The Owlet - Kalinga Centre for Rainforest Ecology
Hi friends,
Greetings from Sonipat, Haryana!
This week I want to talk about Kalinga Centre for Rainforest Ecology (shortened to KCRE). It is a research station in Agumbe, nestled in the Western Ghats of India, where anyone can engage in conservation.
And it is one of my favourite places to be.
Due to its proximity to the forest, the station and its trails burst with wildlife. I've spent hours in KCRE searching for snakes, frogs and spiders. I've run into gaur (a wild cattle; the largest bovine in the world), heard leopard calls and watched a kingfisher a few inches from my face. It doesn't get wilder than this.
I first came here on a school trip and kept returning for more. I witnessed a king cobra rescue, seeing the longest venomous snake at close range. I returned over the years to soak myself in the magical beauty of the station.
There is much more I could say about KCRE, but I'll keep it short for this newsletter. Do visit their website to learn more, and visit if possible!
My Favourite Links
kalingacre KCRE is among the few research sites that welcome people to engage in direct conservation. Not only does one get to experience nature in its most pristine form but also an opportunity to delve deeper by learning about life in the rainforests.
A King Cobra Bite -- and a Scientific Discovery | Gowri Shankar | TED — www.youtube.com
A king cobra has enough venom to kill 10 people in a single bite. Gowri Shankar recounts his near-death experience after being bitten by one of these majestic yet deadly snakes.
The "Right Way" To Make Art — www.youtube.com
Is there only way to make art?
Photo-Story
KCRE is full of vine snakes. At night we prowl the trails with our torches, searching the foliage for critters. That is how we came across this snake.
I knew that he'd stay there in the morning, so I woke up early and went back to the spot. I spent an hour searching for nice angles, landing upon this perspective. I feel it truly captures how well this snake blends into its habitat.
Read my full post on understanding the vine snake.
Favourite Quote
“There’s always a hidden owl in ‘knowledge’.” – E I Jane
Have a Great Week!
If you’re new, welcome to The Owlet! My name is Ishan Shanavas, and here I talk about my work, along with curating the most interesting ideas on the internet. I confine them to topics like Nature, Culture, Photography, and Art but often fall prey to other genres.
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