Exploration is the engine that drives innovation’ …Edith Widder, scientist, and writer.

It is not an easy job task to explore something new and be successful in it. Breaking the stereotype does not come easy. In this regard, Pamela Malhotra and her husband Anil K. Malhotra has achieved something so beautiful that your heart will connect instantly and will evoke a sense of responsibility towards your natural environment.

The couple has transformed 300 acres of denuded farmland in Karnataka into what is being called India’s first private wildlife sanctuary. This 300 acres of land is located in Brahmagiri, a mountain range in the Western Ghats. The sanctuary has been named SAI(Save Animals Initiative).

The sanctuary even contains a tree nearly as old as 700 years old. It’s also probably the only private wildlife sanctuary in the country with more than 300 kinds of birds as and many rare animal species.

The journey has not been easy. Pamela and her husband Anil K Malhotra have spent their  last 25 years buying abandoned agricultural land in Karnataka’s Kodagu district and reforesting it. The aim was to return the land to a bio-diverse rainforest for animals such as elephants, tiger, birds etc.

What generated the idea of SAI?

The couple stayed initially stayed in New Jersey, but their love for nature made them settle in Hawaii When the Pamela and Anil visited  India for the funeral of Anil’s father in 1986, the pollution in Haridwar left them terror-stricken. The couple was left shattered when they found there was so much deforestation  and the river was polluted. What amazed them was the fact that no one seemed to care. That was when they decided to act upon to reclaim the forests in India. Upon the realization that there are not many lands available in North they shifted their interest in the Southern part of the country.

The journey:

Soon after deciding on building a new sanctuary they sold their house in Hawaii and bought off the 55 acres of at the foothills of the Brahmagiri range and began their afforestation work. Upon realization that their side of land was getting affected by the pesticides that were used by the farmers for cultivation, they started buying lands across the stream. Whenever any land  came up for sale they bought it.

After buying off the lands, Malhotra’s allowed the forest to regenerate. They even planted native species and nature took care of the rest. SAI Sanctuary also draws naturalists and scientists doing research on the different animal species as well as hundreds of indigenous trees.

Challenges:

No great deed goes unpunished! It’s the same case here. The couple faced several hurdles. Initially, while buying the lands there were some legal complications as many land documents were not in order and many farmers had debts to be settled. It was further resolved. But the biggest challenge was hunting and poaching. Localities were getting concerned as one of their priest was attacked and killed by a tiger. It took a lot of effort from the side of Malhotra’s to convince the localities about what they were trying to achieve. Once convinced the localities even aided them in their work. Localities and forest department togetherly helped them set up camera traps to keep poachers away.

The couple presently gets help from other trustees to keep the sanctuary going. They are now trying to convince some big MNC, for a helping hand.

Experience an Online Journey of the Sanctuary in 2 minutes

[Image Sources-  saisanctuary, milestothewild.com, .ytimg.com]

Curated by a Building Expert from Wienerberger India

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