In our first eye camp since the COVID pandemic, we will be traveling to interior villages north of the Krishna river (Amrabad Tiger Reserve) where tigers were once abundant and still roam. The villages do not have electricity, and temperatures will be over 100 degrees F every day. The Chenchus living here do not have
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Central Nallamala Forest – November 2019
We are committed to a sustained presence for eye care in the Chenchu communities. During this trip, we revisited the villages of Marripalem, Chinthala, and Thummalabailu to conduct follow-up eye camps as well as first-time camps in Davupalli and Nandigudem. In this photo of a community meeting in Marripalem, villagers are recounting success stories of
Eye Camp, Eastern Nallamala Forest – March 2019
In March 2019, our volunteers conducted eye camps in the Chenchu villages in the Eastern portion of Nagarjuna Sagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve. These villages, including the beautiful Palutla (with its majestic waterfall), are particularly remote – Some are not easily accessible by vehicles, especially in the rainy season.
Tiger and buffalo through human history
Coming Soon…
A conservation victory: The Kolar Leaf-Nosed Bat
Have you ever dreamed of discovering a species thought to be extinct? Well, Lokana Team members Chelmala Srinivasulu, Bhargavi Srinivasulu, and their son Aditya, did just that 4 years ago. Their team of researchers from Osmania University and the Biodiversity Research and Conservation Society, Hyderabad, discovered the Kolar leaf-nosed bat (Hipposideros hypophyllus), previously thought to
Children of the Forest 2
“Can you print this one, sir?” Thummalabailu 2017. The woman scrolling through my phone pointed to a picture of a man next to the the TV and a shower of red and yellow cables spilling from under a burlap sack tablecloth to the car battery on the floor. The TV was resting on a sewing
Children of the Forest 1
In 2004, a documentary was released about the indigenous people with whom I had lived and worked 5 years prior. Few people saw the film then, but it is now available in its entirety on Youtube where it has nearly 29,000 views. Filmed, directed, and edited by Mr. Sathya Mohan, Chenchus: Children of the Forest
Beyond the stereotypes
The Chenchus we serve have been depicted in broad stereotypes – often as primitive, innocent, flawed people isolated from the outside world. One of our core missions is to help see the Chenchu communities more expansively, with more nuance and depth. Their heritage as a small indigenous population with deep roots to the Nallamala forests,
Chenchus and The sacred mountains
As home to one of twelve self-emanating lingas (a representation of Shiva as a stone) and a major center for Shakti (a manifestation of female power as a primal Goddess), it is one of India’s holiest temples. Siva is commonly visualized as a forest-dwelling ascetic, and even the name of his representation at Srisailam, Lord
Why is there a mound of plastic bags in a tiger reserve?
Just after we crossed a riverbed returning from our eye camp in Marripalem, our Chenchu guide, Naganna, pointed out a conspicuous mound in the forest. We stopped the jeep and walked over faded yellow bamboo leaves, picking our way through the thorns to reach a coffin-shaped heap of caked mud that evoked a construction site.