In the quiet of a forest, 12 pairs of eyes watch closely as a net-casting spider (genus Asianopis) prepares to trap an unsuspecting insect. “The spider weaves a web of silk, holds it between its forelimbs, and traps its prey,” explains Anubhav Agarwal of Spiderindia, an initiative that promotes awareness about arthropods through public outreach events. The naturalist has organised several workshops at three venues in the Auroville forests in Tamil Nadu.
“The Pitchandikulam forest, Aranya forest, and Auroville Botanical Garden are man-made habitats, yet they hold such a rich and interesting diversity,” Agarwal tells The Hindu Weekend. Before the regeneration projects began in the 1970s, the land was barren or had scanty, thorny scrub vegetation. Now the Auroville forests are home to more than 100 species of birds, reptiles, 100 species of butterflies, and at least three species of deer. (One of the reasons why locals were very vocal when trees were felled to make way for the Crown Road project; the court has since stayed it citing adverse impact on the environment.)
