FROM A NATURALIST'S LENS

Khada Ness is about a century-old Maldhari Ness in the Gir National Park. This pastoral society lives a simple life; they live in small mud houses located deep in the forests. Maldharis are cattle shepherds and earn a living by selling dairy products, majorly milk. This community strongly believes in enjoying the simple pleasures of life. Their peaceful coexistence with the Asiatic lions in the park is what makes it a one-of-a-kind story, indeed.

A common misconception - most of us think of termite mounds as snake homes but these are homes built by termites and they live in colonies. Colonies are divided into three main types: Workers: to find food, Soldiers: to defend the nest; and Queens: to reproduce and lay eggs.

More importantly, termites feed on dead and decaying organic matter like logs and dead wood in a forest. They form an important link in the recycling of nutrients in the forests by breaking down wood and organic residues on the ground, which would otherwise take years to decay by microbes.

On a recent game drive, a lot of fascinating creatures captured my attention. Let me take you through my collection:

Bhilo & Kanio – the two males who have been named after their territory by their trackers. These two sibling males rest, hunt and feed together, as well as mark territories and hold the area.