WED 2010 at Cubbon Park

Today is World Environment Day. The theme(decided by UNEP) for this year is "Many Species, One Planet, One Future".


So at Earthwave, we organised a nature walk in Cubbon Park..


"While the world celebrates biodiversity in nature, EarthWave invites Bangaloreans to reacquaint themselves with the unbelievable biodiversity 100 metres from MG Road. Experts on trees, birds & insects will be holding forth on the wonders found inside Bangalore's lung space. This is a photowalk, so visitors are invited to bring their cameras along. Visitors will have the option to record their experiences or post their PhotoJournal on EarthWave's website."-Earthwave


Pics and videos from the walk will be eventually put up on the facebook page here so check it later.

UPDATE: pics have been added on the facebook page
Album1-people
Album2-rodents,bugs , birds and trees

The turnout was a modest, but really energetic and enthusiastic group. And overall we had a good time.


We saw some pretty awesome critters too! started with a weevil beetle,
heres the one good pic i got on my phone(really need to remember to carry a camera next time).

then we saw(and interacted with) a juvenile Praying Mantis, various ants, squirrels and birds..

...and then i spotted a large fleshy spider in the grass. Rushed over to the Guest Expert and he happily scooped it out of the grass! -pic from wikipedia coz none of my own were that great.
He then identified it as a Wolf Spider and told us stuff about it(read more about the wolf spider here).


We also spotted two large(wingspan- 3-4 inches across) Moth sitting on a tree trunk. and a couple of Two-tailed spiders. These spiders were so well camouflaged, i didn't bother taking a pic :) so heres one from wikipedia :)
also find out more about this beauty here


One of the highlights was running into Former High Court judge Justice MF Saldanha while he was walking a couple of cute little dogs(click here for a full profile).
He told us about the ilegal chopping of trees and other sad things that happen at the park after dark..or when the walkers are gone.. but he was glad to see young people taking an interest in the environment, and said there was hope for the future.

My last positive memory of him was from his comprehensive report on the attacks on christian churches and institutions in karnataka (read here).



Cubbon Park (ಕಬ್ಬನ್ ಪಾರ್ಕ್) is a landmark ‘lung’ area of the Bangalore city, located (12.97°N 77.6°E) within the heart of city in the Central Administrative Area. Originally created in 1870, when Major General Richard Sankey was the then British Chief Engineer of Mysore state, it covered an area of 100 acres (0.40 km2) and subsequent expansion has taken place and the area reported now is about 300 acres (1.2 km2). It has a rich recorded history of abundant flora and fauna plantations coupled with numerous impressive and aesthetically located buildings and statues of famous personages, in its precincts.[1][2] This public park was first named as “Meade’s Park” after Sir John Meade, the acting Commissioner of Mysore in 1870 and subsequently renamed as Cubbon Park after the longest serving commissioner of the time, Sir Mark Cubbon.
To know more about Cubbon park go here


After the walk we all went for a great breakfast at The Egg Factory :) and guess what we ate there :)
click here for dynamic map and directions

So what did you do today, on World Environment Day?