Nature at its best with human beings at rest Mount Abu.[ 07/04/2020 ]

COVID-19 Lockdown Lets Wildlife Go Wild 

Damans in Action

Spring is in the air. Nature at its best, it's the time of the year when new life springs forth. Today 18 days into LOCKDOWN confined to our homes. Living on the hillside away from the maddening crowd, doing what I love best-photographing birds and wildlife.

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Damans in Action

Today Mount Abu has entered its 19 days of Lockdown. The hustle and bustle of the unending vehicular movement for the last fortnight has worked its charm on the wildlife of this small hill station. We have spotted leopards in quite a few places. Few sloth bears have ventured onto the outskirts of town. The group of grey langurs who used to depend on tourists for food and frequently visited the road leading to Abu, now forage in the jungle.. (a blessing in disguise). 

Mount Abu isn’t the only sanctuary witnessing nature at play during this lockdown. The Animals are experiencing greater freedom of movement worldwide due to the lockdown. Hopefully, humanity realises it’s never too late to exist in harmony and peace with nature. 

An Appeal “Let our wild life be wild” Do not Feed Abu

Let Our wildlife be wild

A Call for Responsible Wildlife Interaction to Preserve the Wild

A troubling pattern has been emerging on the roads leading to Abu Road in the tranquil Abode of the Gods, where nature’s grandeur unfolds in every corner. In my years of studying local animals, I have never seen such a devastating toll on the monkey population as a result of careless vehicles rushing through their habitats.

During repeated trips to and from Abu Road in recent months, the roadside images have been frighteningly similar—dead monkeys laying by the side of the road. Regrettably, I was without my trusty camera to capture these heartbreaking events. 

As an animal lover, I understand the impulse to pull over and feed these hungry critters. However, I advise individuals who like feeding wildlife to reconsider; you may be unintentionally contributing to their extinction rather than assisting in their survival. The consequences of such activities extend beyond the immediate moment, posing difficulties for both the animals and the people who share their environment.

Here are three strong reasons why it is critical not to feed monkeys and other wildlife:

1. Death: As these animals become habituated to human interaction, they lose their natural fear, increasing the chance of deadly collisions with automobiles.

2. Loss of survival instincts: Animals’ reliance on people for sustenance reduces their capacity to hunt and fend for themselves, jeopardising their fundamental survival instincts.

3. Human health and safety: Close contact between humans and wild animals brings hazards to both parties, including illness transmission and potentially violent animal behaviour.

In an ideal world, the local forest service would adopt a hands-on approach by placing warning boards along highways and informing tourists that feeding wild animals is totally illegal and punishable by law. While this may appear to be wishful thinking, such actions might be critical in encouraging a more peaceful cohabitation between humans and nature.




Gray langur baby hit over by a sppeding veghicle opp Veer Bapji Temple

On my way back from a water body in Achalgarh, I caught a heartbreaking photograph of a monkey that was hit by a fast car, most likely driven by an irresponsible or intoxicated man headed towards Gurushikar. The sparse traffic on the road only amplifies the cruelty of such heinous acts.

It is our mutual obligation as custodians of this amazing natural environment to allow our creatures to be wild. We can preserve the lifespan and well-being of the many animals that call the Abode of the Gods home by rejecting the impulse to feed them and pressing for stronger measures to safeguard their habitats. Let us aim for a peaceful coexistence in which nature can live unhindered by the unexpected effects of human activity.






Gray langurs moaning the death of one of their babies

What a Crying Shame Mt. Abu

Today the forest of Mount Abu cannot be considered ecologically alive, as the birds and beasts that once roamed these virgin forest are today almost nonexistent. The Tiger disappeared in the mid-forties as they were hunted by the English and the elite Rajput rulers. Gradually over the years other large animals like the deer, the Sambar, blue-bull and porcupine s have been poached and today one does not get to see hair or hide of these animals. The Leopard can be seen occasionally when it makes its way to the town premises in search of stray dogs and domesticated animals, this beautiful animal is also poached for its expensive hide.

Wild life protection in and around the forest of Abu are extremely poor due to lack of resources. Hunting is prohibited in this sanctuary of ours, but influential people still get a piece of the pie in the form of small game, trapped wild fowl and the hare. Today while returning from my jungle walk I witnessed a native smuggling a wild fowl in a sack, he must have set a trap earlier in the day. Why work one’s ass off for a daily wage of 250 buck when one can earn up to 300 for setting the right kind of trap for these exotic birds. In the seventies these birds were a common sight today they can be barely heard or seen.

Today I had taken a ride to the school and met Shankar at the Paddy’s bridge and this is what I witnessed have a look at the snaps.

Shankar releasing a trap at Paddy’s Bridge

A trap meant for fish

What a shame

Awful

Five snakes in all