What Elephants Teach Us on Mindfulness 💚

A Gentle Giant’s Lesson to Humankind on Mindfulness

#intothewildwithrufus #birding #wilding

There are memorable moments in nature that make you stop, catch your breath, and completely re-evaluate the way you see the world.

Today was one such memorable day, when we saw first-hand, a cute and lovely elephant offering us all a memorable lesson in mindfulness.

We were moving through the quiet, dense forest in our safari jeep, ardently looking out for possible sightings, when, to our surprise we saw a magnificent elephant emerging gracefully from the shadows of the thicket on to the road in front of us.

But wait! it isn’t just the sight of this gentle giant that is so moving; it is where and how it chose to cross the road.

As I’ve captured in the photograph, the elephant didn’t just emerge at a random, blind curve. It stepped onto the road precisely at the place where the speed breaker was, right next to the warning sign, crossing with a calm, deliberate grace.

This sight so moved me to bits today!

A wild animal understanding the safest place to cross a human highway is indeed something that is quite awe-inspiring, by all means! 

And elephants are said to be some of the most incredibly intelligent creatures with deep, generational memories and survival instincts. While this majestic animal might not have read the traffic sign, I personally feel that, it certainly understands the rhythm of its environment. It could have observed where the loud, fast-moving, loud-honking vehicles are forced to slow down, and it has then recognised the safest place to step out of the sanctuary of the trees!

Interestingly, there is yet another poignant reality here! Probably the speed breaker was almost certainly built in that exact spot because this is an ancient elephant corridor! In all probability yes! And so, hats off to the forest dept for so thoughtfully erecting this speed breaker at the right place!

Long before this “road”way was laid, and the signs were erected, this “path”way originally belonged to the forest, and to all the animals dwelling therein.

And on that vein, this elephant’s graceful crossing asks something very simple yet vital of us! Respect!

Whenever we see signs warning of a speed bump or animal crossing in these forested areas, it is not just a suggestion for our vehicles to slow down…

It is also a fervent plea to be a “mindful guest” in someone else’s home!

PS: You may want to watch a YouTube shorts that I had posted almost year ago, on a herd of deer crossing one such forest road, and people gracefully making way for them, HERE

Why Our Trash is Their Tragedy! 💚

A Tale of Two Birds and A Diet of Debris

#intothewildwithrufus #birding #pollution

Today started as a peaceful walk through the forest, and the woods were alive to the sounds of the birds, the cicadas, the crickets and what not! 😊

And we were quite lost in our bird watching spree, when the natural tranquillity of the serene forest was abruptly interrupted by an unnatural flash of blue!

As we inched closer, we realised it was a discarded little strip from a plastic bag.

What happened next, however, turned a simple piece of litter into a heartbreaking scene. We watched in dismay as a Jungle Myna and a beautifully crested Brahminy Starling - approached the debris, and tried to explore it.

The sad thing here is that, they weren’t just curious! they were actively pecking, tearing, and attempting to eat away the plastic. As you can see in the photos from today’s walk, the birds struggled with the unnatural material, treating it just like their daily foraging for food.

This sight proved a stark environmental crisis of alarming proportions. Seeing this happen right in front of us, in an environment where you hope nature remains largely untouched, was a powerful wake-up call.

To humans, a blue plastic bag is clearly trash. And we deal with it as trash! However, to a foraging bird, it’s a different story altogether. Birds are naturally curious and often sample things in their environment.

And when birds ingest this poisonous plastic, the consequences are severe and often fatal. The material stays in their digestive tract. Over time, the plastic accumulates, filling their small stomachs and giving them a false sense of fullness. Tragically, many birds simply starve to death with a stomach entirely full of trash, as they stop foraging for actual nutrients.

That single, discarded piece of blue plastic we spotted today could have easily been a death sentence for the Myna or the Starling.

Our waste doesn’t just disappear when it blows away; it ends up in the habitats of our precious feathered friends, and, unfortunately, in their diets as well!

Let this be a wake-up call and a gentle reminder for all of us!

Never leave trash in nature!

And just in case you happen to see litter on a trail, safely pick it up, even if it isn’t yours.

As much as possible, try to stop using single-use plastics!

As eminent critic Scupin Richards points out, 

Nature is resilient! But… it shouldn’t have to digest our mistakes!!! 

Today's lovely Birding Delights 💚

 #intothewildwithrufus #birding

A Day of Lovely Sightings and One Unforgettable Scare ❤️

The Brainfever Bird, the Brahminy Kite, and the Bear That Stopped Our Hearts

#intothewildwithrufus

One of the first sightings today was a bevy of the Yellow-footed Green Pigeons.

The Yellow-footed Green Pigeon is the state bird of Maharashtra. It is a popular arboreal species known for its distinct yellow legs, green plumage, and for foraging in flocks, often seen sitting on treetops, especially in well-wooded areas.

And well, these beautiful birds are indeed real masters of camouflage, you see! When my friends were pointing to me the birds perching so gracefully on the top of the tree branches, I should admit it took me some real hard time to spot them. Such is their way with camouflage! If you look closely at the photo, you can spot the distinctive bright yellow legs that give this bird its name!

Then we spotted the cute Malabar Starlings, one of my personal favourites of all time! 😊

Also known as Blyth’s Starlings, these elegant birds are indeed a visual treat to spot.

Nope, I’m not being sexist when I say this, but as is normal with birds, it is quite easy to differentiate the sexes by looking at their coloration!

The male is perched on top right (with his mini tiffin in beak) featuring a brilliantly white head and nape, while the female is perched on the bottom left, and has a noticeably duller, greyer head.

Our third pitstop was at a huge tree that housed the lovely Spotted Owlet. We managed to catch a glimpse of this Spotted Owlet comfortably roosting in its favourite daytime hideout - a natural tree hollow. These small, greyish-brown owls are heavily spotted with white. Even when trying to rest, they often keep one eye open, peeking out to keep a watchful gaze on their surroundings.

Then we chanced upon the common Spotted Doves, gracefully foraging near a muddy puddle for their quota of water. These Spotted Doves are a classic and charming sight, and they can be easily identified  by the beautiful, chess-board-like black and white patch adorning the back of their necks.

This stunning male Grey Junglefowl that we spotted next, is a wild and distant relative of the domestic chicken, and endemic to India. He practically glows with his meticulously patterned feathers on his neck!

We then spotted the Common Hawk-Cuckoo, often called the “Brainfever Bird!” This bird is indeed a real master of disguise and quite a shy one, like the crow pheasant. They are also known for their mimicry skills! They can skilfully mimic the call of the predatory hawk (like the Shikra), which helps them scare other birds away from their nests!

Then we chanced upon the Ruddy Mongoose, scurrying through the dry vegetation! They are easily distinguished by their reddish-brown fur, and their upward-curving tail. Moreover, they are incredibly agile and active hunters of the forests!

Next in our birding pitstop, we spotted the colourful Indian Roller seen perched on an exposed branch, waiting to swoop down on insects.

We then landed upon a real regal sighting of a Brahminy Kite resting on a dead branch. This medium-sized bird of prey is often found near water bodies, constantly on the lookout for fish or crabs.

Then came the icing on the cake!

Yes! we were lucky enough to spot a Sloth Bear!

Through the foliage emerged a shape you don’t quite see every day. With its shaggy, dusty-black coat, it was walking menacingly towards us! 

It was a Sloth Bear!!!

Seeing a sloth bear in the wild is exciting enough to make any wildlife enthusiast’s day!

But we had no idea just how close an encounter we were about to get.

Without warning, the bear dropped its casual demeanour and came charging straight towards us.

I am told that, Sloth Bears are known for being highly protective of their space and can be notoriously unpredictable, often choosing to charge when startled rather than retreat!

Thankfully, we were at a safe enough distance (and in a secure enough position) to let the bear make its point and veer off, leaving us with our hearts hammering against our ribs! ☹

And thus it was, that we walked away with the ultimate safari tale today!