Knowledge Share Description
This knowledge share will be all about snakes, one of the most mythical creatures on our planet. Gowri will share her story of her own relationship to snakes, as well as their role in Hinduism and Indian mythology and culture. We will explore their role in ecology and ecosystems, human-snake relationship throughout history, as well as snake medicine. Snakes are magical. They are worshipped in India but also feared and killed. Why is it that these animals are fascinating but also instigate such fear? We will also cover certain universal beliefs or fears people have about snakes all over the world, which connects us all when it comes to fearing certain animals. Learning about snakes, their behavior but also people's relationship to them historically and at present will help us appreciate and understand these beautiful animals from so many perspectives. Gowri will also teach a bit about how to identify certain species from India, Peru and Northeastern United States.
Knowledge Share Includes
Historical importance of snakes
Ecological importance of snakes
How to Identify key species (this will benefit people living in north east US to know who they meet sometimes on trails and roads)
To change or widen their perspective and knowledge on snakes
Why snakes and wildlife in general are important for our own survival
Snake medicine concepts of India
The opportunity to fall even more in love with snakes!
Cost
$35 - BIPOC or low income
$75 - standard or reparations (If you have financial abundance, this is our pay-it-forward option to fund our full tuition scholarships)
The zoom link will be sent 1-2 days prior to the knowledge share. Recording will be available for 30 days.
For scholarships please email herbancura@gmail.com with subject Snake Medicine
Accessibility Information
*ASR (automated) captioning provided
*Live captioning & ASL interpretation may be available with advance notice
*Spanish interpretation may be available with advance notice (Si requiere interpretacion por favor mande un email a herbancura@gmail.com)
Virtual Gathering
Zoom link will be sent out via email 1-2 days before knowledge share
11:00am - 2:00pm Eastern Standard Time
Class will be recorded and available for 30 days.
Facilitator
Growing up in an alternative school, on a wild campus in India that had bears, snakes, leopards passing through and more, Gowri Varanashi discovered her love for nature and animals from a very young age. She started learning how to identify each snake species and handling them at the age of 13. She has gained a plethora of experience in conservation work in the past by working with Asian Nature Conservation Foundation and IISC as a research assistant for elephant corridor research, volunteered with Kenneth Anderson Nature society doing wildlife surveys, documented snake species found in Gurukula Botanical Sanctuary in Wayanad, and volunteered with tracking King Cobras at Agumbe Rainforest Research Center and much more. She went on to guide trips in the Amazon Rainforest in Peru, for adults and college students while studying in the US. In Peru, she had been a part of conserving rainforest land in the Amazon through eco-tourism trips which she used to guide.
Gowri is a naturalist and teacher at heart who loves rock climbing, playing in nature, and teaches nature connection to kids and adults. She is passionate about connecting people to the environment and surrounding nature, including wildlife. She now continues to reconnect people to wildlife and nature through her organization called Wilderness Ways in India and she also teaches rock climbing to women through an initiative she started two years ago called Climb Like A Woman.
Instagram Handles: @gowrivaranashi @wilderness__ways @climblikeawoman
Websites: www.wildernessways.org www.climblikeawoman.com