Sorry to wave and run, but the croc decided to get testy. Thankfully Ganga kept her at bay while we bravely ran away.

Once we got the salty pit clean, we decided to find a few pregnant Marsh Crocs. Here is Ariana dragging one out of the water after lassoing it.

Yes that is a Juniata College Cheerleading T-shirt, thanks for asking.

Laura decided to catch a croc of her own.

It was just the one we were hunting–A pregnant female.

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.Don’t they have pretty eyes.

Hellbender and rock python

Well I will put up a few more tommorrow where Carolyn is bagging a croc, Laura is scaring village children, and Ariana is getting horst.

We traveled for about 7 hours across the central plains of Tamil Nadu to the base of the Kolli Hills (Which can be translated chicken or killer hills). It was readily evident that the term “Hills” was not the American Interpretation of gentle sloping short mountains. Seventy two hair pin turns later we were at the NallaThambi Resort (This translates nice younger brother, but it happens to be the proprieter’s name).

We had a pretty good time with the monkeys (Macaca radiata — red faced or bonnet Macaques). The ate, crapped, played, napped etc.. The several hours of observation were interupted by a Draco–a flying lizard (sorry no pics). The people you see way in the Back are the lead course instructor — Sunita Ram and course participant, Ariana Keyser

We (some of us not me) hiked down 1200 steps to the foot of a waterfall. It was exhilarating and beautiful.

We also visited a small mallaiali village where Carolyn and Laura decided to pose in a Jackfruit tree (Yes that green lump 3 times the size of a human head is a Jacfruit).

We had a brief stop on the side of the road when a forest ranger wanted us to get permission to head into the forest. This gave us the opporunity to run across a Bhairava Temple. Bhairava is a wrathful incarnation of Shiva who requires (according to legend) a blood sacrifice.

Our group was good fun and included out Guide–K.V. Srinivas, Gopinathan ( a brilliant photographer), Sebastian (a Professor from JNU–who teaches French but loves birds) Srinivas (a renowned tiger expert) and the students –Ariana Keyser, Carolyn Romako, and Laura Weber,

This is the location where we will have information on the Juniata College Summer Programs in Wildlife and Peace Studies for Summer 2008.  We will post news, pictures,  and stories here as we are able.

Cheers,

Dr. P.