And the winner is?

Yes, Munna retains his hold over his domain at Kanha National Park. The big male tiger was hard-pressed to retain his kingdom by a bigger more powerful male Lal Aankh which I had first seen at Mahua Dari in Sarhi Zone.     

This is amazing Munna is considered to be about nine years old while Lal Aankh is much younger.  On my last trip, there was a constant scuffle between the two male tigers and at that time nothing could be concluded. On my recent trip, I saw Munna at his favorite perch Siliyari Jalayasay calm and fully composed with no hint of any fear. 

Perhaps it is an experience that counts in territorial fights. Or is the battle just begun we will see in time to come...

Image By Teerath Singh

 

Flying Squirrel at Kanha

Flying Squirrel at Kanha

This is one rare image of the flying squirrel at Kanha. The photograph has been taken by Mr. Navneet Maheshwari near his resort at Kanha National Park. It took him quite some time and lot of efforts to capture the mammal in his camera. Being an avid photographer and naturalist he has hundreds of exciting images in his personal collection. He owns Kanha Village Eco Resort.

The flying squirrel is found at many places in Central India but little is known about the species. These rodents remain hidden from predators in the day time and emerge during the dusk to eat insects, fruits, fungi and eggs of birds. 

On tiger safari tourist hardly look for these animals and miss wonderful creations of nature. Some time back flying squirrel was reported near the Kisli Gate. These mammals do not fly but glide from one tree to another.         

Kosi River Corbett National Park

Photo Credit Ruchi Patel

This is Corbett National Park in Uttranchal State of India. The Kosi River along with Ramganga is the life lines of this ecosystem. The placid rivers are one of the most pristine and unspoiled in the country. They are home to enchanting creatures that thrive under the waters and besides.

The rivers are home to crocodiles, gharials, and many species of turtles and fishes. The rivers are part exotic landscape of this reserves. The most attractive species that inhabit this ecosystem are tigers, leopards, elephants, goral, sambar, spotted deer, barking deer, serow, yellow throated martin and many more.

It is possible to trek along these river systems outside the park areas. The walk yields exciting birds and animals to see. Tigers and elephants cross over these rivers but mostly in the night hours. However precautions should be taken to keep a distance from wild animals that thrive here in plenty. Some of the male tuskers are known to charge at humans. Birders frequent treks along these rivers in quest of avian species that abounds on the banks.  It is hence wise to trek in groups and stay together.  

Corbett National Park offers exciting elephant safaris in North India. Hundreds of elephants descend upon the river beds and grasslands from the higher reaches of Shivalik Hills on the foothills of Himalayas.  

Can you smell a Bengal tiger?

At Kanha that bitter cold morning in January this year, when sun was just on level with the horizon, I felt the worst punctured tire feeling in my life, ever. Right in the presence of my guests from UK. Ooof!

Can you smell a tiger? I asked the park guide inquisitively as we entered the park.

Sahaab! Have you come here for the first time? He! He! He replied with a crooked arrogant smile. Me my sophisticated binocs, fancy hat and bird/animal books and all.

"No" I retorted back at the guide rather hurt.

"You will learn Sir! Anyway tigers do not smell." He gave me an amused look as he said this.

Worst was about to follow!

Shhh! Sir! Please sit now and relax so that I can show tigers and wild animals to the guests, and then he nonchalantly turned away to peer in the dense thickets.

And I was the nature guide. (I hope no one is around.)

I must have been visiting Kanha/Bandhavgarh when this gentleman guide was in his mother's womb. That's no criteria for gauging a naturalists expertise, anyway.

Well is it! The Bengal tiger eats years, that is what I have learned in so many years of my roaming in the wild.

The tigers smell believe me, but I have not smelled it more than once..the smell was like a meaty...on so many occasions, I have come few feet near to the tiger and they did not smell?

But on that occasion at Bandhavgarh we located the tiger by smell on the forest edge besides the road to Chur bahera grassland.

It is instinct that some times leads you to the tiger. That instinct comes from within, only if you are as tiger crazy as I am.

Like that few second extra wait (much to the chagrin of Waheed driver and guide) when the tiger started to roar from the ravine....just at the moment when the wait seemed to be futile and foolish....

It is all the wonder of evolution for if a tiger smelled strongly every now and then, then it will go hungry for sure. When and how it emits odor that our olfactory senses can catch? This is the secret of tiger biology.

This is still a mystery perhaps one day we will discover.

*( The park guides at Kanha are a fine lot, and you do learn from their day to day excursion in the park every time) .