My meeting with Himalayan Pit Viper (Gloydius himalayanus)

My meetings with this snake, Himalayan Pit Viper (Gloydius himalayanus) is nothing less them a romantic fantasy. It was a dark freezing night in Mukteshwar. We were camping at a camp site. I was tasked to buy some rations from a near by village approx 10-15 kms. away from where we had camped. Satpal, our local guide and I left on his bike. I was riding, while enjoying the cold breeze and suddenly the bike stopped as it developed some snag. Satpal and me were trying to figure out what to do. It was pitch dark with a starry sky and a crescent moon to compliment the scene. Petrol was not the issue as it was almost half tank. Both our mechanical heads could not figure out the problem. 

As the area where we were stranded was known for leopard sightings and only a day before there was a report of one sighted near by. While we tried to figure out what was wrong we took turns keeping a watch for any signs/ sounds /scent of a leopard with our flimsy torch light. Since we could not figure what was wrong and also the fact that we were in leopard territory, we decided to move on with the bike.

I lit my torch using it as a head light. As it was a downward slope the bike moved with a little push we started on a ecofriendly ride. Few metres ahead into the ride I could see some thing on the road reflecting the torch light we stopped the bike and stood our ground. After carefully observing it for some time Satpal said "arrey sir truck se gira hua reflector hoga" to which even I agreed and then we again tried to figure out what it was, inched a bit closer and it started moving slowly on the road. Me and Satpal both in one voice "saap", I handed the bike to Satpal and rushed towards it.

I didn’t exactly know what snake was it but had some basic knowledge that it was a pit viper and needed to be treated with extra respect. This was the first time I was seeing a snake in the Himalayan region. A lifer for me. Oh it was so beautiful. Slithering slowly on to the side of the road. 

Later in the night after reaching my camp site, I looked at some reference books and figured out what snake it was. A Himalayan pit viper (Gloydius himalayanus).

                             

Himalayan pit viper (Gloydius himalayanus) are nocturnal snakes and are known to be territorial by nature. Its a venomous species. The pit acts as a thermal scanner which helps in feeding of prey. It is usually seen under leaf litter or rock. Though much is not known about this specimen, but a chance meeting with this sexy diva is something I will remember throughout my life.

Owl - Creatures of Night!

Owl - Creatures of Night!

Creatures of Night they say.
Comes out after the city switches off its light.
So secretive they stay, But at times are noisy I must say
Vehicle of Goddess Lakshmi, they Bring luck some say.
What the fuck I say, the same good luck brings them bad luck.
The creatures of night are fighting a silent fight.
In the calm as the night, They are here to stay

#urbanwildlife #Creatureofnight #owl #barnowl

- Rahulratan Chauhan

I AM WETLAND, NOT WASTELAND

I am wetland, not wasteland

I am Wetland… Not Wasteland Know what I am… You say I am yuck full of muck I stink so bad like a rotten rat. But no, no, no… it’s certainly not that The worst is you feel I don’t deserve to be! Here’s something I want to tell, without a shout or a yell There are creatures for whom I am home, I am their need To help them breed & feed The plants around me Are special, you see. The carbon dioxide you produce Is absorbed by me without ques The dirty water you release Is filtered by me, if you please. I stand between you and the sea, Protecting you from threats that be. Like a cushion I stop them all, While you have have a ball. Still me, you try to kill With choking debris you fill. For you development is more Important The Environment to you is not important. I feel sad and very bad That you don’t see The reasons to protect me! And topping it all I still protect you for no reason at all.

Image By - Rahulratan Chauhan

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Thank You Ankur Gupta Uncle and Pooja Patel

ON THE WORLD TIGER DAY

ON THE WORLD TIGER DAY

They say it's world tiger day today

Some say I am magnificent, some say I am strong.

let me tell you what's wrong.

They celebrate my existence to fight my extinction

They say my nail brings good luck, but thats what brings me bad luck.

They say my skin is beautiful, still it lies under their feet.

They say my whiskers can cure tooth ache, but for some reason those whiskers dnt cure my tooth aches.

They say use me as medicine, it is me who need my body parts more then anyone.

They say they need a home to stay, what about me, do I have a say.

Happy World tiger day.... Lets pledge to save the forest....

Content courtesy: Rahulratan Chauhan
Pic Courtesy: Akshobh Shroff

Model: Munna, One of the worlds most famous tigers and pride of Kanha

This was written on 29 July 2016 on world tiger day and Published on Jaunting Expeditions Face Book page.

The Sacred GODS We Are Scared Of !

It's been soo many years that we have celebrated ‪NAAGPANCHAMI‬, without actually knowing the effect of ‪‎POOJA‬ we offer to ‪NAAGDEVTA‬. Just to pamper our egos , our mental satisfaction, our relagious believes, mindlessly following the rituals, seeking blessing from the ‪GOD‬ by discomforting one of it's own finest creation.

Do we even bother to know what happens to the NAAGDEVTA after celebrating and feeding the #GOD with milk and all other offerings we have done.

And to top it all we want to worship the ‎SNAKEGOD‬ for one day, on rest of the days you don't belong here around us shuuu... get lost... take them away...

On the contrary arn't GOD suppose to be everywhere.... why kill them then or shuuu them off?, yo yo yo the GOD has turned harmful now.

Oh no, OH MY GOD IT'S TURNED IN TO AN ANIMAL NOW.

THE TIME IS NOW

Don't wait for the right time to come as might never come.
Right time is when you START.

Many of are scared of the results before starting we thinking
Is it right time to start?
will it be successful?
Should I do it?
It's not my cup of tea?
What if it goes wrong?

Move out of your comfort zone.

Imagine on a cloudy day if Sun thought should I rise, it seems cloudy, not the right time. It will mask my rays so I should not rise. May be the time is not right now.

But it does, it rises each and every day spreading its sunshine. Giving life to many.

The Time is NOW the moment you decide to ACTION it.

THE FIRST TIME

We are all born with intelligence, we acquire skill sets as we do things. There is first time of everything.

Many a times before starting anything new we say

I have never done this before.

I don't know how to do it.

I don't the the right skill sets to this kind of work.

I don't know if i want to do this.

I think I will do this all wrong.

I am scared.

While observing birds I released how scary it must be to jump to your own death. The first flying lesson in a bird's life, the fledgling are scared to leave the comfort of their nest and more then comfort they are scared to take the first flight.

As the time of the fledgling flying days near the parent birds start motivating them to fly, first by encouraging them, making them take small steps like come out of the nest to feed and then gradually making them fly. There are some who take the lesson easily while there are others who need the push.

As a bird it's important for them to fly their life depends on it, they are born to fly reach the sky. Once they learn to fly they enjoy it.

Similarly there are many new things that we want to do in life, there will always be a first time all we need to do is take the plunge, flap your wings and learn to fly, step by step reach the sky.