Archives for January 2009

Rendezvous with a leopard

January 6, 2009 by Leave a Comment

Ever since I started trekking in the early nineties, it has always been my ambition to spot a tiger in the wild. Numerous treks, thousands of miles traversing dense jungles, hundreds of water holes crisscrossed, yet I have not been able to get within spotting distance of these magnificent felines.

Yet, luck turned the corner for me the third week of November during a trek to the Western Catchment. I did not spot the tiger but had a blessed rendezvouz with an adult leopard. We had just completed the trek and were starting back to base camp when we saw the graceful feline cross the road, jump on the side mound and then give us the stare treatment for a couple of minutes.

It was a wonderful moment,a feeling of heightened ecstacy as I feasted my eyes on this lovely specimen. A couple of us in fact took pictures when the spotted cat stood the ramp.

Then with a smirk that bordered on banal attitude, it bounded off in a flash. Anyways thanks to Ben, one of our team members, we have a treasured pix that will stand the test of time.

The tiger trail will continue as ever..

Plant a tree by recycling your old unused mobile phone

January 2, 2009 by 1 Comment

Yes it is true. All you have to do is to particpate in the Nokia ‘Take Back’ green campaign bandwagon and get rid of your old, abandoned mobile phones.

For every handset that is displosed in the recycling bin found at any Nokia priority dealer outlet, the Gloabl telecom major will plant a sapling as part of this green initiative. And to boot, you get a gift too. This campaign is being rolled out in India in phases and will involve qualified recycling to ensure proper end of life treatment of used devices.

nokia-recycle — Recycle your old nokia - pix credits - nokia.co.in

In fact, a recent survey reveals that a majority of old phones just lie idle in homes, maybe bcos they passed their utility value perception of the owner or maybe the new 3G phones have caught the fancy of the owner necessiating a jump to new technology enabled devices. Only maybe 3% recycle their phones and pitiably the majority of phone users are not really aware that a phone can be recycled (84% in India – real beef here ).Close to 66-80% of a phone can be recycled. You can also drop off accompanying batteries and chargers. But do make sure you remove your SIM and memory cards before taking advantage of this green initiative.

Dawn of a new year – Journey Ahead, Journey Within

January 1, 2009 by 2 Comments

Its the last few measured breadths of a year in passing as I start to pen this. I just take this opportunity to wish everyone of you and your dear and near ones, a peaceful and joyous new year, sprinked in good measure with all thats part and whole of the very best life has to offer, more so peace and joy in bountiful buckets.

Its maybe the right time to go down memory lane over the year that was. Maybe not really. Its more of a time to look forward to the future. Personally though I am looking forward to the Muhurthy trip slated in 10 days time where i get a change to be submberged in sublime ways as I will let nature paint patent truths on my blatantly seeking soul.

With treesouls taking its first steps into responsible ecotourism in ways more than one, there is still a deep tugging of the heartstrings as I struggle with truths hued and transparent. How responsible is eco-tourism really meant to be? Of course, the values are loud and clear, binding and sacred. Of course monetization was never a prime driving force. The intention primarily is to let nature play the main pratogonist and just let it all sink in for the seeking soul to find enlightenmight and consequent discovery of a new path or simply the road not travelled.

Introspection calls for inward journeys that might beget parched conversations with the man in the mirror. When the man in my mirror looks back, he see quite a few things and feel much much more. The images are strong and surreal, almost to a fault. Most of them relate to the Nilgiri Biosphere of the Western Ghats. For instance Masinagudi was a sleepy little town, idyllic bcos of it being in the Mudumalai reserve(320 sq km and shrinking) and bereft of all things modern and sodden. If you turn the page over, today Mudumalai has 44 wildlife resorts in and around masanagudi, or if my math is right one resort for every 7.5 square km. The consequences are frightening. 5500 sq km of the Western Ghats in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamilnadu find themselves squeezed on all fronts, leaving the animals in dire need of territorial rights.

Just imagine, over 100 species of mammals, 350 species of birds, 80 species of reptiles, 300 species of butterfiles and innumerable invertebrates all find themselves hemmed for breathing space. One moot point is the real possibility of disturbing important migration corridors of elephants and other mammals. Almost all small villages on the outskirts of the forests are fast becoming hubs of unchecked tourism. This simply shows development in these areas, a progressive term, legally valid might just not be ecologically responsible. And eco-tourism by itself means nothing if little or no light is thrown on the eocsystem of the place that one goes to in addition to area specific policy parameters drawn by the government, a horses for
courses solution really.

While the man in the mirror settles down in pages from the past, I will quietly break free and try to spell out how eco treks as part of the treesouls agenda has a larger purpose in store. Its not just about being part of nature. Its about letting its truths sink in almost like second nature, such as the paramount importance of conservation of genetic diversity of species, exploring the right path towards resoration of defunct eco-systems, understanding animal behaviour
and chipping away at means to ensure sustainable conservation with the local populace in tow.

Once more, happy new year wishes and lest I forget, do chip with your two cents in the comments if you feel strongly about what you have read. Better still, go for a trek in the forest.