BIODIVERSITY IN THE ENVIRONS OF

VIDYA VANAMVidya Vanam School

Golden-backed Frog Hyalrana sp.

Dendraphilis triss

Hawk mothAngonyx krishna

Hooded grasshopper Teratodes moncollis Leaf katydid

Bush cricket

Weaver ant nest Oecophylla smaragdina

Tree ant nestCrematogaster sp.

Indian Pioneer Belenois aurota

Camponotus compressus with Leptocentrus & Oxyrachis sp.

Ants attending to bugs

FruitflyDacus persicus

Bulldozer millipede Millipede

Tiger CentipedeScolopendra sp.

Green lynx spiderPeucea sp.

Brown lynx spiderOxyopes sp.

PHOTO BY ISHAN

Bronzeback

Anaika

IMAGES ARE BY GEETHA IYER

Indigofera linnaei Evolvulus alsinoides

Martynia annua Cereus sp.

Cassia auriculata Jacaranda mimosifolia

Jacaranda mimosifolia Cordia sebestena Haliastur indus

Dwarf morning glory

Hedge cactus

Tanner's cassia Blue Jacaranda

Jacaranda Flowers

Scarlet cordia Brahminy kiteTigers claw

Tailor birdOrthotomus sutorius

Tailor bird, chick

Tailor bird, nest

Purple-rumped sunbird male Leptocoma zeylonica

Thick-billed Flower pecker Dicaeum agile

Pied bushchat MaleSaxicola caprata

Racket tailed drongo Dicrurus paradiseus

Grey wagtailMotacilla cinerea

Indigo

Nestled among the hills of the Anaika range, Vidya Vanam is a school that the first-generaon learners from different communies - the Irula, the Bea Kurumba tribes, Adi Dravidar communies and MBC categories - look forward to coming. They love the school, which is a rural-urban mix of environment and presents the students with a place to learn without fear or prejudice. In an atmosphere of mixed age groups, where learning from observaon and acvies that are not bound by straight-jacketed curriculum is encouraged, the diversity of the natural environment is a close ally for teaching situaons. Since the childrens natural way of life is so close to nature, the school ensures that their relaonship with nature is not lost. This is a rain-shadow region and at an altude of 2170, the vegetaon is dry deciduous forest type. Faunal and floral diversity are interesng and varied. Migrang buerflies pass through in April and can be seen again in November on their return journey. Snakes & lizards are frequently spoed as are colourful moths at night. Owls, night jars and bats are the other nocturnal visitors. Pleasing bird calls awaken visitors staying in the campus, which is home to diverse invertebrates, amphibians, reples as well as resident and migrant birds. This pamphlet is a brief portrayal of the diversity that exists in and around the school campus.

Orthotomus sutorius Orthotomus sutorius

Leptocoma zeylonicaPurple-rumped sunbird,nest

Address:Vidya Vanam, Thuvaipathy Road, Anaika, Coimbatore 641108. Email: vvschooloffice@gmail.com