For them, it was experiencing the unseeable

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, OCT. 7. When the eyes cannot see, the other senses take over. For over 50 children, that is what happened on Sunday morning as they explored, nay, experienced the sounds and sensations at Bannerghatta National Park.

The children -- from Rakum School for the Blind in Indiranagar -- were there along with City-based group ``Caring for Creation''. ``Today is the last day of the Wildlife Week so we thought we could help visually impaired children get introduced to animals, help them to touch and feel nature,'' Mr. Manohar and Mr. Lloyd from the organisation explained.

With the Park's Range Forest Officers, Mr. Nagesh and Mr. Nagbhushan, as escorts, the group members, the children and their teachers went to the stuffed animal museum and the various enclosures in the Park.

For most of them the trip was a first in more ways than one. One or two were understandably scared at this sudden profusion of sounds and smells. Asha, for instance, refused to go near the elephant enclosure (located right at the entrance to the Park). She preferred to stay with her teacher. But her friends were entranced and most of them stretched out their hands to feel the elephants' trunks. Each time one of the elephants trumpeted, the children shouted and waved their hands.

At that time, one of the little girls (her name is Bageshree) was heard asking her friend Saritha: Why is it screaming/shouting)?'' The reply was: I don't know.

Not all the children were completely blind. Some were partially so, that is, they could see objects, albeit fuzzily. And only at a distance of 10 feet or so.

``That is why we have brought the children here,'' Mr. Lloyd from Caring for Creation said. He and the other members also took the children to the Bannerghatta auditorium to let them hear a range of recorded animal and bird sounds.

When the morning's trip was over and it was time for the children to leave, their happy faces made it abundantly clear that though they could not ``see'', they were able to fully ``experience'' with the other senses they had.

More lions

The Park's Deputy Conservator of Forests, Mr. B.M.T.Rajeev, said the Park planned to organise more such activities in the future. He added that on the 12th or 13th of this month, the Park would be getting six more lions from Gujarat.

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