In April, earlier this year, I had a great opportunity of spending a few days in the Nilgiris (my first visit) and also of getting to know the people at and work of the Kotagiri based Keystone Foundation. It was while I was in Kotagiri that I made this two hour trip one morning to a little jem of a forest - the Longwood Shola. Only about 100 hectares in size, it gives a good sense of what the original forests of the Nilgiris were; has great wildlife populations and is an important water catchment for downstream villages. It is also an Important Bird Area and a recognised Community Conserved Area.
What was also very nice was that the person who took me around was Senthil, who is now with Keystone was instrumental in getting the local communities involved in protecting the forest. Here is a sampling of what I could see in Longwood in just two hours.
What was also very nice was that the person who took me around was Senthil, who is now with Keystone was instrumental in getting the local communities involved in protecting the forest. Here is a sampling of what I could see in Longwood in just two hours.
The Malabar Giant Squirrel - Longwood has many of these adorable fellows and I was lucky to have seen at least half a dozen that morning.
Gaur - There seems to be a resident herd and also other animals that come and go
Tree fern
No comments:
Post a Comment