Kerala   

The woods are lovely, dark and deep

Photo: S. Ramesh Kurup

TRIBAL SCENE: A scene from the artificially created forest at the ‘Vana Vismayam’ exhibition at the Kozhikode Corporation Stadium. —

Forests, forest produce, and the life of tribals inside forests were in the spotlight at the exhibition ‘Vanavismayam-2007.’ The exhibition was organised by the Forest Department as part of their State Forest Sports Meet here.

One made one’s way into the exhibition through an entry where animal sounds and other sounds of the forest could be heard from the walls. The tools used by tribals for hunting were on display. One found tribal wisdom in the tool for trapping birds and the different types of arrows — loaded with knives and similar sharp objects — on display at the exhibition. New developments and achievements of the Forest Department, including the recent declaration of the first community reserve in the State — Kadalundi-Valikunnu estuary area — were highlighted.

Photographs of birds found in the State forests were hung on the walls of the exhibition hall. The exhibition had on display polished teak and other types of wood used for making furniture and other items.

There were stalls by the NGOs Rasta and Uravu from Wayanad. K.K. Sundaran and Anil Aalancherry, forest guards based in Kalpetta, Wayanad district, arranged a beautiful forest inside the exhibition hall for the public to get a real feel of the jungle.

There were also stalls by Kakkayam Vana Samrakshana Samiti under the Thamarassery Forest Range in the district, North Wayanad Forest Development Agency, Mananthavady, and Pannikottur Vana Samrakshana Samiti. Kerala Forest Development Corporation had products like vanilla and cardamom for sale.

Kerala Forest Research Institute had on display bamboo products and seeds of forest trees.

The Eco Development Committee at the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary had on sale paper bags, t-shirts and other items. Films were screened for students that highlighted the forest, biodiversity, wildlife sanctuaries in Kerala.

The exhibition, which was to conclude on Tuesday, has been extended till Thursday.

J.S. Bablu

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Mullaperiyar: ‘danger looms over State’
Kathakali singer passes away
Cultural ties
Nature’s sentinel
A dream yet to materialise
The woods are lovely, dark and deep
PEOPLESPEAK
Panel on Sachar report to hold sitting
Titles for children
Conserving energy in buildings
Saying ‘no’ for a cause
Engagements: Palakkad
‘Terrorising face of imperialism’
Two killed
Agitation
Endosulfan spraying leaves people in misery
No more chaotic delays at Karipur, says Antony
Decision makers
Bankers club
Magical fingers
Central varsity at Cheemeni likely
Dr.Gopinath Diagnostic centre
Diabetes in Children & Adolescents
Passenger dies on board AI flight
Citizens rendered powerless
A theft and its aftermath
A short film that takes you through the growth of an institution
Addictive influence
No-parking zone

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu