On 21/10/05, I found myself onboard forest department motor boat, traversing the deltaic waters of Bhitar Kanika NP, on our way back to rajnagar after my first exposure to mangrove ecosystem. The wild thoughts that kept me occupied for a while took shape in the following note....
'And now as we are moving away from the crocodile country, I am well seated on the deck of this small Motor boat (III) of forest department. The Journey towards Gupti is around an hour and half and the monotony of this diesel engine is seldom broken by the sighting of a big crocodile basking in the shores waiting for the sun on this cloudy day.
The weather is pleasant and smooth breeze is caressing the exposed body parts, interestingly the mobile network has trespassed all the limits and boundaries and we are repeatedly told about this by the ‘Sare jahan se accha’ ring tone of Viren’s cell phone.
An idyll egret on the shore doesn’t seemed happy about us, we unexpectedly broke his concentration and lowered the chance of getting meal in this mugger infested water where survival itself is a daily struggle. A darter flew past upon us and a small egret poised for a snap, which I didn’t take into consideration, very much to its distaste I suppose.
What a state of hostile environment it is! The mangroves are already difficult surviving stalwarts. The salt and freshwater mix is so regularly changing with time and tides that only the vegetation that has adapted to the typical harshness of the environment can survive here.
It is rather interesting to note that although these environs has everything to qualify for a unsuitable habitat, regular change in salinity content, flooding of area, crocodiles, snakes, python and above all presence of humans, a good diversity of plants, animals and birds throng this place. This is the glory, charm and magic of Bhitarkanika.
An inexplicable calm prevails here. Even the river water appears stagnant, as if it has taken aback by the reality that a little ahead it have to submit itself to the enormity of ocean and that will mark the end of its own identity.
The boat ride is about to end as we are approaching the finish line at 1015 hrs after an hour and half of embarking the boat.'
The weather is pleasant and smooth breeze is caressing the exposed body parts, interestingly the mobile network has trespassed all the limits and boundaries and we are repeatedly told about this by the ‘Sare jahan se accha’ ring tone of Viren’s cell phone.
An idyll egret on the shore doesn’t seemed happy about us, we unexpectedly broke his concentration and lowered the chance of getting meal in this mugger infested water where survival itself is a daily struggle. A darter flew past upon us and a small egret poised for a snap, which I didn’t take into consideration, very much to its distaste I suppose.
What a state of hostile environment it is! The mangroves are already difficult surviving stalwarts. The salt and freshwater mix is so regularly changing with time and tides that only the vegetation that has adapted to the typical harshness of the environment can survive here.
It is rather interesting to note that although these environs has everything to qualify for a unsuitable habitat, regular change in salinity content, flooding of area, crocodiles, snakes, python and above all presence of humans, a good diversity of plants, animals and birds throng this place. This is the glory, charm and magic of Bhitarkanika.
An inexplicable calm prevails here. Even the river water appears stagnant, as if it has taken aback by the reality that a little ahead it have to submit itself to the enormity of ocean and that will mark the end of its own identity.
The boat ride is about to end as we are approaching the finish line at 1015 hrs after an hour and half of embarking the boat.'
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