Naina - The one with beautiful eyes

Kanha national park is one of the best place to spot tigers and other wildlife. Floras and fauna of Kanha is second to none. Most tourists visit Kanha to spot tigers and one of the rarest deer species - Hard ground Swamp deer, commonly known as Barasingha, which is endemic to these forests.

Certainly spotting a tiger in the wild is an experience in itself but think how it would be when you get to spot tigress with small, cuddly cubs. Yes, that is the most memorable, lifetime experience. Here are a few photographs of one of the most beautiful tigress of Kanha - Naina also known as Link 8 female and T 76. Here T 76 is the name given by forest department for her identification and Link 8 is the area she normally frequents.

Naina - also known as T 76 and Link 8 Female

Naina is a very bold tigress and can be spotted lazing around in grass or walking on the road. We had been fortunate enough to have seen her a few times. Once she gave a sudden appearance and came on road, calling her cubs. We were with her for almost 1.5 Km's.

Naina - on a walk 

Naina is a first time mother and a very careful one. Although her cubs are around 4 - 5 months now but she rarely comes out with them. In last few months she has given an appearance with her cubs only a couple of times and we were fortunate enough to have seen her with all 4 cubs on one such occasion.

One of Naina's cub

She has Neelam on one side and Mindidadar female on other and both of them have cubs. A few male tigers also roam and overlap her territory. Keeping this in mind she keeps her cubs in safe place and she will have to continue this for another 2 years and wait till her cubs are grown up and ready to face the world.

Portrait shot of Naina - T 76. 

Naina or T 76 it seems will be able to raise her cubs well if she remains careful and we hope we will be able to see the young once getting bigger and crafting out their own territory in some time.

Photo credit: All photographs have been clicked by Navneet Maheshwari, Owner Kanha Village Eco Resort. 

M1 - The New King in Making in Kanha

                M1 - The New King in Making

Kanha tiger reserve has almost 90+ Tigers with Munna (CAT) at the forefront being the most famous tiger of all in present times. Tigers come and go, some are able to craft their territory within the forests of Kanha and some have to look for safe home elsewhere.

Cubs of T8 - Mundidadar female, Jan 2017

T 8 also known as Mundidadar female had 4 cubs, all male who have spread over different areas of Kanha after leaving their mother. Of these 2 are often sighted in tourism area and 2 rarely. I had seen them with their mother last season on 5th of January 2017. It was one of the best sighting for me that season. This year T8 (Mundidadar) has rarely been sighted and we are expecting she has given another litter.

Cubs of T 8, playing, Jan 2018

This season I could spot M1, one of the 4 cubs of T8 on couple of occasions and here are a couple of photographs for all to see and enjoy. He is a bold but elusive male, remains around when seen, but is rarely spotted.

M1, the bold one

We are expecting him to settle down somewhere within the core area itself but he has severe competition. Only time will tell if he is strong enough to carve out a territory for himself or is thrown out by other more experienced tigers.

M1, cub of T8, is trying to carve his territory

Hopefully we will continue seeing him in Kanha for long time to come.

Kanha National Park - Zones or Gates

Zones and Gates in Kanha National Park

Kanha National Park and Tiger Reserve is one of the most visited forest reserve in India. Tourists from all over the world visit Kanha to spot the majestic king of the forest – Tiger and other wildlife, wildlife photography, enjoy the peaceful environs and spend time with family and friends. Most tourists visiting Kanha go for Jungle excursions in open Gypsy to enjoy the forest and spot wild animals.

Tiger in Kanha

When visiting Kanha you need to plan your jungle safari excursions and here is where many get confused. Kanha has zones for safaris and entry is through gates but mostly we get confused for zones as gates.

The Zones:

Safari in kanha is conducted by the forest department and tourists are permitted to visit only 4 zones – Kanha, Kisli, Sarhi and Mukki, in core area. Along with we have 3 buffer zones – Khatia, Sijhora and Khapa, also available for safaris. Rarely visited by tourists, Phen Sanctuary is a satellite core of Kanha, leopard and sloth bear sighting here is very good.

Tourism zones of Kanha National Park

The Entry points:

Kanha national park has many entries off which 3– Khatia, Sarhi and Mukki gates are open for tourists.

Accessibility:

·         Khatia gate (also known as Kisli gate) is the main entry gate for excursions. If you are staying near Khatia gate (we have many resorts in Khatia, Mocha and Boda Chhapri villages) you can go to any of core zones for safari as well as visit Khatia buffer.

·         Sarhi gate is the northern gate and we can visit Sarhi, Kanha and Kisli zones from this entry point. Sarhi gate does not have good accommodation although Madhya Pradesh Tourism is coming up with a property here and forest department runs some home stays. Rarely anyone stays at Sarhi side so most entry to Sarhi zone is from Khatia gate only.

·         Mukki gate is best for entry to Mukki, Kanha and Kisli zones.

·         Entry to Khatia, Sijhora and Khapa zones are easily accessible from Khatia, Sarhi and Mukki gates respectively.   

Kanha Tiger Reserve - Core and Buffer Map

How to plan your excursion:

When planning a jungle safari trip to Kanha keep accessibility in mind, for gate as well as zone. If you are staying towards Khatia gate you can visit any of 4 core zones. Here you enter from Khatia gate, reach Kisli zone first and take designated route to reach your permitted zone.  If staying towards Khatia gate we suggest not to take Mukki zone for evening rides as it is almost 45 minutes’ drive (although it is from inside the park / core area) since you have less time in evening excursions you will not get enough time in your designated zone. (The route we take to reach Mukki zone via Kisli zone and come back or vice a versa is one of the best for spotting tigers so if you are ready to take the risk, no issues there.) Remember, if you have booked your permits for Sarhi zone and staying at Mukki gate side you must drive down 40 Km’s (60 – 70 minutes) to Khatia gate for taking entry.

Kanha is the best forest to spot tigers

Khatia gate is easily accessible from Jabalpur, Raipur and Nagpur. Mukki side is easy to reach from Raipur and Bilaspur. Sarhi gate can be reached from Jabalpur, Raipur and Bilaspur easily.

Travel time between gates:

Travelling from Khatia gate to Mukki or Sarhi gate takes almost an hour. Travelling to Sarhi gate from Mukki takes almost 1 hour 30 minutes.

Suggestion:

A very common question from visitors is: Which is the best zone for spotting tigers in Kanha? A very difficult question to answer because sightings change due to many reasons but certainly Kanha and Mukki zones will come on top followed by Kisli and Sarhi. 

If you are visiting Kanha for 3 nights 4 days and taking 4 safaris, which are on day 2 and 3, I will suggest following itinerary for safaris –

If you are staying at Khatia gate side:

Option 1	Option 2
Safari 1 (Morning) – Kanha zone Safari 2 (Evening) – Kisli zone Safari 3 (Morning) – Mukki zone Safari 4 (Evening) – Kisli zone	Safari 1 (Morning) – Kanha zone Safari 2 (Evening) – Kisli zone Safari 3 (Morning) – Kanha zone Safari 4 (Evening) – Kisli zone

If you are staying at Mukki gate side:

Option 1	Option 2
Safari 1 (Morning) – Kanha zone Safari 2 (Evening) – Mukki zone Safari 3 (Morning) – Kisli zone Safari 4 (Evening) – Mukki zone	Safari 1 (Morning) – Mukki zone Safari 2 (Evening) – Mukki zone Safari 3 (Morning) – Mukki zone Safari 4 (Evening) – Mukki zone

These are suggested safari itineraries for Kanha and different combinations can be worked out. Do keep in mind before finalising the zone or booking permit for safari in Kanha do call your accommodation provider, check on social media or talk to someone who resides in Kanha (Guide / Gypsy Driver / Naturalist), you maybe suggested a different safari itinerary as per sighting and availability of permits. Also, we can only suggest but there is no assurance of spotting tigers since they are free roaming animals, tracking them takes a lot of hard work and experience and certainly your luck plays a big part here.  

Kanha forest has beautiful landscape

Hope the above will be helpful in better planning, making your jungle holiday toKanha an enjoyable and memorable experience.

Happy Tiger Tracking …….

Do comment and share if you like the post, Thank you

Best 5 Tiger Reserves of Central India

Spot the Stripes in Central Indian Forests

Travelling to forests of India to spot the striped big cat - Tiger, in its home - Jungle, is every wildlife lover and travellers dream vacation. Travellers from all over the world visit India to spot these majestic cats in the wild. Spotting Tigers and photographing them in the wild is an unforgettable experience. India boasts of maximum Tigers in the wild and one of the best places in the world to spot them. Today India has many Tiger reserves famous within the tiger lover community and choosing any one or two of them is not easy. 



Munna - The famous tiger of Kanha Tiger Reserve

Central India has the maximum number of Tiger Reserves with the state of Madhya Pradesh alone having 7. Here is a list of 5 best tiger reserves to chose from for your upcoming trip.

Kanha Tiger Reserve -

Spread over 940 Sq Kms, situated in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh, Kanha national park is on top of the list. Also known as Kanha Kisli Tiger Reserve, it has one of the best developed tourism infrastructure. It can be easily reached from Jabalpur, Nagpur, Raipur and Gondia. Kanha has more than 100 tigers and is the only wilderness where you can spot Hard ground Swamp deer or Barasingha - the twelve tinned deer. Kanha's Sal and Bamboo forests are one of the best place to rejuvenate your body, mind and soul. Kanha is the best managed national park of India.



Hard Ground Swamp Deer of Kanha

Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve -

Famous for spotting tigers and it's historically important ruins, Bandhavgarh is one tiger reserves you should not miss. With very good infrastructure and easy to reach from Jabalpur and Khajuraho it is always on top of list of wildlife lovers and photographers. It is located in Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh. Bandhavgarh forests are also famous for having the highest density of tigers as well as for white tigers. If it is only the tigers on your list Bandhavgarh will certainly be on the top.

Pench Tiger Reserve -

Famous as playground of famous writer Rudyard Kipling, it is said his novel  'Jungle Book' was written with forest of Pench as the set. Pench is dry deciduous forest patch and visibility is very high (especially in dry season) compared to other reserves. It is easily reached from Nagpur and Jabalpur as well as Pachmarhi. Pench forests also have very good bird population and known as bird watchers paradise. You can spot tigers with ease and if lucky leopard, wolf and host of birds as well.

 

Leopard in forests of Central India

 

Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve -

One of the most famous and well known of all tiger reserves, Ranthamhore is situated in Sawai Madhopur District in Rajasthan state. With dry deciduous forest and 3 main ponds (namely Padam Talao, Raj Talao and Malik Talao) spread over the park, spotting a tiger here is relatively easy and ruins of Ranthambhore fort and old princely state make the spotting surreal. Famous for Tiger men of India - Late Shri Fateh Singh ji Rathore and longest living tigress Machli, it has been visited by many from the list of rich and famous. It has very good rail and road connectivity and well developed tourism infrastructure.

Panna Tiger Reserve - 

Khajuraho is famous for its temples and visited by tourists from all over the world. Panna is only 30 Kilometer from Khajuraho but rarely visited although it is one of the best reserves to spot Tigers and Leopards. Panna lost all its tigers to poaching sometime back but with hard work of forest department and support of locals they have come back and regained their kingdom. Panna forests are very good for bird watching and one of the last places in Central India where you can spot 8 species of vultures. Easily reached from Khajuraho and Satna, Panna is one place I will suggest not to miss.    

 

Tiger in forest of India

 

I will suggest to visit minimum 2 tiger reserves, 3 night stay at each and 4 safaris at both destinations. This will increase your chances of spotting tiger and you will be able to enjoy the wilderness to its best.

 

Happy Tiger Trailing .........



Spotting a tiger in wild is an unforgettable experience.

 

  
 

Phen Wildlife Sanctuary - A wildlife paradise

111 Sq Kms of pristine forest, North East of Kanha Tiger Reserve, a mini satellite core of Kanha – Phen Wildlife Sanctuary, is in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh. A nature lovers’ paradise, it is best for bird watchers and ones who love forest.  With Sal, Teak, Saja, Aonla, Tendu, Jamun, Bel, Bamboo and Bargad it has more than 800 known species of flora. Mammals and bird life abound, we can spot more than 200 bird species along with Hyena, Fox, Sloth bear, Gaur, Leopard, Wild Dog, Jungle Cat and Blue Bull and other wildlife. A few very lucky ones even spot a Tiger – the King of Indian forests.

“Bamhani Dadar used to be like this when we used to visit in October” exclaimed Kalim bhai. At places our 4x4 Gypsy could not be seen under tall grass in the beautiful meadows.  “Yes, it reminds us of 20 years back, when Kanha had less tourist influx and most of it was open for tourism.” Kamal added. Ravi our guide provided by forest department had excellent knowledge of local fauna which was a treat and increased our knowledge.

“We should come back between mid-November till mid-February for bird watching, to spot migratory birds” I add. Due to very few tourists visiting the sanctuary animals here are very cautious of any sound or sight of humans. Sir, ‘Tendua’ (Leopard) exclaimed Ravi, the rosettes could be seen clearly. Walking through dense foliage it climbed up a tree, away from our prying eyes. Sloth bear pugmarks could be seen at many places. We were lucky enough to spot Jungle Cat, Blue Bull, Gaur, Wild Boar and Spotted deer amongst others.  

Kanha national park management has worked hard on restoration of forest. Villages from inside were relocated making the forest inviolate - void of human interference. Old school building of one time human settlement is being used by forest department for management purpose which has saved a lot of money on developing fresh setup, a move worth commendation.

Madhya Pradesh Tourism is starting a wildlife lodge near the entry gate, till than the only option is to live nearby at any resort in Kanha. We were carrying our own jungle hamper and thank our stars for it. Since still very few tourists visit Phen the infrastructure is not well developed and it does not have a cafeteria. Hopefully soon Phen Sanctuary will set a leading example on Responsible wildlife  Eco-Tourism in India.

If you love nature just do not contemplate, plan your tour and enjoy wilderness – undisturbed and pristine.

Step by step guide to book your safari excursion

Want to spot a tiger in the wild?
Planning a wildlife holiday to Madhya Pradesh?

Tiger at Kanha National Park

Book your safari well in advance to have a great safari experience......

Here is a how to book your own safari, a step to step guide to make your wildlife experience a perfect one and end dependency on others:

1 - Go to website https://forest.mponline.gov.in/Search.aspx

2 - Choose your Destination - Following options are available at present - Kanha national park, Bandhavgarh national park, Pench national park, Panna national park and Satpura national park. Here we have chosen Kanha.

3 - Choose your date of travel
4 - Choose your ticket type - You have 2 options to choose between full vehicle permit and single person permit. If only 2 - 3 people are going for holiday and you are comfortable with sharing with others single vehicle permit is a good option. If you are going for photography or with a larger group of 4 - 6 guests it is better to book full vehicle permit.
5 - Click on - 'Excursion Availability' tab

6 - Click on date for which you want to book safari excursion. Here in example we have clicked 01-12-2016 for full vehicle permit.

7 - Fill Zone (Kanha / Kisli / Sarhi / Mukki) and round details (morning / evening).
8 - Leave vehicle type and other details as it is and click on 'Proceed for tourist details' tab.

9 - Fill full details as required, do not forget ID proof number of all guests. Click at 'I agree' tab at last and Continue tab.

10 - Check all details, note down the booking id generated. Click payment tab.

11 - Make payment online. You will get a confirmation that your ticket is booked.

Carry your ticket printout along with original ID proof as filled while booking permit, get it checked at entry gate and enjoy your safari.

Present safari permit rate (2016 - 17 Season) is 1500/- for a full vehicle permit. You also have to pay Rs. 50/- extra as portal charges. Vehicle charges and guide charges are extra which you have to pay at the hotel or entry gate. Safari vehicle charges are between 1800/- to 2500/- at different national parks.

Enjoy your forest excursions at Tiger reserves of Madhya Pradesh, Cheers!!!

Wildlife adventure tourism in Central India

Wildlife adventure tourism in Central India

Wildlife tourism in India has its own place in world wildlife adventure tourism map. India is a vast country with good natural heritage including national parks, tiger reserves, reserve and protected forests as well as areas not so well protected but having very good tourism potentials. Wildlife adventure tourism in India includes tiger safari, bird watching, jungle walks and allied tourism activities. Most of the nature and wildlife tourism in the country is through its tiger reserves where tourists from all over the world visit to spot free roaming wild tigers and other wild animals in their natural habitat. India has some good tiger reserves in almost all states be it Kashmir in the north, Kerala in the south, Rajasthan in the east or Orissa in the western part. Out of all these the best place is certainly the central part with the state of Madhya Pradesh leading the wildlife tourism baton in the country.

Central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has some best managed and most frequented tiger reserves of the country including Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Panna and Satpura national parks and tiger reserves. These and other destinations around them are also good bird watching sites in India and certainly one of the best places to enjoy a quiet holiday with nature. With Kanha and Bandhavgarh being at the helm of tourism Pench, Panna and Satpura are fast catching up the tourism graph.

Kanha National Park, Tigers eyes

Kanha national park:

One of the best managed tiger reserves in India, Kanha forests are famous for not only spotting the striped cat but also Hard ground swamp deer or Barasingha as it is locally known as, one of the rarest deer species in the world. Spread over 940 Sq Kms, with predominantly Sal and Bamboo forest and meadows Kanha is on top of list for any natural history fan and wildlife photographer. You can visit Kanha national park to see 22 species of mammals, 259 species of birds, 117 species of butterflies and many other flora and fauna. With more than 1000 flowering species of flora Kanha is also a treat for people mainly interested in the green cover of the earth.

Kanha has a very well developed tourism infrastructure and caters to need of luxury and budget tourists alike. Some of the best places to stay in Kanha include KanhaVillage Eco Resort, Flame of the Forest, Chitwan Jungle Lodge, Banjar Tola (Tajsafari), Kipling camp, Singinawa jungle lodge,Tiger corridor by Tuli and Kanha earth lodge for luxury and mid luxury segment tourists. Budget accommodation in Kanha includes Kanha Eco Lodge, Koushalya Resort, Mahua Tiger Resort, Baghira log huts, Tourist hostel (Kisli) and Kishkindha Safari lodge amongst others.

 

Butterfly in Kanha natonal park

 Bandhavgarh national park:

Well known amongst tiger enthusiasts as a tiger reserve with highest density of Tigers per Sq. Kms., Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve is one of the most visited national parks within wildlife buffs and photographers alike. Bandhav garh gets its name from the fort of Bandha, once under the Royal family of Rewa. It is one of the oldest known inhabited places in central Indian history where archeological surveys has unearthed relics dating back to thousands of years. Once royal hunting grounds of Maharaja of Rewa, today it is one of the best tiger reserves of the country, thanks to the royal family. Spread over 105 Sq. Kms.  its topography varies between steep ridges, undulating, forest and open meadows. With 22 species of mammals and 250 species of birds, Bandhavgarh forests are best known for its biodiversity and spotting Tigers.

This white tiger country as it is also known as (Since first wild white tiger cub – Mohan, was caught here by Maharaja Martand Singh ji) has excellent tourism infrastructure with good alternative for all budgets. Mahua Kothi (Taj safaris), Tiger garh, Syna tiger resort, Tree house hideaway, Samode Safari Lodge, Bandhav Villas, Hotel Monsoon Forest  and Maharajas Royal Retreat are some premium properties catering to luxury tourists. For mid segment and budget tourists TheWildflower resort, Tiger trails, Green woods, Wild Haven, Mrigvan resorts, and Tiger Trails Resort are good choice.  
 

Wildlife in Central India

Pench national park:

Spread over 299 Sq. Kms. of dense forest Pench Tiger reserve is located towards the southern boundary of Madhya Pradesh. Most of the park is covered with dry deciduous forests and is situated around River Pench with predominantly Teak forest.  With 39 known species of mammals, 13 species of reptiles, 210 species of birds and many other small and big living beings this is one of the best tiger country in Central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Flora in Pench national park includes around 1200 flowering species of trees, shrubs and bushes.

Tourism infrastructure in Pench is very well developed thanks to its proximity to Nagpur (Maharashtra) and Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh). Some of the best accommodation in Pench include Baghvan (Taj Safari), Jungle home Pench, Tuli Tiger Corridor and Pench Jungle camp. For budget and mid segment options V Village resort, Tiger N Wood Resort and Tribal Camp Resort are the best.

Pug mark of Tiger - Wildlife excursion in Central India

Panna national park:

Famous for the wrong reason of once losing all the wild Tigers to poaching, Panna has bounced back to tiger conservation and tourism map again due to hard work and dedication of forest department of Madhya Pradesh and field staff of this spectacular tiger reserve. Once royal hunting grounds of royal families of Panna, Chatterpur and Bijawar this park has seen a lot of ups and downs in its time. Ken River, home to Indian Ghariyal flows through the forest presenting some stunning scenery on its way. With 543 Sq. Kms of core area this tiger country attracts lots of bird (around 200 known species) and has 19 known species of mammals including otters. It is a very good breeding ground for vultures and yearly vulture estimation is attended by many birding enthusiasts and volunteers.

Tourism infrastructure in Panna is not very well developed since most visitors prefer to stay at nearby temple town of Khajuraro. Some of the good places to stay in Panna national park include Pashan Garh (Tajsafaris), Sarai at Toria, Ken River Lodge, Panna Tiger Resort, Jewel of Jungle and forest rest house.

Wild cat in Central Indian national parks

Satpura national park

A bio diversity hot spot, one of the biggest tiger reserves of central India, Satpura national park covers an area of 1427 Sq. Kms. including Bori wildlife sanctuary and buffer zone. Famous hill station of Madhya Pradesh – Pachmarhi falls under this beautiful national park. With many still unlisted species of plant species Satpura boasts of more than 1300 flowering species with many of them having medicinal use. Here tourists can spot 29 mammal species, almost 190 butterfly species and many reptiles, birds and other big and small living beings. Falling under Satpura mountain ranges, landscape of Satpura forests is very diverse. A hotspot for photography enthusiasts and natural history educationists this is one of the least visited of all national parks in Madhya Pradesh but has one of the best biodiversity of all others.

Tourists planning to visit Satpura national park can stay in forest guest houses or at hotels and resorts in Pachmarhi. Some good accommodation in Satpura includes Forsyth lodge, Reni Pani Jungle Lodge, Denwa backwater escapes and Madhai wildlife resort.  

Bird watching in Central Idnia

Madhya Pradesh has many other and some of the finest natural sites of tourism interests including bird sanctuaries, reserve forests and national parks but most of them do not have good tourism infrastructure except basic accommodation being provided by the forest department. Tourism along River Narmada is a very thrilling one and needs very meticulous planning but is full of adventure and experience you will not get anywhere else. When planning a wildlife tour to Madhya Pradesh do check all the options and plan your trip with keeping any of above national park as your base. For any help or guidance writer can be contacted or good travel tour makers can also help in preparing a tailor made package as per your requirement.



Note (Disclaimer): Suggestions of hotels / resorts in national parks of Madhya Pradesh is as per my own choice and is not a recommendation nor is the author responsible or liable in any way if guests stay at any of above refferred accommodations is not good.

Tiger breeding: Panna strikes global first, Sariska fails - Hindustan Times

It is a mixed bag for future of tigers. A captive bred tigress in Panna, Madhya Pradesh, has become world’s first big cat to deliver in wild but pregnancy of a relocated tigress in Sariska, Rajasthan, has failed for the second time, a setback to the breeding efforts.

Panna and Sariska are India’s big cat experiment labs as both lost them due to poaching and the government re-introduced tigers from similar landscape to create a new pool. On Wednesday, Panna delivered the world’s first --- two cubs from a six-year-old captive tigress, who was orphaned six years ago and was reared in an enclosure in Kanha tiger reserve. She and her two siblings – a brother and a sister --- were trained for hunting in the enclosure. After a positive report from Dehradun based Wildlife Institute of India (WII), the tigresses were shifted to Panna in March 2011 and the brother, who was injured, to Van Vihar, Bhopal. “The tigress has been spotted with two cubs after mating with a wild tiger,” said R S Murthy, field director of Panna Tiger Reserve that had no tigers in 2009.

In all seven tigers have been relocated to Panna. Since the two tigresses landed, there was around the clock monitoring through Global Positioning System (GPS). In September 2011, the elder tigress, which created history, lost the radio collar and since then she was being monitored manually. The forest guards were able to spot and record the presence of two cubs with the mother on Wednesday. “It is for first time captive bred tigress has adapted completely to wild conditions,” Murthy said. But, the said news is that her sister had been badly injured in a brawl with another tiger. “She will take four to five days to recover,” he said, adding that she was slow in adapting to wild conditions unlike her elder sister. That has not happened in Sariska, which lost all tigers in 2004. A tiger and two tigresses were shifted from Rathambore and only one tigress had conceived twice. “She has again lost her baby,” an official of National Tiger Conservation Authority said, adding that the Wildlife Institute of India has been asked to investigate the reasons for repeated abortions. However, officials said the high human presence in Sariska was causing problems for the big cats there.



Tiger breeding: Panna strikes global first, Sariska fails - Hindustan Times

Use of Elephants in Tiger Reserves: Tiger shows vs. Patrolling

Kanha national park is one of the most famous protected forest areas in the country with almost 2000 sq. km’s under it. It was declared under project tiger in the year 1972 but it got special protected area status well before that. Due to undulated landscape and dense forest elephants were called for patrolling the forest. This didn’t only make the task of keeping an eye on poachers and tree fellers easy but also helped the department in taking out the tourists (who were very less than) to see wildlife and especially tiger.

Everything changes with time and so it did here. Elephants which were called for patrolling had a little change of duty and today they are mostly used for tiger shows i.e. to show the visiting tourist tiger from elephant back and a small amount is charged for this few minutes glimpse of the maharaja. As any other VVIP it is certainly not possible to see the king of the forest easily but when the protectors of the king, its body guards indulge in the duty of showing the general public a glimpse of the maharaja where does the protection part goes? What will happen if the security personals of our VVIP netas let everyone visit and see them and start charging a fee for it?

When elephants leave early morning to track tigers this disturbs all the denizens of the forest and also wherever the elephants move they destroy a lot of forest area. As such elephants are not found in kanha region and we do not have historical records showing its presence. They were especially called to make the work of patrolling easy and to assist in forest management work.

If we look into the tiger track record being kept by the department or talk to local guides and gypsy drivers it is very clear that in those areas where tiger shows are being held tiger sighting by Gypsy’s goes down. Has ever the department tried to see the reason behind this? Certainly they must have done so or may be a few of them must have done so but why no action is being taken or maybe they think it’s not worthwhile to take any action. Are monetary returns more important than giving protection to forest as a whole?

Many forest officials say we see change of heart when people go back after seeing a tiger and when they have spent such a lot of money they should be able to see a tiger. I agree but at what cost? By playing with the security of the forest? Today we can see tiger on elephant back but what will happen when all tigers are gone? It seems no one is interested in looking for long term good.

As per my experience and knowledge also, tiger sighting by gypsy goes down in any area or range where the elephants are moved and moreover used for tiger tracking and shows. Moreover, if elephants are moved to the core area tigers and other animals start moving out and away from that area which means they will move toward buffer and near to villages. So, what happens here, they become an easy target for poachers. Whereas if elephants are kept in buffer area to keep an eye on poachers and encroachers we not only save our wildlife and forest even wild animals are not disturbed thus they remain in safe core area.

So, is this one of the major reason behind dwindling tiger population in famous national parks where elephants are being used for tiger shows instead of patrolling? Now this may be one of the reasons surely or may be a minor one at that but surely it should be considered and immediate action taken.

Check www.kanha.in for stay and tiger safari at Kanha National Park.

Kanha National Park


Situated in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, Kanha National Park is one of the most beautiful and well managed of all national parks in India. It is well known not only within the tourists, natural history photographers and wildlife lovers but also to public at large. Tourist throng here to see the magnificent big cat Tiger and one of the rarest deer the Hard ground Barasingha (Swamp Deer) also known as the – Jewel of Kanha national park.

The park was created in 1955 by a special law and, since then, it has dedicated itself in preserving a variety of animal species. Many endangered species have indeed been saved here. Today Kanha is among the few most scenic and beautiful wildlife reserves in Asia. This 'Tiger Country' is the ideal home for both predator and prey. The romance of the Kanha National Park has not reduced over time – it is still as beautiful as described by Rudyard Kipling in his famous book – The Jungle Book.

Located in the Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh, 160 Km s from Jabalpur, Kanha national park cum Tiger reserve extends over an area of over 1,940 Sq. km’s of which 940 Sq. Km’s is designated core area and the rest buffer. The major feature of this region's interesting topography is the horseshoe shape valley and the whole park area is surrounded by the spurs of the Mekal. The Surpan River meanders through Kanha's central Maidans, grasslands that cover the extensive plateau.

Kanha's sal and bamboo forests and rolling grasslands, are by far the most striking features of this region where sighting Swamp deer, Sambhar, Chital, Gaur and other denizens of jungle is common. Just imagine, the feeling of seeing the king of the forests – Tiger, on an evening stroll or taking a nap under shade of tree or may be tigress teaching its cubs the nuances of jungle life. There is no comparison between seeing a Tiger in a Zoo or a Circus and here at its home, its natural habitat – forests.




Major Wildlife Attractions of Kanha

The main wildlife attractions in the park are Tiger, Gaur, Sambhar, Chital, Barasingha, Barking deer, Black buck, Sloth bear, Jackal, Fox, Porcupine, Jungle cat, Python, Pea fowl, Hare, Monkey, Mongoose and leopard.



The birds species in the park include Storks, Teals, Pintails, Pond herons, Egrets, Peacock, Pea fowl, Jungle fowl, Spur fowl, Partridges, Quails, Ring doves, Spotted parakeets, Green pigeons, Rock pigeons, Cuckoos, Rollers, Bee-eater, Hoopoes, Drongos, Warblers, Kingfishers, Woodpeckers, Finches, Orioles, Owls, and Fly catchers. It is winter destination for number of migratory birds who visit central India and winter stoppage for many who take rest while passing over to their final destinations in southern part of the country.



However, if one animal species were to represent Kanha, it would probably be the Hard ground Barasingha, or the swamp deer. The species of Barasinghas found at Kanha are unique, as they have adopted themselves to the plains of central India and populate the large open tracts of grass amidst the forests of teak and bamboo. Twenty years ago, the barasingha was faced with extinction but some desperate measures by the forest department saved them and today their population has raised from meager 66 to around 400.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The climate of this region is tropical. Summers are hot and dry with a maximum and minimum temperature of 42°C and 24°C. Winters are cold with an average maximum and minimum temperature of 24°C and 1°C, respectively. The annual average rainfall is 152 cm. The park is closed from July to mid October during monsoon. You can enjoy the forest in any season but if you are coming to see the king of the forest His Majesty the Tiger summers is certainly the best time.

ACTIVITIES

Wildlife safaris are the biggest attraction for every visitor to Kanha. Tourists are allowed to visit and enjoy the serine environment of the forest and view wildlife in morning and evening safaris. Generally morning safaris are of longer hours and Tiger shows or tiger viewing from back of elephants is allowed in this period (depending on tiger sighting and permission of the forest department). Evening safaris are limited to jeep safaris only but is one of the best times to see tigers on evening stroll.

Kanha has a museum at the centre of the park which can enrich you with lots of knowledge about the wildlife and forests and life in a forest. A visit to the museum is highly recommended. Here the forest department also manages a cafeteria where you can enjoy some snacks along with tea or coffee. Normally Tiger show tickets are issued from here only so most of the vehicles rush to reach and book the tickets so at times you can see a scene of city well within the forest.

Evenings can be spent either for evening gypsy safaris, nature walk or other activities which can be planned with prior intimation. Forest department has developed a nature trail just outside the Khatia gate of the park which is worth a visit or if you want our naturalists are always ready to plan a bird watching and nature trail wherein we can go around the buffer area. If you want to make it different cultural village tour of any of the local tribal villages can be planned. We can also arrange a tribal dance and music program which can be enjoyed by all. And, if you are in a mood of relaxing and enjoying the natural surrounding around the resort with a book to read we have a library with books ranging from different subjects and you can soak yourself in them.

Check http://www.kanha.in/welcome.htm for details of our resort.