Indian Wildlife - Tiger Safaris - Conservation - Environment

Southern Indian Wildlife Unique and Endemic

noreply@blogger.com (Uday Patel) — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 08:06:00 +0000

While the focus in Indian Wildlife is on tiger Southern India offers much more. It is home to some endemic wildlife and birds.

South India encapsulates enchanting wildlife some of them are:

Nilgiri Thar

Lion Tailed Macaque

Nilgiri Langur

Nilgiri Wood Pigeon

Some of the famous national Parks are

Nagarhole National Park

Nagarhole is situated in Karnataka State of India It was declared a tiger reserve in the year 1999. The

Some of the animals and birds found here are:

The land of the snaking stream is home to Indian elephants, gaur, and tigers. The charismatic landscape is alluring as are the megafauna and spectacular birds. The network of rivers and streams forms a living ecosystem in which thrives life in innumerable forms. Slender loris, bonnet macaque, striped-necked mongoose, giant squirrels, and chevrotain are some of the rare inhabitants that you will come across apart from the tiger. Nilgiri wood pigeon, white-bellied tree pie, blue-winged parakeet, white-cheeked barbet, Malabar trogon, and Malabar whistling thrush are exciting to checklist from among the large species of avian that dwell here.

Eravikulum National Park

Eravikulum National Park in Kerala is surrounded by a large number of wildlife havens forming an extensive green patch. The rugged terrain consists of high-altitude grasslands and shola forests amidst a network of rivers and streams that are the lifeline of this fragile ecosystem in India. Nilgri Tahr, Nilgri langur, marten, leopards, and tigers inhabit this paradise. You will have the chance to see unique features of the shola forests on excursions in the National Park.

PERIYAR TIGER RESERVE

Periyar Tiger Reserve at Thekkady in Kerala is home to the Indian elephant, tiger, gaur, and the ubiquitous but elusive leopard. Made up of tropical evergreen and moist deciduous forests along with extensive grasslands it supports myriads of life forms some of which are endemic to Western Ghats. Apart from safaris, a Thekkady boat ride is another alternative to see the wildlife of the park. We will make sure that you enjoy your stay at this magnificent reserve in South India.

MUKURTHI NATIONAL PARK

Mukurthi National Park part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve the protected area in Western Ghats was established for the conservation of endangered animals like the Nilgiri Tahr. Other animals that inhabit this little paradise are the Indian elephant, tiger, mouse deer, and leopard among many others. The bird species comprise of Nilgiri flycatcher, black and orange flycatcher, Nilgiri Pipit, wood pigeon, and man

BANDIPUR NATIONAL PARK

Bandipur National Park is located in Gundelpet Taluka of Chamrajnagar District. It is part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. With around 190 tigers it is the second largest tiger reserve in India after Jim Corbett National Park. The park is a long stretch of dense forest as it is contiguous with Naagarhole, Wyanad and Mudumalai National Park. The park is home to wild elephants tiger, sambar,dhole, leopard, spotted deer, barking deer, sloth bear and four horned deer.

Those interested in rare and endemic wildlife should go to Southern India on wildlife safari after booking the permits. They will not be disappointed.

Why Visit Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Central India

noreply@blogger.com (Uday Patel) — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 04:26:00 +0000

Do you wish to see tigers?

Well, tigers are found in many reserves but the best place to see the big cats is Bandhavgarh National Park in Central India or the State of Madhya Pradesh. Being the most panoramic park, it is exciting to see the big cats in enchanting surroundings. Not only the ensconced beauty, but the park also

Tiger

comprises many ancient structures built by the tribal.

A tiger safari is a beautiful experience as you move through dense forests and see ancient structures. The Tala Range is full of idols, caves with ancient scripts that date back centuries, and tigers galore. The ancient artifacts are as amazing as the wildlife that you see on a jeep safari. The most interesting place in Tala range is Sesh Shaiyya or reclining Vishnu. It is a 20 feet long reclining idol that is 2000 years old. It lies adjacent to a pond encircled by a stone wall. Water trickles down from the fern-infested forests and inundates the pond. Sesh Shaiyya is a charismatic sight and is in a state of preservation for centuries. Tribal and locals pray here on special occasions.

Sesh Shaiyya is one of the most preferred breeding grounds for tigresses and on a visit, it won't be a big surprise if you get a glimpse of a big cat. Above the reclining Vishnu is the fort at a distance of 2 km. But being out of the tourism area you cannot visit the fort. But for the lucky ones who have seen the fort, it is a memorable sight. There are idols of Lord Vishnu in zoomorphic forms besides a large idol that faces the forest below. The fort is situated at Bandhavgarh Hill at a height of 800 MSL. From the fort complex, you can see the whole Sal forest which is a mesmerizing sight.

Wildlife of Bandhavgarh

Bandhavgarh is home to tigers, sloth bears, bison, deers, langurs, rhesus macaques, wild boars, leopards, and many small predators like civet cats, jungle cats, and ratel. The rare pangolin is also found here. The reserve is home to more than 250 birds including the Palearctic migrants that arrive in the winter.

Tiger Safari

Bandhavgarh is an excellent place for wildlife photography especially for the tiger. You need a permit for safaris issued by the MP Government. The safaris are conducted two times a day one in the early morning and the other in the evening time. The rides are conducted on open jeeps and canter which have to be hired in advance.

The reserve is situated in the Umaria district. The park is 170 km from Jabalpur Airport in Madhya Pradesh or Central India. It is closed on Wednesday evenings and during the monsoons. The destination has an excellent tourism infrastructure and is full of hotels and lodges. Thus, you can stay there for an extended period if you are a wildlife photographer or a filmmaker. Tourism is regulated and you have to follow the rules and regulations strictly.

How to Enjoy Wildlife in India?

noreply@blogger.com (Uday Patel) — Sun, 14 May 2023 11:01:00 +0000

India is a vast land comprising 32 hundred thousand sq. Km. It has a unique topography comprising of tallest mountains to plain hot and cold deserts. Abundant rivers flow throughout the country inundating vast lands. The topography creates a tortured terrain and amazing ecosystems.

India is the only country that is home to five big cats :

Tiger

Lion

Cheetah

Snow Leopard

Clouded Leopard

It is home to wild elephants, Rhino, water buffalo, bison, sloth bear, Himalayan Black Bears, Himalayan Brown Bear, Malayan Sun Bears several species of deer, and exotic animals like red panda, takin, goral, and more.

There are more than 1300 species of birds and the number increases to 2000 when subspecies are taken into account. The seas are full of aquatic creatures simply put there is no wilderness like India in the World.

The Tiger

Most tourists arriving in India come to see the tiger. While some come here to watch birds. Tiger is the most coveted species and there are 52 tiger reserves where you can see them. The most popular reserves are:

Kanha

Bandhavgarh

Pench

Corbett

Tadoba

But the big cats are seen everywhere in all reserves. So you can choose whichever you want. For tiger safari, a permit is required without which you cannot take part in game rides. So before making travel arrangements, you should book a tiger safari permits. You can book a tiger safari permit through a tour agent. You can also book through MPOnline and Field Officers at respective tiger reserves.

Likewise, you can book a tour for the red panda, snow leopard, or clouded leopard. The booking should be done through a tour operator in India or one in your country. Making a wildlife trip to India is not easy because of the distance and scant facilities. Always book through a tour agent.

Tiger Safari at Kanha National Park in India

noreply@blogger.com (Uday Patel) — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 07:06:00 +0000

Kanha National Park is one of the most popular parks in India and receives over 100,000 domestic and overseas visitors. It is a tiger reserve and a National Park. The park is a conservation unit focused on saving the big cats, the ecosystem, and other life forms.

Although the park is for the conservation of critically endangered tigers its major success has come from the conservation of the Barasingha or the hard-ground swamp deer. From 66 heads to more than 500 heads the success was remarkable. George Schaller and the team played a crucial role in saving the species. The campaign was carried out in the late sixties and seventies.

Kanha National Park

Situated in Central India near Jabalpur Airport the park is home to over 100 tigers and other wild animals. Some of the major fauna that inhabits the park are:

Tiger

Leopard

Swamp Deer

Sloth Bear

Bison

Axis Deer

Barking Deer

Mouse Dear (Rare)

Jackal

The mouse deer was seen and photographed after a gap of 14 years. It was thought to be extinct but the re-discovery was a big surprise. Small and nocturnal animals are the porcupine, civet cats, and foxes.

There are more than 250 avian species that include Palearctic migrants that arrive in the winter. Some of the popular species are Malabar Pied Hornbill, Shama, Racket Tailed Drongo, Spangled Drongo, Alexandrine Parakeet, and Orange Headed Rock Thrush.

Safari at Kanha

The park is divided into four zones in the core area that comprises 940 sq. km. They are;

Kisli Zone

Kanha Zone

Sarhi Zone

Mukki Zone

The area of each zone is roughly 25 sq. km and each offers wonderful sightings of wild animals. Tigers are seen in every zone while Kanha and Mukki are the favorites for big cat sightings. The birds are all over the place. The tourism area has also been carved out in the buffer zone that comprises 1000 sq. Km.

Khatia (Kisli Gate)

Khapa (Mukki Gate

Phen (Micro Core)

Sijora (Sarhi Gate)

The excursions are possible on safari permits and there is a limit to park entry of vehicles. You should thus book the tiger safari in advance. You can book a safari online at MPOnline Portal and also book at the respective gates. But it is better to book online since entry permits get sold out fast.

Panna National Park Abode of The Tigers

noreply@blogger.com (Uday Patel) — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 06:41:00 +0000

Panna National Park Abode of The Tigers

Panna National Park

Situated in the District of Chhattrpur and Panna in Madhya Pradesh the park is home to amazing biodiversity in India. A large part of the reserve encompasses Panna District famous for its diamond mines.

It is both a tiger reserve and a National Park in Central India. It was declared the 22nd tiger reserve of India under the aegis of the Project Tiger Program. The latter is a conservation initiative for saving critically endangered tigers. In the process, the Panna ecosystem and its biodiversity have been saved for eternity. It is also known as a protected area. The National Park has two core zone divided between the districts Panna and Chhattarpur. Along with South and Northern Panna the National Park is the chunk of forests remaining in North Madya Pradesh. The reserve lies in the Vindhya Range which converges with Satpura Range at Maikal Hills.

The park is divided into an inviolate core and a buffer. The latter is a multiple-use area with a forest cover and supports wildlife including the tigers. In the buffer agriculture, tribal settlement, and livestock rearing in permitted. No heavy industry or major commercial activity is allowed except wildlife lodges pertaining to certain rules and regulations. Most of these lodges have been created before the establishment of the protected area.

Waters from Ken River Sanctuary are the lifeline of Panna National Park. The river sanctuary is home to gharial, marsh crocodiles, and freshwater fishes.

Panna Wilderness

Wild animals found in the reserve are the tiger, leopard, sloth bear, chinkara, axis deer, sambar, fox, hyena, jackal, and Nilgai. The smaller animals found here are the jungle cat, civet cat, porcupine, and pangolin. The park is home to more than 200 species of birds including the Himalayan Vulture, red-headed vulture, shama, orange-headed ground thrush, racket-tailed drongo, red jungle fowl, black-naped monarch, verditor flycatcher, serpent eagle and changeable hawk-eagle and more can be seen on the game rounds.

Safari is organized at Panna National Park in the core zone and the buffer zone. You can book a tiger safari at Panna on the MPOnline Website. Since the entry of safari jeeps is limited you should book much in advance.

Bird Watching at Desert National Park

noreply@blogger.com (Uday Patel) — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 07:20:00 +0000

Famous for avians of all types, Desert National Park is part of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan. It covers an area of 3162 sq. km and is full of sand dunes and vast stretches of short-crop grasslands. It has been notified as a National Park and all life forms are protected. There are intermediate ponds and lakes as a crucial water sources in this vast desert land. Despite the fragile ecosystem, there is fantastic birdlife in the park. The region is heaven for migratory, and resident birds some of which come from far off land. The destination is famous for Great Indian Bustard, and Houbara bustards which are critically endangered.

The Desert Park is home to 180 million-year-old fossils of animals, and plants. Some of them date back 60 million years back that is the time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. The destination encompasses Jaisalmer and Barmer. 1900 km² is in Jaisalmer district and the remaining 1262 km² is in BarmerDesert National Park covers an area of 3162 km² of which 1900 km² is in Jaisalmer district, and the remaining 1262 km² is in Barmer. The park was gazetted in 1980. The Indian Gazelle is a common antelope of Desert National Park. Other animals found here are the desert fox, wolf, and desert cat.

Some birds of Desert National Park are:

Common Kestrel

Asian Woolly-necked Stork

Asian Desert Warbler

Striolated Bunting

Black-bellied Sandgrouse

Asian Desert Warbler

Plain Leaf Warbler

Spotted Sandgrouse

Oriental Skylark

Eurasian Hobby

Northern Pintail

Pied Cuckoo

Tree Pipit

White-Tailed Lap Wing

Egyptian Vulture

Common Snipe

Himalayan Griffon

Great Grey Shrike

Grey Francolin

Chestnut Bellied Sandgrouse

Tawny Eagle

White-eared Bulbul

Black Vulture

Long-legged Buzzard

Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark

Red Vented Bulbul

Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark

Greater Short-toed Lark

Rock Dove

Variable Wheater

House Sparrow

Indian Silver Bill

Desert Wheatear

White Wagtail

Grey Wagtail

Black Kite

Black Drongo

White Breasted Kingfisher

Stork Billed Kingfisher

Isabelline Shrike

Long Tailed Shrike

Pallid Harrier

Black Ibis

White Necked Ibis

Cream Colored Courser

Bimaculated Lark

Graceful Prinia

Peregrine Falcon

Jeep Safaris are organized in the park for tourism purposes. Winter is the best season for watching avian species. The park can be accessed from Jaisalmer and Barmer in the State of Rajasthan. Entry is limited book a desert safari in advance and make arrangements at Dasada near Patdi.

Bird Watching at Bharatpur

noreply@blogger.com (Uday Patel) — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 07:11:00 +0000

Bharatpur National Park or Keoladeo Ghana is situated near Agra in Uttar Pradesh. It is in the state of Rajasthan. It is a well-known bird heaven with more than 300 species of avians found in 28 sq. km of the sanctuary. It is world-famous bird heaven, and birders from all over India, and overseas visit the destination. But more than fifty percent of the visitors are from overseas.

The destination is known as Keoladeo Ghana because of a Shiva Temple in the middle, and a patch of scrub forest. It is a manmade wetland dug at the behest of the local king. The terrain comprises a large stretch of shallow wetlands, some forest patches, and swampy grasslands, and the rest is scrub.

Keoladeo is on the periphery of Bharatpur town. It is a small town with Lohgarh Fort and many Hindu Temples. It is a historical town that now draws water from the Chambal River. The sanctuary was created 250 years back as a source of water for the local public of the town. The construct proved to be ideal for the avian species, and in the past massive bird, shoots took place. But all that stopped after the wildlife protection act came into the picture. Now only tourism is allowed for bird lovers from all over the World. There is an entry fee applicable, and you get the services of the finest bird guides for a charge set between the tourists, and the guides. The timings are from early morning to evening. And breakfast or lunch is allowed only at the center point. Bird watching is carried out on foot, and in peddling rickshaws. You can also hire a bicycle.

Birds of Bharatpur

Some years back, a flock of Siberian cranes visited Bharatpur, but they all been shot down during the migration. Some popular birds of Bharatpur are migrants and some are local residents like the Sarus Crane, Common crane, spot-billed duck, sparrow hawk, and red avadavat. Among the raptors, birds found at the sanctuary are honey buzzard, Steppe Eagle, King Vulture, Indian eagle, shikra, and Greater spotted eagle to name a few.

The destination teems with migrant ducks, and teals in thousands in the winter. It is home to many other kinds of avian that make up 300 numbers. The migrants start departing in February end.

Bharatpur is accessible from Agra at a distance of 50 km. It is at a distance of 227 km from New Delhi. To go birding at Bharatpur you should take a taxi from New Delhi to Agra, and then to the destination. There are many accommodations from star properties to budget for a stay. A three-night stay is ideal for birding at Keoladeo. The nearest destination is Chambal River Sanctuary another great birding destination In Rajasthan, MP, and Uttar Pradesh.

Searching for Rhinos and Tigers in The East

noreply@blogger.com (Uday Patel) — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 10:50:00 +0000

Among the wild destinations of India, there is a jewel that is ever-shining, and the jewel is known as Kaziranga National Park. Situated in Eastern India, it is home to rare and endemic specie which is critically endangered and need a lot of protection.

Rhino

Kaziranga National Park

Kaziranga is home of the one horned rhinoceros. It is situated in the East and spread right up to the Western border. Indian rhinoceros as it is also known was once widespread right up to many forests of the North. The wild animal is now living in a restricted space in Kaziranga. Some animals are still found in the Pobitatra wildlife sanctuary. A number of rhinos have been translocated to Dudhwa National Park in Uttar Pradesh. The animal survives in Kaziranga after appreciable conservation measures.

More than two thousand rhinos live in the park, it has become very popular among tourists. Besides the rhino, the habitat also supports tigers, Eastern swamp deer, water buffalo, and Indian elephants in good numbers. The biodiversity profile is unique with many forms of megafauna and microfauna found in the park. The floral elements are tall grass, swampland, tropical moist broad-leaf forests, and tropical moist semi-evergreen woods.

Kaziranga is heaven for birding, and it has been notified as Important Bird Area by Birdlife International. A large number of bird watchers make a beeline for the park. Avian species such as greater and lesser adjutant storks, Baer's pochard, black-necked stork, eastern imperial eagle, swamp francolin, Fulvous whistling duck, Tundra Swan, Bean Goose, Northern Shoveller can be easily seen while many other species including wintering ducks are a joy to watch.

Tourism at Kaziranga

Tourism at Kaziranga is organized every day in the morning and the evening times. The safari zones are as follows:

Safari Zones

Kohora (Central)

Bagori (Western) I

Agaratoli (Eastern)

Kohora (Central) Range Bagori

( Western) Range

Agratoli (Eastern)

Range Burapahar (Ghorakati)

Range Mihimukh-Kathpora-Daphlang-Diffolu River

Bank-Mona Beel-Karasing & back

Dongabeel-Rouman-Rajapukhuri-Monabeel & back

Agratoli Sohola Beel-Rongamotia-Maklung-Turturoni-Dhoba & back

Ghurakati-Potahi Beel-Diffolu-Phuloguri-Tunikati

The open jeep safaris are organized for one and a half hours. The open jeep safari charges are to be paid separately. The safari permits are charged for rhino safari at Kaziranga permissions are required from the authorities.

noreply@blogger.com (Uday Patel) — Sun, 22 Jan 2023 06:41:00 +0000

Tiger Safari at Kanha National Park

Kanha National Park is a tiger reserve situated in Central India in the State of Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the oldest parks and received conservation status as early as the 19th Century. The Halon and Banjar Valleys were closed for hunting during the British Raj, and thus this was a conservation initiative.

Tiger Family

In post-independent India, the area was declared a National Park in the year 1955. Then it was notified as a tiger reserve in the year 1973, under the Project Tiger Program. In the year 2000, it was awarded as the most tourism-friendly park in India. Kanha is also recognized as the best-managed tiger reserve in India with high-profile VVIPs visiting every year.

Kanha National Park Conservation Profile

Kanha National Park comprises an area of over two thousand sq. km with 940 sq. km as the core. The core is a protected area that is inviolate and managed by the forest department. It is where the tigers and other wild animals breed the most.

Tigress with Cub

The park is home to over 100 tigers and the critically endangered hard ground Barasingha or the Swamp Deer (Cervus duavcelli branderi). It is also known as the Branderi Barasingha who first noticed the hardened hooves that evolved in absence of swamps to enable the deer to move on hard ground. This was impacted by the changing geography of the region which was once a large crater full of marshy swamps. The park is well known for saving the Barasingha from extinction by raising the population from just 67 heads to more than 500 at present.

Over 150 guard huts are built to safeguard wildlife in the park with beat guards regularly patrolling the reserve.

Kanha National Park Tiger Safari

Tiger tourism as it is called is carried out in 20% of the core. It is divided into four zones:

· Kanha Zone
· Kisli Zone
· Mukki Zone
· Sarhi Zone

Each zone is reserved for safari for those with the permit. At Kanha, permit holders cannot trespass into another zone. This is possible only on a full-day safari which is priced much higher. Tigers breed in each zone without any hindrance and offer an opportunity for tourists to see them in their natural surroundings. Though habitats may be diverse, the park provides each with a tiger safari permit an equal chance to track and chance upon the big cats.

Besides other animals, tourists can see plenty of birds more so in winter when Pale Arctic migrants arrive. There are over 250 species of avian in the park.

Tiger safaris are organized in the buffer as well. They are cheaper, and without many restrictions but offer a little chance to sight the big cats.

These are:

· Phen
· Khatia
· Sijhora
· Khapa

If you do not book a tiger safari in advance the permits get exhausted. Your only chance is to visit the buffer zone or stay at the resort. Hence always book the tourism zones in the core in advance. Please make all the preparation for the tiger safari in India in advance.

Tiger Safari in India is Not Zoo Safari as Perceived

noreply@blogger.com (Uday Patel) — Sun, 22 Jan 2023 05:18:00 +0000

Tiger Safari in India

Tiger safari in India is within the scope of tiger tourism as governed by NTCA, and the State Governments. It is not a zoo safari as wrongly perceived. Unlike in a zoo safari, the tigers and other wild animals move freely in an unrestricted area delimited by the crown cover.

There are more than fifty tiger reserves in India, and they are open to tourism in twenty percent area as per the court decision, this area comes under the jurisprudence of the respective State where the reserve is located.

Tiger Safari & Zoo Safari Difference

Although in both cases you have to pay an entry fee. In the case of the tiger reserves, the entry fee is included in the permit which you book in advance or procure from the gates. In the case of the zoo safari, you need to buy a ticket at the entrance gate and enter on foot or in your car. At the zoo safari, a bus is available to score the large spread of the zoo and see the animals.

In the tiger reserve, you cannot set foot on the forest floor, you have to stay alight on the jeep or the 20-seater canter. The jeep usually scores the area within the zone mentioned in the permit. Brunch or tea can be had only in a designated area in the core of the tiger reserve, and there is usually one cafeteria for refreshment or freshening up in a zone.

The safari zoo may be commercialized with eateries in and around the zoo. The number of eateries can be unlimited and may be associated with other places of entertainment. Zoo safari is a one-day affair, while in the reserves you can stay for several days, and enjoy as many safaris as you like subject to the availability of permits. That is the reason why so many wildlife resorts are situated on the periphery of the buffer of the tiger reserves. These resorts support local employment and generate revenue for the hospitality industry. They are instrumental in earning valuable foreign exchange from inbound tourism that they enhance for India.

Tiger Safari in the reserves is getting more popular day by day as filmmakers, wildlife photographers, holidaymakers, and naturalists throng these paradises. In India, Safari Zoos are limited in numbers and are usually situated near big towns or within.

Popular Reserves for Tiger Safari India

Some of the popular reserves are as follows:

· Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve
· Ranthambore Tiger Reserve
· Wayanad Tiger Reserve
· Kanha Tiger Reserve
· Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve
· Corbett Tiger Reserve
· Pench Tiger Reserves
· Panna National Park

A visit to these National Parks and Tiger Reserves should be planned well in advance. It is very important to book safari permits in advance. You must make preparations before a tiger safari In India to make a success of tour. Apart from the permits secure accommodation at a luxury resort, make local travel arrangements, and then book the air flight, etc. If you wish to avoid travel hassles then engage the services of tour operators in India.

noreply@blogger.com (Uday Patel) — Sat, 07 Jan 2023 10:15:00 +0000

Birding at Pench Tiger Reserve & National Park

Situated in the pristine forests of Seoni and Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh, Pench Tiger Reserve, and National Park is a tiger land. During the British Raj, the destination was the setting for Rudyard Kipling's 'Jungle Book'. It is here that Mowgli the Wolf Child was discovered in the village of Sant Vavadi. The naked child was discovered by Lt.Moor and the news reached Kipling through articles and books.

The forests are mixed deciduous type and the Pench River is the main water source of this ecosystem that traverses through the Eastern End of the park. The river is truncated by Totlah Doh, and it has become a habitat for wintering and resident wetland birds.

Pench Tiger Reserve is a habitat of many life forms including the Bengal Tiger. The destination is also rich in bird life with more than 250 recorded. The number of species includes winter migrants.

Winter is the ideal time for bird watching when Pale Arctic migrants arrive and increase the stock. The river system supports many ducks like the Little Grebe, Eurasian Pintail, Brahminy Duck, Spotted Duck, Lesser Whistling Teal, Nakta, Red Crested Pochard, and Eurasian Wigeon. Among the shorebirds, one can see Black Stork, colorful Painted Stork, Wooly Necked Stork, Lesser Adjutant Stork, Painted Snipe, Little Egret, Black Cormorant, Darter Bird, Sandpipers, Stints, Black Stilts, and so on.

Pench is the place to discover interesting avian species in Central India. There are many pipits and warblers found in winter along with sandpipers, wagtails, stints, and shanks. The flycatchers like Verditor, Black Naped Monarch, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Asian Brown Flycatcher, and Tickell's Blue Flycatchers can be seen here frequently. Among the interesting passerine birds are the parakeets, chats, nuthatches, bulbuls, prinias, tailorbirds, common Iora, bayas, munias, house sparrows, and many more.

A checklist of Birds Of Pench is conducted in the core area, and large tanks in the surroundings are the buffer forests. The rural surroundings and green fields are also good for birding. The forest birds are to be seen best in the mixed forest regions, mountain tops, shrubs and bush, tall grasslands, and vegetation along the river beds.

Some of the interesting species found here are the

· Indian Pitta

· Tickell's Warbler

· Greenish Warbler

· Osprey

· Palas Fish Eagle

· Gray-Headed Fish Eagle

· Hume' Warbler

· Laggar Falcon

· Black Shouldered Kite

· Peregrine Falcon

· Eurasian Hobby

· Serpent Eagle

· Honey Buzzard

· Crested Hawk Eagle

· Orange Headed Ground Thrush

· Red Spurfowl

· Tickell's Thrush

· Red Jungle Fowl

· Painted Spurfowl

· Painted Francolin

· Gray Francolin

· Indian Scimitar Babbler

· Rufus Bellied Babbler

· Common Babler

· Large Gray Babbler

· Scarlet Minivet

· Small Minivet

· Ashy Minivet

· White Backed Vulture

· Egyptian Vulture

· Indian Vulture

· Black Kite

The list is endless. The extensive presence of avians is good for bird watching in Pench. Though the best time is winter, summer birding for the resident birds would not be disappointing. For optimum bird watching at Pench, all areas should be covered. At least three days are required in the company of a bird guide or a naturalist.

Pench is famous for tiger safari but birding is as exciting. Carry binoculars, bird books, and guides. Hire a service of good guide for your visit to be a great success.

Accounts of the Esoteric Indian Wildlife

noreply@blogger.com (Uday Patel) — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 16:06:00 +0000

Esoteric Experiences Indian Wildlife

It was first the discovery of the white tiger in India that made headlines the World Over. India is blessed with amazing wilderness. Even after centuries of hunting and wood logging the country still retains considerable wilderness in 32 hundred thousand square km of land.

It is home to over 350 mammals, 2000 species of birds including the subspecies and an amazing number of reptiles and insects. India is known as the land of the tiger with more than half the global population of the predator. The most majestic and now critically endangered animal is the tiger. At the turn of the century, there were more than a hundred thousand big cats in India. Before independence, forty thousand tigers survived in the vast stretches of forests and grasslands.

But habitat destruction due to increasing agrarian practices and livestock keeping, most of the habitats were converted into fields and settlements. Post-independence, the forest habitats are completely fragmented. They are restricted to 51 tiger reserves and many National Parks and wildlife sanctuaries in an area barely comparing over one hundred thousand kilometres.

Wildlife habitats are in a disarray and cut off without any viable corridors facing the risk of extinction due to inbreeding and continuous habitat destruction. It was the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 that stemmed the rot.

Project Tiger Program was another saviour, and inviolate areas in the reserves provided succour to the beleaguered wildlife and the remaining ecosystems. Well, and good, the tiger numbers that had plummeted to 1400 or less have risen to 3000 plus now.

A lot of revenue is being pumped up for conservation from overseas and domestic tourism. A large populace is now wildlife-aware, and tourism is on the rise. Not only revenue for conservation, but wildlife tourism is also providing an immense opportunity for employment to locals and empowerment is taking place among the women and children in remote confines.

India's Esoteric Wildlife

The country is well known for the white tiger which has been found in the wild only once but the animal survives in very large numbers in captivity the World over. It was discovered at Sanjay Dubri National Park in Central India by the erstwhile Maharajah of Rewa.

The Cheetah once found all over the country became extinct in the fifties, but it has been again reintroduced in the wild. Hope lingers that it will survive and multiply.

Another charismatic animal that tourists seek in the country is the black panther. Its sighting has increased in Pench, Nagzira and Kabini. The Asiatic Lion once widespread in the plains and grasslands still survives in Gir National Park in Gujarat, and its numbers are growing. Indian one-horned rhino is found in many parks like Kaziranga, Manas, Pobitara and Dudhwa National Parks. These are the megafauna we are discussing here, but the country is home to amazing esoteric lesser-known wildlife.

Red Panda
Clouded Leopard
Snow Leopard
Takin
Goral
Hoolock Gibbon
Pigmy Hog
Golden Langur
Nilgiri Langur
Lion Tailed Macaque
Hog Deer
Hard Ground Swamp Deer

These are a few animals that find mentioned here. The list is endless. If you travel extensively you will discover amazing wilderness that still exists in the country.

Photo Bengal Tiger

Tiger Safari

Organized and guided tiger safaris on jeep and canter are a good way of spotting these animals in India. Visit any National Park or Tiger Reserve, and you will also spot rare and enchanting animals mentioned here.

Some of the places where you can spot the tiger and other esoteric animals are:

Kanha National Park (Hard GroundSwamp Deer)

Kaziranga Tiger Reserve (One Horned Rhinoceros)
Manas (Golden Langur)

Namdhapha (Hoolock Gibbon, Clouded Leopard)

Silent Valley National Park (Nilgiri Langur & Lion-Tailed Macaque

Corbett Tiger Reserve (Indian Elephant)

Periyar Tiger Reserve (Indian Elephant)

Ladakh Cold Desert (Wild Ass, Brown Bear, Snow Leopard)

For Asiatic Lion Visit Gir National Park in Gujarat.

The Bengal tiger is the most sought-after predator by tourists from overseas as well as domestic ones. You can spot the beautiful animals at the destinations mentioned below. But remember to book a safari permit in advance. Vehicle entry is limited and you will miss out on the game ride!

The best destinations for tiger safari in India are the popular reserves:

Kanha National Park
Corbett National Park
Bandhavgarh National Park
Ranthambore National Park
Pench National Park
Tadoba National Park.

While booking a permit for a tiger safari in India choose one of these reserves. Book safari permits in advance I repeat along with travel services and resorts. Avoid holidays, and weekends since you can expect a rush and no vacancy in accommodations and without a permit, the tour is doomed.

Book your tours through Book My Safari Company based in Mumbai in India. The URL is https://book-my-safari.com/. Discover amazing wilderness in the country on a holiday safari.

=========================================================

Uday Writes about tigers and safaris having worked as a naturalist for a number of years. He loves to write about Indian Wildlife. Uday provides content, SEO and digital marketing services as well.

He can be contacted by emails

pateluday90@hotmail.com

09755089323

How to Spot & Recognize Tigers in the Wild on Safari?

noreply@blogger.com (Uday Patel) — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 06:15:00 +0000

Spotting Tigers

Wildlife enthusiasts, holidaymakers, photographers, and naturalists often visit the tiger reserves to spot tigers. Not satisfied by just one sighting visitors want to see more and more, and hence they book more safaris. This is not a rare instance, wildlife enthusiasts usually seek extended stays in luxury hotels so that they visit the park at least three to four times.

Indian wildlife is fun and exciting all over the land, and endemic, rare, and critically endangered wild animals survive. But the focus of the tiger reserves as conservation units is on the critically endangered wild cat. Although the conservation units deliver a holistic experience almost all the visitors except the birders search keenly for the big cats. Such is the attraction of the beautiful striped hunter that the holidaymakers arrive from far-off lands after months of planning. The majority of tigers survive in India - almost over fifty percent. The population stands at over 3000 adult tigers in fifty-three reserves spread across the country.

Tiger Safari

The safaris for tiger spotting are organized on an open jeep or cantar in the morning and evening. The jeep safari offers a private experience with your family and friends as sole occupants. You have to book a permit in advance from the State Government Portal or from the Director's Office of the reserve. The game drives are subject to rules and regulations with a limited entry in the core zone or the critical tiger habitat. Hence you must book a safari permit in advance.

Spotting Tigers on Drives

The best chance of spotting tigers on a safari is in the morning drive. Although some of the evening drives can yield spectacular sightings. The success depends upon tiger tracking experience, the presence of tigers in the area you are moving around usually called a tourism zone, and pure luck.

The big cats leave signs of their movements that could be vocal or physical traces that naturalists and guides look for. After reading this blog entry you too can help in searching for the cats on tiger safari.

While on drive keep your sensory apparatus on the alert. Look for pug marks on the ground. Look at the image below and you will know what the imprints are like on a soft stand.

Tiger Pug Marks

This is a pug mark of the striped hunter. A male's footprints are square shaped while the female's rectangular and smaller. If you come across the imprints of both males and females you will be able to make this out better.

It is difficult to catch a view of the marks from a running jeep but tracking in the wild is all about practice and experience. Other visuals you should look for are scratch marks on trees with soft barks. The sharp claws stretch up to a height of the tiger 9 to 10 feet. Fecal droppings and urine wetting on the soft jungle roads could also indicate the presence of the big hunter. Look for hunted animals or carcasses, or if you make out a foul smell that too could indicate the presence of the hunter.

Among the vocal signs, alarm cries of deer, and other herbivores are the most reliable. The carnivore could have passed a long time back from where the pug marks are discovered, but an alarm cry is a sure-shot sign of the animal in the vicinity. Loud frantic alarm calls indicate that the animal is in close range while distant ones indicate movement taking place at a distance. Guides and naturalists try to make out in which direction the calls are coming from and ascertain whether the tiger is moving away or coming towards the jeep. All animal species have different alarm cries, and you will need practice to make out the herbivore species. Remember even jackals, foxes and some birds emit alarm calls and they are usually loud and shrill. Langur and deer vocalization is very easy to make out.

If you follow the steps well you will soon be tracking the wild big cats with ease.

Recognizing Tigers

Spotting tigers means a rush of adrenalin, extreme excitement, and a surprise is palpable. The charismatic beauty and the magnetic attraction of wild animals peak in the tiger. The first sight is mesmerizing and for the photographers and filmmakers it is the moment they have been waiting for.

Soon the excitement gives way to curiosity. And after the adrenalin rush is over the surprise element gives way to curiosity. Visitors rarely keep quiet after the sighting, as a naturalist I have faced a series of questions some very impressive while some can be silly. The next phase is about the big cat that has been sighted and the wildlife enthusiasts are keen to know more about him or her.

Is it a male or a female?

Which tiger it is?

How do you recognize the tiger?

Well, it ends with a question about recognizing the big cat! Here lies the secret! Read on...

The striped hunters appear like any other of their kin at the first sight. Yellow, ochre brown, and striped all over with black. The size may belie gender, for this, you have to look for a large mane in adults or a large head. Usually,

Male Tiger

males have smaller manes than a lion but nevertheless, they are noticeable. If you come across a pair the size difference will become apparent. Males in India weigh around 250 kg while the weight of females ranges from 100 kg to as much as 180 kg. The length of the male is between 9 to 9.5 feet including the tail. They rarely cross over 10 feet as mentioned in the historical records.

Facial Recognition

Apart from the head size, the facial black stripes are marked distinctly, and the guide can point that out to you so next time you came across the same carnivore you can recognize it by the name the forest department has given it to her or him.

Munna the legendary tiger of Kanha National Park was a fine example. He had a clear-cut CAT shaped by black stripes on the forehead.

Munna Tiger Kanha National Park

Stripes on Flanks

Legendary Tigress of Bandhavgarh National Park had distinct four diamond-shaped stripes on the left flank. It was clearly visible even to amateurs. The Neelam tigress of Kanha National Park has thick black stripes on the flanks and the rump.

Neelam Tigress Kanha

Territorial Presence

Another weak and unreliable method is to recognize the predators by the area, though the females usually stick to their territories males are moving all over their territory and they trespass into those of other male rivals.

During my work as a naturalist, I have seen the animals sticking to their territory for a long time but I have also witnessed trespassing on a number of occasions hence spot marking and stripes on the flanks are the best means of recognizing the tigers.

Conclusion

While many other means or methods are employed for tiger census, physical recognition techniques are also taken into the account including the feces for DNA markup. Recognizing the big cats by their stripes is most followed in the field by researchers, guides, naturalists, and forest staff. You too can become an expert tiger tracker.

After reading the tips for tiger tracking you would be interested in spotting them in the wild. The best reserves in India with high tiger visibility are as follows:

Kanha National Park (MP)

Bandhavgarh National Park (MP)

Ranthambore National Park (Rajasthan)

Pench National Park (MP)

Tadoba National Park (Maharashtra)

Corbett Tiger Reserve (Uttrakhand)

===========================================

Uday is a naturalist and has worked in Kanha, Pench, Corbett, and Pench National Park as a freelancer. Uday has years of experience in organizing tiger safaris in India as a naturalist guide and host.

He provides Digital Marketing Services, Content Writing, and SEO services in India.

History of Tigers Decline & Revival and Sighting in India

noreply@blogger.com (Uday Patel) — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 08:38:00 +0000

Big Cat Decline

Once living in India in superabundant numbers, the tiger population had begun to dwindle as humans came to possess guns. Till the arrival of guns, no weapon had the power to annihilate the big cats in such a disproportionate manner. The colonial rulers and their satraps carried out mayhem that unfortunately continued post-independence.

The Maharajahs were protecting hunting reserves within their territories for their pleasure hunts. Paradoxically, this proved beneficial in a way, but the preservation came at a cost. Most of the reserves today are earlier hunting grounds, they were erstwhile private reserves of the Maharajahs. Outside of these reserves, mass-scale wood logging and poaching were taking place, and most of the forests and grasslands were stripped of their crown cover. Although the crown cover was preserved within the private hunting reserves the big cats were not. The ecosystems were facing an all-around onslaught that was showing no signs of mitigation in pre-independence India.

Rulers & Satraps

The elite rulers, and their satraps, were unfortunately merciless on wild animals, especially the big cats. The Europeans did not know about ecosystems that were instrumental in creating an ambient environment there actions had a disastrous impact on the colonies. Declared as vermins, the predators were slaughtered in large numbers for a small price. Having decimated ecosystems and wildlife in their lands, the colonials were at it in countries like India.

Hunting was considered a noble sport among the Europeans, unlike the masses in India, they were not subject to the conservation ethos that we inherited from the Vedas. For the satraps subjugated by the rulers, killing tigers and leopards was a masculine act keeping in tandem with their superhuman status. Some royals in the country are said to have shot more than 1000 tigers during their lifetime.

Irreversible Decline

The numbers from over one hundred thousand came to around 1400 by the seventies. The big cats were facing certain extinction, and the savage hunt was going on. Tigers were being hunted down legally for a paltry sum of a hundred rupees or less. Fortunately, there was a panic setting up among the conservation circles, however small. It was time to take steps to save the iconic predator before the species perished in India.

The then Prime Minister Smt.Indira Gandhi came to the rescue of the tigers. She valued the heritage that belonged to India, and thus, the wildlife protection act 1972 was passed in the parliament. Rightfully, all wild animals and their habitats facing decline got a reprieve from merciless slaughter at the hands of hunters and poachers alike. The next good thing was the creation of a protected area with a core that was completely inviolate. This was done under the Project Tiger Program which after initial hiccups has become a rollicking success, and the population of the striped cat has reached over three thousand adults in the year 2022.

Protected Areas in India

As of 2022, there are 53 tiger reserves in India, and more are being planned. The first tiger reserve was what is now the Corbett National Park and there was a continuous declaration of habitable forests for tigers as protected areas. The tiger reserves are being managed by NTCA a government body that subscribes to court rulings and its management agenda.

Tiger Safari in India

Tigers can be seen in the protected areas where 20 % of the core has been regulated for tourism. Tourists can book safari permits for morning and evening safaris. The rides are on open jeeps and canters but a permit is a must. You should book safari permits in advance on the websites of Indian states. Following the safari booking online, you can book the rest of the travel arrangements for the tour. If you do not get a booking for the core area you can books tourism in the buffer, but here tiger sightings are not guaranteed.

Bandhavgarh Safari Video

Some of the prime tiger reserves for tourism are:

· Bandhavgarh National Park
· Kanha National Park
· Tadoba National Park
· Pench National Park
· Ranthambore National Park
· Corbett National Park
· Periyar National Park
· Nagarjuna Sirsailum Tiger Reserve
· Navegaon Nagjira Tiger Reserve
Sanjay Dubri National Park

Tigers are sighted everywhere in all tiger reserves but some forests are dense, and the big cat is elusive. Nevertheless, visit the reserve nearest to you and enjoy the amazing Indian wilderness on a tour.

============================================================
Uday Freelances as Naturalist in Central India. He is an avid birder and tiger enthusiast. He blogs on tigers, wildlife, and birds. He also writes about the environment and conservation.

Uday also provides SEO Services and Website Content in English. He teaches Digital Marketing in Jabalpur.
--------
Contact: pateluday90@hotmail.com
09755089323

Tiger Activity Videos filmed at Bandhavgarh National Park in Central India

noreply@blogger.com (Uday Patel) — Sun, 30 Jan 2022 09:08:00 +0000

Bandhavgarh National Park

The land of the tiger Bandhavgarh encompasses ancient history in a charismatic terrain that captivates visitors who come here for tiger safari and animal watching. The tiger reserve and National Park is also one of the best bird-watching destinations in Central India. There are more than two hundred fifty species of avian which includes the winter migrants.

Famous for its big cats the destination is home to a number of tigers, leopards, sloth bears, wild dogs, bison, and deer besides small carnivores like the jackal and the fox. The park is home to a number of antelope, like the Indian gazelle, Nilgai, and four-horned antelope.

Due to the presence of a large number of tigers, it is an ideal holiday destination as well as a place for filming and photographing the big cats.

Videos of tigers can be made during the daytime to capture them indulging in various activities. They can be filmed sleeping, walking, hunting, eating, drinking, and simply relaxing. Videos below showcase their active life as mentioned above.

Bandhavgarh is situated in the remote district of Central India or the State of Madhya Pradesh. It is open during dry and winter seasons from 1st October to the end of June. You can reach by flying to Jabalpur Airport in Madhya Pradesh from where a drive of four hours to Tala in Umaria District is required. Jabalpur Airport is connected to New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, and many other towns. It is connected by rail as well and has a vast network of highway connectivity.

For a safari in the park, a permit is required which can be obtained online at MPOnline Portal. The park is divided into three zones namely:

Tala
Khitauli
Magdi '

You can choose them alternatively for morning and evening rides. You must book in advance since during the rush bookings in the core zones might not be available. You will then have to book excursions in the buffer which is not very productive. The safari is conducted on an open jeep and canter and private vehicles cannot enter the park.

The permit is booked for a charge and the passengers on the jeep have to be notified during the booking online. The fee has to be paid online during the booking while the jeep hire and guide charges are paid at the entry gates.

Accommodations pertaining to various categories are available at Tala Village and in the neighborhood. You should book accommodation in advance in case there is a rush. A jeep for the safari can be booked at the gate. Those interested in hiring a naturalist should request the lodge. Most of the lodges provide the services of in-house naturalists.

Chambal River Boat Tours

Perspective on Kipling

===========================================================================================

Uday also provides SEO Services and Website Content in English. He teaches Digital Marketing in Jabalpur in Summer Holidays.
--------
Contact: pateluday90@hotmail.com
09755089323

Tiger and Gaur Encounters

noreply@blogger.com (Uday Patel) — Sun, 30 Jan 2022 05:05:00 +0000

Indian jungles are the abode of mysterious animals but the tiger and the gaur also called the Indian bison belong to the megafauna group and are well known. Both the big cat and the gaur live in the same habitat i.e. dense forests interspersed with grasslands. The wild cattle is mountain animal and live in herds, but the herds move down to grasslands during summer whence water and coarse feed become scarce on the tabletops.

This is the time when encounters between the Indian bison and the Bengal tiger take place often near the waterholes and the jungle pools. During the stress of water is scarce, the big cat is hardly in the mood to hunt as I discovered a few years back. But huge male tigers kill the gaur for food and this happens often but is not a common occurrence since the bison are large and are able to protect themselves well.

Male Bull Bison weigh over 1000 kgs while the cows weigh around 700 kgs in comparison the male tigers weigh around 250 kgs. But the big cat is a perfect hunting machine that manages to overpower the herbivore and ends up consuming the meat. It takes the predator at least three days to finish the kill and leave. In the Indian jungles, tigers confront gaur very often but they kill only when hungry.

Since the gaur lives in the herd and is fiercely protected by the leading cow or the bull the aggression discourages the big cat from going in for a frontal attack. When faced with the big cat the wild ox resorts to loud hissing and snorting to discourage the predator.

By nature, the two animals are the exact opposite. While a gaur is a herbivore a coarse feeder it is timid by nature and rarely charges. Only disturbance or fear of being attacked makes the animal aggressive. The tigers on the other hand are aggressive by nature and meat-eaters. But all said and done the big cat kills only for food otherwise it ignores all animals that are not an existential threat.

In the video above gaur can be seen feeding its young suckling in Kanha National Park in Central India.

Uday also provides SEO Services and Website Content in English. He teaches Digital Marketing in Jabalpur in Summer Holidays.
--------
Contact: pateluday90@hotmail.com
09755089323

Tiger Food Consumption & Drinking Water

noreply@blogger.com (Uday Patel) — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 06:18:00 +0000

Tigers are carnivores and literally consume everything that is motile but most of their prey in India consists of deer, wild boar, bison or gaur, and antelope. They are voracious eaters and one fully grown male tiger weighing around 250 plus kg can consume 30 kg of meat in one go.

The big cat makes a kill mostly by ambush or a small chase. The death is due to a fracture in the cervical region by impact as the tiger pounces and by the rupture of blood vessels in the neck by sharp canines. The big cats can hold the neck region for quite some time till the prey dies. They can hold the massive bison as well this way which is an amazing feat considering that the bull weighs over a ton in the wild. In the wild, there is no time to chew hence they clean the animal of fur and begin eating by gulping pieces of meat. Once the meal is over they must drink and hence they approach a waterbody or a waterhole sit down on limbs and gulp water. They consume a lot of water in one go.

As a routine, the predators drink once in the early morning and then at dusk and this is enough. This routine is maintained even during the hot summer. The animals with fur cannot perspire and they resort to expelling heated air from their body consistently. In summer you will find the tiger panting profusely in order to control its body temperature. Another way is to wallow or bathe in muddy pools or waterholes during the summer. I have seen big cats literally rolling in a pool to cool themselves. In the summers tiger bathing in a pool or waterhole is a matter of routine. This is when they drink to satiate thirst as well. A pool may be frequented by a number of predators and sometimes there can be a conflict. Guides and naturalists keep an eye on water sources to search for or track wild animals in National Parks or reserves.

Unlike other wild animals especially the prey species these carnivores need not be cautious while approaching as waterbody. They walk at ease to approach the waterbody and relax for quite a time in the safety of the reserves.

Sometimes one can see the whole family submerged in water male, female, and cubs all together to beat the heat. I have often seen male tigers drinking water or while sitting at the edge.

These predators are purely meat eaters or carnivores but on rare occasions, I have seen them eating grass or licking sand for minerals. This is nature's way of aiding digestion and consuming healthy nutrients like vitamins and minerals not available in animal meat.

In summer the tigers limit their range and keep a lookout on the precious water bodies and pools within their territories. Thus the sighting increase due to limited movement and prey congregation near the water sources. Photographers, filmmakers, and tourists find sightings easier in the hot months.

Uday also provides SEO Services and Website Content in English. He teaches Digital Marketing in Jabalpur in Summer Holidays.
--------
Contact: pateluday90@hotmail.com
09755089323

Tiger Habitats Grasslands and Jungle

noreply@blogger.com (Uday Patel) — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Where do tigers live?

Known as a tiger habitat the home of the tiger is varied but limited. Being an ambush hunter it needs to hide or camouflage well in order to pounce on its prey. In India, the big cats thrive in dense jungles and tall grasslands often called elephant grass. They are incapable of making a long chase for a hunt unlike the lion and the hunting methodology is to stalk prey from hidden confines make a chor chase or rush and pounce on the neck. The 2.5-inch canines rupture the jugular veins upon the impact and the weight of the predator brings the prey down and helps pin it to the ground.

The animal is perfectly at home in grasslands as it is in the forests. The height of the tiger rarely exceeds 2.5 feet while the length may cross over 9.5 feet including the head and tail. The medium height enables it to crouch amid grass and stalks its prey before pouncing upon it. Thus the medium height helps in hunting effectively.

If you come across a big male tiger on the road you will then realize the medium height and how closely it hugs the ground. The predator is large with big males weighing as much as 250 kg in India. The females generally weigh between 100 to 180 kg.

Often on a tiger safari, the carnivore is an exciting spectacle as it walks in open grasslands neighboring the jungle. I came across Neelam tigress at Kanha National Park as it walked across the huge cross-section of a meadow with medium grass and a few scattered bushes. Most of the visitors seek this kind of encounter when on a wildlife safari in the reserves.

Tiger Walking in Grassland

A walk-in short crop grass accords a clear vision to the spectators and to the filmmakers and photographers as well. When the predator walks in the dense bush in the jungle the sight is equally exciting but often cryptic as the bush mars the sight. Nevertheless, the beautiful jungle canopy with a huge cat sliding through is a treat to watch.

Tiger Walking in Forest

In the reserves tourists often come across big tigers on the jungle road and they continue walking through the tourist jeeps busy with marking their territory. This sighting is exciting with thrilling closeness and one has to keep reversing the jeep to keep moving forward. I once came across a huge dominant tiger on the road and we kept reversing throughout the drive as it came head-on. Full of tense moments and dangers, these head-on encounters are the most memorable encounters in the wild.

Tiger Walking on Jungle Road

This enchanting predator cannot survive in open or in short-crop grasslands since it needs to be hidden in tall grass or dense forest canopy. This habitat preference limits its range and the animal needs the niche to survive. Coming from the cold climes of Siberia it needs plenty of waterholes and rivulets in its habitat and a high percentage of prey. As a specialized hunter, the carnivore needs a good prey base comprising of deer although it literally eats anything that walks.

In the tiger reserves the prey base, protection, and inviolate grounds are helping the tiger survive in India. Their number is now well over three thousand adults.

These wild tigers were filmed in the reserves and not in the zoo. Please watch my YouTube videos and Subscribe!

Uday also provides SEO Services and Website Contents in English. He teaches Digital Marketing in Jabalpur in Summer Holidays.
--------
Contact: pateluday90@hotmail.com
09755089323

Tigers Affinity with Water

noreply@blogger.com (Uday Patel) — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 08:03:00 +0000

The Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)

The Bengal Tiger in India shows a distinct and overwhelming affinity with water. The reason behind this proclivity is that the predator has its origin in the extreme cold climes of Siberia or Central Russia. In hot Indian summer, the animal is at the mercy of waterholes and other sources of water.

Ten thousand years back the tiger migrated to India through the Indo Malaysia sub-region and settled down in large numbers in the Indian State of Bengal in the east. Hence it is called the Bengal Tiger of often known as the Indian Tiger. Even after such a long span of stay in the country the carnivore has not been acclimatized to the heat and humidity prevailing in many parts of the country. Since fur animals cannot sweat most of the accumulated heat is exhaled by panting and immersion in the water.

Photographers and naturalist guides know fully well the likely hood of finding the big cat in the hot months. In the tiger reserves waterholes, small lakes, saucers, and muddy pools abound. They are most of the mid-day time occupied by the tiger cooling off or used for wallowing besides drinking water of course. It gets hot after 9 am in the reserves and the big cats curtail their movement and look for shade to rest or sleep. They usually drink water in the early morning time and late evening unless they have consumed a kill in the daytime. The tigers gulp water forced by their tongue and drink enough to last for long hours.

While lying in a forest pool they slide down back into the water and head in the air. In the case of small pools, they often drink and wallow and then leave for the dense canopy to rest. My videos capture both strategies adopted by these big cats in India.

Bengal Tiger and Gaur Drinking Together

Tiger Drinking & Wallowing

These wild tigers were filmed in the reserves and not in the zoo. Please watch my YouTube videos and Subscribe!

============================================================
Uday Freelances as Naturalist in Central India. He is an avid birder and tiger enthusiast. He blogs on tigers, wildlife and birds. He also writes on the environment and conservation.

Uday also provides SEO Services and Website Contents in English. He teaches Digital Marketing in Jabalpur in Summer Holidays.
--------
Contact: pateluday90@hotmail.com
09755089323

Langur Monkeys Grooming and Family Life

noreply@blogger.com (Uday Patel) — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 05:21:00 +0000

Grooming Langur Monkeys - (Semnopithecus entellus)

One of the most charismatic arboreal primates in wild India. Hanuman Langur is also known as Gray langur an old-world monkey it is most common as well. It is large when compared to the rhesus macaque another primate found in the country among many.

Closer to apes perhaps, the langurs exhibit a distinct behavior pattern and social life much like humans. Grooming is common to this animal and often they can be seen caressing the fur and picking up lice and other insects from each other's bodies. The behavior stimulates the skin as well and keeps the body clean.

The primates display a distinct character that points to an appreciable level of intelligence and live in troops which is a group shared by a clan. The monkey is known to give birth to a single baby which sticks close to the mother. This is a very positive relationship that continues after birth through continued weaning and nursing the baby. These animals live entirely on fruits and leaves and unlike the graminivores do not survive in the grass. They also eat insects, grubs, and termites often right from the anthill. Rarely aggressive they have become a commensal of man and are sometimes in conflict due to the food-snatching habit.

I was able to film various behavioral aspects of the gray langur at Kanha National Park in Central India.

Drinking water at forest lake.

Monkeys Grooming

The primates are tolerant of man and are found in all forests of India, towns, cities, and villages. They are not killed as they are considered to be associates of Lord Hanuman. The animal is preyed upon by the tiger, leopard, and on rare occasions by the jackals and python. Some primitive tribes kill and consume entellus meat but it is largely out of the human food chain. There are four races of entellus found in India.

Langur & Deer Symbiotic Relationship (Mutualism)

Survival in the dense jungles of India has led to the evolution of a symbiotic relationship and often the monkey is found feeding with the deer. The advantage goes in favor of the spotted deer with the monkey perched on top dropping leaves and fruits for the deer to feed. The primates also keep a lookout for the predators being perched on the top. Thanks to their keen sense the chital or spotted deer keep alert of the ground level and warn if a predator approaches thus mutually benefitting each other.

Langur Picking Off Lice from Each Other

Langur Eating Grub at Anthill

During a troop takeover by rival males, there can be disturbing violence with babies being snatched from the females and killed. This is done to bring the mother into oestrus.

These Videos have been made from an open jeep moving as well as stationary ones. In the tiger reserves of India, foot excursions are not allowed. Filming on a running jeep needs practice and steady hands to minimize shaking.

Uday also provides SEO Services and Website Content in English. He teaches Digital Marketing in Jabalpur in Summer Holidays.
--------
Contact: pateluday90@hotmail.com
09755089323

Leopard with Cubs in Kanha National Park

noreply@blogger.com (Uday Patel) — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 12:59:00 +0000

At least on three occasions, I have come across a leopard with a single cub crossing the jungle road in Kanha National Park in Central India. I work as a naturalist in Kanha and hence come across exciting moments during the tiger safari in the park.

I remember when just after breakfast at Kanha Interpretation Centre we decided to explore link seven inhabited by the famous Naina tigress labeled T 76. It was around 10 and we had an hour to go before leaving the place. The park closes at 11.30 AM every day and the jeeps have to be out of the park by then.

Taking a chance as I always do we decided to venture into link 7 since most of the jeeps had departed for the gate and some were focusing at Bison road for Neelam tigress. I had seen leopards many times but this is the first time I came across a leopard with a cub. In the simmering heat of April, we heard alarm cries near the Bela Chapper waterhole and stopped.

Leopard With Cubs Mobile Video

The leopard was looking straight at us much to our surprise it was sitting still. I was intrigued by his behavior as he was constantly turning around and peering into the bushes. There must be a kill I thought hidden in the bush.

I instructed the driver to move back a little distance to make the leopard comfortable hoping that it would come out. We had not seen the cub till then. As we reversed the female panther started to cross the road and instead of vanishing in the bush like small predators always do she came to rest under the tree and began calling. We knew instantly that she was calling her cub. After a long wait, she moved back once again into the bush and then came out followed by a frightened cub who perhaps had encountered humans for the first time.

We had great moments with the leopards and I could film them a few times. There are more leopard videos below for you to watch. The story has been always the same with the hesitant cub being coaxed to cross over.

The videos tell their own stories and encounters like these happen after roaming in the wild for years. Guiding tourists in search of tigers and leopards is a herculean task and much depends upon experience, tracking skills, and of course luck.

Uday also provides SEO Services and Website Contents in English. He teaches Digital Marketing in Jabalpur in Summer Holidays.
--------
Contact: pateluday90@hotmail.com
09755089323

Huge Dominant Male Tiger on Live Safari

noreply@blogger.com (Uday Patel) — Sun, 10 Oct 2021 11:07:00 +0000

On the crossroad much before the camp, we spotted some suspicious activity among the bison. Alert and quiet they carried an inspecting look towards the direction we had come from. The snort gives the game away in case the bison or gaur as the animal is called in Hindi. The huge male began to snort fervently and we stopped completely.

Before I could utter Tiger! The predator came into the view. Huge as it was T 67 or Dhamangaon was making his presence in this zone in Kanha. Our guide upon spotting the tiger heading towards the camp knew the movement well and we moved forward a short distance and waited. As the guide had predicted the tiger came down from the elevated ground unto the road some distance before us.

Then the chase began actually as soon as the tiger landed on the jungle road he became busy marking the nearby trees pacing right in front oblivious of our presence. This continued for at least 15 to 20 minutes and I could film the huge beast in our pursuit literarily speaking. Even though the big cats act oblivious of the safari jeep's presence they are quite alert and keep gauging the distance we were at.

Anyway, who would dare to come to a halt as the dominant tiger continued to walk on the road marking his territory here and there on the trees and the bush? Eventually, another jeep arrived before the camp and they could see the huge tiger walking behind us but not for long as the best entered a nearby bush not to come out again.

I was using the camera for the first time and was in movie mode. I could capture the safari live but with a lot of shakes since trepidation had set in a long time before. To this date, I have not edited the video in order to keep the live tiger safari alive in my memory bank.

We encountered T 67 many times as he was the dominant tiger of the zone in Kanha National Park. Once again we experienced a live tiger safari but in another area. By this time he was stressed out by the presence of another rival Sangam Tiger. Nevertheless, he was as aggressive and confident as ever.

Tracking tigers is a tough but interesting job and a naturalist should remain confident in case of failure. The big cats of Kanha National park though acclimatized to humans are by all means as wild and as shy as anywhere. We keep silent and always maintain a distance in order to make the animal feel safe.

The tigers are not maneaters by instinct but can charge when feeling threatened. And you better not experience the charge. Maintain a distance and be safe.

============================================================
Uday Freelances as Naturalist in Central India. He is an avid birder and tiger enthusiast. He blogs on tigers, wildlife and birds. He also writes on the environment and conservation.

Uday also provides SEO Services and Website Content in English. He teaches Digital Marketing in Jabalpur during Summer Holidays.
--------
Contact: pateluday90@hotmail.com
09755089323

====================================================

Tigress Mundi Dadar Hunts Down a Fawn

noreply@blogger.com (Uday Patel) — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 09:28:00 +0000

It was one of those great mornings, and we were cruising along link seven road at Kanha National Park in Central India. Margeret Norah and her husband from France were with me hoping to see their first tiger. Link Seven drive is one of the most picturesque in the tourism zone of the park.

The road is situated at the last leg of the tourism zone in Kanha Range neighboring some forest-clad ranges, a group of tabletop mountains that form a ridge in this erstwhile crater we call Kanha National Park in Maikal Hills of Satpura Mountain Range. The Satpura Range transects Madhya Pradesh giving rise to some of most exotic terrains in the World loaded with amazing natural formations. These fantastic biodiversity heavens are also known as Tigerland.

It was Capt. James Forsyth a geologist in British India who has best described hilly regions of Central India in his book "Highlands of Central Indian".

That morning we had decided to cut off from the crowd which always heads towards areas where the probability of tiger sightings is the highest. And as happened for much of a distance we did not encounter any big cat nor an exciting sight of creatures that dominate the wilderness. We were heading towards the Kanha Meadow and then we had planned to visit the recreation center a place to visit the toilet and then have breakfast on the jeep bonnet in the open. Jungle drives without any impactful sightings can be boring and silence often prevails. That was what was going on in our minds not knowing that will witness a sight of a lifetime.

It was at Badi Gansh or Tall Grass that we encountered the tigress Mundi Dadar at that time she was dominating the link 7 area and probably had cubs. All we could see was her head popping out of the thick grass. We had come to a stop and were keenly observing her whence I noticed here avid glance in the direction of a deer herd far away. She was repeating the act well hidden in the bush.

"She is planning to hunt", I whispered confidently to my guests. And then we changed our plans to visit the center and decided to wait. The guests were cooperative, and an expectancy in the air loomed over us. After some time, the deer began to inch closer to the meadow and the tigress decided to come out in the open and then she quickly receded into the back of the bush. She was completely hidden now. We could not see her. By this time two more jeeps that had just arrived, they could not see her either. The guides of Kanha are smart people, and they knew instantly that we had located a tiger. They parked the jeep behind us and sat quietly.

Tigeress Hunting Fawn

Unfortunately for them a spotted deer female and her fawn were strolling down the road that connects Kanha Meadow grazing frequently as they came towards us. Our hearts had begun to beat faster in expectancy by this time. And as we had hoped for...the deer and the buck veered around and went straight to the spot where the tigress was hiding. This is it, I said to myself and readied my mobile phone camera, Margeret had her camera rolled out in expectancy too.

There was a big rush shrill and alarm cry as the tigress charged. Completely surprised the female dived into the nearby bush. All we could see was the big cat chasing the desperate bewildered fawn. The fawn ran in our direction with the cat chasing behind. Very close to the jeep perhaps at a distance of 10 feet, the tigress pounced on the fawn as it let out a heart rendering cry. That was it. I stood in a trance as the big cat turned in the opposite direction and scampered away with the dead baby hanging between her canines. I was close to death standing on the stationery jeep well exposed. She could have chosen me instead of the fawn. But tigers are disciplined predators and they kill only for food and we humans are not included.

The video enumerates the last scene well but is of poor quality having filmed using a small mobile phone.

============================================================
Uday Freelances as Naturalist in Central India. He is an avid birder and tiger enthusiast. He blogs on tigers, wildlife and birds. He also writes on the environment and conservation.

Uday also provides SEO Services and Website Contents in English. He teaches Digital Marketing in Jabalpur in Summer Holidays.
--------
Contact: pateluday90@hotmail.com
09755089323

====================================================

Indian Tiger Videos II

noreply@blogger.com (Uday Patel) — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 06:17:00 +0000

A ferocious Male T 24 Jamun Tola, he was not very big he had already killed DJ tigress cub in Mukki. We heard alarm cries at Nakti Ghati and waited for a long time to see a tiger emerging. He was injured probably of frequent skirmishes he was having with Chota Munna and Umarpani Male Tiger T 30. He walked boldly in front of us and walked down into the rivulet and entered. He drank alongside bison of gaur herd without any concern. This was a rare spectacle and I filmed from far and good some good sequence.

Tiger T 24 Jamun Tola Male

Neelam is a legendary tigress at Kanha National Park. She rules over the prime Kanha Meadow to this date. One of the most beautiful and charismatic tigers I have frequently come across her. She is captivating as she takes long strides at Kanha Meadow emerging from a nontourism area. I filmed her completely at ease as she walked nonchalantly towards open jeeps on safari and crossed over.

One fine day in Mukki Range a mystery that has not been solved till this date happened. Chota Munna the dominant Tiger of Kanha vanished without a trace. The search is on probably he may return if he has changed territory. Unfortunately, this has not happened and he was probably killed by T 24 or T30 both intruders in the Mukki range of Kanha. We encountered the male tiger one fine day in the late evening as he strode confidently towards the Baba Thenga Lake and began to drink.

Tiger Chotta Munna at Water Hole

It is an ethereal experience to watch a tiger at a water hole as we did I filmed even though the light was not proper. But nevertheless, my guests were happy beyond belief it was their first tiger sighting.

Sanjay Dubri National Park is true white tiger land because Mohun the first and only white tiger was discovered here by the erstwhile Maharajah of Rewa. The tiger I was told was T 5 and alarm cries that rang continuously led us to him. We knew that a predator was in the grasslands but found it difficult to track him. Eventually, we began changing positions to expand our vision. The local guide spotted the male tiger as a small speck of white that sparkled as sun rays fell on him. This was my first sight of the tiger at Sanjay Dubri National Park and Tiger Reserve. The park is one hour's drive from Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and surprisingly not well known It has yet to see the limelight.

Tiger T 5 SDNP

Filming tigers using amateur cameras or videos is not an easy task. As a naturalist, I get frequent opportunities to visit the reserves and film and photograph big cats and other wild animals in India. One of my best safaris was to see a big male tiger at Kanha National Park. He walked behind us for a considerable distance on a live safari instigating a rush of adrenaline as he came closer. This was the dominant cat of Kisli Range in Kanha National Park is Madhya Pradesh in India.

============================================================
Uday Freelances as Naturalist in Central India. He is an avid birder and tiger enthusiast. He blogs on tigers, wildlife and birds. He also writes on the environment and conservation.

Uday also provides SEO Services and Website Contents in English. He teaches Digital Marketing in Jabalpur in Summer Holidays.
--------
Contact: pateluday90@hotmail.com
09755089323

====================================================

Indian Tiger Videos

noreply@blogger.com (Uday Patel) — Sun, 03 Oct 2021 11:59:00 +0000

Tiger Cubs Playing With Mother

This was a wonderful opportunity to film cubs frolicking with mother Choti Mada in Kanha Tiger Reserve in Central India of Madhya Pradesh. The female tiger is very possessive about her progeny and keeps hidden in dense forests and grasslands. This female sired many litters and is still active in Mukki tourism zone and range. The sightings were excellent in the year 2018 and 2019 when all Mukki Tigresses had given birth to young ones. Nearly around one year the cubs are fully out in the open in company of the mother when she is not their they stay completely hidden in the dense bush in the jungle.

This was link 7 tigress Mundi Dadar who killed a baby deer or Chital Fawn right in front of me. Oops! She could have attacked me easily. The last cry of the baby was heart rendering and I will never forget it. But that is nature! She was not seen after 2019 the reason is not known she might have been killed by a rival tigress or an aggressive male in the wild. Bengal tigers at Kanha are able to hold territory for up to 10 or sixteen years eventually giving way to their progeny being accommodated in the neighborhood. But some females lose ground in few years due to territorial takeovers. Dominant male tigers hold territory for four to five years while few like Munna in Kahna switched areas to accommodate rival males but he remained in the core for his whole life nearly, except the last couple of years. T 2 held the area for only 4 o4 5 years although he was extremely aggressive. I have not seen aggression like that of the Kariaghati Male being the largest at that time. The Umarpani male is the largest at Kanha or perhaps in India.

The roaring was very loud and the whole area could hear. It started with growling but enraged T2 or Kariaghati Male Tiger turned the growls into an earth-shattering roar. We were the only safari jeep enjoying this amazing natural history at work. The Kariaghati Male or T 2 had lost Kisli ground to a young male tiger M1 male and was stoking his claim at Indri forests. Young tigers are able to kick out dominant males when they cross four years and the erstwhile dominant tiger struggles for new territory and is eventually kicked out of the core into the sink are the buzzer zone where he survives among uncaring humans. The Kariaghati Male had charged me twice since he could not tolerate jeeps. He came into the tourism zone from the buffer and took the jeeps as another animal and an adversary. Buffer is good enough to hold the sink population since they come to die here anyway but life is hard and they are never seen after few years.

Dhamangaon Male or T 67 is going strong for four years but there are frequent territorial fights with Sangam Male who often ventures into his area from Sarhi Range. The supremacy has not yet been decided and it often seems they deliberately avoid each other. There is a safety mechanism among the big cats and the fight rarely ends in death. Of the two the Sangam male is very aggressive and he had killed an intruding male in the year 2019, the intruder was a tiger called Bamni Dadar male the one who had killed Bajrang Tigers cubs sired by link eight female Naina. The battle was over in one night and the half-eaten carcass of the Bamni Dadar male was found on Karaighati Road in Kanha. Predators consume the meat of their own dead species as precious protein has not to be wasted. This is not cannibalism as presumed it happens by chance and is not a deliberate act.

============================================================
Uday Freelances as Naturalist in Central India. He is an avid birder and tiger enthusiast. He blogs on tigers, wildlife and birds. He also writes on the environment and conservation.

Uday also provides SEO Services and Website Contents in English. He teaches Digital Marketing in Jabalpur in Summer Holidays.
--------
Contact: pateluday90@hotmail.com
09755089323

====================================================