Walk the talk, in Agumbe

This monsoon, a bunch of bravehearts gets ready to fight off leeches and explore the western ghats

This monsoon, a bunch of bravehearts gets ready to fight off leeches and explore the western ghats

Every adventure junkie feels an adrenaline rush when he/she hears the wordu00a0 trekking. When the chosen spot is a dense forest and the challenge is the driving rain, there's enough excitement to set off a stampede among these bravehearts. Wishbone, a company that conceives and organises wildlife and outdoor experiences, is all set to take people on a three-day trek to Agumbe in the Western Ghats.u00a0

Agumbe's rainforest is home to exotic species of birdsu00a0 pic/ Sandesh Kaduru00a0

"Ensconced in the Westeren Ghats is Agumbe, which is 350 km from Bangalore, is known for its tricky terrain, dense forests and remoteness," says Kaushik Bajibab, founder and director of Wishbone.

"It has the highest density of king cobras in India. The high rainfall makes it an amphibian paradise and the thick and diverse vegetation houses various bird species," he explains.

The programme will be held at a research station in Agumbe. "The Agumbe Rainforest Research Station (ARRS) was started to study and protect the king cobra. It has since grown into a research station dedicated to any form of environmental research from climate change to amphibians," says Kaushik.u00a0

The workshop will be held at the end of this month and it is open to anyone above 12 years.

"This programme will help individuals understand animals in their natural habitat. Local tribes will join us as they know the area," he explains. Participants will spend one night at the research station and the next at a camp site.u00a0
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On: August 28 to 30, 2009
At: Agumbe, Shimoga
Programme fee: Rs 9,000 (all-inclusive)
Last date for registration: August 15
Call: 98861 69698

Itinerary
Day 1: Orientation, Short walks in and around the place, acclimatising to the weather, Wildlife tracking.
Day2: Head out on a trek, Set up camp; learn camping techniques in the rainforest, Look out for canopy and nocturnal wildlife.
Day 3: Trek back to research station,u00a0Learn skills on radio-telemetry, Evening presentation on research and conservation