Ask a Bangalorean to identify the City’s famous Rain Tree and chances are only four out of 10 will give the correct answer; the rest will point towards the upmarket lifestyle store that is named after this beautiful tree (Albizia saman known under a wide range of common names such Saman, Rain Tree or Monkey Pod), characterised by a wide-canopy with a large symmetrical crown and reddish pink or creamish golden-colored flowers.
But this should not come as a surprise, as many would point out. What else can one expect from the rapid urbanisation that is spreading its tentacles beyond the city limits. And as a consequence robbing the City of its precious flora and fauna, especially from our collective conscience.
A dipstick survey by Sunday Herald found that though many Bangaloreans appreciate living amidst towering trees with their blooming canopies, when it comes to telling a Gulmohar from a Jacaranda, or a Bulbul from a Mynah, the urbanities score high on ignorance.
Though to be fair to the average urbanite, many do keep potted plants at home; can recall more than one bird call and enjoy the outdoors in general. According to IT professional Kaushik Saikia, he regrets that he cannot spot Bangalore’s Rain Tree but can identify many other trees in his area. To a question on ‘which animals are you likely to see in one of your visits to Cubbon Park/Lalbagh?’ He says, “Dogs mostly, but I’ve seen quite a few squirrels.” To another question whether the bird that roosts on your window sill is a pigeon or a dove?’ he answers “a dove”; while Manikantan, another software engineer, feels it is the pigeon. Our vote goes in favour of the pigeon, but if any of you think otherwise, do enlighten us.
Madhumita’s response to the question ‘which animals are you likely to see in one of your visits to Cubbon Park/Lalbagh?’ is, “Dogs for sure! Maybe cats. Birds yes! Haven’t been to either of these places in years but I think one can see spotted deer as well in Cubbon Park.” Wonder! wouldn’t we want to see them as well. Here’s another interesting one from her. ‘When was the last time you saw an unusual bird and tried to find more about it?’ “At wildlife rescue centres! Lot to learn there!” Indeed lots to learn!
The question we are asking then is how well do we know our outdoors? And by extension, do we care? According to a senior citizen, it is all very well to express horror at the indiscriminate cutting down of trees, but “how many of us care to find out that it takes a gulmohar (Delonix regia) sapling four to five years to start flowering and it apparently grows about a meter every year,” and that now is the best time to enjoy the fiery red gulmohars bursting forth in an ode to summer.
And if we care to care, the fact that less trees and more concrete is changing the behavioural instincts of the City’s flora and fauna, should come as a shocker. For one, the number of magnificent kites that circle the evening sky is increasing at an alarming rate. The kites are the new scavengers taking over from the crows. Says Jayanth Sharma, a wildlife photographer and naturalist by hobby, “It is a pity that these large birds of prey have been reduced to scavenging.” They are the new crows of the urban skies.
With its often-heard “fantastic climate” influenced by a 3,000-ft (approx) altitude above sea level, Bangalore has ideal conditions to encourage greenery. (At an international bonsai conference in Mysore last year, many delegates from the north of the Vindhyas were heard exchanging envious dialogue with Bangalore delegates on how lucky they were to have thriving orchids in their balconies!) Thanks to the early planners going back as far as during the times of Hyder Ali (credited with creating the magnificent Lal Bagh) and Tipu Sultan, who is reputed to have brought in thousands of exotic species of plants, and not to forget the British, Bangalore got its sobriquet of a garden city.
A title that is now shrugged off as a bad cliche that has long served its purpose. But it is not all doom yet. A silent band of nature lovers (many of them from the city’s knowledge economy!) are out there photographing, documenting, blogging about not only plant and bird life but the night sky as well — all driven by the single motivation to explore!
Says Shiv Kumar, who works as a quality assurance person, “My initial ‘birding’ (to spot birds) sessions were very frustrating. “I could not identify any species.” But perseverance paid and at this year’s bird race, Shiv was one among those who was able to spot 30 different types of birds.
Adds Jayanth Sharma, “All it requires is an inquisitive wonder of the outdoors and a love for adventure. For starters, just head out to Lal Bagh or Cubbon Park, the discovery of exotic trees and animal life will amaze you no end.” He along with several in his e-group of nature lovers and photographers make short trips to places like T G Halli, Hebbal Lake, and Somanathpuram. “In one of our recent visits to T G Halli, we spotted a migrant Bar-headed goose. There was a band around its neck, it was tagged. We found out after posting the information on our blogs that it was tagged three months ago by a bird-watching group in Mongolia.”
If one is still not impressed, then maybe a star party could do the trick. From fifth standard students to astronomy freaks to housewives — many have fallen to the lure of these night-time star parties. Says Hemant Hariyani, founder member of the Bangalore astronomical society, “We regularly organise star gazing sessions or star parties as we call them, either in one of our apartment terraces or we head out of town away from the glaring city lights.” The best time to observe the skies, he says, is between November to April/mid-May before the monsoons cloud the sky. “We head out to places like Shivanahalli near Bannerghatta national park or Yellagiri (180 kms from Bangalore) or Hosahalli.” The Milky Way, Saturn (clearly visible with its rings), Orion, meteor showers, Jupiter and the moon are some of the all-time favourites with the seekers.
If at any point you are looking for that ultimate urban zen experience, then here’s one mantra — just look around.
