Volume 1, Issue 1 March 2007 Lets write and share

For some time now several of observations and anecdotes them and keeps their interest us working in Kalakad Mun- that need to be written up. in field research alive. Writing danthurai Tiger Reserve This newsletter is expected to also brings new ideas and (KMTR) have been toying serve that purpose. All this what better place than KMTR with the idea of getting some also means a greater diversity to do it. Even Somerset meaningful documentation of research and conservation Maugham is supposed to have from the enormous amount of issues addressed in the region spent sometime here to write work that is stacked away in than what was done earlier. one of his famous books! notebooks, dairies, disks and We hope this would also dif- what not. With more people fuse the clout of “long term As we go along, I wish contri- working in KMTR, the vol- monitoring” that became so bution would keep flowing in ume of data that is coming out synonymous with KMTR and many more would come has now spiraled exponen- research! The other equally and work in this landscape. tially. Much of this of course, important reason to bring out T. Ganesh would never be published in this newsletter is to make those big journals but there people put pen to paper and could be many interesting write anything that excites

Mainstreaming the role of pollinators to big game managers and researchers

Pollination studies in -pollinator interactions. hardly appreciated. ATREE have been limited to the work ATREE’s studies in Kalakad– organised a half day interac- of a handful of researchers and Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve tion meeting with Tamil Nadu remains to be mainstreamed as have revealed a suite of inter- Forest Department highlight- a vital discipline. The curricu- esting plant-animal interac- ing the importance of pollina- lum on pollination is also tions in our forests. Most polli- tion and pollinators services mostly confined to classroom nators move between the for- rendered by KMTR. This was teaching, without access to est areas and agricultural land- followed by a week-long field work and contemporary scapes. Therefore, parks such workshop for researchers in methods. There is evidently a as KMTR could serve as sinks Mundanthurai, which com- critical need for well-trained for pollinators when crops are prised field work, lab tech- professionals to work on polli- harvested from the surround- niques and lecture series. Agasthya nator related issues in India. ing landscape. These linkages Forests in the and benefits of the protected Soubadra Devy are an arena of interesting area to the community are 659, 5TH A MAIN, HEBBAL, BANGALORE 560024 HEBBAL, 560024 BANGALORE MAIN, A 5TH 659,

Inside this issue: A Sanctuary for Cycas circinalis 2 Village commons and backyards to meet the biomass re- 3 quirements: An Experiment with Panchayat Raj and Women Tiger Almost 2 Collectives. ASHOKA TRUST FOR RESEARCH IN ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENT AND THE ECOLOGY IN RESEARCH FOR TRUST ASHOKA Round in Agasthyamalai in Fourteen Days 2 Bi-Lingual Field Guide Test Run 3

Corridors - It is Just Not for the Four Legged Furry Creatures 2 Snippets from the Field 4

Cullenia exarillata: A Keystone Species for Birds? 4 Behaviour and Movement of in the Upper 3 Kodayar Range — KMTR Tea, Tiger and Oranges 4 Canopy News 3 A sanctuary for Cycas circinalis Tiger almost

As city dwellers, we only know Cycas as a Of late there has been some increasing evi- slow growing ornamental plant but local com- dence of the elusive KMTR tiger in the higher munities have traditionally used all parts of altitudes. The first was a fresh gaur kill that this plant . Cycas circinalis L., is an endemic was noticed by Vivek and Chetan near Upper cycad of South India widely distributed in Kodayar dam. The next was fresh tracks of a both the Eastern and Western Ghats and is young male tiger in the Neterikal region when common compared to the other cycad species. Chetan and TG trekked up. Apart from these, Locally called as Salappanai, it can be easily pug marks were also seen on trails inside the confused with wild date . Over exploita- evergreen forest. There have also been some tion for its young leaves, glossy green matured sightings in the Kodayar area but these need compound leaves, starch rich young stems and confirmation. A few years back Patrick David seeds has led to a decline in numbers in its project and that found the species occurs in who was working with us then, reported see- native habitat. As of now there is no informa- several sites. However, it was abundant only ing a tiger on his line transect but behind him! tion available on the nature of harvest and in the northern parts of the reserve. As we All these have been in the evergreen forest. ecological impacts on the species. KMTR is walked around in the forest, we also saw Has the tiger adapted to persist in the dense one place where this species is not extensively clumps of seeds scattered on the ground and and wet ever- harvested and therefore gives us a unique soon realized that these were from the feeding green forests? opportunity to study its basic ecological re- roosts of fruit bats. The Kanis (tribals) also quirements in a less disturbed environment told us about how bats take the fleshy fruits that could serve as a bench mark for compari- away from the plant and eat it. son with other more disturbed sites. In the last few months, we did an extensive survey in V. Ganesan KMTR as part of a bio-resource assessment

Round the Agasthyamalai in fourteen days

We as part of the BCRLIP team conducted a projects on the other. Fuel wood extraction How can we ensure that the Agasthyamalai trip that lasted 14 days and went round the and grazing is leading to severe degradation of landscape remains a part of our future? It’s a Agasthyamalai biosphere situated in the states forests along the eastern slopes. There are big challenge, with more questions than an- of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It was a wonderful issues of uncontrolled pilgrimage inside the swers! Identifying a key suite of drivers from experience that helped me understand the forest, one estimate for the Adi amavasai festi- a huge multitude will help us workout a win- socio-ecological heterogeneity of the region. val that lasts for 3 days inside the Mundan- win situation. But then we also need to moni- Having traveled across this landscape with a thurai reserve was 8 lakh people. Similarly, tor these drivers both biological and social and botanical point of view, I realized that the uncontrolled tourist influx to the numerous also need to revisit others at suitable intervals. world outside the forest acts as a major driver waterfalls along the eastern boundary of For all these to happen one would need Gov- in shaping the forest ecosystem. KMTR has enormous adverse impacts on the ernment departments and the two states to ecosystem. Also, there are wildlife-human enter into a dialogue. This requires proactive On par with its heterogeneity, the landscape conflicts, lack of capacity among the imple- management and capacity building from the also supports a highly heterogeneous forest menting agencies, impacts of development grassroots level. dependent groups that range from landless projects, lack of awareness and sensitivity laborers, tribals, forest fringe communities on among the people, social issues and unem- R. Ganesan one hand rich estate owners and several govt ployment.

Corridors - It is just not for the four legged furry creatures

The landscape of Kalakad-Mundanthurai Ti- fields acts as corridors for Niligiri Langur, and such as Red Disc Bush Brown, are seen to ger Reserve (KMTR) is truly unique in many small mammals such as civets to cross from move along the edges of the corridors. Glob- ways compared to rest of the Western Ghats. one forest patch to other. Otherwise isolated ally, though the usage of corridors is still be- In KMTR, amidst the vast areas of tea fields, forest patches are used by under storey birds ing debated, conservation biologists have been considerably large areas of untouched pristine such as Black and Orange Flycatcher and emphasizing the importance of conserving forests are retained as wind shelters. These other forest edge species. Similarly, though corridors only keeping in mind the large ani- patches remain impervious mainly due to the not natural, presence of narrow stretches of mals. Knowing insects rule the animal king- harsh inhospitable terrain. On the other hand, Eucalyptus trees also act as corridors for the dom, they have been completely ignored as areas relatively accessible have been altered movement of birds and the Malabar Giant they do not seem to be as fascinating as the completely and have left behind remnants in Squirrels. What was startling to me was to see four legged creatures. the form of fragments and corridors. Vegeta- the Plain Puffin butterflies, fly in large num- tion along the streams including the Reed bers along the Ochalandra strip to get into Savitha Swamy bamboo (Ochalandra spp.) brakes in the tea forest fragments. Also, under storey butterflies

Page 2 AGASTHYA Behaviour and movement of the Nilgiri Langur in the Upper Kodayar Range, KMTR Canopy News

Nilgiri Langur (Trachypithecus johnii) is an Canopy Team Gets Bigger endangered species endemic to the Western Ghats. It is a handsome monkey with a coal Prof. Shivanna, Dr. Uma shaanker and Dr. black coat all over except for the head which Priyadarsanan visited the evergreen forests with its light golden hue provides a stark con- during the last 6 months. All of them at- trast. tempted to ascend the canopy using the single rope technique and were almost successful! Like other primates they also live in groups There were also a bunch of young and bud- (average size ranges from 4-12 individuals) ding pollination biologists who also attempted which are led by a dominant male. The langurs to reach the canopies. The canopy club is are selective folivores and mainly forage on finally growing! leaves, twigs, flowers and fruits. Bonding among the members of the troops are gener- they are to habitat modifications. Canopy Meg Coming ally male-male and female-female. A behav- During the study, it was found that the langurs Dr. Margaret Lowman or ‘canopy meg’ as she ioural interac- in less disturbed habitats were found to be is fondly known as, is planning a visit to the tions study was more dynamic, lived in smaller troops with reserve in early March. Dr. Lowman is a done on these larger home-range and were more selective world renowned canopy biologist who has monkeys in feeders. Their counterparts in disturbed habi- been a constant supporter of the work in two distinctly tats moved less, lived in relatively larger KMTR for nearly a decade now. This is going different habi- troops with smaller home-range and were less to be her first visit to the Agasthyamalai tats in the Ko- selective in feeding. More analysis is in pro- mountains. Her son has already visited the dayar range of gress. KMTR to see place as an intern. We welcome her and hope how tolerant Rajkamal Goswami the visit is both fruitful and enjoyable.

Village commons and backyards to meet the biomass requirements: An experiment with Panchayat Raj and Women Collectives

Forest fringe communities along the eastern Farm (CMBF). This is expected to provide growing vegetables and ten women have dem- slopes of Agasthyamalai are inseparably fuel, fodder, food and health requirements. onstrated their entrepreneurial skills by selling linked with forest based resources for over Recently, we initiated a dialogue with the Sub- their produce in the neighborhood. Once there centuries. It is realized that dependency on Collector and local Panchayat President, of are enough vegetables, ATREE is planning to these forests for a long period of time has Pappankulam village to start the CMBF in link these women collectives to the growing affected the resource base and the forest would community land. Common land of 6 acres has market for organically grown vegetables in the need some time to recover. To buy time the been identified and ATREE will lead the com- nearby town. best approach considered was to ‘fence’ the munities to start planting multipurpose seed- forest leaving no sustainable alternatives that lings which would produce bio mass. Joseph Antony could support the poor among the fringe com- munities. ATREE is attempting an alternative ATREE has targeted the women collectives to resource base from non-forested landscapes. practice home gardening as it can take care of One such move was to facilitate the fringe health needs and to some extent help income community to use village common land to generation following the principle of “Unspent raise a Community Multipurpose Biomass money is worth saved”. The women who were once collecting fuelwood have started

Bi-lingual field guide test run

A multi-taxa bi-lingual field guide is being are also a part of the Green Brigade were in- birds and bats. But apart from a single painted developed for KMTR. The aim is to bring out troduced to wetland birds by Madivanan in the stork, we were unable to see any other birds. a user-friendly guide for non-biologists. Since field station. The next day, they were taken to this is the first time a guide exclusively meant the Kondakulam Bird Sanctuary about 25 km This exercise gave us useful inputs to further for amateurs is being brought out in India, we from Tirunelveli. A number of wetland birds improve the guide. are trying various methods to exclude techni- including the Pelican, Spoonbills, Egrets and Jahnavi Pai cal terms without removing essential informa- Painted Storks were sighted. The enthusiastic tion. students took a keen interest in identifying the birds using the field guide. They were also To see if the layout and other details were asked to write up about the birds using the user-friendly, we tested a few sample pages on information in the guide. After a brief lunch wetland birds. On the 6th of January, 16 chil- break at Cheranmahadevi we headed to the dren from Michael school in Singampatti, who Tirupadaimarathur Temple to look for more

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 Page 3 exarillata: A keystone species for Tea, tigers and birds? oranges

The role of Cullenia dominant can- The landscape in Agasthyamalai is dotted with exarilatta as a key- opy . The numerous enclaves dominated by human ac- stone species for the mid-elevation tivities even within the protected area of arboreal mammalian forests of the KMTR. Many of them are abandoned or likely community has been Western Ghats to be given away once the lease on the govern- well documented. The are under im- ment land expires. How do we restore such brownish-yellow mense anthropo- landscapes with little intervention? Being tubular flowers in genic pressure specially interested in abandoned tea estates, I dense clusters around and what little trekked with TG, Kotaimuthu, our assistants the terminal branches that’s left is Chian, Johnson and the forest guards to a also attract many within protected areas like KMTR. This further remote abandoned tea plantation called Chinna species of birds. Dur- underscores the fact that the rainforest canopy is a Manjolai. After 6 hours of climb from a mere ing the course of my study, 14 species of in- unique and threatened habitat which requires our 90m to over 1100m we reached an abandoned sectivores birds were recorded foraging within urgent attention! shed perched next to a stream. The place was its inflorescence. Various search tactics such surrounded by lantana bushes. As we walked as gleaning and sallying were employed to • Oriental White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus) through this fairly tall lantana, we saw pathetic capture arthropods. The dense floral clusters • Little Spiderhunter (Arachnothera longirostra) looking tea bushes laden with fruits. The tea in are a veritable haven for insects. Preliminary • Small Sunbird (Nectarinia minima) most places was fully covered by lantana. The sampling of insects has revealed that at least • Plain Flowerpecker (Dicaeum concolor) next day, we moved further up to 1400m and 14 families of insects are found in the canopy. • Velvet-fronted Nuthatch (Sitta frontalis) into the beautiful mid-elevation forests to The bark characteristics of the Cullenia har- • Black-lored Yellow Tit (Parus xanthogenys) check out more plantations. The local guard bour many species of epiphytes and lichens • Western Crowned Warbler (Phylloscopus occipitalis) who went ahead of us got excited on seeing too which provide bark-gleaning insectivores • Large-billed Leaf-warbler (Phylloscopus magnirostris) tiger pug marks everywhere near a stream. rich pickings. • Greenish Warbler (Phylloscopus trochiloides viridanus) Since this was tiger census time, it was bo- In addition, • Brown-cheeked Fulvetta (Alcippe poioicephala) nanza of a kind for him to get a tiger pugmark. three species • Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher (Culicicapa ceylonensis) As for the tea, it was a robust population of frugivo- • Scarlet Minivet (Pericrocotus flammeus) unlike Chinna Manjolai plantation and had rous birds • Pied Flycatcher-shrike (Hemipus picatus) reached the status of a dominant tree. The also dined on • (Carpodacus erythrinus roseatus) plantation itself was almost impossible to the fleshy • Black Bulbul (Hypsipetes leucocephalus) penetrate. After having tons of oranges from tubular calyx • White-cheeked Barbet (Megalaima viridis) the trees planted of Cullenia. • Common Hill-myna (Gracula religiosa) decades back Various bird and some plain species of the R. Vivek rice for lunch, mid- we walked back elevation thinking and evergreen debating what forests seem to preferentially forage on this to do and how to disentangle the complex processes that make species be- have differently at different places – a chal- Snippets from the field lenging task for restoration. H.C. Chetan Interaction with the FD Campaign to Save the forests in We had an interaction meeting with the Forest KMTR from Polythene bags and Department and other people working in the non degradable refuse region at the Field Directors Office in Ti- runelveli. Mr. Ramkumar, the Field Director During the annual Pongal festival in January, of KMTR welcomed us and we presented thousands of people throng the waterfalls ATREE’s work to the gathering. Dr.Ravi inside the sanctuary to have a ritual bath, cook Chellam was also present and there was inter- and eat. For the last 5 years ATREE, along action on a wide range of topics. It was de- with the Forest Department in the Ambasam- cided that a bigger meeting should be held, duram range have organized awareness cam- ASHOKA TRUST FOR RESEARCH IN where all people working in the region could paigns and collected refuse. Along with our ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

present and discuss conservation issues. Dr. field station staff , the Pasumai Padai (children’s group) comprising of school chil- 659, 5th A Main, Hebbal, Bangalore 560024 Chellam also visited Singampatti Field Station INDIA and planted a sapling at the new site along dren from Singampatti have actively taken Phone: 91-80-23530069; Fax: 91-80-23530070 with Prof. Amots Dafni from Israel who was part in this. Over the years people have be- E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.atree.org there to conduct the Pollination Workshop. come more conscious and this Pongal much less garbage was collected from the forest. Editor: T.Ganesh Associate editor: R. Vivek Mathivanan Design and presentation: Jahnavi Pai

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 Page 4