It all started with Sreeram Ramakrishnan asking my reference for the Grant for Wildlife & Nature Conservation Trust (WNCT)from Rufford Small Grants Foundation. Till that date i was not aware of WNCT and its founder Sadiq Ali. I was quite impressed after going through Sadiqs profile. I never dreamt something astonishing is waiting for me in the upcoming days. A week before to the quarterly meeting of WNCT at Ooty, Sreeram called and asked whether i will be able to make it. Without a second thought i nodded my head. At one corner of mind i intended to call Jayashankar also, for which i did not get affirmative from Sreeram. I left that idea of calling Jayasankar Mcthere itself. On Wednesday night, Sreeram gave green signal for Jayashankar and i was apprehensive how the event and weekend gonna turn out. I Called Jayashankar on thursday morning for which he asked time till evening and gave affirmative in the evening as well. As planned Sreeram picked me from my office on friday noon and on the way we picked Jay on the Mysore-NICE road junction. After initial introduction,On the way Sreeram started telling stories of Mark,Sadiqs and the history behind WNCT. I was quite impressed hearing these guys story. We started discussing about various subject starting from affairs in the office to the present day education system. Our discussion were so intriguing that we dint aspire for playing any songs throughout our trip which is not the case with most of the trips these days. Sreeram was very apprehensive whether we will make it on time to Bandipur National Park so that we can pass the check post on time, hence apart from couple of breaks near Gundlupet once for filling fuel and another for loo break we dint stop even for Tea for which i was behind Sreeram. After passing check post around 7 PM or so we started crawling on our vehicle in look out for the wild animals. We had to get content with one tusker and Sambar. After having sumptuous dinner @ Masinagudi we started for ooty. We reached around Ooty around 10:30 PM or so. Sadiq arranged for our stay in his lodge itself. I was quite impressed by the look of Sadiq. Looks deceived me wrt him. By no where you can say he is of 48 and he is a hardcore wildlife conservator and he was quite humble and modest in all respect. I was quite impressed by his wildlife conservation equipment as well. After helping out with settlement, he left from the place and informed us Sanooj Niyase will be joining us in the early morning. All 3 of us hit bed around 12 AM r so. Niyaaz dropped in around 5 AM or so. After our morning nature calls, we started for Avalance, where the quarterly meeting was scheduled. As usual tape was off and we had serious discussion varying from Good Shepherd to Menaka Gandhi. This was first time for me to enter into a thick evergreen forest. The drive was awesome and in few of the places road was got blocked because of the tree logs. We went through some of the dark patches of the forest, where it seems like tiger roams around. After 2hrs we reached the guest house where the meeting is scheduled. After introductory session and getting to know in the early morning a sambar passed by, the 3 muskeeters headed into the forest. Sreeram introduced us to lapwing and few endangered macaques during the stroll. There in the middle of the forest we started contemplating about WNCTs Blore chapter. After spending an hr or so, we headed back towards the Guest house to have our Break fast. The quarterly meeting got started on dot and after grueling 3 hrs discussion the meeting got over. After the group photo and photography session, we headed to have our lunch. Initially we had a plan to visit drought lake after DFOs address, both of which got canclled due to the bad weather. At 3 or so snacks was served and after which, we started heading back to OOty around 4 PM and enroute the team planned to meet DFO in person. After couple of hrs discussion with DFO in his office, We headed back to our den. After freshen up, all 3 of us went for a stroll and shopped for famous Ooty chocolates. While heading back, we dropped in at Sadiqs resto and had a intriguing discussion about a Man eater. After which we headed to WNCTs office, where in we had a privilege of watching couple of animal rescue session. Thats first time we were witnessing Sadiq and teams rescuing animals without any fear. I was very much impressed by his dareness. Once we are done with the office chores, we had our dinner at Sadiqs resto and headed back to our den again. After couple of hrs discussion about various things with Sadiq and among ourselves we called off our day @ around 11, as we had get up early in the morning. As planned we left Ooty early in the morning so that we can catch up with the animals in Anikatty. Enroute to it, we hardly came across anything. At the checkpost, after exchanging our greetings we headed inside the forest. Guards gave us affirmative clue about catching animals. It was the first time for me to enter the forest with wild animals. I was very much apprehensive and was attentive all the time. Sreeram was assuring me that these animals are disciplined n predictable than the people of blore, whom u cant judge which turn they going to take till the Nth second.I never thought we will be getting down inside the jungle. But these guys were behaving as if we are in city, taking loo break wherever they felt so and stopping whereever they thought they will catch up with animals. My heart was pounding as soon as they stopped vehicle and got out of the vehicle. We drove 15 Kms inside the forest without any success. We saw a bunch of button birds, few pea cocks n pea hens, spotted dear n couple of lapwings. While heading back we saw serpent Eagle. These guys lost hopes about watching wild animals. But i was optimistic as ever. We were just 5 odd kms from check post and this life enthralling moment happened. We came across tusker aged 30 or so, which was crossing the road. As soon as we watched it, we stopped our vehicle and started taking its photos.We gave him plenty of time for him to grasp we were not threat to him.After sensing this, it cleared the path for us n headed towards forest, thinking it went deep inside as we couldnt make where it was,we started and slowly headed towards it. But it deceived us. It was standing hardly 30 mtrs from us and did not moved a bit when we crossed it. To take better snaps, Sreeram took a reverse. This made it to consider us as a threat.As soon as we approached him again, it charged on us. First it made a frightening roaring sound and then took couple of steps towards us, at which time, we lost hope on our lives, as we were in the 2nd gear n our vehicle dint had that thrust power. Due to almighty grace, the tusker did not move further n attacked us. We went ahead 50 mtrs or so and returned back couple of times to catch as much pictures as we wanted from a safe distance. I used to watch these kinds of charging by animals in National Geographic Channel\ Animal Planet channels. But witnessed it in real for first time. These guys were totally immersed in taking pictures throughout this incidence, while i was watching all around with fear looking out for animals. I am indebted to Sreeram for this once in a lifetime incidence.Once we were content with the pictures, we headed back. We took pit stop @ check post again and received friends from WNCT who were late by couple of hrs. After seeing off them for the forest we headed back to Bangalore. On the way we saw Himavad Gopalswamy Betta Hills where in Sree shared couple of incidences associated with it.We saw off Jay near the junction off Nice road and Mysore road. Sree dropped me near the Domlur flyover. I am eagerly waiting for our next trip on 15th August with the same gang.I am not sure whether i am permitted to put snaps and hence not putting.Overall it was awesome memorable trip.
Posted on: Sun, 27 Jul 2014 10:18:19 +0000
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