Location: Arkavathi
Team Members: Gautham N V, Ramakumar R S, M R Rajaram
Date: 17th of April 2016
The trip was scheduled at 0530 hrs from Bangalore but as a known fact the early risers were able to make it only by 0630 hrs. Since it was a late start the earlier plan to visit the Vulture sanctuary at Ramanagara was dropped.
Arkavathi, a river originating from Nandi Hills and flowing all the way to Kanakapura to join the Holy Ganges of the south – “Cauvery”.
I started out to write this blog with a lot of enthusiasm and fervor, but after reading the news article by Mr.Ganadhalu Srikanta in Deccan Herald (2011) and other reports, I have grown despondent and heartbroken. The write-up that follows will contain both trip report as well as some abominable acts of man that have unfolded after the visit.
It is with a heavy heart I am penning that in the last few years in the name of the so-called development of the capital of Karnataka, we humans have left no stone unturned in destroying the sources of our basic needs of survival, namely AIR and WATER.
As soon as we deviated from the main road towards the river, we were welcomed by some familiar waders such as the egrets, pond herons and a handful of ibises. Two common coots were having a territorial fight.
The water seemed clear but was filled with effluents from the industries that levitated as a thin layer over the once pristine and clear river. Two Spot Billed Ducks swam from one end of the river. As this was the first visit to this location it is not clear as to how this place was some years ago.
A lone gray heron patiently waited for the prey to approach at a striking distance and was soon rewarded. But our being in the vicinity was too conspicuous even with camouflaged apparel. It took to flight and landed at a nearby island.
Two aggressive king crows were resting on the nearby power line and were anticipating for the temperature to rise which was going to be the fact in the next thirty minutes or so.
Nearby a sole Singing Bushlark was hunting down insects and arachnids and was being rewarded well. Several undisturbed Indian Pond Herons congregated nearby and it looked like an agreeable hunting ground for them.
Once untouched, the banks now were marked with tracks of big Earth Movers which had excavated most of the fertile soil for reasons unknown but had left irreparable scars on Mother Earth.
As we did not reach the place at the designated time, the sun was high up and started sweltering. It was time to get back to the Garden City!! of Bangalore.
While walking back, we noticed that a female Ashy Crowned Sparrow Lark with a prey was camouflaged with the gravel on the trail. It was waiting for us to move on which we did and hopefully, it relished the meal in solitude.
All in all this trip was an eye-opener to teach our future generations about the importance conservation and also consequences of negligence in our upcoming Nature Camps.