Tiger Photography by Micheal Vickers

It is said that wildlife photography is an adventure, but when adventure produces art indescribable, it is an ode to the natural World. An ode in its finest form.

Mr Micheal J Vickers from United Kingdom is a photographer par excellence as I just discovered. This is not hyperbole. A look at his images will justify the praise. It is easy to photograph tiger in a wild safari since the safaris are so well organized in India. But paradoxically it is impossible to capture rare moments by load since on a jeep safari the photographers is so restricted. This holds true on an elephant back also...the angle is awkward...and the elephant is never stable.

The images of tigers are published on my blog with due permission from Micheal for which I am gratefull. I will be publishing accounts of his expeditions in Indian forests as well. Micheal 's photographs have been published in prestigious wildlife magazing from BBC and in literature by Born Free Foundation. In publications by EIA and David Shepard Wildlife Foundation.

Bandhavgarh Tiger Photograph

Tiger at Bandhavgarh National Park

Image by Nev Robinson - Australia

Festival Time at Tiger Parks

Festival times at Indian tiger reserves is an event of mad rush. The National Parks in India are subject to traffic beyond carrying capacity. All over there is a hustling bustling crowd of tourists and tourist mongers. Service providers and seekers. The poor animals suffer!

This is a perfect example of lack of foresight. Number of times forest officials and perhaps tourism managers have been advised to open up infrastructure in other wildlife places. This will, apart from bringing cost down for ecotourism, reduce pressure on major tiger reserves as Kanha National Park in Central India, Pench reserve, Corbett and Bandhavgarh National Park the most popular. Incidentally this is an earning time for wildlife resorts in National Parks. But than this is not responsible tourism.

Good thing that has happened is that number of entries into the park have been restricted in Central Indian National Parks. Similarly other keystone species should be highlight to take pressures off tiger parks. Few good examples are wild elephant safari at Corbett and Rhino tours at Kaziranga National Park in Assam state of India. Lion safari at Gir National Park should be promoted more. The list is endless. Even for birding there are lot other birding spots that need promotion. I have been to Nalsarovar and Thol at Gujarat near Ahmedabad they are prime birding areas but lack development.

There are lot of wildlife sanctuaries that can attract a large number of tourists - even those who cannot afford to visit major reserves due to high travel cost. This will benefit the locals in terms of employment and strengthen conservation effort.

The best that most wildlife sanctuaries in India offer are a rest house for accommodation which is not readily available to general public. The road and tourism infrastructure is in a mess here and organized wildlife safari is impossible here. These places offer good wildlife viewing and may harbor rare exotic wildlife. Tourism here will help in conservation as well as exploration of the forests.

Some ignored parks and sanctuaries are:

Sanjay National Park

Nauradehi Sanctuary

Bori Sanctuary

Satpura National Park

All in Madhya Pradesh

Achanakmar Sanctuary Chhattisgarh

Indravati National Park in Chhattisgarh.

and many many more in India where tourism can be developed.

Kanha or Bandhavgarh tour

Many tiger enthusiasts and wildlife photographers ask me about the best place to see tigers in India?

My straight forward answer is Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Pench tiger reserves in Central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Among others....if these destination are not reachable then Ranthambhore and Corbett National Park are also good tiger havens and wildlife resorts the latter being excellent for elephant safari in India. All three Central Indian parks are accessible from Jabalpur town in MP with air service from Delhi, while Pench and Kanha are also accessible from Nagpur town with flights from many major towns. Trains also ply between these towns from Delhi, Mumbai and Calcutta.

Kanha or Bandhavgarh?

It is a difficult question to answer as both excel in tiger sightings. What I can say is that Kanha is larger with more mammalian species to see eg. Bison & Hard ground swamp deer. For those interested only in tiger photography then I would suggest either of the two or both. For those with wider photographic angle they should visit Kanha. But the best season for nature and wild tiger photography is February and after if you can stand the rising heat.

For first time visitors on tiger tour should visit Kanha and then Bandhavgarh since tiger is going to call them back I am sure.

Bandhavgarh National Park is extremely beautiful wildlife paradise with enchanting ancient remains of fort, temples, man made caves and stables etc. The landscape is esoteric and quaint and tigers abound. Bird life is also very interesting here and approximately two hundred and fifty birds have been recorded here which includes winter migrants.
Pench is again exciting place with rising tiger sightings every year and different floral elements since it is a dry deciduous mix tropical forest. Leopard sightings have been good at Pench and so is the Indian wolf seen sometimes with luck. It is the setting for Kipling's "Jungle Book"- Mowgli the wolf child was discovered here. The birding too is very exciting at Pench tiger reserve and one can see lots of raptors and Malabar pied horn bill with ease. Reptiles and lesser fauna are mostly nocturnal and rare.

All the tiger reserves provide good hotel accommodation facilities from budget to luxury resorts. The only thing is that one should book tiger tours in advance as number of vehicle entries are restricted in these parks hence advance booking of accommodation and park safari is advised. Most of the resorts and jungle camps are well equipped for tiger tourism and arrange tiger safaris for eco tourists while some also provide trained naturalists to help trek tigers and deliver a holistic experience of these magnificent paradises of Earth.

Time to avoid tiger tours if you can is Diwali holidays and Christmas time up to Jan first week. Albeit this year vehicle entry restrictions will somehow manage the rush.

Indian wildlife

Wildlife of India

India is gifted with diverse habitats that overwhelms a visitor on each and every visit. The landscape is unique and amazing.

From cold climate of the Himalayas to Hot deserts of Rajasthan. In East there are tropical forests and to the West affinity with Ethiopian zoo geographical region. Hence the lion in Gujarat at Gir famous for it's Asiatic lion safari which have become very popular. And the famous Sunder bans National Park in West Bengal the abode of the Bengal tigers. The plains of Ganges delta differ much fro Indian peninsular region and so does the wilderness.

In the south Wildlife of Kerala the and true tropical forests in Western ghats. Southern culture differs from Western and Northern cultures in India and so does the cultures of the East. The diversity of India compliments in wildlife and biodiversity which changes as fast as the language and culture does after every hundred kilometers.

India has more mammalian species as compared to Africa and so is the number of Indian bird species. the bird species in India amounts to thirteen percent plus of the total species of birds in the World.

The insect and reptilian life is unique and yet to be discovered. From point to point region to region wildlife differs and how it does write to me Uday Patel from India.

Tragedy at Kanha

The most gentlemanly creature on Earth is tiger. This fact is well enumerated in wildlife journals and story books. But yet man fears this creature the most due to myths and mystical beliefs.

The tiger is an enigma and mystery and many describe the animal as most fearsome creature with spiritual powers that can wreck havoc on its enemy - man.

But in my years of scouring tiger forests, I have never come across an incidence of wanton killing by this magnificent beast. The explanation is forthright...tiger kills only for food. This sentence on tiger facts should sum it all for logical beings who understand the meanings of written and spoken words well.

The incidence took place this year when a "chara cutter" (grass cutter) had gone into the forest in early morning hours to fetch the elephants that track tigers and carryover tourists to the spot where the tiger has been located by mahouts or elephant riders.

It was the wee hour of the morning with visibility near zero. The chara cutter had moved into the forest right up to the Kanha Meadow...laboriously following the elephant spoor. Whence he reached the meadow he realized that the elephant he was looking for was deeper inside.

Kanha meadow is the prime tiger country and is at present a grassland habitat for a tigress with cubs. Death was lurking in the darkness for the poor man. He had no idea that he was close to the tigress with cubs. Tigresses are over zealously protective mothers and charge at anyone who dares come threateningly close to the cubs.

The defense mechanism of tigers is simple...run away or move quietly from all dangers, and in other circumstance offense becomes the best defense. The latter was the case of the chara cutter of whose intentions the tigress was unsure. In order to defend herself and the cubs near by see charged. The chara cutter could see the tigress moving aggressively towards him. His last word over the wireless communication set was a desperate call for help.

It was all over in seconds and the mahouts who landed up on the spot later found him lying in pool of blood - dead. Death is instantaneous in a tiger attack as the canines target the neck region in order to rupture the blood vessels and the vertebrae is crushed completely on impact.

Had the tigress been alone she would have quietly moved out of the picture, but with the cubs around it was not possible, hence she charged at the two legged creature. In local folklore it is said that the tiger marks its prey much in advance by sound, but I have on many instances seen tiger surprised by other animals and man. This is because of preoccupation at times. She may have come to know of the man's presence but had no idea that he would come so close. She must have missed his approach as her attention was riveted on the cubs.

Had she enough time to move the cubs into a hiding, I am sure a life would have been saved.

I saw the tigress on many wildlife safaris later, carrying over her tiger business of finding prey or just relaxing after a successful hunt. There was no aggression or blood thirst on her countenance.

"It was pure self defense man," she seemed to inform me apologetically.

The false beliefs about tiger cruelty and about the magical healing powers of its bones has put the graceful and beautiful animal unto sad plight.

God Save The Tiger!

Tiger Safari at Barnawapara

Situated in the newly carved state of Chattisgarh in Central India, Barnawapara Sanctuary is one of the popular wildlife destinations in India. Set in the district of Mahasamund, Barnawapara Sanctuary is small wildlife preserve with an area of two hundred and forty five kilometers as compared with area of Kanha National Parkwhich is 1945 sq.kms.

• Fauna

In terms of wildlife viewing Barnawapara sanctuary is unique and has mammalian population equal to major National Parks and Tiger Reserves of India. Major mammals like tiger, leopard and number of deer species make Barnawapara their home. Flying squirrel, hyena and other lesser seen animals like chinkara and four horned deer are visible here.

The sanctuary has size able numbers of bison and sambar. The chital population is well established to support major carnivora like, tigers, leopards and Indian wild dogs.

• Flora

The forests are mixed tropical dry deciduous type with prominence of Teak, Sal and Saaj. The undualting terrain supports Bamboo on slope and mixed tree species on plains. Other species of trees found at Barnawapara are Semal, Mahua, Ber and Tendu.

Best time to visit Barnawapara sanctuary is from November to June.

The sanctuary is at a distance of eighty five kilometers from Raipur and sixty kilometers from Mahasamund railway station.

Tiger in the Bush

On my recent visit to Kanha, last week in June, I had a tough time locating tigers. It had rained a day before I arrived and continued to rain intermittently spoiling the tiger safari. Except for herds of Chittal and occasional sightings of Sambar deer it was difficult toe see any other animal.

On the second round of the wild life safari a barking deer went scurrying past too fast for my English guests to take some photographs. The rain kept troubling us and it was at times very heavy.

"Do we have a chance to locate the tiger?" Chris asked rather dejected.

"Very thin chance I replied." The tigers are inactive and their movement is limited as water and prey is available very close to them."

"So they keep to dense thickets?"

"Yes definitely Chris that is why there are no alarm cries or pug marks on the road." I replied unhappy that I was not able to show the tiger to my guests.

We did manage to see the Hard ground Barasingha, Gaur, a lone Jackal and eventually a Barking deer. And yes lots of birds. But my guests did not go away disappointed after all as we saw the Bengal tiger in a tiger show on the last round before leaving. It was the same tiger that had walked alongside us for a long time in January. The same tiger was well camouflaged hidden and sulking in the bush.

The camouflage was so perfect that even a few feet from the bush we could not make out that a tiger was sitting there in a bush and that even a large full grown tiger. The only clue was a partially eaten wild boar which it had hunted the night before.

With little bit of elephant maneuvers we could lay our eyes on the tiger and the guests could get some superlative images of the tiger as seen from the network of branches and twigs.

Kanha in Rains..

Kanha is subject to many seasons like any where else in India. The rains have major impact as they manage to get the park closed albeit delivering much succor to the tourist fed wildlife. The visitor stream is never ending at this magnificent nature preserve. The visitors keep coming even if the rain is forecast such is the attraction for this tiger habitat.

The drizzle casts a sheen of silver gray haze over the forests and savanna grasslands. The sun is conspicuous by its absence it is enchanting experience to go for a wildlife safari at Kanha. It is a new experience although Indian wildlife watching is difficult as all animals except the spotted deer move deep in the jungle. The tigers after facing the grime of the hot summers celebrate the cool rains and move in deep into the forest and relax. The rains ends the stress among the life forms at Kanha. It rejuvenates and nourishes and regenerates the whole ecosystem.

The surroundings are serene peaceful and refreshing thanks to the absence of heat and strong sunlight. The resorts at Kanha accommodate the last stream of visitors as they prepare for the end of the tourist season. For many resorts it is time to recollect the business that they fetched and what more they can do to make tiger safari adventure more appealing to the visitors.

Tiger Cubs

This year has been good for Ranthambhore tiger reserve in Rajasthan and Pench tiger reserve (Seoni Hills)in Madhya Pradesh. Tigers are prolific breeders but the extent to which their population has been decimated in last hundred years that this fecundity is hardly noticeable.

The reckless poaching has resulted in extermination of population all over India and has even resulted into skewed sex ratio at places. Combined with stress of human interference and continued threat of live stock and prey base depletion tigers survived in reserves and bred well. There was a marked rise in population of tigers in some National Parks. But when places which are disturbed and suspected of being under attack by the poachers - as Ranthambhore - report fourteen tiger cubs being born in the park, it is indeed heartening news. This also shows that the sex ratio among male and female tigers there is in balance and mating is taking place regularly.

Similarly at Pench nine tiger cubs where born recently. Pench is an upcoming tiger reserve in terms of sighting and successful breeding of tigers has resulted in good tiger sighting in the wild in recent times.

Another benefit of larger number of tiger reserves reporting good tiger sighting is that the tourism pressure will spread even and let off some air from Kanha and Bandhavgarh. The lodges and resorts at Pench and Ranthambhore tiger reserve will also see greater number of visitors if this trend continues.