Naturalist Training Program

Deeper into the Woods

It’s not just you preparing to witness the wilderness in the forests of Bandhavgarh as the park opens on 16^th October. Pugdundee Safari’s naturalists experienced and amateurs went through an intensive knowledge-enhancing ‘Naturalist Training Program’. It’s our small step to make your Safari and stay with Pugdundee count big. Religiously for the past 12 years, Pugdundee has been in fluxing shareable knowledge in its naturalists to create a measurably distinct experience for the guests.

The Need?

There is no ‘need’ unless one decides to take the extra mile for smiles. The irony is that trees don’t move but the forest still changes! Our Naturalists are great forest enthusiasts, backing such enthusiasm by the mentorship of people like Mr.Shekhar Kolipaka (renowned conservationist and author –Tracks and Signs) and Dr.Kunal Nikhil Bhopale(student BNHS) was indeed thought of as an agency driven by the motto of providing nothing less than the best safari experience, which comes from naturalists who are way ahead of the pack.

I would like to divide the ways of sighting animals into two categories: ‘Sight on the Way’ or ‘Follow the Way’.

The quality of a good naturalist is that he can identify the animal from a distance by connecting links of- the habitat, time, and behaviour (Interpreting Forests). Identifying animals when sighted or tracking them by following trails, scanning forests and night safaris were all a part of training. How to identify a flying Hawk, hanging Bats, dancing Butterflies, or prowling Cats in the dead of night? These were deeply discussed things and were put into practice through day and night safaris into the buffer zones of Satpura tiger reserve. Mr.Naresh Singh (Sr. Naturalist, Gudda) has been attending the training from past ten years but still rejoices in it as a new experience every time. In contrast, Karan who has just joined our team of naturalists had never expected such training. In his words “I could not think beyond a common induction program which I have been through my four years of naturalist experience”. Forest imbibes in it an unknown secret at each step; our naturalists have more to tell.

Spotted: From a nature walk after the lecture on Butterfly Families and species by Mr. Nikhil Bhopale

Skimmer name: Pied-paddy Skimmer(Male & Female)

Scientific name: Neurothemis Tullia

They call each other ‘Dai’ out of respect which is a local word for ‘elder brother’.

In the photo above: Shukre Dai explaining forests to NTP’14 batch in the woods of Satpura

Spotted: Indian Eagle Owl and Sāmbhar Deer during a night safari

Spotted: Indian Nightjar (juv.) picking up worms on the road

Spotted: Crocodile (juv)in backwaters close to the lodge

Amidst Talks and Walks!
I realised, that these Naturalists eat, breathe and dream Wildlife. Such is the passion that the two hours of nature walks in the morning never lasted for less than four hours. Reason? These never satiating brains of curiosity would stop at every new plant, every footmark, flower, or butterfly which is new to them. A call of the Sloth bear would reroute them to bear trails otherwise Pug marks eventually became a compass for the trails. Every year they meet once and spend some quality time with each other. Needless to say, Wilderness is the thing that gets them candid.

Each one has their stories and lessons from the previous year. Connecting with Pugdundee, where their calibre has got the right push these naturalists acknowledge that training has exponentially enhanced their skills and brushed up the concepts. This 1 week is also a reunion for naturalists and a great week of knowledge sharing! The senior, junior, new, and old naturalists sit with each other and pool their knowledge for each-one to learn. One motivates the other and tags the new ones along.
They all compete to perform better than the other, that to be judged by the number of stories you can share. Kings Lodge –Bandhavgarh took the tag last year. With spirits high and no connectivity until next year our naturalists have headed to their respective lodges with a bag full of mammals, butterflies, Flora, and Fauna memories. Left at Satpura, are the footmarks of 21 of these gems of naturalists, some leopard would quietly walk over them!

Spotted: Pug Marks just outside Denwa Backwater Lodge as setting out for the 4th-morning safari