Mechanic in Kudremukh forest shares 11-year bond with wild boar that visits him daily
Chikkamagaluru: A mechanic from Kudremukh, who has spent his entire life caring for animals has formed an unusually close friendship with a wild boar who pays him daily visits.
According to a report published by Deccan Herald, Reuben moved from Mumbai to Kudremukh in 1979 and earns a living by repairing a few motorcycles that come his way. Whatever he earns is shared generously with the animals around him. Over the years, he has fed scores of stray dogs and cats, even as he built a simple life for himself in an abandoned workers’ camp area that turned into forest land after the closure of the Kudremukh Iron Ore Company.
Living in a small shed he built along the roadside, Reuben is surrounded by animals that treat his home as their own. A wild boar, once drawn to the leftover bones kept out for dogs and cats, slowly began trusting him. Today, that boar, affectionately called Chinniputti, is the closest to his heart.
For the past 11 years, the boar has arrived at his doorstep every evening around 5 pm, after staying in the forest during the day and eats alongside the dogs and cats and often sleeps nearby at night. At around 4 am, Reuben feeds it again before it returns to the forest.
Though a vegetarian himself, Reuben buys meat and fish especially for the animals in his care. He says Chinniputti responds instantly when he calls out, even if it hesitates when strangers are around.
Over time, several wild animals have begun stopping by for food, but the presence of the boar is the most striking, given the species’ reputation for staying away from humans. Another wild boar once visited regularly as well, but Reuben recalls with sadness that it was killed by miscreants. He also remembers losing more than 200 rabbits he had raised to similar attacks.
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Former India hockey coach Michael Nobbs dies
Melbourne (PTI): Former Australian hockey player Michael Nobbs, who coached the Indian men's team at the 2012 London Olympics, has died after a prolonged illness.
He was 72 years old and is survived by his wife Lee Capes, a former Australian women's international and daughter Kaitlin, who is a current Hockeyroos star.
"Hockey Australia extends its deepest condolences to Michael’s family, friends, former teammates, players and all those whose lives and careers were shaped by his contribution to hockey. He will be remembered as a proud Kookaburra, a respected professional, and a servant of the sport," Hockey Australia said in a statement.
Nobbs represented Australia as a defender, playing across the half-back line and at fullback, and was renowned for his reliability, fitness and professionalism. He earned 76 international caps for Australia between 1979 and 1985, scoring one goal, and was a member of one of the strongest eras in Australian men’s hockey, said Hockey Australia on its website in its tribute.
Nobbs was an integral part of the Australian teams that competed at the 1981 Hockey World Cup in Bombay and the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
While part of a generation widely regarded as one of Australia’s finest, he consistently held his place through hard work, discipline and trust earned from teammates and coaches, Hockey Australia wrote.
Nobbs took over the coaching of the Indian men's team in 2011 after it had failed to qualify for the Beijing Games in 2008. While India were brilliant in the qualifiers, the team finished last at the London extravaganza which also expedited the Australian coach's sacking.
Apart from India, Nobbs also coached Japan.
