The Tiger
BY WILLIAM BLAKE
Tiger Tiger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
Tigers have always held an important significance in Indian culture. The iconic orange fur, with black stripes is a representation of greatness, power, beauty and ferociousness and has been long associated with courage and bravery. The Tiger is represented in the myths and legends of different cultures throughout India, one of the most important is as Durga’s vahan (vehicle). Durga and her brave ferocious Tiger symbolise the powerful union of the sacred feminine force and Mother Earth that can fight evil without fear. So, it is no wonder the Bengal Tiger is India’s national animal. What animal has so captivated the mind of nations for thousands of years. It is feared and revered at the same time for its power and resilience in the face of such challenges. Folk lore and stories of Tigers have been interwoven with Indian gods and legends, giving it the mythical status, it savours today. Some of the earliest depictions of the tiger and gods date back to 2500 BC on Harappan seals with a famous one depicting a female deity strangling two tigers. It is possible to look at it as one of the earliest representations of human-wildlife conflict. Even older pictures of tigers are found in rock art, particularly in Madhya Pradesh, dating back 10,000 years or more. Tigers and the lives of the people of India have thus been long intertwined, giving rise to all these myths and legends surrounding them. The Tiger is also the symbol of Shakti. According to the precepts of Tantra that enlightened soul who is devoid of illusion is a receptacle for the Devine grace of the Holy Mother that Eternal One beyond the Dead of night. When watching a Tiger stalk silently through the forest, it’s large powerful muscular body soundlessly stepping on leaves and branches underfoot you can appreciate why it has become such an iconic symbol of strength and serenity.
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The protected natural environments in India are ranked under various groups based on elements like the purpose of existence, flora and faunal diversity and levels of protection. National Parks are large areas of forest that have been demarcated with the sole purpose of protection and sustenance of habitat. When such forest tracts and surrounding areas supports a viable tiger population, they come under high levels of protection, declaring them as Tiger Reserves such as Bandhavgarh. The most important protected areas, however, are the buffer zones and reserve forests which usually surround high protected areas. They are zones which accommodate most of the human pressures to ensure the national parks and tiger reserves are left alone. There is no doubt when anyone thinks of the wildlife of central India, the Royal Bengal Tigers of the internationally renowned Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve comes to mind. But there is definitely significantly more to the forests than these beautiful iconic big cats. The overall hilly terrain, interspersed with grasslands, fields, wetlands and forests, offer a huge diversity of wildlife. Over forty mammal species live in these regions, including, the tigers, sloth bear, civets and bats. There are also over four hundred species of birds, one hundred and fifty species of butterfly, and a plethora of reptiles and amphibians as well as a huge variety of insects and arachnid species. Central India receives around ninety percent of its annual rainfall during the three monsoon months, the rest of the year remains mainly dry. The forests undergo huge changes as part of their annual cycle to adapt and thrive in these trying conditions. The wildlife of central India is not restricted within the boundaries of the national parks and protected areas. Considering many of these areas are connected by vital forest corridors, animals have a good amount of movement, including resident and migratory species. These forests since the 1950s are now a haven for biodiversity. The first set of Tiger reserves was established in the 1970s with the aim of preserving habit of the tiger as well as other wildlife of the region. The change in policy and attitude resulted in a turning point for conservation of the region. The predator and prey numbers drastically improved in these protected areas.
Entering the Bandhavgarh National Park you are struck by the density of the beautiful vegetation, the architectural looming trees and the parched dryness of the earth. It is dry season, and it is very hot and humid. The dappled light through the trees creates stripy patterns tricking the eye into wondering, is that the iconic Bengal Tiger I have just seen? It is then easy to understand how this big cat easily camouflages itself. The largest cat in the subcontinent is the charismatic symbol of Indian wildlife and can be found in these dense forests. Its magnificent orange bronze coat is marked with black stripes, each pattern unique to each Tiger. The adult males are characterised by their larger muscular frame, broad thickset neck and large heads magnificently surrounded by a white ruff either side. As they grow older their pink nose turns black like all big cats. It is a solitary hunter whose preference in these parks is the Chital or Spotted Deer, Sambar and Gaur. The male’s rule over large territories which contain great densities of prey. The territory will also be home to more than one female Tiger with whom he has sired cubs. The male has no involved with the cubs after mating with the female but he does protect them. The female gives birth around three months after mating to around two to four cubs which she will hide in a den. So what makes this big cat so unique? Tigers are well known for their love of water and are strong swimmers, they can often be seen cooling off in the watering holes in the hottest part of the day. Like Lions they have a mighty roar but unlike the Cheetah do not purr. This is down to length of tough cartilage runs up the hyoid bones to the skull. This feature prevents purring but also gives the larynx enough flexibility to produce a full- throated roar. However, the Tigers vocal repertoire is vast, they grunt, growl, roar, moan, snarl, chuff, hiss and gasp. It is thought that each vocalisation is used to communicate different things. Also, their unique pattern of stripes is like fingerprints makes each Tiger and identifiable. They have evolved to be elusive in their territory completely camouflaged and silent when hunting.
The forests are home to a plethora of incredible wildlife. Wild pig abound, like all pigs they are as fascinating as they are entertaining. These large brownish-grey pigs are found throughout central India and across all habitats including adapting to town life. Their large population, and habit of digging for roots and tubers to feed their voracious appetite leads to large dug up areas. They are actually also scavengers; the wild pig steal kills from smaller predators. They love to wallow at the edge of watering holes especially in the intense heat of the summer. The other reason for their large population is up to twelve pale dark-streaked piglets are born after four to five months gestation. Obviously only a small proportion survive to adulthood, predation is high, from Eagles to Tigers, they are the favourite food of many predators. In the heat of the late morning they are wallowing, not known for their intelligence they rely on other prey to sound alarm calls when the Tigers come to drink. They lay like grey rocks in the water, deep blue reflecting the cloudless sky overhead. Prey who are alert is the Chital or commonly known as the Spotted deer, they too are drinking down at the watering hole. The Chital live in large herds and are seen in park grazing in the open parts of the woodland. They have stunning rusty brown coats covered with beautiful white spots. The adult males display huge antlers and dark infusions on the neck. During this hot summer season their loud mating calls can be heard. Females are smaller and lack antlers. The Chital are the common prey for the Tigers, Leopards and Wild dogs. So, a healthy population of one is directly proportionate to the other. As they drink, their long necks bent their eyes are constantly alert looking for any movements in the long grasses surrounding the watering hole, this is perfect Tiger ambush territory.
After the recent splitting of this genus into multiple species, the northern plains Langur is the only member of the group in this region. They have a greyish coat, black face and long, grey tail. The Langurs love the forests, the woodland and fields provide them with plentiful food sources. Their diet ranges from fruits and leaves to insects. Langurs are though known as “leaf-eating monkeys” because they feed mostly on the leaves. Langurs are a type of diurnal monkeys that are mostly arboreal by nature and love to live in groups. They can be heard communicating by whooping calls and a short cough which indicates to the rest of their troupe danger, usually a carnivore. They sit high in the trees their distinctive tail hanging down, often curled at the end. They are quadrupedal and live both arboreally and terrestrially using their strong limbs to manoeuvre rapidly through their environment. The langur’s tail loops towards their head when they walk instead of an inverted “U” shape or “S” shape. They are gregarious and mischievous, often jumping from branch to branch curious to see what food another member has found. They are also incredibly affectionate. Like all monkeys they love to groom, it is not only practical but also reinforces bonds. They sit often in pairs one with its back to the other whilst nibble fingers pick through the fur eagerly looking for ticks, fleas and flakes of salty skin to nibble on. Grooming over, they swap over so the other gets a turn. Often you can see multiple monkeys grooming, especially the low-ranking monkeys seeking favour with the higher-ranking members. They have unique facial expressions, frowning to wide eyed at they survey the territory from their lofty heights. Langurs generally co-exist peacefully with people, but they are territorial and aggression does play a role in establishing social order. It is peaceful watching them in their social groups in the trees but tempers flare from time to time.
The national bird of India needs no introduction, it is hard to say whether it is its high-pitched mating call or flamboyant display that gave rise to the term “peacocking” that attracts one’s attention first. It’s sheer beauty and size is breath-taking. The adult male has a bright blue neck and breast with a long train of glossy green upper tail feathers, each culminating in large ocelli. The female is duller with a greenish neck and white patches on her face and underparts. Of course, the male is mainly known for its swaying dance where it displays its tail feathers spread like a fan behind it. This is accompanied by the most ear splitting loud raucous mating call. During these hot summer months this is very common, the forest is teaming with males, displaying bolder and louder trying to attract the females. Competition is tough, so males display repeatedly throughout the day most often in the same familiar spot. The watering hole seems very popular for such displays, they are keen to attract a mate, but how does the female choose? It is believed to be the males with the most ocelli that successfully woo the females. Interestedly the peacock loses its long train of feathers after courting and is tailless from the latter half of the monsoon. After this the tail grows back, reaching their full length again by the next summer or courtship season. A number of males continue to descend on the watering hole breaking the Chitals peace as they drink. It is a beautiful evolutionary trait that the males have these flamboyant tails but also not very practical in the dusty park. As his tail trails behind him it acts like a long brush sweeping up dust and leaves in his wake. He has to shake off the detritus as he opens up his tail, so he jewelled colours shine in the sun.
At first glance the three large male Sambar Deer (Rusa unicolour) look like impressive statues. They are stock still looking for predators. They are the largest deer in India and have the most beautiful shaggy brown coats, large antlers and big ears which are typical of forest deer. The Sambar prefers forests and tend to stay near water. The forests afford them some cover from the predators as they blend into their environment. They give a loud honk when they spot a predator, warning other prey of their approach. The females do not have antlers but what is surprising about them is female sambar readily defend their young from most predators, which is relatively unusual among deer. When confronted by predators such as wild dogs a sambar lowers its head with an erect mane and lashes at the dogs. Sambar prefers to attack predators in shallow water so it is not surprising that they are seen in the water, drinking but also keeping their eyes alert for threats. They are also good swimmers. Sambar is nocturnal or crepuscular. The males live alone unless mating, but the females live in small herds of up to sixteen individuals. Herds tend to consist of only three or four individuals, usually an adult female, her most recent young, and perhaps a subordinate, immature female. This is an unusual pattern for deer, which more commonly live in larger groups. Like most deer and antelope, they communicate by scent marking and foot stamping. Although it is difficult to communicate with very loud swarms of Cicada insects high in the trees. This insect emerges every four years, Cicadas have prominent eyes set wide apart, short antennae, and membranous front wings. They have an exceptionally loud song, produced in most species by the rapid buckling and unbuckling of drum like tymbals. The vast majority of species are active during the day as adults, with some calling at dawn or dusk. A truly fascinating fact of this ear-splitting noisy insect is, Cicadas have been featured in literature since the time of Homer’s Iliad and as motifs in art from the Chinese Shang dynasty. They have also been used in myth and folklore as symbols of carefree living and immortality. This is hard to imagine as their sound certainly does not lend itself to carefree or peaceful living.
The ironically named Spotty is one of the dominant female Tigress in this territory. She is a powerful hunter and has successfully raised many cubs to adulthood. She is currently rearing three sub adult male cubs of two years old. They will soon leave her and find their own territories as they are larger than her now and capable of hunting their own prey. The cubs’ father is Chakrdhara the dominant male in this territory. Two of the males have walked down to the watering hole to drink. The area is stunning, the natural water hole is surrounded by beautiful trees and the dappled light reflects off of the water. The water is cool here as it is shaded and so very tantalising for the cubs. Their green eyes are wary, they do not have their mother’s confidence yet but they are powerful males with no threats. They bend down their muscular shoulders hunched over as they use their long-barbed tongues to lap up great quantities of cooling water. Sated they stretch and stand, and one decides he needs to cool off more as it is incredibly hot. He slowly enters the water allowing it to lap over his body instantly refreshing him. He submerges himself up to his shoulders. He lifts his tail out of the water and starts squishing it around creating ripples. He is young so still playful his eyes are bright and mischievous looking for movement so he can pounce and play. A confident duck swims close to him and dives under the water to catch food, the Tiger watches its movements. It is far too small prey for it, but it enjoys watching its antics. Of course, like any cat if the mood took and the opportunity arose he would try and catch it for fun. He glides effortlessly through the water enjoying the sensation of the water ripples against his fur.
A troupe of Langur monkeys are sat on some grey rocks in the shade, the late afternoon sun is very hot. One of the monkeys is a very young mother, she cradles her young baby protectively, it is only a few days old. Langurs are tree-residing, forest-dwelling monkeys. They are regarded as among the most arboreal of all Old-World monkeys. They are active throughout the tree canopy and mainly come down to the ground to drink and to gain access to mineral sources. One of the reasons maybe for the young mother’s protectiveness is that the dominant male changes are followed by bouts of infanticide in which the new male methodically kills all unweaned infants in the group and mates with females ensure their offspring carry his genes not those of his rival. This behaviour was first noted among Hanuman langurs but occurs among other species as well. Curiously, many langur infants are born with an orange natal coat that contrasts with that of other monkey changes to adult coloration after a few months. This feature would seem to help new males target their victims. She keeps close to the mother females; monkeys are very good mothers and will always fight to protect their babies. Females often share babysitting duties within a close-knit group of females and their offspring. The forest is a challenging place to live that is why Langurs make a noise that sounds like a “staccato cough” when they are angry or spot a tiger. When langurs drink at water holes, there is often a scout in a tree that keeps an eye for tigers and other predators.
In the late afternoon a solitary male Indian Elephant (Elephas maximus) comes crashing through the trees, his trunk raised and trumpeting a warning not to come close. Indian elephants are incredibly intelligent, gregarious and expressive. The largest land animal they stand about 6.6 to 11.5 feet in height and weigh about 4000 to 1000 pounds. Their scientific name is Elephas maximus indicus and they have long trunks that are completely boneless. The trunks are known to be made up of about 150,000 muscle units. Their trunks are perhaps the most sensitive organ found in any mammal, Asian elephants have been seen to pick up a peanut, shell it, blow the shell out and eat the nut. Elephants use their trunks to suck up water to drink, it can contain up to 8 litres of water. They also use their trunks as a snorkel when swimming. Interestingly the ears of Asian elephants are shaped like the Indian subcontinent. Elephant tusks are actually enlarged incisor teeth which first appear when elephants are around 2 years old. Tusks continue growing throughout their lives. Tusks are used to help with feeding, prising bark off trees or digging up roots or as a defence when fighting. Elephants communicate in a variety of ways, including sounds like trumpet calls (some sounds are too low for people to hear), body language, touch and scent. They can also communicate through seismic signals, sounds that create vibrations in the ground, which they may detect through their bones. Trumpeting is made during excitement, distress, aggression or alarm. A lone male Elephant likes to defend his territory, so he trumpets indicating his aggression and alarm at being disturbed. It is always better to give an Elephant space they will walk through anything in their path. The presence of an Elephant is always awe inspiring, their size and energy is truly magnificent. Behind him the sun begins to set marking the end of a breath-taking day, nature truly gives.
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Pure stands of Sal (Shorea Robusta) are encountered in the moister reaches of the Satpuras, especially in parts of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. These slow growing trees form natural groves that extend over vast areas when rainfall and soil conditions are ideal. There are very few other large trees in these pockets. The loose, well-drained soil leads to formation of thick undergrowth of shrubs including intoxicating wild mint, squirrel tail and jungle Chanda in these Sal patches. Another unique feature is that these forests remain green almost throughout the year. The Sal tree remains leafless for a very short period, maybe two weeks in a year. Sometimes one can notice one part of the tree shredding old leaves, while other parts are already growing new ones. In a landscape where most of the forest looks dry and brown during the late winter and summer months, the green Sal forests with their ample shade are quite a welcome sight. The wood is so hard and durable it used to be used to make railway sleepers. Amongst this calm and peaceful everglade, a piercing sound suddenly fills the air, Langur monkeys have sounded an alarm call a predator must have been seen. The Tigers can move like ghosts through these dense forests, seen by the only keenest of eyes. Langurs from the tops of the trees are the watchmen alerting all prey of the movements of the predators. But the Tiger does leave other tell “tail” signs of its presence. The Tigers preference is to walk along the forest’s paths or dry riverbeds in the summer, here they leave tell-tale pug marks, their impressive paws leave imprints. The trees are also used by them to mark their territory by scratching the tree bark they both sharpen their claws and leave indicators to other Tigers this is their territory. They also scent mark the trees by spraying urine and defecating on the ground and scraping the dirt. The Langur monkeys start running across the tracks they have seen the mighty Tiger and want to move out of its way.
The sign at the entrance to the national park reads you may not see a Tiger, but a Tiger has seen you. Tigers are not elusive they are strong and confident they are the top predator here. However, the forest is dense, the leaves orange before they drop and dappled light creates strips, the perfect camouflage for an ambush predator who needs to “disappear” while hunting prey. When not hunting however they are positively gregarious, they seem to love being seen. Dotty the dominant Tigress in this area of the park is on the yellow sandy tracks yawning and sat sphinx like. The morning sun is beating down on her and she seems to be enjoying the heat. She looks around her taking in the scene, it is very much the case of watching me watching you. She is unperturbed by the attention as she is habituated but still very much wild. Her emerald green eyes seem to dance with happiness, she is relaxed and full from a meal she would have caught in the night. Cats when relaxed and well fed exude an aura of peace and calm. She is not in a hurry; this territory is hers it is time to relax before she walks her territory. Happy she gets up and cat stretches, her powerful muscular frame taut. She yawns again sticking out her long pink barbed tongue and flashing her yellow canines. It is time to check the boundaries of her territory and scent mark them, she walks down the track spraying urine onto the bushes. She still has four sub adult cubs in her care, they are fourteen months old and all females, so keeping their territory safe it very important. She is teaching them to hunt for themselves as it will only be a few months before they will leave her. She spends more and more time away from them hunting for herself.
Once again alarm calls are heard, this time it is Spotted Deer, they have seen a predator, now it is summer the vegetation is dry and not so dense which means the Tigers can be seen more easily. Dotty’s adult male cub from her previous litter who is independent and around four years old is still in her territory. He looks a little skinny he needs to hunt; conditions are harder now he can be seen. He is stalking through the bushes, completely focused on the task at hand. As the morning is growing hot, the watering holes become more enticing, he may instead cool off and wait until the prey come down to the watering hole later to hunt. Only one is ten Tiger hunts end in success, Tigers on average eat once every two days after feasting on a large mammal. According to the statistics, a tiger kills about one large animal per week thus about 50 to 52 animals in a year. As there is plentiful prey in the park there is sufficient food to sustain the Tiger population. What needs to be understood is Tigers are important to the eco system of the park, without them hunting the prey the prey numbers would increase dramatically, they would eat all of the vegetation and the forest would eventually die. The biodiversity needs to be maintained. Biodiversity describes the vast diversification of life on Earth. Biodiversity calls attention to every living thing, which incorporates plants, bacteria, animals, and humans. It is crucial for the actions that support all life on Earth, including human beings and all animals. If the earth did not have a wide range of animals, plants and microorganisms, we could not have the thriving ecosystems that we rely on to furnish us with nourishment and air to breathe. For decades Tigers became critically endangered but finally their numbers are once again increasing, they are thriving as so are the animals they share their habitat with.
Is there anything more dangerous than Buffalo secreting themselves in the bushes? Gaurs (Bos Gaurus) or Indian Bison as commonly known, have a uniform brownish-black coat, white socks, and prominent grey horns with tinges of blue, yellow and orange. They also have a hump on their shoulders, which is especially prominent in adult males and a distinct “dewlap” of skin, stretching from their throat to their forelegs. Herds like most bovine are led by matriarchs, these females will lead the herd to food and water. The larger, darker males remain solitary or at the fringes of the herd. Except in winter when they join the herd and start rutting for mating rights. They become very vocal when fending off rivals, their notorious temper flaring. When not fighting they are quite relaxed, they feed off of grasses, leaves and bamboo. Weighing in at a hefty 600-1000kg and height of nearly two meters tall this is an impressive bovine, absolutely stunning. An interesting fact though, there are more cases of tigers being killed by Gaurs, than Gaurs being killed by tigers. The males of the species are extremely muscular, and powerful and able to generate enough power to be deadly to predators, humans, and other domestic cattle that are unfortunate enough to provoke them. These animals don’t migrate and live in evergreen forests or semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests, and also occur in deciduous forest areas at the periphery of their range. Gaur prefers large, relatively undisturbed forest tracts, hilly terrain, availability of water, and an abundance of forage in the form of grasses, bamboo, shrubs, and trees. Against a threat, the bull usually lowers its head and hind side, attacking the rival from the broadside with its horns. When alarmed, these animals give out a call known as “whistling snort”. So, viewing this beautiful impressive animal from a distance is recommended.
One of Dotty’s sub adult female cubs is relaxing on the golden sandy track, cubs learn their behaviour from their mother. Her green eyes surveying her mother’s territory, it is late morning and very hot, she will soon head to the watering hole. Bengal Tigers eyes are usually gold or green with some having blue. So where did the expression “eye of the Tiger come from”? In the wild, seeing the “eyes” of the tiger signifies death, because right before a tiger attacks, it turns its ears forward so that the spot on the back of each ear faces nearer its prey. The “eye spots” on the back of a tiger’s ear serve to confuse predators and reduce the risk of attack from behind. Dotty’s cubs’ ears are moving around listening to the sounds of the forest, she is an opportunist hunter like all big cats. It is too hot for hunting yet, she pants heavily to regulate her temperature, sticking out her pink barbed tongue, then licks her large paws to wash the dust off of her beautiful strong face. Her powerful head and shoulders are in stark contrast to her concave stomach and bony hips, she does need to hunt. She gets up and walks slowly kicking up small dusk clouds with her mighty paws, her pug marks in the sand imprinting where she has been. She walks past the tall trees into the bushes towards the watering hole. Little does she know a lone Samba deer in grazing on the other side.
Careya arborea commonly known as Kumbhi Tree is native to the Indian subcontinent. Some of the popular common names of the plant include Kumbi, Slow match tree, Wild guava, Patana oak, Ceylon oak and tummy wood. It is known as Kumbhi in Hindi. The name kumbhi seems to have originated from the Sanskrit word “kumbh” which means a water pot. As the top of this fruit has an appearance resembling somewhat like of a water pot. The Kumbhi tree is easily identifiable from its scent, its jasmine scented red and green flowers are intoxicating and heady, they then turn to fruit like guava that the monkeys eat in monsoon season. The plant is a popular herbal remedy in India, where it is often harvested from the wild for local use and trade. The tree also supplies a dye, fibre, gum, tannins and wood for local use. The forest is full of the most stunning trees, plants and flowers. Another interesting tree is the Mahua tree. It has white flowers which when dried is turned into an alcoholic drink by villagers. It also makes the monkeys drunk when they eat too much! The locals hang saris under the branches to catch the flowers at harvest time. The forest sustains the wildlife and locals who live around it. The most common tree is the Sal, Sal butter is extracted from the seeds is used in chocolates and also as a cooking agent. The Red Silk Cotton Tree’s floss is used for stuffing pillows and is excellent for making surgical dressings. A brittle yellowish or mahogany-coloured gum exudes from incisions in the trunk and finds use in folk medicine as a tonic and aphrodisiac and to treat diarrhoea and dysentery. A decoction of the roots is supposed to be a stimulant and to help in the treatment of male impotence! The Indian Frankincense Tree also has a strong intoxicating fragrance, its sticky sap issues from the trunk and is known in the trade as ‘Indian frankincense’ or ‘salai guggal’. It is not as strong-smelling as the biblical frankincense which derives from somalin species of boswellia but Indian frankincense has been used for centuries in Ayurveda to treat osteoarthritis, fibrositis, asthma and as a general health support. The forest is more than just wildlife it is an intoxicating journey of sights, sounds and scents. The sky is cloudless and the deep red of the sunset provides the perfect backdrop to these mighty trees, their strong architectural shapes silhouetted against the sun.
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The pre-dawn mornings provide a respite from the searing heat of the summer, whilst still warm there is a cool breeze. The Langur monkeys are sat on the sandy track playing and kicking up dusk in their wake. The youngsters are full of energy after a night sleeping in the trees. Play is more than just about having fun; it strengthens bonds and establishes hierarchies. Their beautiful fur is backlit by the sun, a perfect halo of light around them. In this golden light, light and dust captures the perfect outline of their bodies, the curve of their tail, their nimble long fingers and the bend of their legs. Langur’s slender tails though rather long, they are not prehensile. They are just for balance when moving around the canopy of the forest. They are Old World monkeys, in fact, langur is a Hindi word meaning “long tail”, but they cannot use their tail to grasp objects. Many Old-World monkeys have special stomachs (sometimes with a potbellied appearance) that enable them to better break down the cellulose found in plants. Langur rather usually for primates have digestion similar to a ruminants. They have multi-chambered stomachs that host bacteria that help digest the plant cellulose in their leafy diet. Bacteria in their foregut prime tough plant matter, so that more nutrients can be absorbed by the gut later in the digestive process. Rather amusingly if you get too close you can tell if their stomach is working when you hear them burp, which they do often with quite a smell!
As the sun rises the watering hole reflects the deep reds and oranges of the sun’s rays. The passage of the sun above the horizon brings anticipation of another beautiful day in nature. A male Spotted Deer is stood side on at the watering hole, his impressive horns back lit by the sun. Sambar Deer are also drinking, they look up wary of predators. A male Peacock is in full display and looking to mate, he shrieks loudly cutting through the calm. The forests are alive with activity, as the nocturnal animals return to their dens and burrows to sleep the diurnal animals stretch cold muscles and warm up in the heat of the morning sun. Langur monkeys look down to the watering hole observing the activity, monkeys are of course known for their curiosity. A group are sat on a hanging vine, quite iconic of forests and jungles, the mother is holding her baby tight its long slender fingers clutching her fur. It looks up at her, it’s eyes wide trusting and secure in her protection. The troupe are peacefully browsing on leaves high up in the trees, food is plentiful even though it is summer. A larger herd of Sambar Deer are grazing behind them, they are relying on the Langurs to warn them from their vantage point of any threats. The Langur bob their heads looking through the branches, they look for any movement, they masticate and hang loosely to a branch above with one arm. If they detect anything they jump from branch to branch to get a better view.
A male Peacock is walking across the dusty track its long jewel coloured tail sweeping the sand. It is incongruous in this environment where predator and prey are perfectly camouflaged but this striking bird has evolved to stand out, make a statement and a very bold entrance. It is not just its magnificent jewel colours that makes it so outstanding but its size, when its tail is completely fanned out it is hard to ignore. With no females to impress it folds down its tail and walks over to the shade of a tree, it leaps into the air it’s long tail beautiful flowing behind it like a streamer and perfectly balances on a hanging vine, it is a spectacular display. As if to compete with the Peacocks shrill call Cicadas fly above their sound deafening. Below a Tree shrew scurries through the undergrowth. The Madras tree shrew, also known as the Indian tree shrew, is a species of tree shrew in the monotypic genus initially thought to be primates (related to monkeys), tree shrews were later classified as rodents (related to mice and rats). A small animal, about the size of the striped squirrel, the Indian Tree Shrew measures about 15 inches in total length, with the tail contributing half the total length. On the upper side, the Indian Tree Shrew is rusty-brown while its underside is whitish or buffy. It also has a short, whitish or cream-coloured shoulder stripe. At night the animals shelter in holes among rocks, sometimes using a system of corridors with two or three entrances. They usually leave the shelters at dawn and return before sunset. Most of their active time is spent finding food–seeking insects on the ground, digging out insects, and occasionally leaping after flying insects. They also eat fruits. They are capable of climbing trees skilfully, but seldom do so and spend most of their time on the ground. They also climb on vertical rocks but never to any great height. They are usually seen to be alone, though occasionally two or three of them can be seen together.
Chote Beam (the son of Beam) is around five years old; he is a large male Tiger with impressive white beard around his strong handsome face, the white hair is stunning against his iconic orange and black facial markings. The hair of the tiger provides camouflage, warmth and protection for them. Tigers possess two types of hair, guard hair and underfur. The guard hairs are longer and more durable than the underfur and mainly function for protection purposes. The primary function of the tiger’s hair is for warmth. The underfur traps air which insulates the tiger’s body thereby keeping it warm. Tigers are the only large cat species to have distinctive striping located on both the hair and skin of the tiger. The white ruff around the males’ head serves to protect his face when fighting. Tigers have numerous thick, white whiskers and these assist them in finding their way around in the dark. Their ears are small and rounded and their eyes are round and amber, green or sometimes blue in colour. Like most cats, Tigers have excellent senses of sight and hearing. Tigers have large padded feet that enable them to silently stalk prey in the Indian forests. The claws of the tiger are up to 10 centimetre’s (4 in) in length and are used to grasp and hold onto prey. Each paw has four of these claws and one specialized claw called a dewclaw. A dewclaw is located farther back on the foot and thereby does not touch the ground when walking. Dewclaws function similarly to thumbs in that they are used for grasping prey and aid in climbing. Tiger claws are retractable in that ligaments hold them in a protective skin sheath when they not being used. The ligaments are in a relaxed position when the claws are retracted thereby expending no musculature effort. Tigers retract their claws to ensure that they remain sharp for times when they are needed and to tread silently up to unsuspecting prey. Other ligaments will extract the claws when attacking prey or defending themselves which does require musculature effort. Tiger claws are curved which enables them to superiorly grasp and hold large prey and climb trees head-first. However, the claws’ curvature, the tiger’s size and weight are a great hindrance in climbing down from trees. Tigers must either crawl backwards or jump down from trees, making them the most inferior climbers of the big cat family. That is why you rarely see them up trees! Chote Beam instead is being a typical big male cat, relaxing by resting his large muscular body against bamboo.
It is late afternoon and extremely hot and humid, Derraha one of the beautiful female Tigers in this territory is laying in the waterholes. Her eyes are closed as the sun is so bright, Tiger eyes have large lenses and pupils that increase the amount of light let into the eye. This characteristic helps the tiger with night vision and when there are low light levels available. But right now she is relaxing and needs to let in less light. Her body is immersed right up to her shoulders and she sighs contentedly, the coolness of the water is very welcomed with the temperatures in its forties. Water is also important in the feeding behaviour of these animals. Tigers are carnivore, and they consume their meat raw. After the kill, the tiger starts to consume the prey when the blood is still hot. It would then make sense to let its stomach cool down in the water, where it will drink as well. That is why a kill is generally dragged somewhere not far from a waterhole, in order to be properly enjoyed. A well-known tiger culinary habit is to drag the kill in the water and let it marinate for some hours before finishing eating it. Tigers are of course well known for being strong swimmers so if they can chase their prey towards the water they will gain an advantage swimming after it. Of course, water is not just used for cooling down and swimming in after prey but also play. It is well documented Tigers love to splash around in water and play, especially cubs.
The Blue Bull antelope or Nilhai (Boselalaphus tragocamelus) is the largest antelope in the Indian sub-continent. The male has a grey-blue coat with a dark ruff on the back of the neck, conical horns, and a white throat. The smaller females are fawn and lack horns. Nilgai prefer scrub, open woodland and grassland. The presence of herds is indicated by dung deposited in prominent spaces. They are a stunning antelope, as the forest opens up their sheer presence and size in the open grassland is a sight to behold. Hindus accord it the same sacred status as cattle (both belong to the subfamily Bovinae). Accordingly, the nilgai is the only one of the four Indian antelopes that is still abundant. Nilgai is the Hindustani word for “blue cow”. The nilgai is only moderately gregarious. Herds of 10 or fewer are usual, and groups of 20 or more are exceptional. The sexes remain separate most of the time, and only one mature bull in either a bachelor or female herd is the rule. Herd membership is fluid, and the only lasting association is between mothers and calves. Adult males are often seen alone and wander widely. Whether the mating system is based on male territoriality, or a male rank hierarchy remains unclear. Presence of dung middens suggests territorial demarcation, but these are used by all nilgais, even calves. There is a mating peak in November and December, but calves are born in almost every month, after a gestation of more than eight months. Cows breed again soon after calving and may be followed by calves of different ages. Over half of nilgai births are of single calves, but triplets are not uncommon. Calves spend a month in hiding before beginning to accompany their mothers. The blue of their coat is more pronounced at sunset, as the suns colours change from deep violets through to golden yellows and reds. The orange gold now stretches far and wide, the colour of fire across the clear sky.
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The buffer zones are one of the most protected areas as it divides human settlements from the tiger reserves. One of the Buffer zone female Tigers is walking her territory at dawn, she is alert, spraying urine on bushes and trees marking her territory. She is a very large powerful female with a small white ruff, from a distance she almost looks like a male. The long golden dry grasses brush against her body, they blend perfectly with the stripes of her fur. Tigers both males and females communicate to one another by marking their territories. An adult tiger will usually define the boundary of its territory by spraying urine because of the strong odour associated with it can last up to 40 days but they may also use faeces for marking. The males also sniff the female tigers’ urine trail to see if she is in oestrus and receptive to mating. Tigers have scent glands at the base of their tail, and between their toes. So, to spread their scent, tigers will rub their hindquarters on trees, and will scratch surfaces to let other tigers know that this is their territory. So why are Tigers known as man eaters? Most tigers will only attack a human if they feel threatened, where there is human-wildlife conflict, of course a Tiger will defend itself, especially a female if it has cubs close. Tigers are typically wary of humans and usually show no preference for human meat. Although humans are relatively easy prey, they are not a desired source of food. What is a desired source is Wild pig which seem to be plentiful in the park. Wild pigs or boars form a group, with the exception of old males who are solitary. These animals are fast, nocturnal, omnivorous, and excellent swimmers which is a challenge for Tigers. They have sharp tusks which can be threatening, even though they are usually non-aggressive. There is no doubt that with their short snout and shuffling walk they are one of the most engaging mammals in the forest.
Dotty’s sub adult female cub crosses the tracks heading to the water hole, it is late morning and the heat is very intense. She crosses the top of the ridge by the watering hole and disappears into the bushes. This is a good tactic when Tigers are looking to hunt for if she secretes herself in the bushes the prey will come down to the watering hole to drink and she can ambush them. Tigers, like most cats will usually ambush their prey. They are known as “concealment and ambush hunter”, basically meaning, that they will first stalk their prey, then circle in closely and finally attack by charging from behind. After the tiger reaches its prey, it will bite the back of the prey’s neck. Tigers are patient hunters and can move slowly and quietly, stalking their prey (usually ungulates like deer and pigs) for 20 or 30 minutes. A tiger’s large canine teeth and powerful jaws are used to grab its prey by the neck and suffocate it. Most prey either suffocate or bleed out if the Tiger punctures an artery. Tigers are efficient clean hunters and Dotty’s sub adult cub has learnt from her mother how it is done. Samba Deer come down to graze on the other side of the watering hole. The watering hole is several hundred yards wide so the Tiger will either need to wait to see if the deer move to her side of the watering hole or circumnavigate it to get closer to them but risk being seen by other prey who will sound a warning call. Whilst she decides what to do a beautiful White throated Kingfisher dives into the water catching a fish. Quick as flash it left it perch, swiftly, cleanly and efficiently caught it and returned to its same perch to eat it. A male Peacock flies up into a tree next to it it’s long emerald tail undulating as it goes.
Langur monkeys are up high in the trees making alarm calls, they have seen the Tiger. The dominant male in the troupe jumps frantically from tree-to-tree barking, he is a large strong male. He suddenly jumps from the high branches down to the ground bouncing on the sand, it is quite a descent. As he lands he jumps on a fallen tree branch slapping it making a loud sound to display his dominance and aggression at the predators intrusion. His role in the troupe is to mate and defend them. The rest of the troupe run across the tracks away from the watering hole which they were intending to reach and leap into the trees, whooping and barking, they curl their long fingers around the branches, their brown eyes alert. It was with trepidation they were intending to go down to the water to drink but now they will find refuge in the trees. Further back in the trees a male and female sit back-to-back their curved arms forming a heart shape, their long tails hang down perfectly aligned with each other making it look like one tail. The male reaches round and pats her on the thigh, he is sexually excited and he wants to mate but she is not in oestrus and ignores his subtle and unsubtle advances. He turns around and hugs her, she returns his embrace and they touch mouths as if they are kissing. The affection is so beautiful whilst the rest of the troupe are frantically swinging around the trees looking for a Tiger. She once again turns her back to him and he wraps his arms around her and they both look back over their shoulder, it is a beautiful moment.
The dominant male Langur decides to run down to the edge of the watering hole, after much hesitation he is followed by the rest of the troupe, they are desperate to drink as the morning is very hot and humid. Every rustle of grass alerts them, they know they are being watched by a hungry Tiger, for whilst not their favourite prey a Tiger will eat them in lieu of any other food readily available. A sudden sound sends them all running for the trees, they climb quickly their heads bobbing looking for signs of the Tiger. A group of female Langur with young females clung to their chest climb the trees in the forest behind, they are on alert too, their babies feed from their long nipples oblivious to the drama. One mother pushes the baby away to get a better look and it starts screaming and having a tantrum throwing its head back, it wants its mother’s full attention. She ignores its bad behaviour and leaves it clung to the tree whilst she descends the tree to get a better look. The infant quietens and waits nervously for her return. The troupe work as a unit protecting each other, the dominant members lead the way once more down to the watering hole. As they each the edge they look about nervously but they have to drink. They bend their heads and quickly lap up the cool waters before running on all four limbs back to the Kusum trees.
Kusum is a beautiful tree with a broad shady crown and stunning large red leaves with architectural branches which creates beautiful shadows. It is also commonly known as the Ceylon Oak. The fruit is about the size of a small plum and is a rich source of energy. The oil is yellowish brown, semi-solid, with the faint odour of bitter almond. Kusum oil is used in hairdressing. The oil can also be used for cooking and lighting and is used in traditional medicine. It is used as massage oil to relieve pain. It is very beautiful especially when it is in flower. Next to it grows one of the most recognisable plants in the forest, the Bamboo. Bamboo lives for twenty-five years then flowers, when the flowers die they leave spiky pods that germinate when they fall to the ground and the original bamboo dies giving room for the new shoots to grow. Bamboo has many uses, mainly in construction (flooring, roofing designing, and scaffolding), furniture, food, biofuel, fabrics, cloth, paper, pulp, charcoal, ornamental garden planting, and environmental characteristics, such as a large carbon sink and good phytoremediation option, improving soil structure. It leaves however are very toxic to wildlife. The shoots however are eaten my Pandas, Gorillas, Elephants, rats and Chimpanzee, but not in this forest. Here we have the mighty Tiger who has clearly decided to sleep in the bushes by the watering hole, for after many hours she still has yet to appear, it is just the distinctive white spot behind her ear that can be seen occasionally seen flicking.
Dotty’s son Jamhol who is four years old from her previous litter and one of her daughters from her current litter are laying on the grass next to the large watering hole. On average, Tigers give birth to two to four cubs every two years. If all the cubs in one litter die, a second litter may be produced within five months. Tigers generally gain independence at around two years of age and attain sexual maturity at age three or four for females and four or five years for males. So he still wants to be close to his mother as he has not gained full sexual maturity. The problem is he should have been independent of her by two and even though he is not dependent on her for food the territories are so small he seeks no excuse to come to her for affection. She of course is not happy with this, females once their cubs leave like them to go to another territory. There is a risk when he soon reaches sexual maturity he may try and mate with her or his female siblings which would weaken the gene pool which she would not tolerate. She tries to discourage him but he is larger and stronger than her now. Whilst it is truly wonderful the Tigers numbers here are rapidly increasing after a terrible decline, it means territories for each Tiger grows smaller, putting pressure on food resources and leads to conflicts over space. Jamhol walks over to his mother and rubs heads with her but she swipes at him, she wants to send a clear message he should be independent, he jumps back alarmed and sits back down and sighs audibly. Jamhol allows his mother to calm then yawns and gets up and walks down to the watering hole to drink, as he laps up the water droplets clings to his face and he uses his tongue to lick them off. He then shakes his head distributing dust like a halo around him. He has stunning blue eyes which has been passed down to him from his fathers gene pool, they are quite unusual. He walks back up the slope and settles near his mother again. The sun sets behind the three Tigers, it is a peaceful calm scene. The deep red of the sun’s rays light their orange fur making it look burnished bronze. A cool breeze blows in providing a much-needed respite from the intense heat.
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The sunrise is so beautiful, it cannot be seen here until it starts to rise above the tall Sal trees in the forest. The trees are silhouetted against the deep orangey red sky. The dawn marks the end of night and the beginning of a new day. Nature really gives, each day is unique and awe inspiring. The sunrise colours are so vivid and vibrant like the wildlife the forest protects. Dotty’s female sub cub is stalking through the bushes her large padded paws silently stepping through the leaf strewn ground. She is hunting for herself now, small prey until she gains the confidence to catch larger prey. She looks very hungry, her stomach is concave but this is the wild and even though prey is plentiful they are quick and only ten percent of Tiger hunts end in success. Her green eyes are as beautiful as her mothers, they are focused on finding prey. Her ears twitch listening out for any sounds, her whole senses are alert. It is still early but already very hot, there is no prey in the bushes so she crosses the sandy tracks, her black striped orange fur burnished in the sun. She is heading to one of the watering holes, in summer this is the perfect place to ambush hunt as the prey will be hot and thirsty too and wanting to quench their thirst. Dotty’s adult male cub has the same idea he is also heading to one of the watering hole. He too looks very hungry, he is much larger than his sibling so will be looking to catch bigger prey.
That brings to mind when you think of the Sloth Bear? No doubt the song “Bear necessities” plays in your head and the image of a very large cuddly black bear comes to mind. Whereas in fact the Sloth Bear is only a medium sized bear which only grows to up to a metre in height two metres in length and weighs in at up to 130kg. It has a beautiful long shaggy black coat and a pale V-shaped mark on its chest. It is characterised by its very long curved claws and pale long snout. Sloth bears have a wonderful character, they can climb trees with great agility and ease for such a cuddly rotund animal, it’s motivation as characterised in the film is to reach beehives, berries and sweet tasting flowers. Termites and ants also form a great part of their diet especially when other food sources are in short supply. Their sharp claws leave a permanent mark on the forest especially where they have used them to climb trees or dig into termite mounds to gain access to a rich abundance of food. They have been known to scavenge but they do not hunt. Gestation is around six months and they give birth to around two cubs. The cubs are carried on their mothers back for the first few months. They are quite shy animals, their black fur is perfect camouflage in the dark forests so there is little known about their social behaviour. They are quite solitary and do not have a territory as such but tend to meander around their known home range. They appear to not be aggressive towards one another so often many will live in the same part of a forest as food is abundant especially the mahua flower which is a favourite of theirs. An endearing characteristic is when they rear up on their hind legs and scratch their back and bottom on the rough bark of a tree to relieve an itch and remove fleas and ticks. They also hug and claw large tree boles\trunks. The purpose of this behaviour is unknown but it may be to mark territory or establishing dominance. So a fun fact, in Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book” Baloo was a sloth bear and Bhalu (pronounced Baloo) in Hindi means “bear.” Technically bhalu means bear, not necessarily sloth bear. However throughout much of Indian subcontinent sloth bears are the only bear present, so the word bhalu usually refers to sloth bears.
The afternoon is very hot and humid, Tara one of the female Tigers who left her buffer zone territory to find a new territory within the national park is embedded in a natural cave in an almost dry riverbed. The sand is moist and cool and the cave provides perfect shade from the intense heat of the afternoon. She is a large female her stunning orange and black stripes are in perfect harmony with the golden sand beneath her. Further down the almost dried out riverbed there is a pool of water from which she can quench her thirst when the afternoon heat starts to reduce. She has four cubs of two years old, one male and three females. At their age they will be starting to be independent of her and soon she will leave them to hunt for themselves. She is perfectly content, occasionally she stretches and yawns and rolls over into a new position. Finding respite from the sun is paramount to Tigers during the day. The sand cools her, she sighs deeply, she is the queen of this jungle, protected and thriving. Shere Khan is the famous name given to the male Tiger in Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book. Shere is the Hindi word for Tiger and Khan is a common surname of a Muslim man with a beard hence why the Tiger who iconically has a white beard is called Shere Khan in the book. He has a revered high status, the top predator and hence king of the jungle, also “to show that he is the chief among tigers.” There is no doubt the character of Shere Khan in the book is a good representation of Tigers, he was aggressive, arrogant and self-centred and saw himself as the rightful king of the jungle. Anyone knowing cats, big or small knows this is their natural temperament, hence why we have a complete fascination with them and love them. After all there is no doubt the Tiger is king of the jungle here. A Langur monkey is feeling brave, the troupe know the Tiger is sleeping in the dried-up ravine but it is hot and they are thirsty. It quietly skips down the side of the bank it’s exceptionally long tailed curled behind it. It observes the very sleepy Tiger and decides it is far enough away to drink from the shallow pool. Its fringed eyes are constantly fixed on the Tiger whilst it drinks the stagnant water. Other mischievous monkeys skip along the top of the bank to check the Tiger is sound asleep which she is.
Bagheera is the Hindi word for Leopard, their tracks are often seen but they are incredibly nocturnal and elusive here. The jungle is dense and thick and so they can easily hide, they are the ghosts of the forest. Their rival for food is of course the Tiger and with the increasing population of Tigers the competition for territory and food makes life difficult for them. Every year there is a census of the number of Tigers in Bandhavgarh National Park and the numbers are fortunately increasing but the number of Leopards are not documented due to their elusive nature. The largest threats to the big cats are the human wildlife conflict and poaching. Only twenty percent of Bandhavgarh national park is open to tourists and so these areas are constantly being monitored by guides and rangers. In the other eighty percent that is not monitored poaching is still a threat to Tigers. Bagheera is also a fictional character in Rudyard Kipling’s Mowgli stories in The Jungle Book and The Second Jungle Book. He is a black panther who serves as friend, protector and mentor to the “man-cub” Mowgli (meaning hairless). As we know the word Bagheera is Hindi for panther or leopard, although the root word Bagh means tiger. Bagheera in the book is presented as a wise figure. Level-headed and intelligent, the panther is amongst the most down-to-earth residents of the jungle.
In the height of the summer water becomes scarce and the predators and prey have to share increasingly smaller watering holes which makes it easier for the Tigers to hunt as the watering holes are surrounded by forests and long grasses. Even so the prey are not easy targets because each species has developed its own way of defending itself against predator attacks. A large male Tiger is no doubt a formidable hunter and opponent for any prey. However the Gawr is still a challenge, weighing in at up to 1,000kg almost two meters in height it is sufficiently larger than the Tiger. This is a large solitary male Gawr, peaceful except when being hunted. It’s large curved horns are used for defending itself either when fighting with another male for mating rights or defending itself from predators. Its horns can fatally pierce a Tiger, it will also use its strong legs and hooves to kick and wound. The Gawr was peacefully grazing in the marsh area, the moist grasses are succulent and shallow waters cooling on its legs. The very long grass provided the perfect ambush for the Tiger but the Gawr even though he has poor eyesight has a great sense of smell. Upon detecting the scent of the Tiger he turned, face onto the Tiger. Now they are at a standoff, powerful male sizing up powerful male. Each has its strengths, to bring down this large bovine the Tiger has to be tactical or risk being kicked or speared, he cannot risk any injury. As the sun sets behind them the advantage weighs in the favour of the Tiger with its night vision. It will be a long game of patience and strength of character. Neither notices the fiery sun burning bright behind them, the way the light defuses and changes from red to orange as it disappears below the mighty trees.
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Bandhavgarh National Park has the most stunning rock formations at the centre. The mineral rich grey rocks glisten in the early morning golden light. Bandhavgarh National Park resides on the extreme north-eastern border of Madhya Pradesh and the northern edges of the Satpura mountain ranges. The altitude of the reserve varies between 410 meters (1,345 ft) to 810 meters (2,657 ft) and being flourished with 32 hills with a large natural fort in the centre of the park. The fort has magnanimous view sides with its cliffs of 2625 feet (800 meters) high, 1000 feet (300 meters) above the neighbouring countryside. Prospering with high and thick Sal forests the entire jungle brings a blissful aroma to the surroundings. The upper slope of the reserve is filled with the mixed forest of Sai, Dhobin and Saja along with Sal. Although the entire area covered by Bandhavgarh National Park is 1161 sq km but the tourists are restricted to an area of 105 sq km of the park which can be called as the Tala Range. Richest in terms of biodiversity this area brings the great visiting of the tigers in the core zone. The core zone of the reserve is composed of four other zones namely- Magdhi, Kallwah, Khitauli and Panpatha. Easter the male Tiger has had a kill and is walking through the bushes over the rocks, his stomach is rotund from his feast. He is the territorial Tiger here and magnificently walks his domain. Rather unusually he seems shy and stays away from the sandy tracks. Across the tracks Kajri (which means heavily kohl rimmed eyes) has four cubs of around three months old, they are Easter’s offspring. She is leading them through the bushes to water. Easter beyond mating has no involvement in the upbringing of these cubs but as they are young will defend the territory for Kajri so the cubs are not attacked by intruding males. If their paths cross he will use his Jacobson gland to draw in the cubs’ scent to ensure they are his, detecting they are he will pass by them. He will only become interested in Kajri when she is receptive to mating again. Kajri is very protective of her cubs and keeps them in the bushes. They are not habituated yet and are very skittish, they stay close to their mother. As they run from bush to bush their large eyes peer about curiously at this natural wonder, one day this may be their territory, theirs to defend.
What a journey into the wild to see Tigers thriving in their natural habitat. Tigers are a living legend in the forests of central India, revered and respected. What would these forests be without their powerful presence, keeping order and balance. Tiger, Tiger burning bright, their bright amber eyes living flames amongst the dark shadows of the foliage. Would it be the true wild without a top predator, their elusive nature giving rise to gods and legends. The flora and fauna in Bandhavgarh National Park is spectacular in itself. The forest is alive with hundreds of species of butterflies which have managed to keep us amazed for hundreds of years, their beautiful scaly wings with brilliant colours and patterns has made them one of the better-studied families of the insect world. The park is teaming with hundreds of species, they fly up in their hundreds creating beautiful clouds of vibrant colour. India has also been well known for its reptile diversity. The park supports a wide variety of snakes, lizards and turtles. Reptiles are amongst the most understood creatures, myths and legends have vilified them but they are amongst the most fascinating of all animals and certainly oldest species. Of course, there are the birds, varying from the rich jewelled iconic Peacock to the small brown bird. From dusk to dawn their song serenades the forests, the nightjars and owls providing the song for sunset. Birds have always captivated humans and so been immortalised in poetry and paintings. Months after the monsoon running up to the summer months is full of migratory birds, the late summer is then an exciting time for breeding. The forests supports such rich biodiversity, from the Royal Bengal Tiger down to the Tree Shrew. With its hills, forests and meadows, Bandhavgarh National Park is a spectacular place to observe such amazing animal diversity and immerse yourself in its flora in fauna.
Nashipae Wilde
www.white-masai.co.uk
