Snippets From My Wildlife Experiences!

 What are Alarm Calls? It requires years of experience to track a predator in Indian National Parks. Veterans amongst drivers and guides know their national park very well but that too is not enough at times! Its the understanding of alarm calls that decides your chances of a Tiger sighting during the safari. Even if tiger walks silently through the jungle there are always other prey animals keeping a watch. As the jungle is dense, most of the time you spot the animals by hearing them. Alarm Calls are the warning calls provided by the prey animal to its herd regarding the predator movement. This call is very high pitched, short and intense in nature. It is said that the sambar deer's call is the most accurate when it comes to tracking of tigers. Monkey give alarm calls from tree tops. They can spot a tiger or a leopard from a considerable distance. They are like watchman who keep an eye on the surroundings. Interestingly a monkey's call is different when it sights a tiger and ...

 Recently I witnessed a fascinating and dramatic scene in the wild. A drama unfolded in the heart of Kolsa - Tadoba, amidst the serene meadows and winding roads. It began with the majestic Kuwani - the reigning tigress of Kolsa sitting by the roadside in the early hours of our morning safari. We had just entered the park and within minutes we found her lounging in the tranquil grasslands, her eyes scanning the surroundings with vigilance.  Soon Kuwani rose from her resting spot and walked into the meadows. Her cub, which was a little inside in the grass ventured cautiously on the road. He was oblivious to the dangers that lurked around. Suddenly, a new figure emerged from the periphery - Hirdinala tigress - the matriarch of this lineage and Kuwani's own mother. her arrival was a mere coincidence, she had accidentally walked into the territory of Kuwani. Spotting her daughter's cub on the road, Hirdinala's instincts surged into action. With an unpleasant growl, Hirdinala cha...

  Choti Tara is one of the charismatic tigresses of Tadoba. She is a beautiful and big tigress around 14 years of age. She hails from a legendary bloodline of Tadoba. Possibly the oldest known family.  She was born in a litter of four to Tara Tigress. She along with her siblings put Tadoba on the map.  Choti Tara has a confident air about her and a very calm demeanour, yet when you see her you can sense you are in the presence of a mighty tigress. She is easily identified by blister on her nose.  She also was one of the tigresses who had collar around her to track her movements. Choti Tara rarely looks ahead while she walks which makes it difficult to take pictures of her. She only moves while gazing below. She is tough and has been in fairly brutal fights with other tigresses.  She has been photographed with her adorable cubs several times before which were her earlier litters. Presently she has given birth to her 5th litter. She has always been a very doting m...

 They said its always nice to keep eyes and ears open when in Forests! Its just not for animals but for observation of many things.  The guides and gypsy drivers share a lot of fun facts regarding the flora and fauna. Over the years i have been seeing and hearing them.  Have listed a few of them. Termite mounds are commonly found in the forests. They are strong earthern structures that are also porous, which allows for ventilation of the termites underground nest without affecting the nests temperature and humidity level. They are done so artistically that they often resemble architectural monuments.  - @Kanha National Park These Creepers Bohemia - Bilai which are found in central india forests named after a British Officers two sons. The sons were identical twins and so are these. The creepers are useful for making food plates and strong ropes. - @Kanha National Park. The houses in small villages in MP have closed drainage systems located behind the houses. Cleanlin...

 "Panna is the most beautiful national park in the country and its landscape is as famous as its tigers" is what my guide whispered to me on my first safari, and that was eternally true! Termed as the Emerald Forest, An Insight into the Panna Tiger Reserve is a live experience of witnessing animals residing in their natural habitat, stunning landscapes, and an unending list of flora and fauna, forest trails, and several wildlife species. Nestled in the Vindhya ranges, Panna Tiger Reserve comprises of mixed terrain including gorges and extensive plateaus. Spread in the expanse of 542.67 square kilometers this is the last tiger habitat in the northern part of Madhya Pradesh.  Panna National Park is known for creating history in Tiger Conservation. The park lost all tigers to systematic poaching from 2006 to 2008. Subsequently, 3 tigers were relocated from other reserves to Panna in 2009. These tigers made Panna their home and today with the dedicated efforts of the Forest Depar...

I have been visiting various parks and sanctuaries for almost 14 years now. And have observed different tigers in their natural habitats. I have realized that some tigers are destined to rule, dominate, and regal. Machali, the queen of Ranthambore, is a prime example. She was single-handedly responsible for bringing throngs of tourists and photographers. A similar story is of Maya – the queen of Tadoba. She is the one who has redefined the experience of sighting a wild tiger in Tadoba. Tourists, enthusiasts, and photographers regularly visited Tadoba just to get a glimpse of her. One would be extremely lucky to see her casually zig-zagging her way through safari rides.  She would gladly oblige her admirers with regular photo sessions oozing with her lazy grace. If we look at Maya’s biography and lineage, she is the daughter of Leela and Hilltop Male. The territory she controlled was left for her by her mother - Leela. The original Empress of Tadoba, Mahua Khadda tigress trans...

Dandeli is one of the top birding destinations of India in the valleys of Western Ghats and bird watching is one of the best activities to do where rare and shy forest birds appear for photogenic capture of timeless memories.  Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary situated in Dandeli, Karnataka is home to over 200 species of birds. The Ganeshgudi area is also reckoned as a bird watching destination, where one can observe Malabar Pied Hornbill and Malabar Grey Hornbill, Flycatchers, Shama and Babblers in this most diverse biodiversity hotspot.   The best time is from October to the beginning of March for getting a glimpse of migratory birds in Ganeshgudi area, because skies are clear, the sun shines happily and one does not feel tired even after trekking or walking for miles owing to cool weather. You can watch the birds mud-bathing, in-flight, hunting for food for sun-bathing, depending on the time of the day. Old Magazine House located in Dandeli which is'nt called birders paradise...