About the Book
Ashoka University lies in the heart of Haryana, around 50 km from the national capital, New Delhi. Ashoka is surrounded by agricultural fields—acres of maize, mustard, and sugarcane interspersed with rows. of eucalyptus trees.
This book is a field guide to all the wildlife in and around the campus—birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. It comprises the findings of students and professors over four years
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Ishan, a student at Ashoka University, developed a deep interest in wildlife from a young age. When he joined Ashoka, he expected to find a resource for new students to learn about the local fauna but discovered there wasn’t one. This inspired him to create it himself.
The idea for the guide truly took off when he stumbled upon a herd of nilgai near the university campus. Coming from South India, he was unfamiliar with this large antelope and was captivated by the idea of such animals living so close by, hiding in plain sight. This revelation made him realize the deceptive nature of the landscape and the abundance of hidden wildlife.
He then made it his daily mission to explore the fields around Ashoka, meticulously documenting his sightings. He conducted regular surveys in the agricultural fields beyond Asawarpur, noting down every creature he found. Realizing the scale of the project, he sought help from professors and fellow enthusiasts, who contributed their own findings.
He also interacted with the university staff (“didis and bhaiyas”), asking them to photograph snakes they encountered on campus, which helped him identify species like the common wolf snake and red sand boa for the guide
Over time, he built a comprehensive list of the fauna in the region, particularly birds (documenting around 125 species), along with reptiles, amphibians, and mammals like monitor lizards, porcupines, and nilgai. The foreword for the field guide was written by Dr. Mahesh Rangarajan, the head of the Environmental Studies Department at Ashoka.
Ishan’s work highlights that even in seemingly ordinary landscapes like the agricultural fields of Haryana surrounding Ashoka University, there’s a surprising diversity of life, including migratory birds from places like Siberia. The guide aims to spark curiosity and appreciation for the wildlife that coexists with the university community, encouraging others to explore and contribute to its ongoing documentation
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