Endemic birds of the Western Ghats in artwork

The hardly ever noticed Kodai hill eater sketched by artist Ragavan Suresh
| Picture Credit score: Siva Saravanan S

What makes the Banasura laughingthrush (chilappan) distinctive? This boring brown chook sings a melodious pee kooopee kooo that reverberates throughout the sholas of the Western Ghats. There may be additionally the Palani chilappan, an olive-brown chook with a attribute white eyebrow over a darkish eye-line, and the Nilgiris chilappan, a bronze-brown chook, usually seen in noisy flocks, giving out loud calls, much like human laughter.

All of them are endemic to the Western Ghats. “Banasura may be seen solely in sure pockets in Karnataka and Kerala,” says artist Ragavan Suresh as he shows his voluminous assortment of artistic endeavors comprising scientific watercolour drawings of as many as 30 endemic birds of the Western Ghats, and over 40 drawings of endangered animals. This, along with a group of 130 orchids endemic to the Western Ghats as per the checklist declared by the Authorities of India.

The endangered purple panda with an unmistakable wealthy, reddish brown fur, and white lined ears stares at us from the canvas. “This was accomplished utilizing a brush with above zero thickness, equal to 4 skinny hair strands. I’ve to plan each element to get the precise size of the physique, the legs, tail size, and physique color, as described by scientists,” explains Suresh including that he has accomplished near 20 work of untamed animals, additionally endemic to the Western Ghats.

Suresh, who works as an illustrator within the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), paperwork natural world to not simply spotlight their range however to additionally make future generations conscious of their conservation. “So many species have change into extinct. For instance, there was no documented sighting of the Kodai Hill Eater since 2008. Aenhenrya rotundifolia is a critically-endangered terrestrial jewel orchid,” explains Suresh as he talks about his five-year challenge which additionally features a compiled booklet that packs info corresponding to scientific and Tamil names, a brief description, and inhabitants standing as per the Worldwide Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) checklist.

His drawings of the Naga wren-babler, an endemic chook that may be see solely in Nagaland and Manipur and the Lion-tailed Macaque of Anamalai Hills look beautiful. Amongst his assortment, one may also spot the colorful Narcondam hornbill that may be seen solely on the Narcondam island within the Andamans and an orchid bloom that resembles the face of a Kathakali artist. There may be additionally a portrait of the endangered Nilgiri Sholakili, a chunky slaty-blue chook that sings long-winded notes because it forages within the hills of the Nilgiris.

“My concept is to depart behind one thing for the longer term. As an artist, that is my contribution. I wish to show my assortment at faculties and faculties and create consciousness. Moreover my labour, each single portray, together with the ivory boards, and colors works out simply to ₹1000.”

He intends to border his work earlier than he shows them at instructional establishments. “Each drawing is a problem. Water colors work nice for a pointy end. I’ve to keep up a uniform tone, texture and colors, as one mistaken stroke can result in a complete collapse. It’s as sophisticated as a goldsmith’s work.” The artist, who’s presently ending 28 drawings of orchids endemic to the Andamans, interacted with scientists at his institute in addition to forest officers to get inputs. He says, “It’s an achievement if a scientist approves of my drawing.” He may be contacted at 9488833647 or e mail: [email protected]