Meet The All-Women Team Fighting Off Cobras To Protect Biodiversity

Just like the rest of the globe, the Indian subcontinent is no stranger to the adverse effects of climate change. One such part of India which is crucial to environment protection is the Gurukula Botanical Sanctuary, a haven for native plants of the Western Ghat mountains.

The botanical sanctuary, which is a UNESCO heritage-listed region, houses close to 325 flora, fauna, bird, amphibian, and fish species. But the increase in environmental challenges and deforestation is proving it difficult to protect this green haven. "We are trying to salvage what is possible. It is like a refugee camp or a hospital," says Suprabha Seshan, one of the curators at the reserve. She’s a part of all-women team at Gurukula, that are enlisted with the responsibility of safeguarding the flora and fauna of the region. As per her estimates, 90 per cent of the forest has already disappeared.

The sanctuary employs and trains women of the local community in Kerala, 27 of whom are a part of the group that regularly work to protect it. Dressed in big boots, the women have been putting long hours of the day to fight of cobras as well as various insects that may pose a threat to the biodiversity of the region. They also replant any vegetation that’s suffering, sifting compost and using natural pesticides alongside.

While habitat loss poses a major threat to this piece of biodiversity, the all-women rainforest force is doing all they can to reverse and safeguard what can be salvaged.