Mahua & Sloth Bears at Kanha

The Mahua Tree has a legendary status amidst the Flora of Central India and perhaps other places. This tree is sacred and is never felled by the locals. Most cherished by the tribal, it is a symbol of the fruits of labor. The fruiting tree is very popular since the fruits whence dried and fermented are capable of yielding a coarse brew that can be very strong. 

The locals are inextricably linked with the intoxicant and hence the tree. And so is the illusive sloth bear which can be often seen foraging under its cool shade at Kanha National Park. It is also a part of many rites and rituals amongst the tribal.

Sloth Bear - Dinesh Makhija

Well, this is a good time to see the sloth bear in the park and the buffer zone. The highly nocturnal animal is seen by many tourists in the grassy meadows and the dense canopy in search of fallen Mahua fruits.    

On my recent guiding trips in the months of March April and May, I was able to sight many of these magnificent animals. The quest for nutritious Mahua fruit fetches the sloth into the open else it is highly nocturnal.   The Mahua fruit whence eaten fresh is a good source of vitamins and minerals besides loads of antioxidants. 

The tribal are allowed to keep a certain amount of fruits in their possession which dry out as time passes. The taste is acrid and sweet and I have regularly consumed it during my guiding trip at Courtyard House in Kanha. The brew is distilled as and when required while a coarse oil is also obtained for cooking.

Besides excellent source of nutrition, the fruit acts as a mild laxative and helps lubricate your innards well. About five fruits consumed for a week does the trick, hence it proves very good for those on a hard stool. He!He!      

Much ignored and maligned for the strong brew this is a tree in waiting for the modern World to benefit from its enrichment.

Ganesha on Tree

Nature takes bizarre shapes sometimes. Here is an image of tree trunk part of which is shaped like Lord Ganesha. See some more images by Ruchi Patel.

Black Stork

Bengal Tiger

Lord Ganesha Impression on Tree Trunk

Indian Tree Shrew - Lesser Known Indian Wildlife

The jungle is always full of surprise. In spite of going repeatedly to Barha for birding the expectancy remains. Barha is a reserve forest about 8 km from my house. It is part of Mandla and Jabalpur forest divisions which were once densely forested and teemed with wild animals including tiger and leopard.    

Due to the destruction of these forest and poaching by villagers, the mega fauna is extinct. But one does come across squirrels, Hanuman langur, rhesus macaque and monitor lizard. Perhaps a night safari would churn up more nocturnal animals. 

Indian Tree Shrew JBP

Tree Shrew on Ground

Tree Shrew on the run

Tree Shrew Photo

The above photographs have been taken by Mr. Jagat Flora my friend and fellow birder. At Barha the birds remain and near to Jabalpur it is the finest birding destination. During our many birding trips we saw this creature scurrying to hide on the very first glance. The confusion over its identity prevailed till we were able to photograph it. The images helped us identity this mammal. 

Indian Tree Shrew are found in dry deciduous and moist deciduous forest of Central and South India. They resemble the common squirrel but are hardly akin in habits. This mammal has been placed in Insectivora but lot of confusion prevails over its classification.

This animal is diurnal in habit and hardly climbs trees though it can. Very little is known about the Indian Tree Shrew which lives in burroughs in the forests.