Pune: Karve Nagar Resident Smita Pasalkar Wins Hearts with Her Bird Sanctuary and Conservation Efforts
Pune: Karve Nagar Resident Smita Pasalkar Wins Hearts with Her Bird Sanctuary and Conservation Efforts
Smita Pasalkar, a resident of Karve Nagar, Pune talks about her bird gallery and discusses her passion for birds and trees, and the steps she takes to create a safe space for them.
29 April 2024
By Payoshi Bisht
Wildlife activist Smita Pasalkar from Pune has been quite popular on Instagram for her parrot gallery videos that she posts regularly. She has constructed a beautiful green area full of trees and shrubs, making it ideal for birds of all kinds to reside. Smita’s home has been welcoming birds for 7 years now and she has regularly shared the day to day activities that happen in her bird shelter on social media, for which she has garnered a lot of affection and support from her viewers.
Reflecting on the recent invitation extended to her by the Rotary Club of Pune Pristine, Smita expressed profound gratitude and excitement. “Being invited as a guest speaker is truly an honour. It’s an opportunity to share my experiences and advocate for the conservation of our precious wildlife,” she exclaimed.
Smita Pasalkar’s journey into the realm of wildlife advocacy began years ago, rooted in her childhood experiences and nurtured by her father’s deep-seated passion for trees and birds. Recounting her upbringing, Smita reminisced, “My father instilled in me a love for nature and a sense of responsibility towards its preservation. It was his dream to create a sanctuary for birds, a dream that I’ve wholeheartedly embraced.”
She further elaborated on how she found a place for her bird gallery. She stated, “My husband and I searched tirelessly for the perfect abode where we could realise our dream. When we finally found it, we embarked on a journey to transform it into a haven for birds.”
Now, their home is a shelter to over a hundred different birds including parrots, bulbuls, myna, koels, crows as well as lonchuras. Her son Atharva is also a wildlife enthusiast and takes care of the bird gallery in her absence. Smita also described the trees she has planted in her bird gallery to provide a natural environment for the birds. She shared her extensive knowledge about the specific kind of plants that need to be included in the bird gallery in order to attract birds. She has planted ‘Jungle Flame’, popularly known as Rukmini in the Indian context, which is the most favoured bird plant.
Sharing insights into her Instagram journey, Smita revealed the profound impact of social media in amplifying her message of wildlife conservation. “The overwhelming response from viewers fuels my determination to do more each day. It’s heartening to see people’s appreciation and eagerness to learn,” she remarked with a smile.
In her closing remarks, Smita emphasised the importance of collective action in safeguarding our environment. “Every small gesture counts, whether it’s planting a tree or providing water for birds. It’s imperative that we instil a sense of environmental stewardship in future generations,” she urged passionately.
She has also started an online campaign on Instagram where she urges parents to teach their children about trees and birds and take a step towards making this world a better place, starting from their own homes.
