It’s no secret that forests and animal habitats are diminishing, but this couple decided to take matters into own hands. Dr. Anil Malhotra and his wife Pamela purchased 55 acres of private land in southern India back in 1991. The land they bought wasn’t exactly idyllic, as it suffered from extreme deforestation. The land was previously used as farmland and there were no animals to be seen in the neighborhood.
After long 26 years, Anil and Pamela have transformed this dry patch of land into the beautiful rainforest it is today.
The couple is extremely proud of the transformation, and the result is truly staggering. They’ve spent years replanting the rainforest, and slowly but surely nature started to feel welcome on the land again. The amount of green increased, and wildlife slowly made its way back into the area.
Over the years, they devoted their lives for a better nature and environment in India. They now own more than 300 acres of ecologically protected land.
“It had always been our dream to have a private forest sanctuary for wildlife where they would be protected,” Pamela mentioned to Great Big Story. “People thought we were quite crazy, but that’s okay.”
As you can imagine, replanting all these acres of land isn’t exactly an easy task. An incredible amount of time and energy went into the project, but luckily, Anil and Pamela could also count on the help of volunteers over the years.
At the moment, the land – which Anil and Pamela now call SAI Sanctuary – has an extensive amount of fauna and flora.
With over a hundred different indigenous plants, the sanctuary is an incredible natural resource.
“I remember walking through the forest you wouldn’t hear anything but the sound of your own feet. Now the place is alive with sound,” Pamela recalls.
The land has also provided shelter for many endangered species, such as leopards, king cobras, Bengal tigers and river otters. Asian elephants also roam around in the area.
Before Anil and Pamela bought the property, the land was being used for the farming of rice, coffee, and cardamom. The years of farming use resulted in the land being completely deprived and abandoned – the complete opposite of the situation today.
“We both feel a tremendous amount of joy when we walk through the sanctuary. I’ve never felt this kind of joy in anything else I’ve done in my life,” Pamela said.
The couple doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon, and they hope to expand their sanctuary even further. The entire area is open to visitors and you can also support Anil and Pamela by renting an eco-friendly cottage in the sanctuary.
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