Master's project at ACCC

MASTER’S PROJECT AT ACCC

By Shruthi Kottillil

I spent over a month at ATREE Agasthyamalai Community Conservation Centre (ACCC) for carrying out my master’s project, and it could not have gone any better. My work was on developing a prototype of bat houses and setting them up along with carrying out a comparative study on the number of temple roosting bats and identifying the causes for their changes. Staying and working at ACCC was a truly memorable experience with exposure to different aspects of wildlife conservation, I had not been exposed to previously. From exploring chambers, temple towers and rooms in search of bats, to conducting workshops and awareness programs for the general public/students and a trek up Naraikadu (part of the Western Ghats), where only a few have had the chance of going were all moments that would be cherished.

My work at ACCC took me to most temples in Tirunelveli district. We visited 17 temples, each with their splendid architecture, main deity and rituals. Having been to a number of temples in Tamil Nadu, it had never really crossed my mind to look out for bats. Surprisingly, the dark rooms, chambers and sanctum sanctorum offer an ideal place for cave-dwelling bats who are fast losing their natural habitats. I was fortunate enough to record all 7 previously recorded species – Hipposideros speoris (Schneider’s horseshoe bat), Pipistrellus spp., Megaderma lyra (False vampire bat), Tadarida aegyptiaca (Egyptian free-tailed bat), Rousettus leschenqulti (Flying fox), Rhinopoma hardwickii (Lesser mouse tailed bat) and Taphozous melanopogon (Black bearded tomb bat) those numbers were all comparatively low. Bats are fascinating creatures and are found to live in the smallest of cracks and crevices. Identifying them, although was initially hard, with help from experts I was soon able to spot differences among them.  Another objective of my study was to develop a prototype of bat houses and look at the effectiveness of attracting bats by setting them in different habitats. They were set up in different locations such as farm land, ACCC campus, under building roof and on poles. 

                   

                Mahagopuram (Temple Tower)                         Schneider’s leaf nosed bat

                of Kailasanathar, Bhramadesham                              Hipposideros speoris

                                                                                         (Picture Courtesy – Prasanth Soluna)

I got to be a part of several awareness programs in addition to my work. The first was for World Environment Day where I was given the opportunity to present a poster on mitigation of air pollution and could also take part in a cycle rally. The program targeted school students and it was inspiring to see the enthusiasm with which they participated in competitions and talks. The second was when ACCC along with Madras Crocodile Bank Trust (MCBT) conducted several snakebite mitigation and awareness programs across the general public. I got to take part in four such programs for students and one for the general audience (women). It was a delight to observe the various expressions portrayed on people’s faces during the screening of two clips. The knowledge gained through these sessions, (not just scientific but also of community perception), was interesting and enlightening. The work done by ATREE ACCC is commendable in that they follow up on wild camps regularly (which is just one of many such initiatives). It was an incredible opportunity to take part in one such of many camps. A range of activities, games, lectures and walks were organised with the aim of bringing children closer to nature. It is without a doubt that people (not just children) who take part in them get to learn and add to their knowledge about nature, wildlife, plants etc. 

One of the most unforgettable experience was that of the trek that happened towards the end of my stay at ACCC. Naraikadu (part of Western Ghats) is a tropical evergreen forest where prior permission is needed to trek. It was one of the most difficult climbs (10 km one way) across different terrain but with the most beautiful views and sounds. Every once in a while, we were greeted by the call of the Malabar Whistling Thrush (Myophonus horsfieldii) and jungle fowl (Gallus sonneratii). This is where I saw my first wild King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) and hump nosed pit viper (Hypnale hypnale), images that would remain with me for a lifetime. We all got to see other fascinating and endemic animals as well such as the Nilgiri langur (Semnopithecus johnii), bronzed frog (Indosylvirana temporalis), Southern birdwing butterfly (Troides minos), Emigrant butterfly (Catopsilia pomona), water spiders, jungle owlet and many others (a list that would too long). 

 My experiences would be incomplete if I didn’t mention the wildlife that exists within and around the ACCC campus. Within the campus, we spotted common krait (Bungarus caeruleus), wolf snake (Lycodon aulicus), common sand boa (Eryx conicus), bat (Pipistrellus sp.), grey francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus), Brahminy kite (Haliastur indus), Indian robin (Copsychus fulicatus), ibis, egrets, babblers and warblers. Often while returning back to the field station after work, we would take a diversion through the forested canal road and on one such drive we came across a leopard (Panthera pardus), that was casually resting among the rocks just a few meters away. Overall my experience at ATREE was enjoyable and involved a lot of learning which has considerable improved my knowledge and understanding of nature and wildlife.