Life in Rainforest: The Rainforest Ecology

It was around 8 in the morning when I got down at Agumbe bus stand and took an auto-rickshaw to reach the field station. As rickshaw took left turn and started running on the mud road, hundreds of thoughts were running together in my mind and I was excited for my further experience in the rainforest. Suddenly, from the woods a Malabar Grey Hornbill flew across the road just above the rickshaw. That was for the first time I ever saw a hornbill in real. I got even more exited. When I got down in front of the station it was so joyful and refreshing to see the how beautifully it is built in the midst of forest. I was then taken a cottage, which was even more fabulous. The cottage was very clean and very comfortable.

After breakfast we went for a walk on the nature trail within the campus. It was such an amazing experience to walk through the trails and knowing about various flora and fauna. We found many amphibians and reptiles on our walk. Along with some tasty food for lunch and dinner, we had interesting conversation about research and conservation with researchers. After dinner we went for a night walk, which was unique experience. We saw the endemic Malabar Slender Loris and Cat snake (Boiga spp.) As I am more interested in snakes and butterflies I loved the walks which made my dreams come true.

Heading out for the walk in the woods. Photo by: Dhiraj Bhaisare

The next morning, Dhiraj took us for birding and taught us field techniques. We went to the grassland where the Yellow-wattled Lapwings breed in summer. It was an extraordinary day with good sunlight. We saw two dozen bird species in a day out of which around half a dozen were very new to me.

In the night we went in search of Arachnids and found large tarantulas and scorpions. With rain poring heavily it was the time I went for a stream-walk. I never liked rains and getting wet earlier but visit to ARRS completely changed me. By the touch of rain my heart was pumping more curiosity and enthusiasm. During the stream walks I got to see and learn about various riparian flora and fauna. In the same night we saw Mouse Deer and Malabar Spiny Dormouse.

Next morning as sun rose next to the cottage I woke up with the call of Grey Langurs. This was the last day of workshop. We went to explore caves after breakfast. There were lots of Leaf-nosed Bats hanging to the roof of the lateritic cave and we were fortunate to observe a mating pair. Later we went to Kundadri – famous for a very old Jain Temple situated on a monolithic hill. We were not there to visit temple but to explore the biodiversity and look and enjoy the landscape view. There we saw some beautiful butterflies including one of my favourite the Common Map. Later in the noontime I got mesmerizing sighting of Western Ghat’s Flying Lizard on a betel nut tree and a Hill Keelback Snake on a trail in the plantation.

Enjoying the beautiful landscape from Kundadri hill. Photos by: Dhiraj Bhaisare

Then it was the time for last walk... which turned out to be the best. We saw a herd of Gaur. It was an amazing moment to observe them from close distance without being noticed as we were frizzed. It was an amazing experience to be in Agumbe. I was really happy with the food and accommodation at the station. Within my 60 hours of stay at ARRS, my checklist got 91 species of butterflies, birds, mammals and reptiles. I thank my coordinator Dhiraj for his guidance and special thanks goes to my friend Harika Guntur for encouraging me to participate in this workshop. It was such a blessing to stay in the same cottage where Sir Romulus Whitaker lived.