NAGPUR: Sumedhbodhi Gangaram Waghmare (26) is a talking bird himself and specializes in mimicking the sounds of birds and animals. Their mimicry includes not only mimicking the sounds of birds but also interpreting their habitat. Waghmare can make sounds ranging from mosquito to elephant. A native of Kalgaon in Hingoli district in Marathwada, he is a post-graduate in geography, who improved his mimicry skills during his childhood days when he used to drive his family’s cattle to graze. His unique skills gave him the opportunity to work as a naturalist with the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR). Chandrapur, he believes TadobaWhich has given him name and fame as his ‘Karmabhumi’. In an exclusive interview to TOI, Waghmare talks about his journey as a naturalist. Some parts…
Q. As a naturalist how did you reach Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve?
A. Initially, I was working as a project assistant with NGO Basics Municipal Waste Ventures in Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, where I used to create awareness among people about nature and environment by imitating the sounds of birds and animals. Beach was involved in conducting street plays to create awareness. , In between, my wife Jyoti got selected as an intern with SECR at Nagbhid. After a few months, I followed him and applied for a suitable job in the Forest Department offices in Chandrapur district, but could not find any work and hence, I returned to Pune. A month later, I got a call from the Bramhapuri Forest Office asking if I was interested in appearing for the post of Tourist Gate Manager. I appeared in the exam but the whole question paper was based on Forests and Tourism in Chandrapur which I had no idea about. Fearing failure, I met ACF Mahesh Khore and told him about my talent. He arranged my meeting with Dr Jitendra Ramgaonkar, Field Director, TATR and Deputy Director (CORE) Nandkishore Kale, I performed in front of officials at a ceremony that paved the way for my admission to TATR as a naturalist. Mohurli RFO Arunkumar Gound is also encouraging me a lot.
Q. Are tourists serious about your sessions and presentations on wildlife?
A. It is true that tourists come to Tadoba for the tigers but while entertaining them, my aim is to educate them by making sounds of different birds. I explain the variation of bird calls. A layman may know how a rooster crows, hens chirp, crow caws, sparrows chirp, ducks chirp, pigeons coo, but each type of sound serves a different purpose. happens, and birds use them in a variety of situations. By mimicking the sounds of birds, I try to explain to tourists how birds and animals interact when there are alarm calls, begging calls, contact calls, songs, and flight calls. When I ask the young mind where do the birds live? The common answer is on trees, but this is not true for all birds. Many species such as the Indian robin, green beater, kingfisher, and others make their home in small burrows in the lower stream banks. This is where my sessions become important. I try to explain how birds play an important role in increasing tree cover through rodent control and seed dispersal. People have started taking birds seriously and hearing an alarm call in the forest prompts them to be on the lookout to look for these birds. Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, Forest Minister Sudhir MungantiwarWTI Head Vivek Menonactor Sayaji Shinde, film director Nagraj Manjule and others have appreciated my work. I also imitate cartoon characters to amuse the students.
Q. Which bird or animal do you most like to imitate?
A. I like to imitate all birds because when I do these bird species are in my heart and the voice comes from within. But to be honest, I love imitating roosters and hens because as a farmer’s son, I have been attached to these farm birds and have been able to keep pace with them since childhood. Secondly, their vocalizations vary greatly when they communicate with each other for various reasons such as laying eggs, interacting with chicks, fighting and scaring people.
Q. Does copying not mean teasing or disturbing birds and animals?
A. It may be true, but I do not do this activity in open and disturb the birds. After listening to these sounds, I have seen some birds like Jordan Leafbird, Drongo and Black Headed Golden Oriole knocking on the window of the forest conference room in Mohurli where I give my presentation. Even in the case of wild animals, making such sounds to imitate animals can backfire. However, all said and done, my only aim is to spread awareness among the tourists to send the message that there is a beautiful world of nature beyond the tigers.
> What is your message for tourists?
A. Tourists come to Tadoba to see tigers but are disappointed when they do not see them. The tiger-centric approach must be abandoned. There are many flora and fauna in nature that one should try to know about. We should think about the ecological value of the forest and the oxygen it provides. Tourists should also help in keeping the area around Tadoba clean and adopt eco-friendly ways of living.
Q. As a naturalist how did you reach Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve?
A. Initially, I was working as a project assistant with NGO Basics Municipal Waste Ventures in Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, where I used to create awareness among people about nature and environment by imitating the sounds of birds and animals. Beach was involved in conducting street plays to create awareness. , In between, my wife Jyoti got selected as an intern with SECR at Nagbhid. After a few months, I followed him and applied for a suitable job in the Forest Department offices in Chandrapur district, but could not find any work and hence, I returned to Pune. A month later, I got a call from the Bramhapuri Forest Office asking if I was interested in appearing for the post of Tourist Gate Manager. I appeared in the exam but the whole question paper was based on Forests and Tourism in Chandrapur which I had no idea about. Fearing failure, I met ACF Mahesh Khore and told him about my talent. He arranged my meeting with Dr Jitendra Ramgaonkar, Field Director, TATR and Deputy Director (CORE) Nandkishore Kale, I performed in front of officials at a ceremony that paved the way for my admission to TATR as a naturalist. Mohurli RFO Arunkumar Gound is also encouraging me a lot.
Q. Are tourists serious about your sessions and presentations on wildlife?
A. It is true that tourists come to Tadoba for the tigers but while entertaining them, my aim is to educate them by making sounds of different birds. I explain the variation of bird calls. A layman may know how a rooster crows, hens chirp, crow caws, sparrows chirp, ducks chirp, pigeons coo, but each type of sound serves a different purpose. happens, and birds use them in a variety of situations. By mimicking the sounds of birds, I try to explain to tourists how birds and animals interact when there are alarm calls, begging calls, contact calls, songs, and flight calls. When I ask the young mind where do the birds live? The common answer is on trees, but this is not true for all birds. Many species such as the Indian robin, green beater, kingfisher, and others make their home in small burrows in the lower stream banks. This is where my sessions become important. I try to explain how birds play an important role in increasing tree cover through rodent control and seed dispersal. People have started taking birds seriously and hearing an alarm call in the forest prompts them to be on the lookout to look for these birds. Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, Forest Minister Sudhir MungantiwarWTI Head Vivek Menonactor Sayaji Shinde, film director Nagraj Manjule and others have appreciated my work. I also imitate cartoon characters to amuse the students.
Q. Which bird or animal do you most like to imitate?
A. I like to imitate all birds because when I do these bird species are in my heart and the voice comes from within. But to be honest, I love imitating roosters and hens because as a farmer’s son, I have been attached to these farm birds and have been able to keep pace with them since childhood. Secondly, their vocalizations vary greatly when they communicate with each other for various reasons such as laying eggs, interacting with chicks, fighting and scaring people.
Q. Does copying not mean teasing or disturbing birds and animals?
A. It may be true, but I do not do this activity in open and disturb the birds. After listening to these sounds, I have seen some birds like Jordan Leafbird, Drongo and Black Headed Golden Oriole knocking on the window of the forest conference room in Mohurli where I give my presentation. Even in the case of wild animals, making such sounds to imitate animals can backfire. However, all said and done, my only aim is to spread awareness among the tourists to send the message that there is a beautiful world of nature beyond the tigers.
> What is your message for tourists?
A. Tourists come to Tadoba to see tigers but are disappointed when they do not see them. The tiger-centric approach must be abandoned. There are many flora and fauna in nature that one should try to know about. We should think about the ecological value of the forest and the oxygen it provides. Tourists should also help in keeping the area around Tadoba clean and adopt eco-friendly ways of living.