The Blue Eyed Boy

Tiger with blue eyes

This is an enigmatic and startling image of a blue eyed male tiger at Bandhavgarh. The unusual stance and blue eyes have mesmerized my sensory apparatus no end. Photographed by a seasoned naturalist Tirath Singh this is a classic example of capturing the right moment. The pose appears much man like deliberation. I have earlier noticed an amusing look in tiger countenance in presence of humans. (Could be my mind gone beserk?) The dominant male tigers are oblivious of humans whence not disturbed. The females are very shy but can be over zealously aggressive when along with cubs and threatened.    

From a humble safari guide Tirath Singh a local tribal has come a long way. Mr. Singh now conducts tiger tours in India through his MP package tour company. He guides many photographic expeditions in India. I have realized that this man is highly skilled with the camera. His keen observation power, equally keen eyesight and sensitive ears contribute to his photography skills. His understanding of animal behavior and the terrain is another reason for being successful in his recreation.      

Of Dignity and Honour

Tiger cub by Tirath Singh

The tiger cub is unaware of the plight of its species. Shrunken homes, brutal murders, diminishing prey base - the tiger cub knows nothing about. But as it will grow, it will realize that something is amiss. The struggle for survival is not only against the enemies in the jungle, a more vicious creature poses an indomitable challenge for the existence of its kind.        

For centuries man has been making inroads into land meant for other life forms. Human assault has been brutal with marked insensitivity to its kind. The tigers are aware of their land being usurped by humans but they know nothing about their diminishing numbers or of sliding statistics. As majestic as ever, even in defeat the tiger is facing its last hour on Earth with dignity and grace.    

The slipper in the tiger cub's mouth has been callously disposed off by a pilgrim on the way to Ram Janki Temple on the Bandhavgarh Fort. This is our attitude towards few remaining natural habitats. Will the tiger forage on plastic waste and discarded papers like our holy cows do? Will Bandhavgarh become a potential industrial area with loads of slipper factories all around? The reckless mining is already taking a toll of our reserve and protected forests. Will Bandhavgarh be next?        

These threats are real, in populist governance man's interest comes first even if the land belongs to the tiger and its kins. We espouse non violence principles as preached by the Great Mahatma...but do we practice? Do we read the five thousand years old Vedas that preach us to respect all life forms.  Nurture and nourish them, value their existence as much as we do for self.

Its all in our minds what we do? How we do? Our attitude contributes to dismembering of nature or its preservation. It is for each individual to think and act positively. The big cats can still be saved if we the people care for it assiduously. Plant a tree in your garden save wilderness in your backyard. Save natural habitats!  Live and Let Live!   

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.         

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.          

Brutality at its best

I was horrified at the sight on a news channel. A sloth bear that had wandered near a village was being beaten to death. One small animal and thousands of humans enact a battle scene of survival. The animal must have wandered near the village in search of water or by some error.

The panicked lot collected around the helpless animal. It was running here and there, desperately trying to save its life. But to know avail, men were everywhere and the badly ruptured body could not hold life. Another rare animal was taken off the charts.

How brutal we are towards other life forms is evident from this horrendous incident. Such instances of cold blood killing are being regularly reported especially in case of wandering leopards.  

Is there a will and commitment to save wildlife and protect our forest ecosystems?  Do people understand the complex web that sustains life on earth. Do people know that our survival depends upon the survival of other life forms. We are hell bent upon destroying nature due to apathy, selfish gains, monetary greed and what not.     

The  tamasha went of for a long time and the forest department was conspicuous by its absence. It was too late by the time the team arrived. This sparks lot of questions in mind.

Why is it that the sentinels arrive too late or never at all?

The animal could have been easily tranquilized and transferred back to its habitat. A precious life could have been saved.

Where are the bosses?

In all my wanderings in the reserve forests I have yet to see seniors on field. The forests are totally at the mercy of the helpless and sometimes corrupt forest guards.  

Wood logging and Poaching?

The reserve forests are in continuous state of denudation. Wood logging for fire and commercial gains is quite often seen or heard. Newspapers now and then report poaching incidents. How come poachers are not taken to law by the mehekma?

Untamed India: In search of the elusive wolf

I have developed a great liking for discovering new wildlife or birding heavens. The visit to Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary was my fourth. Two of the visits where a short survey one was on a birding trip. The recent one was as a nature guide for our esteemed guest a fellow wild lifer, birder and a photographer of repute Mr. Ujjal Ghosh. 

Though much publicized as a wolf sanctuary which it is, the sightings are difficult perhaps at times. It is yet too early to comment as an extensive survey is required. The forest guards seem to come across the wolves frequently especially along the Cheola Lake. This is a small lake but large enough to support the prey base and water birds. But the animal is encountered all around the sanctuary as informed.

We spent little time, only a day and a half which is not enough for searching carnivores like wolf. The animal is  local migratory by habit and sometimes forced by circumstance. It's persecution continues as it is misconstrued as a vermin all over India. 

Most of our excursions took place in the neighborhood of Mohali Rest House in Mohli Range. The mixed forest zones are a unique habitat for the Blue Bull, Fox, Black Buck and Chinkara or the Indian Gazelle. The crocodiles are found aplenty though we could not see one thanks to the approaching summer. From the rivers they have spread to lakes small and big. The forest department has done commendable work in the up keep of the water bodies in the wildlife refuge.

Our focus was the wolf and the sloth bear and the bird life. We could not see the sloth bear as well but came across ample evidence in the sanctuary. The forest are mostly mixed type with dense cover prevailing in undisturbed areas on the hill ranges. The sanctuary encompasses diverse habitats in an area of 1197 sq.km.  The two major river systems are Vyarma and Bamner besides other rivulets.

The reserve is slotted to house Cheetahs in India thanks to extensive grasslands and ideal prey base. Nuaradehi is an interesting wildlife refuge and offers good wildlife watching and birding opportunity. The ecosystem differs much from tiger safari destinations like Kanha and Bandhavgarh National Park in MP. The prevalence of open scrub, dry deciduous forests, grasslands etc makes it an ideal habitat for open country animals like chinkara, wolf and hyena. The reserves has a good population of Chital, Sambar and Nilgai, of which the latter is widespread. Wild Boars, Jackal, Gray Langur and Rhesus Macaque are seen often.   

Bird life is interesting and for more information visit: Indian Birding Blog  

If you wish to travel to Nauradehi, Indiana Safari an MP tour package service organizes the trip. You can visit Nauradehi for wildlife watching and birding. The sanctuary is open from Mid October to June end. Climate wise the best period is up to March end but one can visit in all seasons depending upon the time available. The distance to the Gate is approximately 86 km from Jabalpur and about 56 km from Sagar.    

Illegal Lion Safari: What Next?

As per recent report by TOI illegal lion shows are being organized by local hotels in Gir National Park in the State of Gujarat. The illegal safaris are being organized in the outer areas of the park. A bait is tied near the road and whence the lions come to kill and feed on it a tamasha is held.

The hoteliers charge up to 10,000 rupees for a lion show. In the photographs, I could see hordes on motor cycle rickshaw and tractor trolley watching the big cat. This practice of baiting goes against the conservation  ethics. Baiting  inhibits the natural hunting instincts of the big cats and also prevents local migration in search of food and water.

In the early stages of tourism this practice was followed by the forest department in Central Indian Reserves. But this was stopped in time whence the negative aspects became clear.   

If illegal baiting continues this will prove to be very harmful. As per the report the collusion of local forest staff is not ruled out. This has to be stopped in time. At Gir the bait killed by the lions is then subject to claims from the forest department.

This practice has to be brought to a halt else it will lead to other illegal activities by emboldened criminals. Gir National Park is the only abode of Asiatic Lion in India. Efforts to find another home at Kuno Palpur WLS  have been stalled so far.As a good conservation measure lion trans-location to Kuno Palpur would be a far reaching step in order to assure species survival.

Rusty Spotted Cat in Bandhavgarh

Rusty Spotted Cat - Teerath Singh

Nocturnal animals escape many eyes in forests like Bandhavgarh. Teerath Singh an avid naturalist and tour operator discovered much to his delight that the cat in his camera was a rusty spotted cat. This is one of the smallest wild cat in the World, found only in India and Sri Lanka.  

Its distribution that was earlier noted is expanding with discovery like this. New discoveries in beleaguered wildlife world are heartening. Some time back a mouse deer was photographed in Kanha - seen  after a gap of many many years.     

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.  

Discovering the Less Seen

The big game seekers look for tigers and leopard in the forests. They seek majestic deer species and other mega fauna. There is much excitement and thrill in watching less seen animals and few birds which are mostly nocturnal.  

Animals like civets, porcupines, fox, four horned deer and barking deer, wolf, hyena, jungle cat, mongoose besides birds like Eurasian Thicknee, Owls, nightjars are quite often missed out. It is not possible to see these creatures in tiger reserves since the night safaris are not permitted. Most of the focus is on mega fauna and in the haste to see them tourists miss out on many wonders of nature.

It takes an extra effort to discover these animals and birds. A walk in the night on jungle roads outside the reserve provides exciting discoveries.  A jeep ride on the paths that lead from one forest village to another can become thrilling. Tigers, leopards, sloth bear reside not only in National Parks but they do so outside in and around forest villages.  Sometimes they come under your headlight he!he!. 

I have visited many areas outside reserves traveling from one place to another in the late hours. On many occasions I have come across these nocturnal animals and birds. It is very difficult to spot these animals in core zones in day safaris. These animals can also be seen near the resorts and hotels that tourists stay in the reserves. 

If you are keen on enjoying nature as whole then you can move around areas which are not restricted for night safaris. A good torch is handy along with lots of patience.