CUTTACK: At the descent of the steps of the water tank, a man calls out “Balia”, “Kalia”.
The stillness of the water is instantly disturbed as two giant tortoises emerge and come straight to the person.
Some food is offered, which both partake of and slide into the waters again.
Astonishing it may appear but is true. At a time when wildlife is under severe threat with reports of indiscriminate killing, poaching and illegal transporation of animals making headlines everyday, Champeswar, a village about 22 km from Badamba in Cuttack district and 112 km from Bhubaneswar has given conservation a new dimension.
The village named after its famous temple Champeswar, which was earlier this year declared a place of tourism importance by the State Government, a symbol of community conservation initiative by protecting and allowing tortoises their own free space to reside, breed and flourish. Tortoises are usually hunted for their value from meat to medicinal properties.
But here the temple tank is estimated to have over 200 giant fresh water tortoises.
They have been living here for ages exemplifying harmonious coexistence of man and animal.
The tortoises are quite friendly to the people and do not cause any harm to those who take their holy dip in the tank. The devotees and visitors also feed the tortoises by keeping food on the steps of the tank. Some even respond to the call of the locals, who have given them names.
According to historians, the temple belongs to the era of King Jajati Keshari dating back to 1000 years.
It is the abode of Lord Shiva but with distinct features as Shiva in the form of Ardhanariswar (same body having both Lord Siva and Goddess Parvati).
Says a priest Loknath Panda, the conservation has been made possible due to the faith of the villagers in our cultural belief, where a tortoise is seen as an incarnation of Lord Bishnu. Some myths have also built up like if any body causes any harm to the tortoises he also suffers.
Meanwhile, Vasundhara, a group working on Community Conservation Initiatives in Orissa is also set to bring out a book on the conservation by the villagers.