which the members of this group (including me) had clicked.We had also displayed this exhibition in the Kala Academy, Goa; and Azmane shcool from Dongri, Goa; prior to this.These are some photographs of the exhibition.

Vice Principal, Principal and Kaustubh.(From left)

Students listening carefully

The arrangement

Me and my Zoology Professor, Mr. Kavri

Me, explaining the story behind the Photographs to the woman from Canada who visited our college

Umaji Chowgule, the owner of our college, observing the photographs

In the meantime, Kaustubh and Amey managed to get some good snaps of the campus.Have a look at it.

The Entrance

The statues denoting Gurukul system

The Tiger's Coop - The college's exclusive store

The Corridor

The Quad

Our Library

Sit outs - Where we usually spend our free time

Attitude

Whenever you try to bring about metamorphosis, you face a big hurdle.
It’s the attitude of the people around you.
They may be supportive, but when it comes to issues like environment and conservation, very few actually understand.
Most of us feel that the earth belongs to humans and we are doing a favour to the other animals and plants by letting them to inhabit it.
Most people never agree with the fact that everyone has an equal right to live on this earth as we do.
There is a need to change our attitude towards the surrounding organisms.
Only then, the conservation of these organisms and eventually of humans can be possible.



I remember the case when I had failed to save a life due to this attitude.
There was a snake in the building and while I was passing through there, I came to know about the situation. I told them not to kill him and gave a call to a member from a rescue squad.
But there was a man who is the resident of the building, who insisted on killing the snake.
While I tried to convince him, he asked me some questions which indicate the typical attitude.
"Who are you to tell me?" he asked. "Why should the snake enter my building? If it comes in my building, I will kill him." I told him that I will take the responsibility of looking after the snake till the rescue squad member arrives. I was not sure whether I should rescue it myself because I didn't even know which snake it was. There are certain established rules in these people's minds like 'snakes are cruel and are to be killed', 'fishes are made for human consumption', 'Environment is just a textual concept' etc.
The person was no exception to those who follow these rules.
And finally,he killed the snake in front of my eyes.
I could not do anything.
The person was celebrating as if he had done a great thing.
But I got disappointed.
At that moment, I felt that if I had rescued it, it would have been saved.
That is when I decided to rescue any endangered snakes thereafter on my own.
From then, I started rescuing snakes.
I haven't rescued many, but after the said incidence, I have never missed the opportunity to do it.
Hopefully, by the course of time, people might change their attitude.

Friends, Paytalee is a place near Khandepar, Goa.

It is a paradise for bird watching.

We go there often.

This is a report of a trip which we had on 15th of this month.

Sorry for the delay.

Comments are welcome.

Date : 15/06/2008

I reached the stop at 7:15 as decided. Mandar, me and Utkarsh started our journey to Paytalee.

As we reached, we were welcomed by red vented Bulbuls.Today, it was not just a casual visit as usual.

Today we had a special purpose.

Mr. Parag Rangnekar, who studies the insects and works for their conservation was to come there at Paytalee to see the place.

Paytalee being a paradise which lets you experience nature's beauty and the biodiversity, he was impressed by the discription and the number of bird species found there.

Kaustubh and Omkar were to accompany him as he didn’t know the road.

As we climbed , Parag sir's car passed us. It started raining shortly and we reached at a point where they were standing with umbrellas.

As we moved, we could hear the calls of birds and the sound of gushing water.

After a short while, we reached the lake, the heart of Paytalee.

The lake was dry as the small dams were opened and the water was flowing freely.

We saw numerous amount of butterfly species over there like Rustic, Tailed jay, Soldier(Chocolate Pansy),common castor, Mormon, plains Cupid etc.

Chocolate Pansy

Tailed Jay

Parag sir made us familiar with the dragon flies and Damsel flies. He showed us a dragonfly named as Paddy Field Skimmer.

We saw both male and female.

Paddy Field Skimmer

While moving forward, we saw a beautiful insect known as Tortoise.

It was yellow coloured and had black spots and transparent ring from the side.

Then we moved towards the rocks which follow the lake.

There was a waterfall formed there due to flowing rain water.

There we saw different kinds of dragonflies and damsel flies.

We saw the Damsel fly called Malabar Torrent Dart which is endemic to the Western Ghats.

Malabar Torrent Dart

We were even lucky to see their process of laying eggs and even mating.

Green Marsh Hawk Mating

We spent a lot of time exploring that area.

Men at Work

Then me and Mandar went up the rocks to discover several species of mushrooms and the outer case of a spider.

A Fern

A Fungal Growth on a decaying Tree

While I was up there, he saw a small red crab which I couldn't see but I was fortunate to see a bigger crab after a short while which he could not see.

Its lot more fun watching these crabs play in wild than watching them in fisherwomen's buckets.

We went a bit higher where we found two insects of the same kind.

They looked wonderful.

Unidentified Insect

Then we came down .

There we ate the sprouting cashew seed.

They were tasty and ate those for the first time.

They all went towards the swamps with Parag sir.

But I headed straight forward where I observed dense vegetation and big rocks (habitat suitable for a leopard.) But comparatively nearer to human settlements.

So no chances of a leopard being there.

But can't say in today's condition. We all know about the Bicholim incidents.

I came back and joined them.

We made our way through the water and joined the path from which we had come.

While coming, we saw a common Iora in breeding plumage on a tree located on the other side of the lake.

On the way, Parag sir plucked some fruits known as "Karmalaan" in konkani.

He gave each of us the pieces.

When we again came back to the lake, we saw a magnificent butterfly known as 'Silver line'.

Its specialty is that it appears as if they are two and mating.

But actually it is a single one.

This makes their predator to attack from back and they get a chance to run away. (Its their defence mechanism.)

Nothing much amazing had happened till then.

At least not till the person who had come with Parag sir saw something and called him.

When I looked in the direction thinking that it would be a fly, to my astonishment, it was a trinket snake.

I was excited.

For that fraction of the second, I experienced the energy which I had not felt till then on that trip.

I jumped over the wall as it passed over the fence.

I sprinted and followed it heroically.

But to my disappointment, it went into the roots of a tree.

The roots were dense and hard.

Without loosing hope, I tried my best to get it out.

But it was neither visible nor did it come out.

It was not possible to get it out without damaging the roots.

After searching for sometime, we decided to leave.

It was a great day.

I was happy because of the whole impact but a bit disappointed because of the trinket incident.

Introduction

Born at the foot of the mountain called 'Mardangad', which is rich in its flora and fauna, In village called Dhavli near Ponda (Goa), I am attracted towards the forest from my childhood.

The walks through the forest, which initially meant just as an adventure to me, started inculcating curiosity about the forest.

As I learnt the importance of the forests and the different life forms it nourished within it, The curiosity and affection towards nature grew.

But the actual step towards making an attempt to actually study those creatures was taken when I joined our college nature club.

It is then when I met Mr. Ajay Dongre,who is a teacher in the institute I learnt.

My mindset and the outlook towards the things like environment, wild life, conservation. changed when I met Ajay sir and my friend Saish Khandeparkar.

I started my journey with bird watching.

We started going for treks in groups.

This is just the start.

I intend to learn about the wild mammals, especially the big cats and work for their conservation.

I'll be writing the reports of treks which we carry out.

I will also try to bring to your notice some important things from this field.

Keep visiting and give your feedbacks.