The Majestic Flora and Fauna of South India: An Explorer’s Guide.

Hey Hive Peeps!

The wildlife of India is undoubtedly one of the most enchanting aspect of living in a country like India. The stunning landscapes hosts a diversity of species which is attached to cultural significance because each state has its own language, culture and tradition. The South Indian region has a variety of habitats that include tropical rainforest and urban areas, which is home to the Bonnet Macaque. This lively and intelligent primate is a common sight in bustling cities and serene temples and also along the dense forests.

A few years ago, I began to understand wildlife and pursued a master in wildlife conservation action in Pune. This journey deepened my appreciation for the intricate balance that nature needs and the preservation of rich biodiversity that’s essential for future generations.

Can you spot the jewel of Indian forest in this picture?

If you haven’t let me help you out, it is a bird in a chic striking green outfit with a cheeky white patch. Amongst the moist evergreen forests this White Cheeked Barbet is always experienced singing catchy tunes that is often mistaken with the metallic song of its cousin! The Copper Smith Barbet has an hammering vocal call and this can cause a musical mix up and confuse the bird watchers and enthusiasts.

The white tiger moth, with its striking black and white pattern, is like the zebra of the insect world. Something that I absolutely love about this insect is it’s a fancy snack for nocturnal predators, like the bats and the birds. Sadly, the continuous challenge of habitat loss, pollution and climate change, has made this stylish insect now a threatened specie.

This jellybean caterpillar loves to crawl and munch on leaves. The minute they sense danger, they become extremely squishy looking. Don’t they look just like gelatin?

India boasts many parakeets but not parrots. One that stands out is the Vernal Hanging Parrot, famous for its acrobatic antics. Hence, the name hanging parrot. You can spot these quirky birds munching on wax apples and enjoying the juicy, slightly fibrous treat.

The whistling ducks are always seen at the pond’s edge or swimming in trails with their babies. 🦆 This photo was taken in a coastal area where patches of water-logging sit right adjacent to the vast ocean.

What a small world 🌎

The tiny ecosystem that is created by the intricate and interconnected relationships among moss and mushrooms is truly a marvel. These micro-worlds support a diversity of life forms and play a huge role in the maintaining the ecosystem health. Protecting these miniature world contribute to conserving our planets ecological balance and biodiversity.

🦎 Lizards are proof that dinosaurs still exist, just in snack-sized portions.

Meet Roux’s Forest Lizard, the master of camouflage! If it were a guy, it would be rocking in a flashy red suit, but as a slender lady, it’s all about blending in with the surroundings. These cold blooded fashionistas soak up the sun like it’s their spa day. The warmth of the sunlight is crucial for their bodily process. They are often spotted in leaf litter or on the trunks of the trees.

Clicking this shot, the only thing I could think of is which creature must have taken a chunk of this mushroom and completely disfigured its natural beauty. The continuous monsoon had made the moss look damp, and lush green. If you have a keen eye, I am sure you can also see two smaller purple mushrooms in the back. Normally, ferns are known to be green but this particular species had leaf tips that were blush pink and continuing with beige then a soft subtle green for the rest.

Where orange meets sophistication

The above three photos are a celebration of the colour orange. Back in my pre-University days, I had a biology teacher who Insisted, we memorise the scientific names of various flowers and animals. Funny enough. She concocted a whole story about the discoverer of this lily exclaiming, “How glorious and superb this plant is!” Thanks to her creativity, I’ll probably never forget that name.

The Scarlet Minivet has a dark orange and black plumage, almost looking like it’s wearing Scarlet cape. And on the third photo, you can see the orange mushrooms on the top of the tree has been growing and decomposing the tree right from its head.

Mushroom 🍄‍🟫

Capturing these four mushroom pictures have taken me a total of two years where I would go on different walks and get these shots 📸 The golden-beige look triumphs each of these mushrooms. Have you ever seen these mushrooms before in your life?

Back in the day photography of wildlife used to be my research on a daily basis, but nowadays, it’s become my weekend hobby. What is your weekend hobby? Are you busy working even on the weekends? Do you have a balance between your work life and personal life?

The sky is painted with shades of red, orange and gold leaves, creating a flamboyant fashion for the tree canopy. While the bottom layer shows vibrant green leaves, as butterflies whimsically flutter downward, settling on foliage, seeking the perfect disguise.

Here’s my entry for #weekend-enagement by @galenkp for the question “What's the best thing about living in your country?” inspired by The wild corners of this beautiful country that is India.