A life devoted to forests and wildlife

Long before the sun rises over the rugged slopes of the Nallamala hills, a lone man on a gearless moped can be seen riding through narrow forest paths, a jute sack slung across his shoulder. He pauses to greet the trees, checks on saplings he once planted, clears plastic strewn by careless hands, and disappears deeper into the wilderness.

This man is Komera Ankarao, widely known as Jaji, Andhra Pradesh’s newly appointed Advisor to the Forest and Environment Department and one of the state’s most inspiring environmental crusaders. For 25 uninterrupted years, Jaji has lived a life that begins and ends inside the Nallamala forests, protecting them with the devotion of a guardian and the discipline of a soldier.

A native of Karempudi village in Palnadu district, Jaji discovered his bond with the forest when he was just 14 years old. With the Nallamala forest hugging the outskirts of his village, he began carrying handfuls of seeds into the hills and scattering them for fun.

Childhood instinct soon grew into a life’s calling

Today, in his mid 40’s, he travels 20-30 km daily into the forest, collecting plastic cups, beer bottles, and polythene bags dumped during group picnics, temple gatherings, and tourist visits. Over the years, he has removed thousands of kilos of waste, three truckloads by his own estimate, ensuring no bird or animal perishes from consuming plastic or liquor residue.

Monsoon is Jaji’s favourite season. As the first rains touch Nallamala, he climbs to higher altitudes to scatter seed balls, many of which later sprout into life. Between August and December, he buys fruit saplings with his own money, plants them deep within the forest, and carries water cans from nearby ponds to keep them alive. On his 0.80-acre farm, Jaji grows pearl millet and sorghum, not for sale, but for birds.

“Wild animals are starving. Fruit-bearing trees are vanishing. If animals disappear, the forest dies,” he says, recalling how birds often perish after drinking rainwater mixed with liquor from broken bottles.

Indian parrots, baya weavers, pigeons, mynas, and the Indian pitta all descend on his fields, which he proudly calls a “bird sanctuary”. He incurs a loss of nearly ₹25,000 annually but considers it “a small price for their happiness.”

Jaji knows the forests like few others do. Every herb, every root, every medicinal plant has a story he can narrate. Ayurvedic researchers often rely on him to locate rare herbs such as Magaliga, Kondaregu, and Palaberrangi, plants disappearing dangerously fast.

In his early years, locals mocked him, assuming he was collecting bottles to sell. But today, thousands have changed their habits after witnessing his commitment.

He teaches environmental lessons in local schools, has written a book titled “Prakruti Paathashala”, and has inspired awareness movements across the region.

Before his appointment as Government Advisor, Jaji survives mostly on the small income from his YouTube channel. Now officially recognised by the state government, Jaji’s mission continues.“I want to protect the entire Nallamala stretch,” he says. “If the forest mother stays healthy, every creature, from man to bird, survives.”

In an era of climate uncertainty, Komera Ankarao stands as a reminder that one determined individual can revive a forest, protect wildlife, and inspire a generation, without waiting for a designation, a salary, or applause.