Whoever said 2020 should be cancelled?
2020 is meant to be.
A year so daunting and tragic,
Jolting us out of our ignorant slumber,
Like a raging cyclone.
Pulling us out of our comfort zone.
2020 is meant to be.
A year that’s an eye-opener
A year we come to terms with change.
Accept change. Embrace change.
And
Be the change.
2020 is the year to stand by each other.
Payback our dues to the precious planet,
And allow it to heal.
2020 isn’t going to be cancelled,
It’s a year to grow and evolve.
A year to just be.
Approximately three months into the pandemic, lives across the globe have changed drastically. The world has indeed come to a grinding halt, like we said in our second quarter newsletter.
Yet, we all have shown ample strength and resilience in the face of adversity. The “new normal” needed a lot of adaptation. And we are, slowly but surely embracing the change, and evolving. Just like most wildlife species do.
We have acclimatised to managing our lives remotely from home. Whether it is our work, or schooling our children, connecting with loves ones, or learning and being entertained virtually. We have learned to limit our needs, sometimes by default and sometimes by choice. We are beginning to show a little more responsibility towards our planet.
We believe that Covid 19 is here with a purpose. A purpose to heal. It didn’t give us a choice. And unbeknownst to us, it has successfully, helped us reduce some amount of our carbon foot print, while we were in lockdown. The thriving face of Mother Earth is an incredible example of how the planet is on the mend
It is now upto us to protect and honour this planet that has been gifted to us on a platter.
We, at Pugdundee Safaris stand steadfast in our faith to conserve the planet and continue to help it heal in every little way we can. In this critical time, every drop in the ocean counts.
In tune with our Phrase of the year, “Be the Change” 2020 we continue to embrace change as a precursors to progress, adopting measures that will create ripple effects.
We, are pleased to share with you, some heartening news from our lodges.
Flourishing Butterfly Gardens
Our new butterfly gardens in our lodges are a sight to behold these days.
Team Pugdundee has invested the lockdown time constructively. They have worked tirelessly to create and add value. From our chefs to house-keeping staff, to managers and captains; our team has come together to make these gardens a haven to behold, along with the expertise of our naturalists and local natives amongst our staff.
Each lodge has adopted unique techniques, while creating these little sanctuaries.
Kanha Earth Lodge has used a traditional method of construction, by creating a cob mud wall for the butterfly garden. This wall is made with sub-soil, straw or fibrous organic material. This traditional, recyclable, environmental friendly method is rain proof and long lasting.
Pench Tree Lodge has turned it’s natural forest cover of Mahua trees, to home these fascinating species. Patches of flowers like balsam, daisies and dahlia have been planted and are blooming around a cobbled staircase. Baskets containing kitchen waste have been hung that attracts the butterflies. There are mud puddles where you can watch the fascinating sight of butterflies puddling.
Denwa Backwater Escape has created gravel-pebble pathways, using pebbles drawn from the Denwa River. The team has engaged in tilling, de-weeding and retaining the indigenous species.
This is just another endeavour to allow the environment to flourish naturally, and preserve local species while using organic manure and leaf litter.
We look forward to sharing our knowledge about various fascinating butterflies homing with us. And the techniques adopted to create this charming sanctuary.
Take a look at Pench Tree Lodge’s butterfly haven in this video here
Visitors from the Wild
Our camera trap images have yet again warmed the cockles of our heart. Meet some of our treasured ‘guests’ currently visiting Pench Tree Lodge, a Four Horned Antelope and a Leopard. There are many more too.
Celebrating World Environment Day, the Pugdundee Way
On World Environment Day 2020, team Pugdundee pledges to continue doing its bit to preserve and educate its guests about the various species that form an integral part of our ecosystem. We continue to provide employment to the local community that works with us, to ensure conservation efforts are not put to peril.
We recently signed a Green Change Pledge with European Union (EU) that aims to serve as a platform to renew our commitment to sustainability. We will be exchanging our stories on sustainability, with sustainability warriors, EU, social innovators, youth organisations, and the world at large.
We also celebrated World Environment Day 2020, by saluting the spirit of our unsung heroes, the Forest Guards or Vanrakshaks who work selflessly day and night, come rain or shine, to protect our forests and wildlife.
Our ardent request to you to also join hands in doing your bit in your respective communities, and help nature and it’s species flourish.
Watch a beautiful video saluting our foot soldiers in the forests, the Forest Guards or Vanrakshaks, by MPTFS.
Professional Naturalist Program (PRONAT) Commences Soon
PRONAT (Professional Naturalist Training) is a twenty-one nights program that focuses intensively to elevate passionate nature enthusiasts into professional naturalist. With the completion of this course the participants get inducted as trainee or lodge naturalists in nature based tourism sector, start leading nature based tours, or just learn to appreciate nature with a new lens.
With regular flights coming in to Bhopal now, post the lockdown; it’s easy to reach the alluring destination for PRONAT, at Satpura’s Denwa Backwater Escape.
We will be following all protocols for safety. The participants and trainers coming from outside will need to get Covid-19 tests, before joining us for the program.
Pugdundee Safaris will ensure you return richer in your knowledge and expertise on wildlife.
Watch our PRONAT participant, Anish’s testimonial here. He is now a naturalist at King’s Lodge, Bandhavgarh.
Dates: 25 August – 15 September 2020
Bookings are open now!
Do You Know if Snakes are Poisonous or Venomous?
Read about various myths and opinions that you may have grown up forming about these stunning, elusive reptiles in our blog post here
The Safety of Our Valuable Guests Amidst Corona
We value our guests way too much, and have ensured all our safety measures are in place amidst Corona.
We will be ready to welcome you this October 2020.
Read our blog post here, to see the measures being adopted to keep you safe, healthy, reassured. We wish to see you return home happy; when you come visiting us this year.
The Times Ahead
We will now have to get used to living with the virus for sometime to come, maybe till a vaccine is found.
The frontline workers and many other unsung heroes across the world, are tirelessly working day and night, bravely amidst all adversities. They are the true warriors and brave hearts, who we at Pugdundee Safaris wish to honour and salute with gratitude.
Let’s continue to do our bit by keeping the social distancing norms intact. Let’s continue to grow, evolve and change and be more responsible, and awakened world and environment citizen.
The world needs to heal. And together we can heal!
Heal the World by Michael Jackson
Visit our lodges in Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Satpura and Panna to watch various fascinating species of the forests frolic in the untamed wild. Get in touch with our trip curators at Pugdundee Safaris to book your next wildlife holiday.
Our trip curators at Pugdundee Safaris are more than happy to assist you. Phone: +91-011-40132680 Email: [email protected]
Written by: Natasha Sinha, Content Curator, Pugdundee Safaris
