Latest news with #TheNaturalistSchool
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
Guided walks to help you discoverhidden wonders of Bengaluru's Cubbon Park
Bengaluru: Come Sunday, visitors can discover the verdant Cubbon Park with a fresh perspective with the launch of Cubbon Walks. The new series of guided nature walks, launched Wednesday, is similar to the one conducted in Lalbagh Botanical Gardens. During the 90-minute guided walks, to be held every Saturday and Sunday from 7:30am to 9am, visitors will be taken around the park uncovering the hidden biodiversity and ecological stories tucked behind the more familiar colonial structures and statues that dot the green landscape. The walks, a joint initiative of the horticulture department, The Naturalist School (TNS) and Bangalore Walks, invite people of all ages to experience the park as a living museum of nature. Led by trained guides, the walks aim to reveal unknown details even regular visitors might have overlooked in Sri Chamarajendra Park, as the green space is officially known. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Tickets are priced at Rs 200 for adults and Rs 50 for those aged 10–17 years, while children below 10 years can join for free accompanied by an adult. Participants will walk through scenic paths while learning about heritage trees, native and exotic plant species introduced during the British era, rare birds, and curious insects. With stories rooted in history and ecology, the walks promise a deeper appreciation of the park's layered natural heritage that has evolved with the changing times. Deputy director of horticulture (Cubbon Park) Kusuma G said, "We have taken up the initiative to let people understand the uniqueness and importance of Cubbon Park and to protect the park at the same time. The more people understand the history, the more they protect this green space." Naturalist School founder Priya Venkatesh said: "Cubbon Walks offers a chance to discover hidden gems and fascinating stories and offers a chance to connect with nature. " Arun Pai, founder of Bangalore Walks, explained, "The walk has something for everyone... If you're curious and want to discover something remarkable in the heart of Bengaluru, you must join the walk." Ashish Patel, from TNS said, "It's not just about knowing facts—once people get to know the stories behind the trees, the ants, or even the termites in the park, their perspectives change. You may forget the exact details, but you walk away with a deeper connection. Whenever there is an attempt to replace greenery with concrete, people are more likely to stand up and say, 'Let's not do this'." Visitors can join the walks by booking online at or by emailing horticulturecubbon@
The Hindu
6 days ago
- The Hindu
Guided tour of Cubbon Park from July 27, check ticket price and how to register
The Horticulture Department opened the online portal to book tickets for the guided walking tour of Cubbon Park in Bengaluru, which will be held every weekend starting July 27. The initiative, called 'Cubbon Walks', is a partnership between the department, The Naturalist School, and BangaloreWALKS. The tour will last 90 minutes, and will be held from 7.30 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The tickets for the tour are priced at ₹200 for adults and ₹50 for children between the ages of 10 - 17 years. Those under the age of 10, when accompanied by adults, can go on the walk for free. Private entities offering similar tours were charging anywhere between ₹800 and ₹1,500 per person. The guided walk covers the variety of flora and fauna in the lung space, with presentation of interesting facts and stories by trained naturalists. There will be separate walks for Kannada and English groups. Each group will consist of a maximum of 30 participants. Those interested in registering for the walk can visit or send an email to horticulturecubbon@ The department plans to host such walks even in Lalbagh Botanical Garden after the Independence Day flower show.
Hans India
20-07-2025
- Hans India
Now, India's first structured certified naturalist course on offer
Bengaluru: Fornearly a decade, Siddesh Shekar (33) has been learning how to be a naturalist on the job, from private wildlife tour operators to national parks like the Jim Corbett National the three-and-half months he spent learning for Certified Naturalist (CNAT) Course, first structured programme in India -- which is certified by the government, and offers formal certification for nature guides, wildlife interpreters, and eco-tourism professionals -- Shekar said he learnt to look beyond tiger tourism. 'We picked up a lot of cognitive skills, and learnt about everything -- birds, reptiles and mammals -- during the course of three-and-half months,' said Shekar to PTI. While historically, people like Charles Darwin are tagged as naturalists, modern-day naturalists would include scientists, park rangers, and nature educators, who contribute to our understanding and conservation of the natural world. Shekar, for instance, wants to become an ethical tourism professional, designing his own tours across the national parks of India. He was one of the first batch students of the course being offered by Bengaluru-based The Naturalist School, a social enterprise. The course is designed to create meaningful career pathways in the growing fields of conservation, nature education, and sustainable tourism, said Prakruthi Subramanya, Program Director at The Naturalist School. 'The naturalists have largely been operating from a very informal space. Usually, they are motivated by a passion for wildlife. Sometimes, local youth living in and around forests would double as naturalists,' said Subramanya. Shekar recalled how as a young boy, he fell in love with wildlife after watching David Attenborough documentaries and wanted to do something with nature for a living. 'It helped that I was living near Mysuru Zoo, and that my mom, who was from Coorg, was a science teacher. I ended up having this fascination for forests, particularly for the biodiversity of Western Ghats,' said Shekar, who is working as a nature guide at the government-owned Jungle Lodges and Resorts, Kabini, perched at the edge of Nagarhole forest in Karnataka. It was around 2021-22 that the CNAT Course was accredited by the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) and aligned with the Skill India Mission, offering a formal pathway into the growing sectors of conservation education and sustainable tourism. 'Before then, Skill India Mission had many courses for chefs and housekeeping, but none for nature guide and nature interpretation,' added Subramanya. The third batch of the course began their three-and-half month (750-hour) long journey into being a naturalist from July 19 at Bannerghatta Nature Camp, Jungle Lodges and Resorts in Bengaluru. The course, with a fee of Rs 1.5 lakh, is based on experiential learning, said Subramanya. 'Among other things, they will also learn how to communicate to a layperson. Much of it is pegged on building curiosity and storytelling. We have also collaborated with the Red Cross to give them a detailed first-aid course,' said Subramanya. The students will stay at Bannerghatta Nature Camp for four weeks initially and then again two weeks towards the end of the course. 'They are expected to attend online classes for four weeks, working on assigned projects. There will also be on-the-job training – they will intern in one of the nature camps,' added Subramanya.
United News of India
03-05-2025
- General
- United News of India
Telangana Governor flags off eco-friendly livelihood initiative for tribal communities in Telangana
Hyderabad, May 3 (UNI) The Governor of Telangana, Jishnu Dev Varma, flagged off vehicles carrying machinery for the production of eco-friendly leaf plates and cups, which are to be distributed to tribal villages. This initiative, funded through the Governor's Discretionary Grants, aims to support the livelihoods of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PvTGs). The flag-off ceremony took place at Raj Bhavan, Hyderabad on Saturday, a Raj Bhavan communique said. Following the event, the Governor interacted with young members of PvTG communities, including those undergoing training in leaf plate production and as nature guides. These efforts are part of a broader mission to enhance sustainable livelihood opportunities for indigenous populations. A group of 32 local youth, primarily from the Chenchu community—known for their deep-rooted connection with the forest—have been trained as nature guides at The Naturalist School in Bengaluru. With ₹15 lakh in support from the Hon'ble Governor allocated for the Nagarkurnool district, the program is designed to help these youth gain meaningful employment while enabling tourists to experience the Nallamala forest's cultural richness and biodiversity. In his address, the Governor highlighted the cultural importance of tribal communities, describing them as the original guardians of nature. He reiterated his commitment to improving their quality of life through focused and inclusive development initiatives. He remarked that Adivasis live beyond the boundaries of caste, creed, or religion, and that their lives are deeply intertwined with nature and guided by time-honoured traditions. Living with simplicity and minimal needs, they derive contentment not from material wealth, but from their harmonious relationship with the natural world. Commending the enthusiasm and potential of tribal youth, the Governor stated, 'These are not favours, these are your rights. This is your time,' encouraging them to seize emerging opportunities for growth and empowerment. The event was attended by several senior officials, including M. Dana Kishore,Principal Secretary to the Governor; Dr G. Narendra Kumar, Director General, NIRDPR; Dr A. Sharat, Secretary, Tribal Welfare; Badavath Santhosh, Collector of Nagarkurnool; Rohit Gopidi, Project Officer, ITDA (Chenchus); and Dr A Ramulu, CEO, Indian Red Cross Society (Telangana). Representatives from Leaf Plate Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Raj Bhavan, and Red Cross district units from Nagarkurnool, Bhadradri Kothagudem, and Adilabad were also present. UNI VV ARN
