Hunter to Conservationist: An Ace Birder on the Cauvery

Thomraj was waiting for us at the water’s edge, ready to take our small crew in his coracle. His uniform was simple: a worn-out khaki shirt, blue beach shorts, and flip-flops. We soon learned that he was so much more than a boatman. Thomraj can mimic about 60 bird calls and identify all 260 bird species that live in the neighbouring forest. He knows the mammals and most of the reptiles of the area as well, and his knowledge of local plant life is exhaustive. Not only is he a good naturalist, he speaks four languages. And yes, he has a smartphone, and often uses WhatsApp to send pictures of species he doesn’t recognize to his seniors, so they can help him with identification and information.

Thomraj has an interesting life story. He ran away from school when he was just seven, and never went back. He was once a hunter who loved to hunt anything, but that soon changed. Before he came to work at Galibore, Thomraj was a guide for sport fishermen, advising anglers and sometimes helping them land the giant mahseer. He tells us that he once helped land a 50-kg fish, among the largest mahseer caught in India. However, he emphasizes that that part of his past is done with and over, and he is now on the other side, a guardian of the wild. Though his formal education ended early, Thomraj developed a deep knowledge of the local river and forest. None of it came to him overnight, it has been a process of immersed learning steeped in a profound respect for nature. In the year 2000, Thomraj’s work with wildlife took a serious turn when he signed up to join an anti-poaching team. He describes to us his many near-death experiences with wild elephants and sloth bears.

Thomraj’s outlook on life is simple—don’t harm or kill anything, instead, teach and help preserve the wilderness. In following these simple rules of life, he says, he has found true happiness.

Albert Einstein once stated “Look deep in nature and you will understand everything better.” Thomraj’s life proves that it really is that simple.