An awkward kill

The leopard must have been very hungry to go for a kill twice or thrice his o her size. When we reached the spot we could make out that the kill was not severely injured or dead.

The awkward attack suggested of a young leopard male or female. It was difficult to make out from few pug marks that we could trace.The cattle was lying totally floored to the ground with not much loss of blood,  but its vertebral column was damaged. From the charge we could make out the the attacker was not a tiger. 

The attack took place around seven or eight in the evening and the alarm cries brought the owner to the spot. The leopard had remained rooted to the spot where it had made the charge. The cattle had staggered to about fifty yards before it was grounded.  

The alarm cries alerted the owner, and perhaps the leopard hesitated as many a times the owners must have been summoned quickly. The owner and some other people gathered around the cattle and tried to raise  the animal but could not. They than sat around the animal whole night in order to keep the big cat away. 

The kill had been made a few yards from the luxury resort at Kanha National Park in Boda Chappari village. We walked down to the spot at noon. The forest guard had been summoned and he was taking stock of the situation. There were claw marks on the back on both sides and the neck had been gnashed from the top. This had resulted in breakage in the vertebral column.  

The owner of the eco resort an experienced man about forest matters accompanied us to the spot. The cattle bull was undergoing great sufferance but there was hesitation in letting the animal finish and consume it or use some other method for a swift death. Eventually the bull was carried to a spot near to the villagers house for observation and prevention of poisoning of the kill.   

The leopard must have been very hungry and must have been unable to make another kill. It approached the cattle in the night and consumed it. It was later chased away in wee hours of the morning. The dead cattle was than cremated. The leopard  was a female with cubs as we found out later and hence the desperation for food.   

This is a frequent occurrence in the buffer zone of Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh in India. This reflects upon the man animal conflict and challenges the management capability of the department. In spite of good prey base big cats find live stock an easy target as compared to the fleet footed deer. Every year a large number of cattle are killed whence the venture into the forest.

The villagers receive compensation, it would not a big surprise if the cattle owners have made this a opportune business since I am told the proportion of bulls is higher than the cows in the Kanha buffer. This also explains scarcity of fresh milk in the buffer. 

Images from Kanha Tour

These are the images taken by the group (earlier blog) on tiger safari at Kanha Tiger Reserve. The works though amateur portrays Kanha's wilderness in an excellent manner.  

Barking Deer

Bengal tiger
Bison Fawn
Bison female
Male Bison Kanha
Hidden tiger
Indian wild dogs
Dhole at Kanha
Sambar deer female
Gaur female

Tiger at Bison Kill

Bison mating

More images to be blogged soon....

Kanha Picture Gallery 

A trip to remember

It is said that a tiger brings heart and soul together. Sometimes a trip for tiger safari gels simply because  interest matches. Driven by enthusiasm me and my friends from Gujarat drove into Kanha National Park and enjoyed wild safaris like never before.

At Krishna Jungle Resort 

At Bamni Dadar Kanha National Park


It was a fun trip in serious pursuit of tigers, other wildlife and birds. In one way or another it was a learning experience. Safaris are the beginning of the end to convert people into nature conservation. What could be better than a tiger safari in heart of Kanha. We went on night safaris on the Mukki road without breaking the law  and yes no search lights. The uninitiated express wonder and surprise at the work of nature ...and there creeps in an instant urge to save this valuable heritage of ours. 

By no means uninitiated the group has been to many National Parks and wildlife sanctuaries.  It is a deep seated interest that creates awareness and  certainly in time to come some more voices to be raised in favor of our beleaguered wilderness.

We enjoyed a holistic tiger safari at Kanha and left with a stronger bonding for all things bright and beautiful - tigers, leopards, deer, birds, other wild animals and beautiful tress herbs and shrubs.     

Bandavgarh Tiger Safari

Gopal - Bapu

Gopal is a cousin, friend and fellow wild lifer. He is much more - a businessman, nature photographer and birding enthusiast. Since years of our association, he has matured into an interesting person especially when it comes to wildlife and nature.

He relishes good life and leaves no stone unturned whence it comes to enjoying nature. 

Apart from his interest in nature he is an excellent photographer ....amateur if you call him since he is not full time into it. Here are some images he and his friends captured on tiger tour to Bandhavgarh. It was difficult to sort out from the lot since all images carry heart and soul.

The images have been captured by Ila Ben S Dalal (nee Ambani), Shrujal and Gopal Desai.

Patdi Durbar

Apart from interest in tigers, he is knowledgeable about flora, fauna and bird life of the Little Rann of Kutch. He is regular visitor to Patdi Estate near Ahmedabad in Gujarat where they own a beautiful palace as erstwhile rulers of the Desert Kingdom. Patdi Durbar as the family is known are enthusiastic nature lovers and Gopal tops the list.

His experience and adventures of desert life....of things and places, fills one with envy. Besides the luxury tents, camp fire and sumptuous food he has many an experiences and wild tales to narrate. He is  a generous host and can give you the wildest adventure of the Desert Kingdom. True to his Royal Blood, he lives life King Size!  

He is a regular visitor to Kanha Tiger Reserve and Bandhavgarh and other tiger reserves in Madhya  Pradesh and elsewhere where he photographs wildlife. He has been visiting Gir National Park and other sanctuaries in Gujarat often. He has an interesting collection of photographs of wild animals and birds from the tiger reserves and National Parks.

I will blog more images with time to come..... 

Of tiger sightings in India

The tiger may be making its last stand in India but the number of tourists for tigers safaris is increasing year by year. Perhaps this signifies the importance of the Bengal tiger in our ecosystem and also in the hearts and mind of the people. Yes people from all over the World express concern for the endangered animal.

Tiger is a shy and secretive animal. Well most of the time! Tourism has made it possible to see the tiger in the wild for common tourists. During the British Raj, tiger and tiger hunting was the prerogative of the Maharajas and  the Lords.

Timely conservation of the species resulted in the animal coming back from sure shot extinction, but the tiger is in no less danger now. This is due to demand for tiger parts in China and other Asian Nations. It will take lot of hue and cry for the Chinese system of medicine to stop the use of tiger parts in their concoctions.

The rush to see the tiger is seen more in popular National Parks like Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Pench in Madhya  Pradesh or Central India. The tiger population in these parks is steadily increasing thanks to active conservation measures. The core zones especially the grassy meadows are an ideal habitat for tigers to hunt their prey base. The spotted deer and sambar deer make up the major diet of the tiger. Tiger eats anything that moves except humans. But humans kill the animal with impunity and greed not even expressed by cannibals.        

The tiger parks have well laid tourism infrastructure outside and road network inside the core zones for wildlife watching on jeep safaris. The tiger is often seen on open grasslands and jungle roads on a tiger safari in the park. The wildlife safari begins at dawn and ends by noon. The second round begins around 3 pm and ends by  dusk.

On a safari inside the parks one can see the tiger, leopard, spotted deer, sambar, Hanuman langur, wild boar, wild dog, sloth bear, barking deer and jackal. These reserves are exciting birding  spots as well, and one can enjoy bird watching while trekking tigers in the forests.    

At Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Pench tiger sighting takes place at least once in three days so it is worth staying for three nights to get a holistic experience of the wildlife parks.

The tiger safaris are arranged by package tour operators who offer a complete jungle package which includes accommodation, food and room stay. The tour packages also includes excursions in the park. The best package tour operators offer stay in luxury hotels and travel by luxury cars. The cost is bit more for wildlife watching but it is worthwhile to travel and stay in luxury in wilderness areas. 

There is enough room for budget travelers who prefer traveling by bus and stay at budget hotels around the tiger reserves. A three day safari is ideal for sighting tigers in the wild at these parks. Since if tiger sightings does not take place on jeep safari the tiger shows on elephant back will offer the tourist tiger sighting at close range.

Indian wildlife enthusiasts NGOs & Wildlife Lovers

As New Year Greeting!! I mention below NGOs which are doing a lot to protect our wildlife and environment.

Wildlife Lovers

Indian is haven for wildlife and wildlife lovers. More popularly known as nature lovers. These are people who are involved with nature in many ways. Some are nature conservationist and protect wildlife as part of NGO. Many are wildlife photographers and some are like me who sometimes write about nature conservation and work as freelance nature guides. Many just appreciate and respect all forms of life on earth. Some way or other these people also play a part in conserving nature and environment.

Indian wildlife lovers tour extensively in their pursuit to discover and see endemic and rare wild animals, birds and reptiles. Not only India, wildlife enthusiasts from all over the World appreciate and play active role in conservation.  There are many NGOs/Individuals from India and in Europe mainly in USA and UK who work to conserve rare species in India. They are the voice of the people who impress upon the policy makers to take right decisions where in other forms of life get protection and sanctuary in the country.

WWF plays an active role in nature conservation all over the World. While NGOs like BNHS are active in nature conservation and creating awareness among Indians.  The society publishes a journal which is very informative and scientific in nature. It also publishes and informative magazine.

WPSI or Wildlife Protection Society of India plays active role in comprehending wildlife criminals and preventing crimes against nature.  The society is active in conservation of tigers, leopards and other wildlife species in India facing threats. Like wise WTI and Ranthambhore Foundation also work for nature conservation.

Even wildlife photographic magazines like Sanctuary Asia offer lot of information on Indian wildlife and conservation measure that are being taken today. The magazine explores niche as well as less popular destinations for its readers.There are many proactive societies which do not find mention here but the list below may have their details.

Of missing tigers

It is nightmarish, the animal looms large in your head all the time. It is not a paranoia nor infatuation. For whence the tiger goes so will its associates and nature debunked.

Whence you cannot save an animal so deep rooted in our soul and so popular what can you?

The tigers have gone missing in Panna and Sariska ...this is a definite beginning of the end. The merry go round has begun...one male from here and two females from there..is that all?   What about the tigers that went missing? Who took them, definitely it is not tiger tourism the latest coy toy of those sitting at helm...the saviors of our Demi God. Controlled tiger tourism is bread and butter for many as well as it reflects positively upon the whole ecosystem.

The animal is amazing, it does not show its numbers. From twenty eight to no tigers left and nobody cried "Wolf". No amount of brainstorming works...this approach and that approach only gives meaning and purpose to the saviors.

It is a simple fact that majority of the tigers we are loosing are at the hands of the poachers and their vicious network. Get at them...it is a law and order problem. Take a punitive action that sets a discouraging example to the marauders.

But then this simple fact and consecutive action gets mired in complex web of Indian bureaucracy..democratic urgency and at time sheer lethargy and inaction.    God Save The Tiger!

Indian wildlife blog posts

Interesting posts on Indian wildlife...read on...

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 preferred 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.

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.....