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Interview with Pooja R Bhale


Kindness First

In conversation with wildlife biologist and founder-director of the Protecterra Ecological Foundation, Pooja R Bhale. Bhale believes that kindness is the first lesson in loving nature. 

It’s difficult not to be moved by the heartwarming tale of a dog and his girl, Oslo -A Tail of Promise. The star of the documentary is a Siberian Husky named Oslo. He came to live with Pooja R Bhale and her former husband, Varun Khanvalkar, after being given up by six families. Together, they live along with cats, indie dogs, goats and birds at The Farm, a nature retreat set up by Protecterra.


“The documentary, presented by actor John Abraham, captures everything - the trees, the soil, the pack of animals, and the human connections we have forged with them,” says Bhale. 

A Journey to Remember 

The 87-minute documentary film shot by Isha Pungaliya, follows the duo as they travel from Pune to the land of snow, the Himalayas. “The journey began in 2014,” explains Bhale, “when Varun and I took Oslo to the mountains to see snow for the first time. He was just 11 months old then. Since then, Oslo and I have made this journey every year, except during the COVID-19 pandemic. His last trip was in 2024. Now, because of his age, Oslo isn’t as excited to travel anymore.” On one such trip, the duo faced a traffic jam in the plains of Shimla. “It was hot, and we were all uncomfortable. When Oslo stuck his head out of the car window, something magic


al happened. Nobody honked for the next ten minutes. Everyone stepped out to chat! I knew this moment had to be captured, and I thought about making a travel vlog. But instead, it turned into a full documentary,” she shares. 

The documentary is more than just Oslo’s story. It highlights The Farm, and the audience comes to love not just Oslo, but also Mahua, an indie dog, the goats and Lakhi, a rescued elephant that stayed at The Farm for few months. 

“The film has a montage of all the animals that have lived and died at The Farm. It shows that some bonds can reach beyond our imagination,” adds Bhale. 

The Farm

Spread over 2.5 acres and teeming with life, The Farm is an oasis of nature, with ponds and indigenous trees. “Since my childhood, I have led a life connected with wildlife and nature. I was 13 when I had my first brush with activism to protect trees on Fergusson College Road, with a friend. I volunteered at Snake Park in Pune, conducted camps, and took workshops in schools. But all the while, I sensed that we had to create long-term changes in how people relate to nature and the environment,” says Bhale. She and her staff of six have been residing at The Farm since 2015. “It was necessary to create something that will help people live a life of consciousness. That’s how Protecterra’s vision took shape over the years. The 42-year-old points out that we need to leave a better world for future generations and to do that, we have to give them a different narrative.

“A narrative based in compassion, in connection and in equity. It is important for them to realise that this is a shared planet,” reminds Bhale. The Farm runs two programmes for children - the Young Naturalist Club meets every Saturday for about three months, and the Young Naturalist School is a three-year programme. Bhale says that some kids are naturally drawn to animals. “These kids become the first changemakers, who help other children who are scared or unfamiliar with animals. We help the children become gentler and kinder. We weave in an educational perspective and tell them that nature is not limited to beautiful mammals, or dogs and goats.” “The Farm helps kids to overcome their fear. We never insist that they have to like the animals. We simply encourage them not to trouble or harm the animals. We urge them to notice that animals and insects are kind, loving creatures,” concludes Bhale. 

“A narrative based in compassion, in connection and in equity. It is important for them to realise that this is a shared planet,” reminds Bhale. The Farm runs two programmes for children— the Young Naturalist Club meets every Saturday for about three months, and the Young Naturalist School is a three-year programme. Bhale says that some kids are naturally drawn to animals. “These kids become the first changemakers, who help other children who are scared or unfamiliar with animals. We help the children become gentler and kinder. We weave in an educational perspective and tell them that nature is not limited to beautiful mammals, or dogs and goats.” “The Farm helps kids to overcome their fear. We never insist that they have to like the animals. We simply encourage them not to trouble or harm the animals. We urge them to notice that animals and insects are kind, loving creatures,” concludes Bhale. 

(This article was first written for Dimdima magazine)



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