Mudskippers look like an odd mix of tadpoles that are just beginning to grow limbs and fish flopping about on the exposed mudflats. These tiny fish are known as the fish that climb trees. They hop about using tiny jumps and are amphibious in nature, able to survive both on land and in the water.…
We putter down the river, the famed Bhitarkanika that lends its name to the national park. The water is murky under the hot sun, swirling occasionally as fish disturb the surface. An estuarine crocodile suddenly surfaces, its tail acting as a rudder steering it towards the shore. As our boat draws parallel, the crocodile sinks,…
The waters are silvery-gold, shimmering lightly in the morning sunlight. The fisherfolk are already hard at work; their days begin at the crack of dawn. Nets whirl elegantly, fanning out in a circle. There are no women in sight; fishing in Odisha appears to be a male-dominated task. The men are busy fixing torn nets…
The Tamil Sangam period in history is characterized by eloquent poetry and elegant wordplay, much like the myriad landscapes of Tamil Nadu. While at the ACCC, I heard a word thrown around a lot - ‘ainthinai.’ When broken down, it simply means five (“ain”) landscapes (“thinai”). The five landscapes refer to both the varied topography…
A dramatic return to the magical wet evergreen forests of the Western Ghats, heralded by the birds and wildlife that call this landscape home.
A morning cycle ride in Whitefield always leads to the lap of nature. Today, my journey took me through countless emerald fields, on bumpy dirt roads, and past a serene temple, right to Kannamangala Kere (lake), a hidden gem in the outskirts of Bengaluru. Kannamangala Lake is not particularly easy to access, nor is it…
A tryst with freshwater swamps....and unfolding projects surrounding these rare systems...keeps me on my toes!
Finding yourself bored at home during the lockdown? Check out my series of reading lists based on books I love. My first reading list includes books on nature and wildlife, with links to purchase books on Amazon.in and Amazon.com!
When people look at me, they can't seem to accept that a city girl like me is passionate about ecology fieldwork and wanders about in forests and wetlands for a living. Well, here are my thoughts on this unique and always-interesting lifestyle that I have chosen!
A reminiscing piece on my favourite tree, the gulmohar or Royal Poinciana, which lines the streets of Mylapore, Chennai...
On Life and Wildlife 