Tiger & Wildlife Photography Package for Kanha

Shutterbug Nature Tour

5 Nights / 6 Days

Kanha Tiger Reserve is well known for its bio diversity, dense forests of Sal and Bamboo, Meadows and water bodies. It is famous for having a glimpse of the King of the Forest – Tiger and Jewel of Kanha - Hard Ground Barasingha, the twelve tined deer. Landscape falls in the path of migratory birds which is an added advantage for birders as more than 290 species of birds can be seen here. With 117 known Butterflies species, thousands of insects and other big and small one fill this bio diversity hot spot which is a nature lover’s paradise. Kanha National Park is known as paradise for wildlife photographers and nature lovers and some world famous photographers visit this natural heritage of India on regular basis.

Day 01

Kanha (L, D) Jungle walk: 1 Evening

Welcome on arrival at Kanha Village Eco Resort, Kanha National Park and check in at the resort. After an introduction session with lunch we take some rest before we go for our first Jungle walk for Bird watching in the buffer zone of Kanha National Park. We may also see Spotted Deer, Sambhar deer, Barking Deer, Foxes, Jackals, Hyena, etc., Around Dinner time we will have discussion / orientation session where we will discuss about the rich bio diversity of central India.

Day 02

Kanha (B, L, D), Safari: 1 Morning, 1 Evening

Morning safari drive in the national park will enable us to see those animals and birds which prefer dense forested areas and least human disturbance. Here we will be able to see the King – Tiger with other denizens of the jungle. Enjoy packed breakfast in the forest. After return from the park, freshen up, relax for an hour and have lunch.

Evening we go for our second safari in the core area where we will be able to see our flying friends and other animals like Sloth Bear, Spotted Deer, Dhole, Gaur, etc., Water bodies in the area are a big advantage for us as many animals and birds can be seen in the vicinity. Tiger, Leopard, Jungle cats and other carnivores prefer to move in the dusk preparing to make a kill and give us a chance to shoot them with our camera. At the resort we will discuss about taking better photographs and how to improve on our photography skills.

Day 03

Kanha (B, L, D), Safari: 1 Morning, 1 Evening

Morning and Evening safari drives in another zone with different habitation will enable us to see birds which prefer Meadows to dense forest areas. Here we will also get a chance to see Blue Bull, Hard Ground Barasingha, Sloth Bear, Tiger and Leopard along with other wild animals. Abundance of bird life along with mammals is an advantage and chances of clicking an award winning photograph always present so keep yourself forever ready with your gear as any moment lost means waiting for time unknown for same type of image. At night we will discuss about photographs taken and opportunities available after Dinner.

Day 04

Kanha (B, L, D), Safari: 1 Morning, Jungle walk: 1 Evening

Mornings in Kanha are always bit cold due to Sal forest and a drive in is always pleasing. With packed breakfast we go on open 4x4 Gypsy looking for the beautiful creations of God around the numerous water bodies and roads. Just keep your eyes open and remain on a watch for that perfect moment to capture. Evening we take a Jungle walk in the buffer zone on lookout of some of our feathered friends who prefer dusk time and other denizens of the forests.

Day 05

Kanha (B, L, D), Safari: 1 Morning, 1 Evening

Today we will have a morning safari at Kanha national park, yes, as you thought chances of seeing Tiger, Gaur, Sambhar, Barking deer and other small and big mammals is there. Remember patience and perfect understanding of wild animals is very important for any wildlife photographer.

Evening, keeping in mind those flying friends we have missed out and mammals which have been elusive till now we will and try to cover them all in our last safari of the tour.

Day 06

Kanha (B)

After a relaxed sleep we meet in the morning for breakfast at restaurant in the resort. Today is the end of present trip to Kanha and we leave for home with beautiful memories and stock of photographs of mammals and birds of central India.

Net Price per person: (On twin sharing basis)

For Indian Tourists: Cottage: 22,299/- Standard: 14,999/-

For Foreign Tourists: (Ask for Special Rates)

· Package is valid between:

§ Group 1: 19^thMay 2013 – 24^th May 2013.

§ Group 2: 03rd June 2013– 08^th June 2013.

Check following link for further details:

http://www.kanhavillage.com/package-shutterbug-nature-tour

Bird Watching - Kanha National Park

Bird watching is one activity which attracts lot many people and numbers of serious and amateur bird watchers is increasing day by day. These colourful feathered friends of ours are very important in our ecological system and can be found almost everywhere. We have done plantation at our resort keeping in mind two things. Firstly, maximum trees being planted must be from local landscape. And, Secondly that the trees planted should be either fruiting or flowering once which attract our flying friends a lot.

Pied Myna enjoying Mulberry fruit
Kanha Village Eco Resort
Kanha National Park

Normally tourists come to Kanha National Park with sole intention to have an audience with the king - Tiger. But we feel to really enjoy a jungle we should see all those small and big animals, birds, insects which altogether keep it healthy. Any forests health depends on whole bio diversity working together and not only on any one species although presence of Tiger the stripped cat certainly shows that the forest patch is in best of its health.

Red Munia on Mulberry Tree
Kanha Tiger Reserve

This year Mulberry plants at our resort - Kanha Village Eco Resort have grown big and were full of black fruits which were attracting host of birds of different varieties. This gave us a chance to see even those birds we used to miss and increase our count of birds seen at the property and even take some good photographs. Here are a few photographs for all to see and enjoy.

Common Myna
Kanha National Park

By: Navneet Maheshwari, Kanha Village Eco Resort

Cleanliness Drive - Kanha National Park

Kanha National Park and Tiger Reserve is well known amongst wildlife lovers and general tourists alike, visited by tourists from all over the world. This tourist inflow has its own advantages and disadvantages. Certainly the local population has benefited a lot and their economic standard has improved with time. Although this has been a very slow process since earlier we had less awareness, even connectivity to Kanha was not very good as well as tourism infrastructure was very basic. But with time infrastructure for tourism has improved with it influx of tourists and development of local population.

Picking plastic and rags thrown by tourists and local people

With more tourists entering the national park certainly it will have some negative impact on the parks environment and disturb wildlife at times. But this in comparison with the awareness created and funding raised for protection and local population is very minimal.


All tourism areas have some issues which needs to be carefully understood and taken care of. Sustainable use of our natural resources and sustainable tourism should go hand in hand and this needs awareness and meticulous planning at all level. Kanha management has done this well and often tourists visiting the park can see and feel the difference in comparison to other national parks. Still, outside the national park especially with tourists and local population a lot needs to be done. One such issue is littering especially of plastic pouches, sachets and bottles. This issue has been raised amidst the lodge association and local people as well as park management many times but still no solution is visible.

Mr. Sanjeev Kulhalli, Director, Kanha Village Eco Resort
Picking up plastic pouches and rags

To create awareness amongst local people and tourists alike we decided to do a cleanliness drive from Khatia main gate onwards. We collected rugs, plastic pouches, etc, and burnt them in the evening. This was participated by Mr. Sanjeev Kulhalli, Director, Kanha Village Eco Resort and Member of Lodges Association executive committee, Mr. Karan Modi, Secretary, Lodges Association, Owner of Flame of teh Forest, myself, Krishna Jungle Resort and other staff and members of our lodges. We also requested the local public especially Dhabha units to take care and not to throw rubbish especially plastic on roads but to collect them at one place and burn after some time. It was bought to notice of all that plastic thrown around is eaten by animals harming them and also pollutes the local environment.


This was a small campaign which we are planning to do for coming weeks so as to create awareness amongst public at large. We will take up more issues with time and try to do our best keeping our responcibilities towards our environment and forests in mind especially towards our national animal Tiger and other denizens of forests.

Tiger - The King of Forest, whose home we are trying to protect.
Kanha National Park

By: Navneet Maheshwari, Owner, Kanha Village Eco Resort

Tiger of Kanha

Munna - is dominent male in Kanha zone

Here is Munna, the dominent male of Kanha zone of Kanha Tiger Reserve. His territory is very large after death of Konda he has taken up some of his area also. He is almost 10 years old and was thought to have either left his territory or died after a fight with other male since he was no where to be seen for almost a month.

Munna - Sitting under bamboo shade

He was seen a few days back and bought back smile on every ones face. Here he was sitting under Bamboo's shade and cooling off when he was seen by the Mahouts and a Tiger show was declared.

Mr. John Alexender Watson, Ms. Sarah White, Ms. Brinda and other guests from New Zealand and United Kingdom staying at Kanha Village Eco Resort got a chance to see Munna and click a few photographs.

Sighting a tiger in the wild is an experience in itself, something which cannot be expressed but only felt. Kanha National Park is home to around 60 Tigers (excluding young ones). We go on Gypsy Safari to see these beautiful striped cats. It is only when you see one of your own in the wildreness of Kanha that you may appreciate why our ancestors used to call it God or Vehicle of Goddess.

8 new Tiger reserves

WWF-India Selects Youth Tiger Ambassadors Ahead of International Tiger forum Addition of 8 New Tiger Reserves- Jairam Ramesh



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19:56 IST

There will be an addition of new eight Tiger Reserves to existing 39 Tiger Reserves in the country within next 6 to 8 months. They will be one each at Satyamangala in Tamilnadu , Ratapani in Madhya Pradesh, Sonapeda in Orissa, the Biliriranga Hills near Mysore in Karnataka and two new Tiger Reserves each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. They will be Nave Goan Nagzira and Bor and Pilibhit and Suhelwa respectively. Introducing Two Young Tiger Ambassadors of India here today, Shri Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State for Environment and Forests (I/C) said others talk of saving tigers, we actually save the tigers. “WWF is taking thise youngsters to Tiger Summit and I hope that many will join in their efforts to save tigers when they come back. The Ministry will mobilize help for their gigantic effort to save 1400 tigers that remain wild in India,” he added.



The Minister stressed India’s commitment towards conserving the big cats. He said, “ India harbors a large proportion of the world’s tiger population, we are committed to make all efforts to conserve wild tigers and their habitats.’’ He further added that’’ Our commitment to put the tiger on an assured course of recovery goes back 37 years when India launched the worlds most extensive and intensive tiger conservation programme since 1973-Project Tiger. We hope that this Tiger Summit will foster the political will and commitment at all levels, for tiger conservation efforts in all range states. Involving the youth will send the message that by saving tigers, we indeed save much more.



Giving details about recent loss of 3 tigers, 2 in Kaziranga where one tiger lost in a fight with buffalo and the third tiger died in Pilibhit in-fighting.At the same time he gave good news of 5 tigers cubs born in Pench. The tiger census will be released in about two week’s time, he added.Talking about very promising areas for tigers he said Kaziranga is one of them. It is known as a Rhinoceros habitat, but today it has highest tiger density in India. Kaziranga has 35 tigers per 100 sq. km. Some tigers in south also show good tiger density.



Disclosing Ministry ‘s efforts to improve tiger’s situation, Shri Ramesh said few important steps have been taken which include increase in allowance of ground staff in Tiger Reserves, more funds from Finance Ministry for voluntary relocation of families from core area of Tiger Reserves, decentralization of National Tiger Conservation Authority(NTCA) and partnership of local tribal’s and non-tribal people in tiger conservation.



The incentive of increased project allowance to 10,000 people at ground level staff will include forest guards, forest rangers, forest officers. It will be doubled.



The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) will be decentralized. There will be 3 new offices, each one in Nagpur, to cover central Tiger habitats, Bangalore to cover South Indian Tiger habitat and one in Guwahati which will cover eastern and north eastern tiger habitat. The NTCA at Delhi will look after northen habitat and coordination work.



Additional allocation of Rs 800 Crore in 2010-11 and Rs 1000 Crore during 2011-12 has been requested to Finance Ministry for relocation of families from the Core areas of Tiger Reserves.The Minister told, “50,000 families have to be relocated, out of which 3000 families have been relocated so far . This process will go on for next five years. Per family Rs. 10 lakh is given and it is done in a very democratic manner.”



As part of ‘Partners in Tiger conservation’, initiative giving recruitment as tiger guards and tiger watchers started in Corbett Park where local van-gujjars. In Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve, of Andhra Pradesh, over 400 local tribal youth from the Chenchus have been recruited. This model is being followed in many tiger reserves. The local community must develop a stake in the conservation effort the Minister said.



Referring to tourism, the Minister appealed for sustainable tourism.He said, “ The Money earned by tourism is be used for local communities.” Giving example of Corbett Park he informed the earnings of Corbett park is about Rs 2 crore and Kanha national park earns about Rs. 3Crore a year. This amount will be retained by Tiger Reserve for eco-development, restoration and participatory activities. This will make a very substantial difference between relationship of man and tiger. Shri Ramesh said this transformation is visible in Sunderbans today.



Tiger Ambassador Anusha Shankar, a student of M.Sc Ecology and Environmental Science at Pondicherry University, said, “The natural world has always fascinated me. I decided, long ago, to pursue this passion professionally. The Youth Tiger Summit is a great opportunity for me to contribute to tiger conservation initiatives; I believe that the onus is on the youth to build a better tomorrow. It is our responsibility to develop a future that is better than the past, and I intend to use innovative and creative ways to spread awareness about this.”



Tiger Ambassador Devanshu Sood, who has been a core member of his schools’ Junior Tiger Task Force since the last 8 years feels that being a part of the tiger conservation programme has been a life-changing experience for him. He said “I feel that the youth are the future of the tiger, and I will continue to spread awareness about tiger conservation to the best of my capacity.”



Earlier in his opening remarks, Mr Ravi Singh, CEO, WWF-India said, “Holding a youth summit alongside the High level summit will be critical in conveying the voice of the youth at the International Tiger Forum thereby drawing the worlds’ attention to the fate of these big cats .The Youth Tiger Summit presents a wonderful opportunity to the young generation to learn from others, share experiences and contribute towards tiger conservation efforts in their countries. We hope that the interaction with other youth delegates from different tiger range countries at the Summit will enable our Tiger Ambassadors to develop a vision for the youth movement in India.”



Before the WWF Youth Ambassadors embark on their journey to Russia, both the delegates today signed a pledge of support to the cause of tiger conservation in the presence of ­Hon’ble Minister for Environment and Forests, Shri Jairam Ramesh.



World Wildlife Fund (WWF) selected these two Youth Tiger Ambassadors from in the age group of 18-22 years after a three step process of scanning application. Over 150 applications were received. 5 individuals were short listed on criteria’s of passion for wildlife, educational background, ability to learn about conservation, and the age limit. In final selection, two were selected. They will be a part of the delegation comprising representatives from all tiger range countries. They will visit Siberian tiger trails and get a first hand account of the state of wild tiger populations in Russia and measures being taken for their conservation.



They will represent India at the Youth Summit from 19-24 November 2010 in Vladivostok, home to the Amur tiger, at the same time as the high level International Youth Summit will take place.


Navneet Maheshwari
http://www.kanha.in/

Kanha Village Eco Resort gets Award

Eco Tourism Initiative Award 2010

Kanha Village Eco Resort near Kanha National Park and Tiger reserve our eco initiative gets award at 81st TTF, Ahmedabad. We thank the well wishers and supporters it's due to there wishes we have recieved this award. Thank you TTF board and jury for recognizing our effort to develop eco tourism around national parks.

Tiger and tourism

So we lose one more tiger to tourism. It was morning safari time at Bandhavgarh
National Park on 19^th May 2010 when some tourist vehicles saw a tigress at road side, in pain or not they were not sure but it was agitated of something and was charging on vehicles approaching. Some say it was limping and had blood on its nose and face.

1 Tiger with flehman face

One forest vehicle had crashed to a watch tower while backing and the vehicle driver is said to claim that this tigress had suddenly charged on them and so they had to retreat and in speed they bumped into this tower.

Tourist vehicle drivers and guide say that they had informed the department that the tigress is hurt and in pain but no immediate action was taken. Someone said the department was busy with some politician's son, you understand VVIP duty, well humans are VVIP's and tigers not, ministers and their family can help in getting good postings and all but will tiger help? So why waste time on them? Field director was not available as he had gone to state capital of Bhopal to attend some meeting.

2 Tiger on the move

So many stories and rumors started that everything became more confusing, no one knew what happened or was this a way of creating confusion and gaining time? A few stories I heard are:

1. Two tourist vehicles saw this tigress and called other vehicles who were at a distance, they sped through the forest (although the speed limit is 20 Km max) and suddenly this tigress moved on to the road and ----------------.
   
2. This tigress had eaten a porcupine a day earlier and so was in pain since one quail had pierced on its foot, so it was irritated and with tourist vehicle flocking around it moved on to a waterhole nearby where it drowned, well never heard of tigers drowning but ----------.
   
3. In continuation to story no. 1 three vehicles immediately left the park after the accident and one left behind to see what happens. Well they saw that tigress died -------------.
   
4. The forest vehicle actually met with an accident and dashed into the tigress, they tried to escape and crashed into the watch tower, they escaped and tigress escaped forever----------.
   
5. The vehicle which actually met with this accident was being driven by some high profile politician and so do not even expect any action against anyone and please stop asking of what happened those poor forest people will have to take action against someone and some poor guy will be made the culprit. Can't you keep silent, tigress has died now what can be done---------.
   

3 Tiger at water hole

Post mortem has been done and it is clear that the tigress died due to accident with some vehicle since it has internal injuries and fractures, but will our forensic experts or the department will ever be able to catch the culprit.

I am in favor of tourism in Tiger reserves but this kind of tourism? This is second incident in Bandhavgarh national park in last few years, why Bandhavgarh? They allow 45 vehicles in Bandhavgarh, 160 in Kanha and this they say is the carrying capacity of the park but we have so many resorts and hotels and total rooms can accommodate twice or more tourists. Earlier we had enough free space now resorts are coming up in corridor areas, they have no waste disposal system, no ethical working, why do we need tourism of this kind?

I keep silent but am not comfortable from inside, what can be done, no proof, no one knows what happened, well only the culprits can tell the whole real story and they will never come forward so just forget it, we have lost a tigress but does someone care.