In 2015, a pair of spotted owlets paid a visit to a newly set up farmhouse in Maharashtra’s Tadoba, a 12-hour drive from Mumbai. After a wonderful stay, the birds were reluctant to leave. In fact, as Avantika Chandra and Hans Dalal were setting up their homestay on the land, the owlets proved to be great company.

As their avian family grew, with many hatchlings added to the tribe, the farm stay was experiencing a journey of its own. And the duo felt it was only right when the time came, to christen the place in honour of the birds.

Today, the guest list at The Spotted Owlet Farm House includes city folk from across India as well as the local wildlife — hare, mongoose, snakes, scorpions, lizards, over 60 bird species, over 20 butterfly species, tigers, leopards, wild boar and deer, to name a few. Both are encouraged to coexist.

And the property’s proximity to the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve — a deciduous forest ecosystem that harbours hundreds of tigers — makes it an ideal choice for guests who are here to watch sambar, chital and gaur.

While the story of the homestay’s inception piques the interest of many travellers, the rollercoaster journey of Avantika and Hans evokes a similar feeling. Following 12 years in the aviation industry, Avantika quit to turn her attention to a much loved subject, one that she’d been drawn to since childhood.

In 2010, instinct led the New Delhi native to quit her corporate role to transition into the conservation of forests and wildlife full-time. In 2013, she was joined in her quest by Hans Dalal, a sound engineer turned conservationist, and the duo founded PROWL. The NGO has since then been dedicated to working tirelessly to save the tiger population in India.

This is their story.

The moment that shaped it all

Hans’s studio in Mumbai witnessed many fascinating projects. “I had the opportunity to work with notable artists like Trilok Gurtu and........

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