Wild camp _ Corpus Christi _ Mundanthurai _20-22 Feb 2020

On February 20, 2020 at 4 pm the first batch of Corpus Christi School, Nagercoil arrived Mundanthurai, a part of Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR), Tamil Nadu, India’s first Tiger Sanctuary declared in 1962, to attend the ATREE’s WilD KidZ ‘wild camp 2020’. This is their second year in paricitating the ATREE’s wild camp. The camp was planned for 3 days and 2 nights from February 20 to 22, 2020. The camp team comprises of 30 campers including 9 boys, 11 girls and 3 staff from Corpus Christi school and 7 ATREE team members. The camp aimed to reconnect the children with nature and to expose them to various wonders in the woods. The campers were given a great opportunity to explore the nature through presentations, activities, games and stories. 

Day 1| February 20, 2020

In the day 1 of the camp February 20, 2020, the campers faced an pre camp assessment, followed by introduction to the wild camp, Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR), Forest types of KMTR, Butterfly watching and Tree Tracking through powerpoint presentations at the ranger office meeting hall, Mundanthurai, which helped them to get a clear overview of the camp and the campsite. After the dinner, they went in search of loris but they managed to sight only a few Sambars (Rusa unicolor), a vulnerable species and Small Indian Civet (Viverricula indica) on a tree branch in the dark. Though the fig trees were in fruiting we couldn’t find any nocturnal animals.

 

Day 2| February 21, 2020

In the second and third days of the camp, the energetic campers engaged themselves in various memorable activities such as a hike in the Puckles’ Path, a 9 km nature trail which encompassed the dry deciduous, Gallery Forest and end at River Servalar. The campers led by retired forest watcher Mr. Boothaththan were explained the do’s and don’ts on the trail and the history of the trail. The pleasant morning with the frequent calls of Grey Jungle fowl (Gallus sonneratii), sight of Coppersmith Barbet (Psilopogon haemacephalus), Brown-headed Barbet (Psilopogon zeylanicus), Plum-headed Parakeet (Psittacula cyanocephala), Black-naped Oriole (Oriolus chinensis), Small Minivet (Pericrocotus cinnamomeus), Blue-throated Blue Flycatcher (Cyornis rubeculoides) enthralled the campers. The funnel shaped ‘Sand Pit Trap’ of Antlion attracted the campers, they extracted a larva from the trap to observe their unique fusiform body, they were lucky enough to sight the adult at the same time. They witnessed many interesting plants including Bell Mimosa/ Sickle Bush (Dichrostachys cinerea), Karanda (Carissa carandas), East-Indian Screw Tree/ Valampuri (Helicteres isora), Heart-Leaf Coneflower (Strobilanthes cordifolia), Lion's Ear (Leonotis nepetifolia), Shining Barleria (Barleria nitida), Porcupine Flower (Barleria prionitis), Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon sp.), Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) an exotic tree from Australia, Teak (Tectona grandis), Three-leaf Cadaba (Cadaba trifoliata), an endemic to peninsular India, etc. On the way campers rescued few Barbs and common Rasbora fishes from the drying streams and released them in the river. Dungs of Elephant, Gaur, hoof-marks and skull of Sambar, scats of porcupine, Giant Millipede (Spinotarsus colosseus), strikingly colored Giant Indian Banded Centipede (Scolopendra sp.), butterfly such as Common Four ring (Ypthima huebneri), Pysche (Leptosia nina), Crimson Rose (Pachliopta hector), Common grass yellow (Eurema hecabe), Lesser grass blue (Zizina otis), Common Hedge Blue (Acytolepis puspa), Banded Blue Pierrot (Discolampa ethion), Golden Angle (Caprona ransonnetii), Blue Tiger (Tirumala limniace), other insects such as Spittle Bug (Cosmoscarta sp.), Long Horn Grasshoppers, Hooded Grasshoppers (Teratodes monticollis), Orange Blister Beetle (Mylabris pustulata), egg cluster of Grey Jungle Fowl, Spiders like Garden Spiny Spider (Gasteracantha geminata), Green Lynx Spider (Peucetia viridana), Common Funnel web Spider (Hippasa agelenoides), Giant Wood Spider (Nephila pilipes) added beauty to this unique path ended at the River Servalar. They also witnessed the sights of Bonnet Macaque (Macaca radiata), Nilgiri Langur (Semnopithecus johnii), Tufted gray Langur (Semnopithecus priam), Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) and Common Garden Lizard (Calotes vesicolor).  

After the sumptuous lunch, the campers headed for a plant exploration where they tried hands-on plant taxonomy by identifying different shapes of leaves, venation, leaf arrangement, etc. helped them appreciate the varieties in leaf morphology. In order to feel the different types of tree barks, they have tried a nature bark art. The campers were divided into four teams and each team met a family in the Kani tribal hamlet at Karaiar to know about their traditional food habits and relationship with wildlife. It helped them to compare their city life with the traditionally practiced life of the Kanikars. They also visited the government school located in the hamlet and interacted with the hostellers. They felt the contrast between their sophisticated school and the underprivileged school students made them realise their responsibility to society.

After the tasty dosa for dinner, the night session started with moths watching, the moth screen has attracted many nocturnal insects. Interestingly many moths belonging to Leaf rolling Bellmoth (Archips machlopis) belonging to Tortricidae family, Bilobed Plume Moth (Stenotilodes sp.) of Pterophoridae, Ancylolomia sp., Cydalima laticostalis of Crambidae, Nyctemera lacticinia, Chasmina sp, of Noctuidae, Dull Forest Hawkmoth (Acosmeryx shervillii), Plain Grey Hawkmoth (Psilogramma increta) and Violet Gliding Hawkmoth (Ambulyx liturata) of Sphingidae, Tiger Moth (Amata cyssea), Oeonistis altica, Nepita conferta, Snout Tiger (Asota sp.), Pink Tiger (Amerila astreus) and 2-Spotted Cyana (Cyana bianca) of Erebidae, Hypomecis sp., White Band Moth (Chiasmia sp.), Chrysocraspeda faganaria and Zamardia sp. of Geometridae, Neocerura liturata of Notodontidae, Lasiocampidae, Utidae, etc. were noteworthy among the attracted moths. Moths of Eribidae and Geometridae families outnumbered the other moth families. Apart from moths they also found insects like Ground Skimmer Dragonfly (Diplacodes trivialis), Golden Dart Damselfly, Mantidfly, Crickets, Caddisflies, Teak Trunk Borer, Two-lined Albizia Longhorn (Xystrocera sp.), Praying Mantis (Anaxarcha limbate and Creobroter apicalis), Green Metallic Scarab Beetles (Anomala sp.), Click Beetle, Earwig, Mosquitoes, Katydid, Wasps, Flies, Aquatic Beetle, Soldier Beetle (Cantharidae), Shield Bugs, Green Leafhopper (Nephotettix virescens), Ground Beetle (Drypta lineola), Assassin Bug, Mottled Emigrant (Catopsilia pyranthe), etc. . House Cricket (Acheta domesticus) was the most abundant insect attracted to the screen. Along with the moth watching, the children relaxed themselves watching a documentary ‘Wild Karnataka’. They also displayed their talents in singing, dancing, jokes, etc. Before going to bed they heard the wild story explaining the life cycle of frogs and snakes.


Day 3| February 22, 2020

Drizzling welcomed the third day morning, utilizing the time the children were shown the equipment and gadgets such as Camera Trap, Anemometer, Rangefinder, Binoculars, Hygro-thermometer, Bat Detector, DBH Tape, GPS, Compass, etc. used for wildlife research. Mr. Karthikeyan, Ranger (additional charge, Mundanthurai Range) interacted with the campers and inspired the with his motivational talk on individuals in conservation. After, the breakfast the campers were taken for a walk to watch butterflies. Inspite of the rain they spotted butterflies and were able to assign them to their families. Some interesting observations were Common Rose (Pachliopta aristolochiae) and Blue Mormon (Papilio polymnestor) of Papilionidae family, Gladeye Bushbrown (Mycalesis patnia), Common Bushbrown (Mycalesis perseus) of Nymphalidae, Psyche (Leptosia nina) and Dark Wanderer (Pareronia ceylanica) of Pieridae and Malabar Spotted Flat (Celaenorrhinus ambareesa) and Water Snow flat (Tagiades litigiosa) of Hesperidae and many other butterflies were also observed. Apart from butterflies, they have spotted many bugs, land snails, fungi, etc. The sight of the Hump-nosed Pit viper (Hypnale hypnale), a venomous snake became the highlight species of the camp. After visiting the Karaiyar Dam, the camper returned to camp site, had their scrumptious lunch. Before biding bye, the campers shared their thanks and emotions in the valedictory to end the camp successfully. Amidst of the mischievous bonnet macaques and drizzling, the campers actively learned a lot about Indian wildlife, their role in conservation through fun and plays made a lifelong memory for the camper.

    

Acknowledgements:

The ATREE’s ACCC team members Mathivanan, Saravanan, Thalavaipandi, Maria Antony, Prasanth, Thanigaivel and Makesh would like to specially thank the following persons: Dr. N. Senthil Kumar, I.F.S. DFO & WLW, Tirunelveli, (i/c) Ambasamudram, KMTR for the permission and guidance to conduct the camp, Mr. Karthikeyan, Forest Range Officer, (Additional Charge) Mundanthurai, KMTR for providing accommodation and logistics, Mr. Bhoothaththan, Retired Watchers, Mundanthurai, KMTR for guiding in the field. We specially thank Ms. Parveen Mathew, Correspondent, Mrs. Rieta Paul, Principal, Mrs. Maria Delphina, Event Coordinator, Mr. Robin Jeno, Physical Director, Mrs. Jaffya and faculties for guiding and taking care of the students. Our Hearty thanks to the enthusiastic camper