An ashram in Mysore is listed in the Guinness World Records for the largest number of bird species in an aviary.

 

Hidden from public view is a sprawling garden in the calm confines of Avadhoota Datta Peetham, situated in the scenic foothills of Chamundi Hills. This – the Shuka Vana Bird Home in Mysore, Karnataka, is home to about two thousand one hundred multicoloured birds comprising about 468 different species in all. It is this eclectic collection that has earned it the acknowledgement of the Guinness Book of World Records as the 'Most bird species in an aviary'.

 

Aviary Haven

 

Established in 2012 and spread across around one and a half-acre, this walk-through facility located inside the spacious Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Ashrama is true to its moniker of an aviary haven. Originally, Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji, the person behind this initiative had planned out as a rehabilitation centre for the birds. It was only natural for him to do so as he is primarily a healer who would endeavour to rescue injured, abandoned and endangered birds to offer them the safety of a home. Besides providing them with a shelter, he is also adept in training them as well.

 

Exotic Collection

 

Once, he found a few sick birds which turned out to be an exotic species. After the prelim veterinary treatment, he decided to keep them as they could not function without help. Little did he know them that this would sow the seeds of his future collection. Gradually, Swamiji's followers began to gift him more of these exotic birds. Before he knew it, the initial dozens became few hundreds and then over two thousand. Now he has birds from South America, Indonesia, Australia, Solomon Islands and the Philippines. Some of his followers donated the birds after rescuing it from neglectful owners.

 

Parrots Galore

 

Parrot varieties like Eclectus, amazon, monk parakeets, lorikeets, common parakeets, cockatoos, macaws, etc. are some species that can be found flying freely here inside the 60-foot-tall boundary wall.

 

Interestingly, there are some birds like sun conure or sun parakeet – vibrantly coloured parrot native to northeastern South America – who usually stay clear of humans feel safe enough here to mingle with them without reservations.

 

Some of these parrots are trained to welcome visitors with a 'Good morning’, ‘How are you’ and occasional vernacular greetings.

 

Bird Care Center

 

Situated within the ashram is a state-of-the-art avian care centre equipped with an X-ray machine, blood testing facility, operation theatre, DNA laboratory, and also includes an isolation unit for infected birds. Vets visit twice a day. There's even a separate play-pen for recuperating birds.