Interesting posts on Indian wildlife...read on...
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
Tiger Safaris India
Wildlife Safaris - Tiger Tours
Come October, the monsoon ends and National Parks and tiger reserves open up for visitors. Though the number of tigers in India is constantly dwindling, the animal finds increasing interest among the naturalists and wildlife lovers.
Severely endangered the majestic tiger is World's most charismatic animal. It's aura revolves around mystic charm, abundant fear and intrigue which humans find irresistible. Tourist flock in thousands from every state of India and the World to have just one fleeting glimpse of the big cat. Tigers are shy of humans and contrary to popular belief they fear man.
Man eating is an aberrant behavior and the cat is literary a gentle giant. It's main purpose is to serve the ecosystem as top/tertiary carnivore in the food chain. It governs the population of herbivores which are it's main prey base. The tiger's presence in the forest acts as an indicator that the ecosystem is intact.
The preferred habitat is dense forest and sometimes tall grasslands like in Kaziranga National Park. Unlike the lion it is not an open country or savanna dwelling animal. Neither does it hunt or live in big prides like it's cousin, but is a solitary animal. The pairing takes place for mating after which the two separate. The female rears the cubs, while the male guards from afar rarely visiting the family.
The tigress is fiercely protective of the cubs and does not let the male come near nor share the food. There is no danger to the cubs from the male which has sired them, but other males will kill the cubs instantly. On rare occasion the whole family can be seen together.
The tiger now survives in protected areas like the National Parks, tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries. Outside these areas in the unprotected forests the tiger's survival is uncertain, and it has probably become extinct in many of them.
The protected areas serve many a purpose, one is to conserve the tiger as well as the whole ecosystem. The other is eco tourism which brings in revenue to the locals and the tourism industry including the hotels and wildlife resorts. Subsequently tourism creates awareness among people and encourages them to conserve nature. Tourist also act as an eye on the way things are in the habitat and perhaps help protect the forests in this manner.
In the beginning of the safari season flood gates open up for tour operators in India who get busy selling wildlife packages. Package tours in group are preffered mode of travel for tiger safaris amongst foreign tourists. The Indian tourists prefer family trips or travel independent. The hotel industry is linked with the tour operators in India and abroad. The accommodation is fully booked during the holiday seasons much in advance.
With awareness, tourism has become more responsible. The industry and governance sees the benefit of sharing revenue, jobs and income with the local tribes who are thus encouraged to conserve their natural wealth. Although bit ironical these very people have to be shifted from the core areas of the parks in order to give free space to the wild denizens. This is imperative and the solution is to delivers generous package which justifies the relocation. Proper compensation helps them resettle elsewhere successfully and make a better living.
Responsible tourism is again an imperative in order to make the local endemic tribal communities understand the benefit of conservation and tourism. Many tour operators and hotels employ local people and share benefits with them. In return these very communities strive hard to protect the inheritance.
Though there is much noise about ill effect of tourism, here it is not justified as wildlife nor the ecosystem has ever suffered from controlled tourism. On the contrary parks like Kanha National Park, Bandhavgarh, Corbett, Pench, Ranthambhore and many others have been a conservation success. This in spite of heavy load of tourists every year.
Severely endangered the majestic tiger is World's most charismatic animal. It's aura revolves around mystic charm, abundant fear and intrigue which humans find irresistible. Tourist flock in thousands from every state of India and the World to have just one fleeting glimpse of the big cat. Tigers are shy of humans and contrary to popular belief they fear man.
Man eating is an aberrant behavior and the cat is literary a gentle giant. It's main purpose is to serve the ecosystem as top/tertiary carnivore in the food chain. It governs the population of herbivores which are it's main prey base. The tiger's presence in the forest acts as an indicator that the ecosystem is intact.
The preferred habitat is dense forest and sometimes tall grasslands like in Kaziranga National Park. Unlike the lion it is not an open country or savanna dwelling animal. Neither does it hunt or live in big prides like it's cousin, but is a solitary animal. The pairing takes place for mating after which the two separate. The female rears the cubs, while the male guards from afar rarely visiting the family.
The tigress is fiercely protective of the cubs and does not let the male come near nor share the food. There is no danger to the cubs from the male which has sired them, but other males will kill the cubs instantly. On rare occasion the whole family can be seen together.
The tiger now survives in protected areas like the National Parks, tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries. Outside these areas in the unprotected forests the tiger's survival is uncertain, and it has probably become extinct in many of them.
The protected areas serve many a purpose, one is to conserve the tiger as well as the whole ecosystem. The other is eco tourism which brings in revenue to the locals and the tourism industry including the hotels and wildlife resorts. Subsequently tourism creates awareness among people and encourages them to conserve nature. Tourist also act as an eye on the way things are in the habitat and perhaps help protect the forests in this manner.
In the beginning of the safari season flood gates open up for tour operators in India who get busy selling wildlife packages. Package tours in group are preffered mode of travel for tiger safaris amongst foreign tourists. The Indian tourists prefer family trips or travel independent. The hotel industry is linked with the tour operators in India and abroad. The accommodation is fully booked during the holiday seasons much in advance.
With awareness, tourism has become more responsible. The industry and governance sees the benefit of sharing revenue, jobs and income with the local tribes who are thus encouraged to conserve their natural wealth. Although bit ironical these very people have to be shifted from the core areas of the parks in order to give free space to the wild denizens. This is imperative and the solution is to delivers generous package which justifies the relocation. Proper compensation helps them resettle elsewhere successfully and make a better living.
Responsible tourism is again an imperative in order to make the local endemic tribal communities understand the benefit of conservation and tourism. Many tour operators and hotels employ local people and share benefits with them. In return these very communities strive hard to protect the inheritance.
Though there is much noise about ill effect of tourism, here it is not justified as wildlife nor the ecosystem has ever suffered from controlled tourism. On the contrary parks like Kanha National Park, Bandhavgarh, Corbett, Pench, Ranthambhore and many others have been a conservation success. This in spite of heavy load of tourists every year.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Nature photography workshop & wildlife safari
Hotel Celebration Group will organize another wildlife photography workshop in the month of November 2009 at:
Kanha National Park ..................................14th to 17th November 2009
Bandhavgarh National Park .......................17th to 20th November 2009
In Madhya Pradesh the above tiger reserves are the best places to see tiger and Indian wildlife. This is a unique opportunity to learn all about nature photography alongside with acclaimed wildlife photographer Mr. Kalyan Verma...
More details in wildlife photography workshop.....
Kanha National Park ..................................14th to 17th November 2009
Bandhavgarh National Park .......................17th to 20th November 2009
In Madhya Pradesh the above tiger reserves are the best places to see tiger and Indian wildlife. This is a unique opportunity to learn all about nature photography alongside with acclaimed wildlife photographer Mr. Kalyan Verma...
More details in wildlife photography workshop.....
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Work Shop: Photography of tigers
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wildlife Photography Work Shop at Kanha
21st to 24th May 09
Photography workshop organized by Hotel Celebration at Kanha National Park. The workshop offers unique opportunity for budding wildlife and nature photographers to get first hand lesson in the art. The workshop will be conducted by acclaimed wildlife photographer Mr. Kalyan Verma.
The workshop at Kanha has three components:
Photo Sessions in the Park with Kalyan Verma.
Learn to photograph tigers and other wild animals.
Work shop in class room session by Kalyan Verma.
Get first hand knowledge techniques employed in Wildlife Photography.
Discussion with and demonstration by Kalyan Verma.
Discussions and demos of vast range of techniques.
Accommodation will be provided by Van Vilas Celebration Resort at Kanha National Park at Mocha. The Cost for attending the workshop is Rs.12200 per person twin sharing basis. For single occupancy extra Rs.2000 has to be paid over Rs12200.
What all is Included in Cost? *
All Park Fee *
Accommodation based on double occupancy *
All 3 meals inclusive with morning and evening tea*
Services of guide and jeep driver.
What is Not Included in the cost?
* Your travel charges to and back to your hometown.
* Elephant ride.
* Tipping
* Fees for passport, visas, immunizations, insurance and airport taxes.
* Alcoholic beverages and sodas
* Laundry, phone and other items.
For Registration - Please contact:
Rajesh Singh
Phone : 9425203151
Email : vanvilaskanha@yahoo.com
=============
For queries contact:
kalyan@rtns.org
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Trekking tiger at Corbett
It was just a faint sound that caught my ears. I knew well that it was an alarm cry of the Sambar. I brought the jeep to halt with a tap on the shoulder of the bewildered driver.
“There is a tiger here” I said to my guest from Germany. They were bit perplexed because they could not see one. Then the alarm cries of spotted deer confirmed my deduction. The deer were across the Ramganga river and could see them through my binocs. They were constantly warning and moving in the opposite direction on full alert. I knew now where the tiger was.
It was somewhere on the bank of the river towards us and probably in the deep nullah down the slope of the hill we were on. We waited for a long time, the Sambar call from over the hill had died down and so had the calls of the spotted deer.
I told my guests that we have a fair chance to see the tiger if it decides to come out in the open , where we could see it. My guests were bit impatience doubting as to if the tiger was actually there. “Come out Mr. Tiger or I will be proved wrong” I whispered to my self.
We were on a birding trip to North India that covered Bharatpur, Nainital district and Corbett national Park in Uttranchal. After a successful bird tour, we were on the last leg of our trip at Corbett. Birding was our focus but so was the tiger…obviously.
I was screening my surroundings as we waited silently…then out of blue a small troop of rhesus macaque arrived on the other side of the jungle road.
“We will see the tiger now! The monkeys will fetch the tiger for us,” I announced elated. By this time the rest of our group had also arrived behind us. “Move slowly towards the macaques,” I instructed the driver. He did so and so did the rest. Now we were in full view of the mountain slope.
The rhesus is like a curious cat and is afraid of the tiger and emits a strange clucking sound as alarm cry. Unlike other prey species they do not move away. The rhesus or red faced monkeys have a habit of going right next to the tiger (up a tree of course) and give its game away. They did right that and an irritated tiger rose up from the nullah and came right unto our view. Our package tour to North India for birding struck success with the tiger sighting. It is not always possible to sight tigers like this.
We could see it rushing past right through the short bushes. A tiger sighting had been made and people from far were elated. Tourists on tiger safaris come from far and wide to see the tiger. Whence they succeed in sighting the charismatic tiger all the effort, time and cost is paid for.
“There is a tiger here” I said to my guest from Germany. They were bit perplexed because they could not see one. Then the alarm cries of spotted deer confirmed my deduction. The deer were across the Ramganga river and could see them through my binocs. They were constantly warning and moving in the opposite direction on full alert. I knew now where the tiger was.
It was somewhere on the bank of the river towards us and probably in the deep nullah down the slope of the hill we were on. We waited for a long time, the Sambar call from over the hill had died down and so had the calls of the spotted deer.
I told my guests that we have a fair chance to see the tiger if it decides to come out in the open , where we could see it. My guests were bit impatience doubting as to if the tiger was actually there. “Come out Mr. Tiger or I will be proved wrong” I whispered to my self.
We were on a birding trip to North India that covered Bharatpur, Nainital district and Corbett national Park in Uttranchal. After a successful bird tour, we were on the last leg of our trip at Corbett. Birding was our focus but so was the tiger…obviously.
I was screening my surroundings as we waited silently…then out of blue a small troop of rhesus macaque arrived on the other side of the jungle road.
“We will see the tiger now! The monkeys will fetch the tiger for us,” I announced elated. By this time the rest of our group had also arrived behind us. “Move slowly towards the macaques,” I instructed the driver. He did so and so did the rest. Now we were in full view of the mountain slope.
The rhesus is like a curious cat and is afraid of the tiger and emits a strange clucking sound as alarm cry. Unlike other prey species they do not move away. The rhesus or red faced monkeys have a habit of going right next to the tiger (up a tree of course) and give its game away. They did right that and an irritated tiger rose up from the nullah and came right unto our view. Our package tour to North India for birding struck success with the tiger sighting. It is not always possible to sight tigers like this.
We could see it rushing past right through the short bushes. A tiger sighting had been made and people from far were elated. Tourists on tiger safaris come from far and wide to see the tiger. Whence they succeed in sighting the charismatic tiger all the effort, time and cost is paid for.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Tiger Images
A tiger tour in Bandhavgarh can yield best images for a wildlife photographer. It is the best place to see and photograph the tiger in the wild. The photo have been obtained by courtesy of Dr. Nishith Patel an avid wildlife photographer and naturalist of repute. I am also thankful to the manager of Bandhavgarh resort a lodge called "Bandhavgarh Meadows" based in the tiger reserve. 
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Of River and Ravines
Chambal River Safari
I work as group leader and naturalist with Indian package tour operator "India Footprints". The company provides tailor made package tours in India.
The company operates package tours to several destinations in India. My involvement is in wildlife & birding tours as group leader and birder.
My recent visit to Chambal River Sanctuary was in one such package which included destinations like Sattal, Pangot, Bharatpur and Corbett National Park. The focus was on bird watching as it was a birding tour. The tour members where from Germany and keen birders.
Chambal river sanctuary stretches 400 miles and is a unique destination not so popular yet. It is an amazing river, pure and unscathed by pollutants of modern civilization. The river flows amidst ravines once famous for deadly dacoits - now dwindling. The dacoits are still there and so are the tourists who come to no harm from these insidious creatures.
The ravines impart exquisite charm to the river which offers finest boating experience ever. As one cruises along the river the hosts are none other then crocodiles and gharials with a pair of river dolphins occasionally popping up - it is an ethereal site.
The boating excursions are organized by the Chambal Safari Lodge owned by Mr. R.P.Singh a wonderful host and charming person. The boat excursion covers long stretch of the river with basking crocodiles and gharials - the fish eating cousin. Alongside loom large the sun burnt ravines and steep mountains. Amidst occasional splashes of cool waters, boating transcends into an incredible safari for the visitors. The river safari offers good birding, sightseeing and river exploration to the tourists.
This rugged land and the river retain pristine glory and charm of old India - glorified as personification of incredible beauty and wonder.
The Chambal lodge compliments the surroundings and hospitality is warm and the service par excellence. The accommodation retains the old world charm of land lords and their luxurious lifestyle. It is worth being here believe me!
The company operates package tours to several destinations in India. My involvement is in wildlife & birding tours as group leader and birder.
My recent visit to Chambal River Sanctuary was in one such package which included destinations like Sattal, Pangot, Bharatpur and Corbett National Park. The focus was on bird watching as it was a birding tour. The tour members where from Germany and keen birders.
Chambal river sanctuary stretches 400 miles and is a unique destination not so popular yet. It is an amazing river, pure and unscathed by pollutants of modern civilization. The river flows amidst ravines once famous for deadly dacoits - now dwindling. The dacoits are still there and so are the tourists who come to no harm from these insidious creatures.
The ravines impart exquisite charm to the river which offers finest boating experience ever. As one cruises along the river the hosts are none other then crocodiles and gharials with a pair of river dolphins occasionally popping up - it is an ethereal site.
The boating excursions are organized by the Chambal Safari Lodge owned by Mr. R.P.Singh a wonderful host and charming person. The boat excursion covers long stretch of the river with basking crocodiles and gharials - the fish eating cousin. Alongside loom large the sun burnt ravines and steep mountains. Amidst occasional splashes of cool waters, boating transcends into an incredible safari for the visitors. The river safari offers good birding, sightseeing and river exploration to the tourists.
This rugged land and the river retain pristine glory and charm of old India - glorified as personification of incredible beauty and wonder.
The Chambal lodge compliments the surroundings and hospitality is warm and the service par excellence. The accommodation retains the old world charm of land lords and their luxurious lifestyle. It is worth being here believe me!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
White Tiger
White Tiger - Images By Mr. Mohun Pai
The most amazing animal "the tiger" has the most amazing variant "the white tiger". Like the tiger white tiger has captivated the hearts and minds of a large number of animal lovers all over the World.
From being dubbed as an albino tiger to mutant to being a seperate species the white tiger is in truth is as a result a reccessive gene. Anyway it is a charming animals and excpet in case of pigmentation, in all respect same as the normal orange tiger.
What I understand from this is that at some stage of evolution the ancestors of the tiger might have no yellow pigment and where white. One reason I guess could be severe cold climate ice age justifying the white pigment (Siberian Tiger forgive me). The pigmentation changed whence climate change occured.........................Eeeeeeeeeeeeyah Best I can think of.
The first white tiger in the wild was discovered by the Maharaja of Rewa - HH Martand Singhji near the Bandhavgarh tiger reserve in the state of Madhya Pradesh in India. Subsequently white tiger was transported and bred in many zoos.
There are many historical records of white tiger sightings in Indian jungles before Mohun was captured in Central Indian forests. Perhaps some day a white tiger would be found in the wild again if tigers do survive in the wild in India.
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