Category Archives: Nature

Lockdown badly hits Coorg mandarin sales

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Nature
Lockdown badly hits Coorg mandarin sales

HIGHLIGHTS

The demand for Coorg oranges, also known as Coorg mandarin, has dipped in the State owing to lockdown. Mandarin was almost wiped out in the district due to diseases a couple of decades ago.

Madikeri:

The demand for Coorg oranges, also known as Coorg mandarin, has dipped in the State owing to lockdown. Mandarin was almost wiped out in the district due to diseases a couple of decades ago. However, this variety of orange is being grown in many coffee estates, fetching a sizeable income to growers. It is being grown as a mixed crop in coffee estates along with pepper twice a year in December and June.

Grown in eight thousand hectares, this tiny district produces nearly 30 thousand metric tonnes of mandarin.

Many coffee estates have bountiful mandarin crop, but no buyers due to lockdown. Normally, coffee growers lease orange crop to Kerala-based traders. But this season there are hardly any buyers. The crop is mostly exported to Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh and other parts of Karnataka.

Though Nagapur organges have good market in the State, with good taste and aroma, Coorg variety has its own customer base. Speaking to The Hans India on Friday, a mandarin grower, Ponnachettira Suresh Subbaiah , a native of Ibnivalamudi near Madikeri, said that he has been growing the orange crop for decades, but has never faced such a situation. He said he used to export oranges to Calicut market. But this season, he sees no hope of good market for his produce. Subbaiah who grows mandarin crop in his 12-acre estate, has incurred losses this time.

There are no takers locally also as tourism has come to a standstill. The district which witnesses at least 4-5 thousand tourists daily in normal time is badly hit by lockdown and Covid restrictions.

Though production is increasing year by year in district, the demand for mandarin variety of oranges is discouraging.

source: http://www.thehansindia.com / The Hans India / Home> News> State> Karnataka / by Coovercooly Indresh / Hans News Service / June 18th, 2021

Families In Kodagu Hunt For Tasty Mushrooms

Agriculture, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature

Mushrooms or toadstools are found mostly during the monsoon season especially when thunder and lightning strikes the landscape

Madikeri:

It is that time of the year when many edible mushrooms grow in the wild in the hilly district of Kodagu, making it a mushroom-lovers’ dream destination. 

Mushrooms or toadstools are found mostly during the monsoon season especially when thunder and lightning strikes the landscape. As soon as the first showers hit the dry earth, residents and families, who are familiar with the areas where usually mushrooms grow, head there to reap the annual harvest — where the dormant spores lie from the previous year. And the person who sees it first, it’s all his.

A particular mushroom that evokes interest this time is the ‘Aland Kumm’ in Kodava language. Its scientific name is ‘Agaricus bisporus’, an edible basidiomycete mushroom, native to grasslands in Europe and North America. It has two colour states while immature — white and brown.

A high-fibre content food product, these mushrooms usually rise near paddy fields and sometimes seen under dense cover of coffee estates. ‘Aland Kumm’ is prepared as curry using coconut masala or as masala fry too. 

The other well-known variety is ‘Kode Kumm’ (umbrella mushroom) with scientific name ‘Termitomyces clypeatus’ (solitary, grows in soil and also on termite mounds) and ‘Nuchchi Kumm’ (Termitomyces microcarpus). The cluster of this mushroom is usually spread all throughout the location in specks of white. While the ‘Kode Kumm’ is usually salted and toasted on a raw flame in the fireplace, the others are prepared as curry to consume them with rice rotis.

Interestingly, according to an on-going research, lightning makes mushrooms more plentiful. The research is based on a Japanese traditional knowledge where they welcome storms over their fields based on the belief that lightning strikes provoke plentiful harvests of mushrooms. A research is being conducted by scientists in northern Japan where they are bombarding a variety of mushrooms in lab-based garden plots with artificially induced lightning to see if electricity actually makes the fungi multiply. 

The results show that lightning-strength jolts of electricity can more than double the yield of certain mushroom species compared with conventional cultivation methods.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / June 14th, 2021

Up close with birds, walk-in aviary to open in a month

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In a move to draw more tourists to the Scotland of Karnataka, the Forest Department and local administration have created a walk-in exotic bird aviary in Kodagu

The walk-in aviary created at Cauvery Nisargadhama, Kodagu district | EXPRESS

Bengaluru : 

In a move to draw more tourists to the Scotland of Karnataka, the Forest Department and local administration have created a walk-in exotic bird aviary in Kodagu. Though it was inaugurated by Housing Minister V Sommanna on Friday, it will be opened to the public only after a month.

The aviary has been created in Cauvery Nisargadhama, where a dedicated area of around 2,000 sqft for an enclosure has been created. Visitors can walk in and feed the birds. Shivaram Babu, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Kodagu told The New Sunday Express that a metal structure has been erected with mesh so that peopl e and birds are not inconvenienced.

The list of birds being procured to be housed include, budgies, African lovebirds, cockatiel, Conure varieties, African grey parrot, macaw, pheasant, turkeys, geese and ducks.

A Koi fish pond and fish spa, housing Gurra rufa (doctor fish), is also being created, he said.

The concept is very popular in foreign countries, especially the island nations. Some conservationists and activists have questioned the need for such a project in Kodagu. “The area is known for its lush green forest patches, vegetation, biodiversity and wildlife. There is no need to bring in exotic birds and have such an aviary. Instead, a bird-watching site can be created,” an activist said.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Express News Service / June 13th, 2021

Jackfruits Dumped On Roadsides In Kodagu To Feed Wild Elephants

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Coffee growers find novel ways to protect their estates from herd raids

Kushalnagar:

Jackfruit is elephants’ favourite fruit and they can smell the ripe ones from miles away. Elephants are dead clever and determined. If the fruit is too high for them to reach they’ll shake the tree with their trunk until the fruit falls to the ground. And if there is an electric fence, they will break it down with a dry tree trunk and enter any plantation. 

It is jackfruit season in Kodagu now and wild elephants raiding coffee estates in search of jackfruits is commonplace. They camp for days inside estates putting the lives of estate owners and also labourers in jeopardy as no one can venture into the estates till the herd or even a lone tusker leaves the property. 

Wary of elephant raids, farmers and coffee growers have adopted newer ways and means to save their lives and property. They are plucking jackfruits from the trees and dumping them on the elephant path. 

In fact, the Forest Department has to intervene in such elephant raids. But with no help forthcoming from the Department officers, who don’t even pay compensation to the loss of coffee plants, estate owners have taken this initiative and it has proved a success too. The elephants entering estates has minimised, if not totally prevented. 

Wild elephant menace is rampant in Aiguru, Kandanakolli, Kodlipet, Shirangala Nakoor, Abyathmangala, Chettalli and Seventh Hoskote in the North of the district and Srimangala, Ammathi, Thithimathi, Ponnampet, Kutta and Balele in Virajpet and Ponnampet taluks. 

Forests in these areas mostly comprise teak wood which is why elephants are falling short of food and in jackfruit season, they raid the estates. Repeated requests of the villagers to the Forest Department to chase elephants back to the forest have fallen on deaf ears. 

Path identified and dumped

Now in this season, jackfruits are found piled up on the roadsides and growers hope the elephants hog these jackfruits instead of entering into their plantations. But the planters cannot cut the jackfruit trees inside their own estates as they do not have tree rights and have to seek permission from the Department — a tedious job, especially during COVID times.

“We identify the path usually taken by elephants roaming around and dump tractor-loads of jackfruits on the way and also near lakes that are frequented by elephants. It is a big loss if a herd of 20 to 25 elephants enter an estate. We are not worried about them eating jackfruits but in the process, they destroy many coffee plants,” says Arun Kumar, an estate owner at Abyathmangala. 

On an average, over 1,000 kgs of jackfruits are dumped on the roadsides in the vicinity of every major estate. “We spend extra money and pay the labourers who make time to cut jackfruits amidst the tree-topping work,” he added. 

Villagers oppose move

However, the trend has been opposed by some villagers in Abyathmangala-Kushalnagar Range who fear for their safety. They claimed that some of the estate owners’ move is endangering their lives. Anil a, villager said that despite many pleas, the estate owners dump jackfruits by the side of the road and they can’t even go on the road fearing wild tuskers. 

However, Ajith Kumar, an estate owner on the Siddapura Road said that he had asked his estate workers to dump the fruits by the side of a lake that is frequented by elephant herds. “By mistake they have dumped on a roadside near the village and next time we will dump fruits on elephant path. Last year, we faced severe losses as many coffee tree branches were broken as herds entered my estate. This is the only visible solution,” he said.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / June 05th, 2021

GSI finds 85 places in Kodagu prone to floods, landslips

About Kodagu / Coorg, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All

Geographical Survey of India (GSI) has identified 85 places in Kodagu district, including areas in Madikeri and Virajpet towns, as vulnerable to floods and landslips.

Deputy Commissioner Charulatha Somal said necessary precautions are in place at those places following the GSI’s report. The officials had also prepared reports on places susceptible to rain emergencies based on previous years’ calamities.

The DC, while responding to Minister for Revenue R. Ashok on monsoon preparedness, gave details of the flood-prone areas and steps taken for the safety of people.

Mr. Ashok directed the DC to take steps to relocate those living in susceptible areas to safer places in view of monsoon. “Just issuing notices to the people to relocate will not serve the purpose. The administration has to persuade them to shift,” said the Minister, at a video conference on Monday with the DCs of some districts, including Kodagu, on Monsoon preparations.

Referring to last year’s landslip that took place at Talacauvery which claimed the lives of people, including the temple priest, the Minister said such instances should not recur. The people living in vulnerable areas must be shifted to relief/rescue centres which can be set up in schools or community halls, he suggested.

Ms. Somal urged the Minister to increase availability of kerosene to Kodagu since its demand goes up during monsoon. The Minister said he would speak to the Minister for Food and Civil Supplies.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – June 09th, 2021

Landscape Filled With Magic…

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It’s raining in Kodagu and so are ‘Rain Lilies’ (Zephyranthes candida) in some coffee estates.

This photo is from an estate on Siddapura-Mysuru Road where Lilies with their inconspicuous grassy leaves have bloomed silently amidst the plantations forming a sight to behold.

These rain lilies bloom repeatedly following rains, while some bloom primarily in spring, others flower in summer.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home > Photo News / April 23rd, 2021

Beehive boxes distributed to 130 families

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Beehive boxes were distributed to beneficiaries in Kodagu district. Credit: special arrangement

Kodagu Seva Kendra and Kodagu for Tomorrow organisation handed over beehive boxes to 130 families in Soorlabbi, Kumbaragadige, Mankya, Kikkaralli and Muttlu. Each family was given two boxes.

All the beehive boxes along with the families of bees have been procured from Everyday Honey Farm in Tumakuru.

Seva Kendra’s Pramod Sommaiah said that whoever engages in apiculture using the beehive boxes will get additional four boxes next year.

Kodagu for Tomorrow convener Ponnolatanda Kaverappa said that the organisation will impart training in beekeeping.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Karnataka Districts / by DHNS, Madikeri / April 17th, 2021

‘End Man-Animal Strife In Kodagu Through Policies’

Agriculture, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Green Initiatives / Environment, Leaders, Nature, Records, All

Former President of Coorg Wildlife Society writes to CM and suggests sustainable ways and means

Mysore/Mysuru:

In the wake of increasing man-animal conflict and tiger attacks in Kodagu where at least three human lives have been lost within a span of 15 to 20 days, former President of Coorg Wildlife Society Col. (Retd.) Cheppudira P. Muthanna has written to Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa drawing his attention towards how the people are being victimised by mindless destruction of wild habitats in the name of big projects and how wild animals are entering human areas in search of food. 

Keeping in mind the increasing human killing by wild animals including tigers and elephants, Muthanna has suggested the appointment of an Officer on Special Duty in the rank of Deputy Conservator of Forests exclusively for Kodagu. This officer must be based in Thithimathi with adequate staff and resources and he must be able to be a link between the Government and the people to solve pressing problems of the district, he stated. 

Sharp-shooters

Secondly, tigers that kill human beings must be hunted down at the earliest to prevent further deaths and the existing regulations should be modified accordingly. “Kodagu has a number of excellent shooters and ten such shooters should be identified and provided with sophisticated telescopic rifles and ammunition. Whenever there is a dangerous situation arising due to tigers or leopards outside the forest habitat, they should be given permission to assist the Forest Department,” Muthanna said and added that local shooters will be more familiar with the terrain and conditions and would be able to defuse a dangerous situation without loss of time and it would save human lives.

According to Muthanna, a major reason for the tiger menace is due to vast areas of the forests covered by invasive species like Lantana Camara and Senna Spectabilis. “Deer and other prey congregate in small patches of forests that are free from weeds and are fit for grazing. This leads to a number of tigers also congregating in the same restricted area and causes the tigers to fight one another. In most such cases one of the tigers will be wounded and forced out of the forest. Therefore sufficient funds are required for eradication of invasive species,” he has suggested. 

Some of the other measures suggested to the CM are, opening up of wildlife corridors from Nagarahole to Brahmagiri area in Kutta region of South Kodagu, establishing an Ecological Territorial Army Unit for Kodagu. “These units comprise mainly of able-bodied ex-servicemen who can join as volunteers and the unit can be utilised for forest land restoration, forest fire mitigation and eradication of invasive species,” he said. 

Destruction and fragmentation of forest habitat is a primary cause of human-animal conflict and there is a need for a policy decision to prevent further destruction of forests due to so-called development projects such as dams, highways, railways, powerlines etc., he added. 

Tourism has done tremendous damage to Kodagu. There should be no further investment in Kodagu for tourism. Tourism in Kodagu should be regulated and not promoted, he wrote. All the proposed project investments in Kodagu must be diverted to improve the economic condition of the people in the district through sustainable living and also to prevent human-animal conflict, he opined. 

“There is a need to protect Kodagu as the principal catchment of River Cauvery and the proposals for multi-lane National Highways, railway lines and airport for Kodagu must be scrapped as none of these projects will benefit Kodagu or its people in any way and will only serve to further destroy the environment and landscape of Kodagu,” he urged the CM. 

Tiger menace: Overnight protests continue

Overnight protests in parts of South Kodagu demanding the capture or shooting of elusive tiger still continues. The protests began five to six days back and residents of Bellur, Thavalageri, Shettigeri and Srimangala are participating in the dharna. They light campfires daily to keep themselves warm. Tents have been pitched by the side of the road for protection from rain. Protesters are upset as despite the Government shoot-at-sight orders and the intervention of MLAs K.G. Bopaiah and M.P. Appachu Ranjan and MLC Veena Achaiah, who came to Bellur recently, the Forest Department has failed to net the tiger. 

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / March 13th, 2021

A bid to stop jumbo march

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Coffee News, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All, Science & Technology
The Forest Department has installed railway barricades to stop entry of elephants in Alur range.  

Across 4.5 km in Alur range, these will restrict elephant movement

The Forest Department has put up railway barricades for about 4.5 km in Alur range of Hassan district to avoid the movement of elephants. The 2.1 m tall barricades, made of used railway tracks, have been installed between Nagavara Elephant Camp and Bharatur in Alur taluk. This is the area wherein elephants from Kattepura forest in Kodagu district move towards Alur range crossing the backwater of Hemavati Reservoir located at Gorur.

People of Hassan have been dealing with the elephant menace for decades. As many as 70 lost their lives in the conflict in the district since 1991. Similarly, 63 elephants have died so far. Besides solar fencing and elephant-proof trenches (EPT), the department has taken up the installation of railway barricades as a solution to avoid conflicts.

K.N. Basavaraj, Deputy Conservator of Forests, on Friday, took a team of journalists to Nagavara Elephant Camp to show them the barricades. “We keep learning how to avoid conflicts. Now, the installation of railway barricades is considered to be the effective system to minimise the conflicts,” he said. Chandrashekhar, a contractor from Mysuru, has bagged the contract to put up barricades for 4.5 kms at a cost of ₹4.65 crore. He procured 750 tonnes of the used tracks from the Ministry of Railways at an open auction. “The barricades are 2.1 m above ground level. They have been erected with the support of concrete 1.5 m below the ground. Two horizontal barricades are such that neither a cub nor adult elephant could cross them. We have learnt from the past experiences where elephants died while attempting to cross the barricades,” the officer said.

The purpose is to avoid the entry of elephants from Kodagu to Hassan. In 2014, the department captured 24 elephants and relocated them, resulting in a decrease in man-animal conflict for a brief period. “However, the number of elephants increased gradually, as many crossed the Hemavati backwaters. Now, we are plugging the hole so that elephants’ entry from Kodagu is restricted,” the officer said.

The department plans to extend the barricade for 40 km covering the boundary points. In Kodagu, the elephants that raid coffee estates could be driven back to forest areas easily, while in Hassan it was not possible. The herds keep moving from one estate to another damaging the crop, the officer said.

Opposition from farmers

Farmers of Nagavara and surrounding villages in Alur taluk have opposed the railway barricades alleging that these would force the elephants to camp in their estates for a long period.

Rangaswamy, a resident of Nagavara, said, “No doubt the barricades restrict elephants coming from Kodagu. What about those elephants already in the boundaries? Now, they cannot go back to Kodagu because of the barricades and continue to remain in the estates located close to the barricades.”

Mr. Basavaraj, DCF, reacting to the allegations, said the barricades had been put up just now. The officers would analyse the elephants’ movement and take appropriate action whenever necessary. “We have plans to extend the barricades for 40 km. As of now, we have a system to open the barricades at key points to let the elephants go back to their places,” he said.

He further clarified, “The path that we are blocking is not considered to be the natural path of the elephants. Only in the recent years, they have begun to tread this path.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Sathish G.T. / Hassan – March 27th, 2021

Foundation To Be Formed To End Human-Animal Conflict

Agriculture, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature

Madikeri:

With human-animal conflict increasing day-by-day in forest rich Kodagu district, Minister for Forest Aravind Limbavali said that a  Kodagu-specific Foundation will be formed to mitigate human-animal conflict.

Replying to a question by BJP MLC Sunil Subramani in the Legislative Council recently, Limbavali said it has come to the notice of the Government that attacks on human beings by wild animals such as tigers and elephants are on the rise in Kodagu district. The Forest Department has taken many measures to prevent wild animals from straying into human habitats, he said and added that 47 water ponds have been formed to ensure that wild animals get water within the forests.

Stating that desilting of 66 water bodies is going on in the district, the Minister said that 34.35 km solar fencing and 161.60 km barbed wire fencing has been installed along the forest borders and 91.55 km elephant trench has been dug up. Besides, 33.37 km of suspended solar fencing  and  railway track barricades have been erected using 24.62 tonnes of old railway tracks. To erect more railway track fencing, the Department has purchased 496.17 tonnes of old railway track, he explained.

Limbavali further said that 52 rapid action teams have been formed and 71 teams to drive stray elephants have been constituted. These teams will also keep a watch on poaching, he said and added that the Government will take all measures possible to end human-animal conflicts, which has become a bane in the region.

He said that an adult female in a herd will be identified for radio collaring, to help track the movements of other elephants. Nine elephants have been radio-collared so far and the staff are keeping a track of their movements round the clock, he added.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / March 22nd, 2021