Monday, February 22, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Promoting The Community
Save Tiger
Factfile:
- India has fewer than 1400 Tigers left.
- 1 dies every 3 days
- Tigers will completely disappear and become extinct in our country in a decade.
- The highest instance of poaching in the country:[/ed] Karnataka
Why should we save the Tiger?
Our survival is dependent on the natural environment as it provides us with clean air, food and water. Tigers are at the apex of the food pyramid and are indicators of a healthy environment. The ‘Web of Life’: all things in nature, including humans, are interrelated - changing any component of the web will impact others. In saving the tiger we are protecting the entire ecosystem and all its inhabitants.
PROMOTE THIS COMMUNITY :http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#CommPromote?cmm=606162
Cmm ":http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#Community?cmm=1111721
Factfile:
- India has fewer than 1400 Tigers left.
- 1 dies every 3 days
- Tigers will completely disappear and become extinct in our country in a decade.
- The highest instance of poaching in the country:[/ed] Karnataka
Why should we save the Tiger?
Our survival is dependent on the natural environment as it provides us with clean air, food and water. Tigers are at the apex of the food pyramid and are indicators of a healthy environment. The ‘Web of Life’: all things in nature, including humans, are interrelated - changing any component of the web will impact others. In saving the tiger we are protecting the entire ecosystem and all its inhabitants.
PROMOTE THIS COMMUNITY :http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#CommPromote?cmm=606162
Cmm ":http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#Community?cmm=1111721
Monday, February 15, 2010
What you can do to save the tiger?
The tiger is not just a charismatic species. It’s not just a wild animal living in some forest either. The tiger is a unique animal which plays a pivotal role in the health and diversity of an ecosystem. It is a top predator and is at the apex of the food chain and keeps the population of wild ungulates in check, thereby maintaining the balance between prey herbivores and the vegetation upon which they feed. Therefore the presence of tigers in the forest is an indicator of the well being of the ecosystem. The extinction of this top predator is an indication that its ecosystem is not sufficiently protected, and neither would it exist for long thereafter.
If the tigers go extinct, the entire system would collapse. For e.g. when the Dodos went extinct in Mauritius, one species of Acacia tree stopped regenerating completely. So when a species goes extinct, it leaves behind a scar, which affects the entire ecosystem. Another reason why we need to save the tiger is that our forests are water catchment areas.
When we protect one tiger, we protect about a 100 sq. km of area and thus save other species living in its habitat. Therefore, it’s not just about saving a beautiful animal. It is about making sure that we live a little longer as the forests are known to provide ecological services like clean air, water, pollination, temperature regulation etc. This way, our planet can still be home to our children.
Without adequate and timely protection there is a real possibility of these children never seeing a tiger in the wild once they grow up
Spread the word: Go out loud and tell others that tigers are dying and that they need our help. You can form forums (or join existing ones) on the web for discussions and exchange views on tiger conservation. Reach school going children. WWF can help you in this regard.
Be a responsible tourist: The wilderness is to be experienced and not to be disturbed and polluted. Follow the forest department guidelines when visiting any wilderness area, tiger reserve in particular. As the saying goes ‘Don’t leave thing anything behind except foot steps, and don’t take anything except memories.’
Write to the policy makers: If you are really concerned and feel that more needs to be done for tiger conservation, then write polite letters to the decision makers - the Prime Minister, the Minister for Environment and Forests or even your local MP.
Informing the nearest police station: If you know of any information on poaching or trade of illegal wildlife. You can also contact TRAFFIC- an organisation fighting the powerful poachers and pass on the information to them.
Reducing pressure on natural resources: By reducing the use of products derived from forests, such as timber and paper.
Support our work: Donating for this cause and encouraging others to donate too.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Trip to Sariska
Day 01 Delhi Arrival
Reach Delhi. GARHWAL HIMALAYAN EXPEDITION tour manager will give a warm welcome at the airport. Transfer to your hotel. After having some rest proceed for sightseeing of Old & New Delhi. Over night stay at hotel.
Day 02 Delhi - Sariska (240 Kms. 4.5 hrs)
After breakfast drive to Sarsika upon arrival in Sariska check in to hotel. Evening enjoy the Jeep safari in Sariska National Park. This park is known for its tigers. There are about 35 tigers at Sariska. Other predators of the forest include the panther, jungle cat, jackal, hyena, and fox. Also found are sambhar, chital, wild boar, hare, nilgai, civet, four-horned antelope, gaur (Indian bison) and porcupine. Overnight at hotel
Day 03 Sariska - Ranthambore (110KMS/2.5HRS)
After breakfast drive to Ranthambore. On arrival in Ranthambore - check in at the hotel. Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary - Rajasthan's most renowned wildlife sanctuary, it is 400 sq kms of dry deciduous forest, perfect natural habitat for tigers, and is set in the Aravalli and Vindhya hills, dotted with pavillions and dominated by a hilltop fort. Ranthambore was one of the hunting preserves of the former rulers of Jaipur and because of this the Maharajas ensured the environment was preserved and the forest and their inhabitants well protected. It has a good population of tiger and their prey species, and has been declared a "Project Tiger" reserve. Wildlife includes blue bull, black buck, spotted deer or cheetal, wild boar, a large variety of bird species and, if very lucky, the rarely seen leopard.
Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight: Hotel
Day 05: Jaipur - Bharatpur
Morning drive to Amber Fort,enjoy elephant ride & visit Amber Fort. Later drive to Bharatpur. Afternoon half day birding inside Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary - UNESCO site. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 06: Bharatpur - Fatehpur - Agra (40 kms)
Morning drive to Agra - . Enroute visit Fatehpur Sikri & later transfer to Hotel in Agra. After visit Agra Fort & Taj Mahal, later birdwatching behind Taj Mahal. Overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 04 Ranthambore - Jaipur (200KMS/04HRS)
Morning after breakfast drive to Jaipur- the pink city of Rajasthan, upon arrival in Jaipur check into hotel. Afternoon excursion to Jaipur city visiting Hawa mahal, City Palace & observatory. Later return to hotel for overnight stay.
Day 07: Agra - Delhi
Morning after breakfast checkout from the hotel and drive back to delhi. Upon arrival drop you at Delhi airport to catch the flight for onward destination
Reach Delhi. GARHWAL HIMALAYAN EXPEDITION tour manager will give a warm welcome at the airport. Transfer to your hotel. After having some rest proceed for sightseeing of Old & New Delhi. Over night stay at hotel.
Day 02 Delhi - Sariska (240 Kms. 4.5 hrs)
After breakfast drive to Sarsika upon arrival in Sariska check in to hotel. Evening enjoy the Jeep safari in Sariska National Park. This park is known for its tigers. There are about 35 tigers at Sariska. Other predators of the forest include the panther, jungle cat, jackal, hyena, and fox. Also found are sambhar, chital, wild boar, hare, nilgai, civet, four-horned antelope, gaur (Indian bison) and porcupine. Overnight at hotel
Day 03 Sariska - Ranthambore (110KMS/2.5HRS)
After breakfast drive to Ranthambore. On arrival in Ranthambore - check in at the hotel. Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary - Rajasthan's most renowned wildlife sanctuary, it is 400 sq kms of dry deciduous forest, perfect natural habitat for tigers, and is set in the Aravalli and Vindhya hills, dotted with pavillions and dominated by a hilltop fort. Ranthambore was one of the hunting preserves of the former rulers of Jaipur and because of this the Maharajas ensured the environment was preserved and the forest and their inhabitants well protected. It has a good population of tiger and their prey species, and has been declared a "Project Tiger" reserve. Wildlife includes blue bull, black buck, spotted deer or cheetal, wild boar, a large variety of bird species and, if very lucky, the rarely seen leopard.
Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight: Hotel
Day 05: Jaipur - Bharatpur
Morning drive to Amber Fort,enjoy elephant ride & visit Amber Fort. Later drive to Bharatpur. Afternoon half day birding inside Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary - UNESCO site. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 06: Bharatpur - Fatehpur - Agra (40 kms)
Morning drive to Agra - . Enroute visit Fatehpur Sikri & later transfer to Hotel in Agra. After visit Agra Fort & Taj Mahal, later birdwatching behind Taj Mahal. Overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 04 Ranthambore - Jaipur (200KMS/04HRS)
Morning after breakfast drive to Jaipur- the pink city of Rajasthan, upon arrival in Jaipur check into hotel. Afternoon excursion to Jaipur city visiting Hawa mahal, City Palace & observatory. Later return to hotel for overnight stay.
Day 07: Agra - Delhi
Morning after breakfast checkout from the hotel and drive back to delhi. Upon arrival drop you at Delhi airport to catch the flight for onward destination
Just Not Burning Bright
TIGER, perhaps the most charismatic of all animals are a treat to the eyes of
most of the animal lovers. It is also a symbol of strength and courage. Its presence says it all. It has inspired many writings and phrases. Tiger by William Blake is one such with the immortal catch line “Tiger tiger, burning bright...” But unfortunately the fate of this majestic animal is no brighter. At present there are only about 1,500 tigers left in India.
Tigers are believed to have evolved over one million years ago in Asia. From there the tiger spread north to the Amur region of eastern Russia, south to the islands of Indonesia, and southwest to Indochina and the Indian subcontinent. The presence of eight subspecies of tiger was known worldwide of which three have already been extinct. In India, we have the Royal Bengal Tiger, the most threatened large carnivore in India and the White Tiger which is a mutant of the Bengal tiger itself. At the turn of the 19th century, an estimate of the tiger population in India placed the figure at 45,000. In 1972, the first official census of tigers was conducted in India which revealed the existence of only 1,827 tigers. With such a drop in the tiger population in India, the government was forced to set up a special task force in 1972.
Based on the recommendation of this task force, Project Tiger was launched on April 1, 1973. The project tiger now covers 28 reserves in 17 states. In northeast India there are three such reserves — Manas, Pakke-Nameri and Namdapha.
Under the project, management plans were drawn up for each tiger reserve based on:
n Elimination of all forms of human exploitation and biotic disturbance from the core area and rationalization of activities in the buffer zone.
n Restricting the habitat management only to repair the damages done to the eco-system by human and other interferences so as to facilitate recovery of the ecosystem to its natural state.
n Monitoring the faunal and floral changes over time and carrying out research about wildlife.
The general threats to the tiger population is similar to most of the threats faced by other organisms in the present day world such as habitat destruction, pollution of habitat, depletion of prey population, etc. Additionally, the tiger also faces a major threat in form of poaching. Tigers are killed as many of their body parts are highly rated in international market.
“Got money, take tiger” seems to be the new courtesy greeting in the market streets of Tibet as they are full of peddlers selling tiger skins. It seems that the Indian tigers are turning out to be the latest fashion victims. Almost every part of this magnificent cat is sold and that too at an abominable high price, i.e. around $320-$2,000. Closer home, CBI officials estimated around Rs 60,000 per tiger skin to be earned by the notorious poacher Sansar Chand, kingpin of the Sariska tragedy.
Apart from the lucrative sums of money earned from tiger trade, this animal is also killed for its presumable healing powers. People believe that tiger bones cure rheumatism, potions made from its whiskers evoke strength, tiger tails mixed with soap cure skin afflictions and the list goes on.
The episode of Sansar Chand during the Sariska tragedy opened eyes wide to the inhuman activities related to the tiger. It was in December, 2004, that India learnt about the disappearances of tigers from Sariska tiger reserve in Rajasthan. By March 2005, the Wildlife Institute of India confirmed that no tigers were indeed left in Sariska. The CBI reported that the disappearance of tigers was mainly due to heinous poaching and tiger trade by middlemen, some local villagers with Sansar Chand at the centre. The nation had hardly recovered from this shock that another was knocking at its door. In November 2005, it was declared that Namdapha tiger reserve in northeast India was also stripped of these majestic creatures. The Namdapha episode was even more disastrous than Sariska as it boasted of 61 tigers as opposed to the 22 big cats of Sariska. All these pointed to sinister activities around this animal which was steadily leading to its destruction.
The reasons for the decline of this animal seem not only poaching and tiger trade but also lack of proper tiger census and monitoring techniques. Earlier, tiger census was carried out mostly by pug mark count where foot impressions of tiger were used as the source regarding various aspects of tiger. But many modern scientists are skeptic about the method as they believe that the pug mark counting process was not uniform in all the tiger reserves. The census of tigers is not only carried out by pug mark count but sometimes also by keeping count of their skin, hair, claws, paws and whiskers. This technique shows a terrifying total of 700 tiger deaths between the years 1994-2004, as per Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) figures.
Back home in Assam itself, various studies are conducted to sustain a steady population of this illusive animal. On that regard a recent ongoing study of the tigers by Aaranyak in Orang National Park is already showing encouraging signs. One of the most interesting aspects of this study is the use of modern camera trapping technique for tiger census. For this study 27 camera traps were installed and were surveyed for twenty days. Twenty photographs were obtained in the study period of seven individual tigers which were segregated based on the patterns of the stripes on their body which are unique in themselves.
Basically a camera trap is a technique where the photograph of the animal is used as a source of data. For this, at first a site in the forest is selected which is thought to be most frequently visited by animals; in this case, the tiger. Then two cameras are set opposite to each other providing enough space for animals to pass through. Adjacent to the cameras, an infrared sensor is placed. The ray emitted by the sensors is collected by a receiver. The rays actually form an invisible line in the path of the animal. When the animal crosses this path the continuous invisible beam of light is obstructed. This triggers the cameras on both sides to take snaps of the animal simultaneously. Picture of both sides of a tiger is required to confidently identify an individual. As stripes of either side are different, using stripes on one side would be misleading and may lead to inflated number of tigers in an area.
Though in a budding phase, these studies hold the key to the sustenance of this Big Cat. But the fact is only a handful of researchers are not going to save a species, until and unless we realize the importance of coexistence. Also if we humans take it too long to realize that we are just a mere strand in this web of life and any alteration in this web will affect us the same way as it does to others, maybe, there will be no one left to discuss or to be discussed.
most of the animal lovers. It is also a symbol of strength and courage. Its presence says it all. It has inspired many writings and phrases. Tiger by William Blake is one such with the immortal catch line “Tiger tiger, burning bright...” But unfortunately the fate of this majestic animal is no brighter. At present there are only about 1,500 tigers left in India.
Tigers are believed to have evolved over one million years ago in Asia. From there the tiger spread north to the Amur region of eastern Russia, south to the islands of Indonesia, and southwest to Indochina and the Indian subcontinent. The presence of eight subspecies of tiger was known worldwide of which three have already been extinct. In India, we have the Royal Bengal Tiger, the most threatened large carnivore in India and the White Tiger which is a mutant of the Bengal tiger itself. At the turn of the 19th century, an estimate of the tiger population in India placed the figure at 45,000. In 1972, the first official census of tigers was conducted in India which revealed the existence of only 1,827 tigers. With such a drop in the tiger population in India, the government was forced to set up a special task force in 1972.
Based on the recommendation of this task force, Project Tiger was launched on April 1, 1973. The project tiger now covers 28 reserves in 17 states. In northeast India there are three such reserves — Manas, Pakke-Nameri and Namdapha.
Under the project, management plans were drawn up for each tiger reserve based on:
n Elimination of all forms of human exploitation and biotic disturbance from the core area and rationalization of activities in the buffer zone.
n Restricting the habitat management only to repair the damages done to the eco-system by human and other interferences so as to facilitate recovery of the ecosystem to its natural state.
n Monitoring the faunal and floral changes over time and carrying out research about wildlife.
The general threats to the tiger population is similar to most of the threats faced by other organisms in the present day world such as habitat destruction, pollution of habitat, depletion of prey population, etc. Additionally, the tiger also faces a major threat in form of poaching. Tigers are killed as many of their body parts are highly rated in international market.
“Got money, take tiger” seems to be the new courtesy greeting in the market streets of Tibet as they are full of peddlers selling tiger skins. It seems that the Indian tigers are turning out to be the latest fashion victims. Almost every part of this magnificent cat is sold and that too at an abominable high price, i.e. around $320-$2,000. Closer home, CBI officials estimated around Rs 60,000 per tiger skin to be earned by the notorious poacher Sansar Chand, kingpin of the Sariska tragedy.
Apart from the lucrative sums of money earned from tiger trade, this animal is also killed for its presumable healing powers. People believe that tiger bones cure rheumatism, potions made from its whiskers evoke strength, tiger tails mixed with soap cure skin afflictions and the list goes on.
The episode of Sansar Chand during the Sariska tragedy opened eyes wide to the inhuman activities related to the tiger. It was in December, 2004, that India learnt about the disappearances of tigers from Sariska tiger reserve in Rajasthan. By March 2005, the Wildlife Institute of India confirmed that no tigers were indeed left in Sariska. The CBI reported that the disappearance of tigers was mainly due to heinous poaching and tiger trade by middlemen, some local villagers with Sansar Chand at the centre. The nation had hardly recovered from this shock that another was knocking at its door. In November 2005, it was declared that Namdapha tiger reserve in northeast India was also stripped of these majestic creatures. The Namdapha episode was even more disastrous than Sariska as it boasted of 61 tigers as opposed to the 22 big cats of Sariska. All these pointed to sinister activities around this animal which was steadily leading to its destruction.
The reasons for the decline of this animal seem not only poaching and tiger trade but also lack of proper tiger census and monitoring techniques. Earlier, tiger census was carried out mostly by pug mark count where foot impressions of tiger were used as the source regarding various aspects of tiger. But many modern scientists are skeptic about the method as they believe that the pug mark counting process was not uniform in all the tiger reserves. The census of tigers is not only carried out by pug mark count but sometimes also by keeping count of their skin, hair, claws, paws and whiskers. This technique shows a terrifying total of 700 tiger deaths between the years 1994-2004, as per Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) figures.
Back home in Assam itself, various studies are conducted to sustain a steady population of this illusive animal. On that regard a recent ongoing study of the tigers by Aaranyak in Orang National Park is already showing encouraging signs. One of the most interesting aspects of this study is the use of modern camera trapping technique for tiger census. For this study 27 camera traps were installed and were surveyed for twenty days. Twenty photographs were obtained in the study period of seven individual tigers which were segregated based on the patterns of the stripes on their body which are unique in themselves.
Basically a camera trap is a technique where the photograph of the animal is used as a source of data. For this, at first a site in the forest is selected which is thought to be most frequently visited by animals; in this case, the tiger. Then two cameras are set opposite to each other providing enough space for animals to pass through. Adjacent to the cameras, an infrared sensor is placed. The ray emitted by the sensors is collected by a receiver. The rays actually form an invisible line in the path of the animal. When the animal crosses this path the continuous invisible beam of light is obstructed. This triggers the cameras on both sides to take snaps of the animal simultaneously. Picture of both sides of a tiger is required to confidently identify an individual. As stripes of either side are different, using stripes on one side would be misleading and may lead to inflated number of tigers in an area.
Though in a budding phase, these studies hold the key to the sustenance of this Big Cat. But the fact is only a handful of researchers are not going to save a species, until and unless we realize the importance of coexistence. Also if we humans take it too long to realize that we are just a mere strand in this web of life and any alteration in this web will affect us the same way as it does to others, maybe, there will be no one left to discuss or to be discussed.
No More Pugmark-tracking for Tiger Count
Pug-mark tracking” are history. Camera trap a new technique to count the population of Tiger has been recently introduced in India. Jairam Ramesh, the Environment and Forest Minister of India, told Rajya Sabha that the old system of Tiger counting through Pugmark tracking was inefficient. So, Camera trap technique has been started.
Moreover, the Minister has informed that it is not possible for India to follow the US and Chinese model of breeding tigers in captivity. He said that India has 1,150 to 1,600 Tigers that are available in the wild and will remain in wild. He had suggested that instead of Tiger census in every four years, it would be more appropriate if the Tiger census is conducted once in every two years.
He said that that instead of policing, if incentives are declared for the local communities, than it will be more effective in protecting the ecosystem . He informed Rajya Sabha that he had already spoken to 200 vangujar families who reside within Jim Corbett National Park. He has decided to initiate a social force with the help of these people. In return of their help, they will be rewarded and given the facility of mobility and connectivity.
According to this plan, people staying in Tiger reserves would be moved to buffer zones while there will be no human presence in the core inviolate area. He added that about 80,000 to 1 lakh people will be shifted to buffer zones and compensation would be increase from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.
National Green Tribunal for speedy trials are going to be framed by the Environment and Forest Ministry for speedy trials of the poachers and people involving in illegal trading of wildlife . He said “If the Act needs change. I am open to it,” and also informed that Wildlife Crime Control Bureau is there to handle such cases.
Moreover, the Minister has informed that it is not possible for India to follow the US and Chinese model of breeding tigers in captivity. He said that India has 1,150 to 1,600 Tigers that are available in the wild and will remain in wild. He had suggested that instead of Tiger census in every four years, it would be more appropriate if the Tiger census is conducted once in every two years.
He said that that instead of policing, if incentives are declared for the local communities, than it will be more effective in protecting the ecosystem . He informed Rajya Sabha that he had already spoken to 200 vangujar families who reside within Jim Corbett National Park. He has decided to initiate a social force with the help of these people. In return of their help, they will be rewarded and given the facility of mobility and connectivity.
According to this plan, people staying in Tiger reserves would be moved to buffer zones while there will be no human presence in the core inviolate area. He added that about 80,000 to 1 lakh people will be shifted to buffer zones and compensation would be increase from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.
National Green Tribunal for speedy trials are going to be framed by the Environment and Forest Ministry for speedy trials of the poachers and people involving in illegal trading of wildlife . He said “If the Act needs change. I am open to it,” and also informed that Wildlife Crime Control Bureau is there to handle such cases.
Life in a forest
If asked to define a forest, most of us will straightaway think of trees.
While it is true that trees dominate - they are the biggest organisms present there, there are many of them, and they don't move about - a forest is in fact a community of not just plants and animals, but of micro-organisms as well.
Throw into the mix the non-living, abiotic components like soil, climate and water, and take in the complex interrelationships among the organisms and the environment, and we are closer to an actual understanding of this ecosystem.
Over two-thirds of known terrestrial species
Over 30% of the Earth's surface is covered with forests. They are among the most notable storehouses of biological diversity on the land - they house over two-thirds of known terrestrial species; they also harbour the largest share of threatened species.
Forests and Humans
Forests have a variety of uses to humans, including wood from trees, nutrition from animals, for grazing, recreation, medicinal and so on.
At the present time, conservationists are still arguing about a 'technical' definition of a forest. According to The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN (FAO), a forest does not stop being a forest just because the trees are gone.
While that may be so, it is important to understand how the disappearing green cover and the resultant threat to habitats and to human life fits into the bigger picture of life on the planet.
The forest ecosystem
The forest is a complex ecosystem - a biological system with distinct, myriad interrelationships of the living part of the environment (plants, animals and micro-organisms) to each other and to the non-living, inorganic or abiotic parts (soil, climate, water, organic debris, rocks).
Picture it as an intricate web - fragile but at the same time holding the ecosystem together.
Forest variety and distribution
Forests come in all sizes and types - from the northern taiga to the scrub forests of arid regions to the rainforests of the humid tropics.
They are found on moving glaciers¹ , in fresh and salt water, on arctic mountain slopes. They do not occur in isolation from the rest of the landscape. The type of forest in a given area depends on many elements, including climate, soil, water source, rainfall patterns, seed sources and human influence.
The complex ecological relationships involving forests could allow humans to benefit from them in a variety of ways. However, a deeper understanding of these relationships is crucial for development of effective forest management and policy options.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
The tiger, is one of the most charismatic and evocative species on Earth. In India we had over forty thousand tigers in the beginning of the 20th century. Tiger is the largest living member of the big cat family. Population of India is 1,120,000,000 and current number of tigers in India is 1,411, what a huge difference ? We really are not taking care of our nation animal. Government has failed to protect our tigers in wildlife centuries in India. Now it is our responsibility to wake up & act seriously to save our national pride.
Remember: Smallest action is much better than the noblest intention !
tiger is our national treasure,we need to jon our hands in this effort of saving tigers.
tigers are not entering our areas,but it is us who are invading their lands.
Unless the humongous gap between money appetite among the Indians and available honest avenues to whet that is bridged no flash campaign can really save Tigers and for that matter the entire ecology. This phenomenon is resultant of opening of our economy in 1992. The communication(Visible & vocal) industry has flourished at a furious pace and with solid penetration. People have become greedy all over in numbers because of the exposure.But the number of fresh opportunities to earn honestly have failed miserably to match the newly created moneymindedness. Concrete and cerebral steps are to be taken to create gainful employment opportunities in crores to save our nature. There is no other short cuts.
The reason behind the fall in tigers to 1411 is us.More Stringent punishment like the death penalty should be introduced if our Tigers are to be saved. The poaching trade is far too lucrative, for the present light sentence to have any effect. It would be a shame to lose such a magnificent animal.
save tigers
save the world
save our future
Remember: Smallest action is much better than the noblest intention !
tiger is our national treasure,we need to jon our hands in this effort of saving tigers.
tigers are not entering our areas,but it is us who are invading their lands.
Unless the humongous gap between money appetite among the Indians and available honest avenues to whet that is bridged no flash campaign can really save Tigers and for that matter the entire ecology. This phenomenon is resultant of opening of our economy in 1992. The communication(Visible & vocal) industry has flourished at a furious pace and with solid penetration. People have become greedy all over in numbers because of the exposure.But the number of fresh opportunities to earn honestly have failed miserably to match the newly created moneymindedness. Concrete and cerebral steps are to be taken to create gainful employment opportunities in crores to save our nature. There is no other short cuts.
The reason behind the fall in tigers to 1411 is us.More Stringent punishment like the death penalty should be introduced if our Tigers are to be saved. The poaching trade is far too lucrative, for the present light sentence to have any effect. It would be a shame to lose such a magnificent animal.
save tigers
save the world
save our future
Conservation and Saving Endangered Species
Wildlife conservation helps to protect endangered animals and save them from extinction. With Earth's biodiversity declining, help is needed to save many animals.
Between habitat changes, pollution, hunting, and climate changes, many animals are threatened with the possibility of becoming extinct. Through conversation, these animals have a chance of surviving. Human help is needed to help preserve many species of animals.
Causes for Animal Extinction
There are numerous causes why animals become extinct. Hunting is a major factor in the extinction of species of animals. Elephants are hunted for the ivory in their tusks. Tigers are desired for their fur, while rhinoceroses are killed for their horns. Currently, the Black Rhinoceroses is on the critically endangered list.
Habitat change is another cause for animal endangerment. Without a large enough area to breed and hunt, animals have no way to survive. Climate changes also cause risks to animals. With the planet's surface warming up, some animals are forced to move to other areas in order to find food and breed. For example, with the ice cover in the Arctic Ocean diminishing, it is getting more difficult for polar bears to find food.
Pollution also causes a lot of damage to wildlife. When chemicals are introduced into natural ecosystems, the results can be disastrous. Chemicals reduce the oxygen content in the water resulting in mass fish deaths. Currently it is believed that pollution is the cause of the low breeding of beluga whales in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
How Conservation Saves and Protects Wildlife Species of Animals
The best way to protect animals is by preserving their habitats. Animals preserves and national parks allow for animals to live in their natural surroundings. Captive breeding is a way to save a species from extinction. At one point, only about twenty four California condors existed. With captive breeding, that amount has since increased to about one hundred and seventy.
Read more at Suite101: Conservation and Saving Endangered Species: Facts About Preserving and Protecting Wildlife that is Threatened http://wildlife-conservation.suite101.com/article.cfm/conservation-and-saving-endangered-species#ixzz0f45WCwPV
Between habitat changes, pollution, hunting, and climate changes, many animals are threatened with the possibility of becoming extinct. Through conversation, these animals have a chance of surviving. Human help is needed to help preserve many species of animals.
Causes for Animal Extinction
There are numerous causes why animals become extinct. Hunting is a major factor in the extinction of species of animals. Elephants are hunted for the ivory in their tusks. Tigers are desired for their fur, while rhinoceroses are killed for their horns. Currently, the Black Rhinoceroses is on the critically endangered list.
Habitat change is another cause for animal endangerment. Without a large enough area to breed and hunt, animals have no way to survive. Climate changes also cause risks to animals. With the planet's surface warming up, some animals are forced to move to other areas in order to find food and breed. For example, with the ice cover in the Arctic Ocean diminishing, it is getting more difficult for polar bears to find food.
Pollution also causes a lot of damage to wildlife. When chemicals are introduced into natural ecosystems, the results can be disastrous. Chemicals reduce the oxygen content in the water resulting in mass fish deaths. Currently it is believed that pollution is the cause of the low breeding of beluga whales in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
How Conservation Saves and Protects Wildlife Species of Animals
The best way to protect animals is by preserving their habitats. Animals preserves and national parks allow for animals to live in their natural surroundings. Captive breeding is a way to save a species from extinction. At one point, only about twenty four California condors existed. With captive breeding, that amount has since increased to about one hundred and seventy.
Read more at Suite101: Conservation and Saving Endangered Species: Facts About Preserving and Protecting Wildlife that is Threatened http://wildlife-conservation.suite101.com/article.cfm/conservation-and-saving-endangered-species#ixzz0f45WCwPV
Tiger work in Dudwa National Park
I had an absolutely wonderful vacation at Dudwa National Park.I loved the people, the environment, and especially the tigers. From the moment I arrived at the reserve, I felt welcome and that encouraged me to be enthusiastic right away. During the first day, I witnessed the tigers stalk and chase a blesbuck, which is one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. I also went along hunting and then helped butcher a blesbuck while chatting, laughing and becoming acquainted with the staff and other volunteers. Right from the start, I knew that I was going to have a great two weeks.
When I heard about the origin of Save India Tigers, I was inspired and was even happier that I chose this as my i-to-i project. I agreed that something should be done as this subspecies is falling into extinction. I did not have any knowledge of how endangered the Indian tiger was and I was impressed that two people starting this project could make the difference whether or not the next generation will be able to see these tigers. I did feel differently while working on the reserve after this meeting - even more passionate about the cause and privileged to be a part of it.
I awoke every morning with a new adventure ahead: watching tigers, game drives, and walks with picnics to clean up the reserve. Sometimes, we faced challenges, such as , an unhealthy boat, and then the tragic death of Hope, but we did all that we could do for the reserve and the tigers. This was very satisfying. Every day I tried to get the most out of my experience and I was never disappointed.
All four tigers were amazing to observe. I only glimpsed at the end of my two weeks. By the end, I was very attached to the tigers and I felt like they were my pets. It was very hard to leave them.
As for my personal experience, I always love being around animals so I knew that I would be happy at Dudwa. I felt relaxed and peaceful, safe and at home on the reserve. The farmhouse was beautiful and there was something comforting about being out in the middle of nowhere. I knew that I was settled into the reserve . When I told my family and friends this, they just laughed because I was up for going out almost anytime before Dudwa. Having no electricity was great. There was no television to distract me and gas provided us with all the necessities. I actually did not like when the generator was fixed because I could not hear the wild animals or see the stars as well at night. Also, the water tasted really good, not processed or manufactured. These little things, somehow so different from home, made me enjoy the simple aspects of life.
Going to Dudwa was the best decision I have made in a long time. I would definitely love going back and doing it all over again. I have continuously raved about the project to everyone I know back home. I will never forget the people I met, what I learned about diverse cultures (how crazy being the only American can be and how different my country does some things) and, of course, I will never forget the tigers and the hope for their future.
When I heard about the origin of Save India Tigers, I was inspired and was even happier that I chose this as my i-to-i project. I agreed that something should be done as this subspecies is falling into extinction. I did not have any knowledge of how endangered the Indian tiger was and I was impressed that two people starting this project could make the difference whether or not the next generation will be able to see these tigers. I did feel differently while working on the reserve after this meeting - even more passionate about the cause and privileged to be a part of it.
I awoke every morning with a new adventure ahead: watching tigers, game drives, and walks with picnics to clean up the reserve. Sometimes, we faced challenges, such as , an unhealthy boat, and then the tragic death of Hope, but we did all that we could do for the reserve and the tigers. This was very satisfying. Every day I tried to get the most out of my experience and I was never disappointed.
All four tigers were amazing to observe. I only glimpsed at the end of my two weeks. By the end, I was very attached to the tigers and I felt like they were my pets. It was very hard to leave them.
As for my personal experience, I always love being around animals so I knew that I would be happy at Dudwa. I felt relaxed and peaceful, safe and at home on the reserve. The farmhouse was beautiful and there was something comforting about being out in the middle of nowhere. I knew that I was settled into the reserve . When I told my family and friends this, they just laughed because I was up for going out almost anytime before Dudwa. Having no electricity was great. There was no television to distract me and gas provided us with all the necessities. I actually did not like when the generator was fixed because I could not hear the wild animals or see the stars as well at night. Also, the water tasted really good, not processed or manufactured. These little things, somehow so different from home, made me enjoy the simple aspects of life.
Going to Dudwa was the best decision I have made in a long time. I would definitely love going back and doing it all over again. I have continuously raved about the project to everyone I know back home. I will never forget the people I met, what I learned about diverse cultures (how crazy being the only American can be and how different my country does some things) and, of course, I will never forget the tigers and the hope for their future.
Gir National Park
Gir National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary is a 1412 sq km hilly tract of dry deciduous forests, acacia scrub, evergreen and semi-evergreen flora and grasslands, fed by rivers and streams. Among the many water-bodies in the reserve is the Kamleshwar Dam, known for its large crocodile population. Originally protected by the Nawab of Junagadh, after British viceroys brought to his attention the plight of the lion in Asia, the sanctuary is the jewel of Gujarat's ecological resources. FAUNA OF GIR According to official census figures, Gir has about 300 lions and 300 leopards, making it one of the major big-cat concentrations in India. Sambar and spotted deer (chital), blue bull (nilgai), chousingha (the world's only four-horned antelope), chinkara (Indian gazelle) and wild boar thrive in Gir. Jackal, striped hyena, jungle cat, rusty-spotted cat, langur, porcupine, black-naped Indian hare are among the other mammals of Gir. Gir has a large population of marsh crocodile or mugger, which is among the 40 species of reptiles and amphibians recorded in the sanctuary. The park checklist has 250 birds and about 50 other species (including the endangered lesser florican and the saras crane) are recorded in the grasslands along the perifery of the sanctuary. Many species like the painted sandgrouse, grey francolin, quails, Asian paradise flycatcher, black-naped monarch, white-browed fantail, Asian brown flycatcher, grey-headed flycatcher, verditer flycatcher, tickell's blue flycatcher, greenish warbler, white-eye, coppersmith barbet, common and marshal's iora, rufous treepie, yellow-footed green pigeon have been spotted by our guests around the lodge itself. Long-billed vulture, Indian white-backed vulture, red-headed (king) vulture, Eurasian griffon vulture, changeable hawk-eagle, crested serpent eagle, bonneli's eagle, greater spotted eagle, lesser spotted eagle, tawny eagle, steppe eagle, imperial eagle, Pallas's fish eagle, grey-headed fish eagle, osprey, peregrine falcon, laggar falcon, red-headed falcon, oriental honey-buzzard, white-eyed buzzard and other raptors have been seen in the sanctuary. Gir also has brown fish owl, Eurasian eagle owl, spotted owlet. In the evening, nightjars can be seen near the lodge gate. The lodge can also be used as the base to visit the coastal areas from Veraval to Diu Bird Sanctuary for shore birds. Gir also has about 2000 species of invertebrate and the trails around the lodge can be good for butterfly-spotting. PEOPLE OF GIRGir is the home of the Maldharis, a term used for the many Hindu and Muslim pastoral groups of the area. The Maldhars live in traditional settlements called nesses and tend Jafrabadi buffalos, Gir cows and other livestock. Some of them also have camels, sheep and goats. Among the best-known pastoral groups of Gir is the Sorathi Rabari. Siddis are a community with African origins. Believed to have come from African countries as mercenaries, slaves and labour, the Siddis grew to become powerful generals, some of them even became rulers. In Gir, there are villages of the Siddis, who are well known for their dances and other performances, and Nagarshi Pir at Jhambur nearby is a major shrine for the Siddi community.
Jim Corbett Park
Jim Corbett National Park lies in the Nainital, Pauri Garwhal and Bijnore Districts of Uttaranchal.
The present area of the Reserve is 1318.54 sq. km. including 520 sq. km. of core area and 797.72 sq. km. of buffer area. The core area forms the Jim Corbett National Park while the buffer contains reserve forests (496.54 sq.km.) as well as the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary (301.18 sq.km.)
The core is bounded to the North by the Kanda Ridge, with a height
Colonel Jim Corbett was born at Nainital in 1875, the eighth child of Christopher and Mary Jane Corbett. His father was the postmaster of Nainital. He did his matriculation at Nainital’s Philanders Smith College where he was admired by his masters for his modesty and retiring nature. He did not pursue his academics any further.
He spent his summers at Gurni House in Nainital while in winters he went down to Kaladhungi in the tarai jungles. It was here he was taught how to fire a gun by his eldest brother, to. Their bungalow in Kaladhungi was inside a dense forest in which a large variety of plants and animals found refuge. The abundance of wildlife in Nainital those days can be gauged from the fact that Jim spotted tigers and leopards within a six and a half-kilometer radius of the temple of the goddess Naini. As a result of living in such exotic and beautiful surroundings he developed a spontaneous affinity with nature.
At the tender age of ten he found himself addicted to hunting, he had shot his first leopard and would just pick up and train his gun on any wild animal he encountered in the Jungle. When he was eighteen he joined the railways at Mokama Ghat in Bihar working as fuel inspector and assistant station master. He then became a labour contarctor.
When the World War I broke in 1914, he took a batch of five hundred Kumaon labourers to France. He was good at recruiting and organizing labour and was able to make them work for him willingly. He also helped the British government by training allied soldiers in jungle warfare, he then hold the rank of lieutenant colonel. In 1920 after his health broke down he resigned from the job and returned to Nainital and for the next twenty-four years he served as an elected member of the Nainital municipal Board.
While serving in the railways at Mokama Ghat, he would spend his holidays at Kaladhungi. Shikar of course would claim most of his time, He had bagged two man eaters, a feat which made his name a house hold name in the far flung areas and long before he was known as a skilled jungle man leading Shikar parties for the dignitaries. It was during one such Shikar parties with three army officers the turning point came in the life of Jim – One a Shikar party somewhere in northern India they came upon a lake with thousands of water fowls. They were delighted to see the sight and shots rang echoing in the entire valley. In a matter of minutes their count stood at three hundred waterfowls. Jim could not stomach this sacrilege. From that day he developed an aversion to this type of Shikar. And while his friends were overjoyed Jim vowed never to kill a beast without a reason. After he had killed a man-eater known as the Kuara of Pawalgadh in the mid thirties he gave up Shikar as a sport. There after he shot only those tigers which had turned man-eaters or cattle lifters.
Jim considered it his duty to kill such dangerous animals, a duty he carried out faithfully till his last days. E killed his last man-eater when he was well past sixty In those days the terror of Man-eaters loomed heavy on the regions of Kumaon and Garwhal and Jim was the only man who had the guts to take on and kill such bloodthirsty beasts, endowed as he was with his superlative skills required for the job he killed man-eaters in their den, in open grassland, in dense forest and on rocky slopes. Some of his most famous encounters are published in his six books of which the man-eaters of Kumaon and The Man Eating Leopard of Rudra Prayag are well renowned.
After World War II he settled in Kenya with his sister Maggie. It was there that at the ripe age of eighty he passed away leaving behind a legacy which still reverberate in the valleys of Kumaon and Garwhal. In all his years serving the cause of wildlife preservation and later deliverer of peace and tranquility in the man eater infested regions of Kumaon and Garwhal Jim became inherent with the wildlife conservation and the Indian Government in 1956 renamed the park – Corbett National Park in honour of Jim Corbett the powerful missionary for wildlife preservation in India. A fitting tribute to the White Saint.of 1043 m at its highest point. The entire area of the reserve is mountainous and falls in the Shivalik and Outer Himalaya geological region. It forms the catchment area of the Ramganga, a tributary of the Ganga.
The Ramganga flows from East to West in the reserve through landscapes of incredible beauty. Dammed at Kalagarh at the south-western end of the reserve in 1974. The reservoir created, submerged 40-sq. km. of prime grassland. The area on the western side of the reservoir now constitutes the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary.
After India attained independence in 1947 the park was renamed as Ramganga National Park. In 1956, it was renamed as Jim Corbett National Park, in memory of Jim Corbett. Project Tiger, India's ambitious conservation program to save the tiger and its habitat was launched from Corbett in 1973.
Prior to the years 1815-20 of the British Rule, the forests of the Jim Corbett National Park were the private property of the local rulers. Though the ownership had passed into the British hands, the government paid little or no attention to the upkeep of the park. The sole aim was to exploit the natural resources and extract as much profit as possible from the jungle. It was only in the year 1858 that
Major Ramsay drew up the first comprehensive conservation plan to protect the forest. He ensured that his orders are followed strictly and, by 1896 the condition of the forest began to improve. Ramsays plan reflected the deep thought he had given to the science of forestry. In 1861-62 farming was banned in the lower Patlidun valley. Cattle sheds were pulled down, domestic animals were driven from the forest and a regular cadre of workers was created to fight forest fire and secure the forest from illegal felling of trees. Licenses were issued for timber and count of trees was undertaken. In 1868, the Forest department assumed responsibility for the forests and in 1879 they were declared reserved forest under the forest Act. In a letter dated January 3,1907, Sir, Michael Keen for the first time referred to the possibility of turning these forests into a game sanctuary however the proposal was turned down. It was years later in 1934 the governor, Sir Malcolm Hailey, supported the proposal for the sanctuary and wanted the enactment of a law to give it protection. To overcome the delays that legislation would entail the area was made into a reserve forest by the Chief Conservator of forest. Later in consultation with Major Jim Corbett, the boundaries of the park were demarcated and in 1936 The United Province national Park Act was enforced and this reserved forest became the first national Park of India. And it was aptly named Hailey National Park after its founder Sir, Malcolm Hailey Initially the park measured merely 323.75 square kilometers, but to accommodate wild animals like Tigers and Elephants, it was expanded to its present area of 520 square kilometers (core area) in 1966. The year 1973 was a landmark in the field of wildlife preservation. It was in this year that wildlife preservationist and naturalists from around the world launched PROJECT TIGER the most prestigious and biggest total environmental conservation project ever undertaken. The Jim Corbett National Park has the distinction of having been chosen the venue for the inauguration of this project.
The different habitat types of Corbett i.e. mountains, sal forests, chaurs, khair-sissoo forests, and rivers have their distinct assemblage of plants. More than 600 species of trees, shrubs, herbs, bamboos, grasses, climbers and ferns have been identified in the Park.
Trees
The most visible trees found in Corbett are sal, sissoo and khair. Many other species that contribute to the diversity are found scattered throughout the park. Chir pine is the only conifer of the Park and is found on ridge-tops like Chir Choti but comes quite low in Gajar Sot. The upper reaches near Kanda
have Banj Oak growing, which is essentially a Himalayan species.
Palms include Date palm that grows in open areas. Kanju (Holoptelia integrifolia), Jamun (Syzygium cumini) and Aamla (Emblica officinalis) are found scattered moist areas. Other major tree species are
Bel
Kusum
Mahua
Bakli
Flowering trees lend colour to the forests in Corbett. The main ones are Kachnaar (Bauhinia variegata) with pink to white flowers, Semal (Bombax ceiba) with big red blooms, Dhak or Flame-of-the-forest (Butea monosperma) with bright orange flowers, Madaar or Indian Coral (Erythrinia indica) with scarlet red flowers and Amaltas (Cassia fistula) with bright yellow chandelier like blooms. Some species of trees that do not occur naturally in the Park have been artificially planted in and around habitation. These include
Teak (Tectona grandis),
Eucalyptus,
Jacaranda
Silver Oak
Bottlebrush
Grasses
Grasses form the largest group of plant species in Corbett with more than 70 species recorded. They occupy different habitats, especially chaurs. They include
They include
Kansi ,
Themeda arundinacea,
Baib or Bhabar ,
Narkul ,
Tiger Grass ,
Khus Khus ,
Spear Grass with conspicuous sharp blades that adhere to clothes and penetrates skin.
Bamboo
In some parts of Corbett the vegetation is dominated by bamboo forest. The main species is Male Bamboo having clustered stout stems and shining papery stem sheaths. Bamboos follow a peculiar flowering process. All bamboos in a forest, flower together at the same time once in several decades. After flowering, fruiting and dispersal of seeds, all plants die together.
Shrubs
Shrubs dominate the forest floor. There are several species of Ber found in open areas that provide food and habitat to many birds and animals. Maror phali is an easily noticeable shrub. Its fruits are in the form of twisted spiralling pods. Karaunda with pinkish-white flowers and sour fruit is found under sal. Hisar has yellow, juicy, berry-like fruits that are savoured by animals. Jhau is found along the Ramganga basin on sandy or rocky soil.
For the survival of such a remarkable gamut of floral and faunal species in Jim Jim Corbett National Park , water is a crucial factor. The Ramganga river forms the most prominent hydrological resource, supplemented by tributaries, most prominent of which are the Sonanadi, Mandal and Palain rivers. The river Kosi runs proximate to the Park and is also a significant water resource for nearby areas. Wildlife is dependent on rivers, more so in the dry season, for they provide drinking waters
and also forms home to several key aquatic species.Ramganga Ramganga river is crucial for Corbett infact without it there would be no Corbett. It is the largest of the precious few perennial sources of water in the Park. A rain-fed river originating near Gairsain in the Lower Himalayas, the Ramganga traverses more than 100 km before entering Corbett near Marchula. Inside the Park it flows roughly 40 km till Kalagarh where it enters the plains. During this run through the Park it gathers waters from the Palain, Mandal and Sonanadi rivers. The Ramganga is inhabited by key aquatic species like mahseer fish, the endangered gharials, mugger crocodiles, otters and turtles. Many species of birds, like kingfishers, fish-eagles, terns and storks depend on the Ramganga. During winters the Ramganga reservoir attracts many migratory bird species, especially waterbirds from Europe and Central Asia. Kosi The Kosi is a perennial river like the Ramganga and its catchment lies partially in Corbett NP. From Mohan through Dhikuli till Ramnagar, the Kosi forms the eastern boundary of Jim Corbett National Park. Even though the Kosi does not enter the Park boundary, wild animals from Corbett use it for drinking especially during pinch periods. Its bed is strewn with boulders and its flow is erratic and often changes course. Kosi is notorious for its unpredictable and damaging torrents during monsoon. Like Ramganga, the Kosi too is inhabited by mahseer and attracts migratory birds.
Sonanadi The Sonanadi is an important tributary of the Ramganga. Named after this river the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary adjoins Jim Corbett National Park and forms an important part of the Corbett Tiger Reserve. The Sonanadi enters the Park from the northwest direction and meets the Ramganga at the reservoir. The name Sonanadi means river of gold. At one time grains of gold, found in the alluvial deposits washed down from the higher areas, were extracted from the bed sand by sieving, washing and mercury treatment.
Mandal and Palain The Mandal rises in the eastern heights in Talla Salan in Chamoli district. Forming a part of the northeastern boundary, Mandal flows for 32 km and joins the Ramganga at Domunda a little distance above Gairal. During the dry season, the Mandal contains very little water but during the monsoons it turns into a furious torrent. It forms a vital breeding ground for the endangered mahseer. The Palain is the third important tributary of the Ramganga and enters the Park from a northern direction. It meets the Ramganga about 3 km north of the Ramganga reservoir.
Sots Sot is the local name for a seasonal stream. While traveling across the park you may cross several of these bouldery dry streams. Though most of them appear dry and lifeless, they are very important for the Park ecology. Animals depend on these sots for their drinking water requirements for a good part of the year. There are some sots in Corbett that are perennial, important ones being Paterpani, Laldhang, Kothirao, Jhirna, Dhara and Garjia. Since water is a limiting factor, these perennial sots provide water to wildlife during pinch periods. Many of these sots are covered with thick growth of evergreen shrubs and bamboo clumps which form ideal shelter for many animals including the tiger.
The elusive tiger is perhaps the most celebrated of the wild animals of India. It is symbolises raw power of nature and finds an important place in our culture, mythology and legends. It has been worshiped as the guardian and ruler of the forest.
Today this perfect carnivore is a critically endangered species, though once it roamed freely in most of Asia. India is home to the largest population of wild tigers in the world. There are estimated to be only 5000 to
7500 tigers surviving in the world. Out of these, the subspecies found in the Indian subcontinent, the Bengal tiger has 3000 to 4500 surviving members, more than three-fourths of which are in India. The terai-bhabar region, including Corbett, was once the best place to find tigers but this habitat has reduced tremendously due to development. The tiger has always had a close association Corbett National Park earlier through the writings of Jim Corbett and other shikaris and later because of the launch of Project Tiger, Indias tiger conservation programme, initiated from the Parks soil on 1st April 1973. Tigers hunt deers and wild boar. They choose the largest of the prey species since larger prey represents more energy for the effort spent. For this reason the sambar population density is believed to be a good indicator of the presence of tigers. Occasionally, tigers will also attack young of elephants and take smaller species, including monkeys, birds, reptiles and fish. Adult tigers are usually solitary, except for females with cubs. However, sometimes several are sometimes seen together. Generally, both female and male tigers maintain home ranges that do not overlap with the home range of another tiger of the same sex. Females have home ranges of approximately 20 sq. km while those of males are much larger, covering 60-100 sq. km. Male home ranges cover the territory of many smaller female home ranges. The male protects his territory and the females within it from competing males. To mark their territories, tigers use several means of advertising this fact. Urine and anal gland secretions are sprayed on trees, bushes and rocks in various places throughout a particular area. They also make claw marks on trunks of trees. Such markings help avoid physical confrontation since any intruders in the territory recognise the owners scent and generally keep out. Among the large cats in India tigers have the greatest reputation as man-eaters. Several legendary man-eating tigers have been known, especially during the terai-bhabar region. Such tigers have been immortalised through the writings of Jim Corbett. For example, the Champawat tiger is said to have killed 434 people before Colonel Jim Corbett finally succeeded in killing it. However, in recent times, with the huge decline in the numbers of tigers, attacks on humans have been relatively rare. Man-eating is usually the result of a tiger’s inability to catch usual prey when it is too old to hunt or if it has an injury. Being a carnivore and a master predator, the tiger lies on top of the food pyramid. It keeps the population of ungulates under control and thus maintains the ecological balance. The tiger is an indicator of a healthy wilderness ecosystem. If the tiger is protected, our forests will also live. And forests mean good air and plenty of freshwater, both of which affect our own survival.
The present area of the Reserve is 1318.54 sq. km. including 520 sq. km. of core area and 797.72 sq. km. of buffer area. The core area forms the Jim Corbett National Park while the buffer contains reserve forests (496.54 sq.km.) as well as the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary (301.18 sq.km.)
The core is bounded to the North by the Kanda Ridge, with a height
Colonel Jim Corbett was born at Nainital in 1875, the eighth child of Christopher and Mary Jane Corbett. His father was the postmaster of Nainital. He did his matriculation at Nainital’s Philanders Smith College where he was admired by his masters for his modesty and retiring nature. He did not pursue his academics any further.
He spent his summers at Gurni House in Nainital while in winters he went down to Kaladhungi in the tarai jungles. It was here he was taught how to fire a gun by his eldest brother, to. Their bungalow in Kaladhungi was inside a dense forest in which a large variety of plants and animals found refuge. The abundance of wildlife in Nainital those days can be gauged from the fact that Jim spotted tigers and leopards within a six and a half-kilometer radius of the temple of the goddess Naini. As a result of living in such exotic and beautiful surroundings he developed a spontaneous affinity with nature.
At the tender age of ten he found himself addicted to hunting, he had shot his first leopard and would just pick up and train his gun on any wild animal he encountered in the Jungle. When he was eighteen he joined the railways at Mokama Ghat in Bihar working as fuel inspector and assistant station master. He then became a labour contarctor.
When the World War I broke in 1914, he took a batch of five hundred Kumaon labourers to France. He was good at recruiting and organizing labour and was able to make them work for him willingly. He also helped the British government by training allied soldiers in jungle warfare, he then hold the rank of lieutenant colonel. In 1920 after his health broke down he resigned from the job and returned to Nainital and for the next twenty-four years he served as an elected member of the Nainital municipal Board.
While serving in the railways at Mokama Ghat, he would spend his holidays at Kaladhungi. Shikar of course would claim most of his time, He had bagged two man eaters, a feat which made his name a house hold name in the far flung areas and long before he was known as a skilled jungle man leading Shikar parties for the dignitaries. It was during one such Shikar parties with three army officers the turning point came in the life of Jim – One a Shikar party somewhere in northern India they came upon a lake with thousands of water fowls. They were delighted to see the sight and shots rang echoing in the entire valley. In a matter of minutes their count stood at three hundred waterfowls. Jim could not stomach this sacrilege. From that day he developed an aversion to this type of Shikar. And while his friends were overjoyed Jim vowed never to kill a beast without a reason. After he had killed a man-eater known as the Kuara of Pawalgadh in the mid thirties he gave up Shikar as a sport. There after he shot only those tigers which had turned man-eaters or cattle lifters.
Jim considered it his duty to kill such dangerous animals, a duty he carried out faithfully till his last days. E killed his last man-eater when he was well past sixty In those days the terror of Man-eaters loomed heavy on the regions of Kumaon and Garwhal and Jim was the only man who had the guts to take on and kill such bloodthirsty beasts, endowed as he was with his superlative skills required for the job he killed man-eaters in their den, in open grassland, in dense forest and on rocky slopes. Some of his most famous encounters are published in his six books of which the man-eaters of Kumaon and The Man Eating Leopard of Rudra Prayag are well renowned.
After World War II he settled in Kenya with his sister Maggie. It was there that at the ripe age of eighty he passed away leaving behind a legacy which still reverberate in the valleys of Kumaon and Garwhal. In all his years serving the cause of wildlife preservation and later deliverer of peace and tranquility in the man eater infested regions of Kumaon and Garwhal Jim became inherent with the wildlife conservation and the Indian Government in 1956 renamed the park – Corbett National Park in honour of Jim Corbett the powerful missionary for wildlife preservation in India. A fitting tribute to the White Saint.of 1043 m at its highest point. The entire area of the reserve is mountainous and falls in the Shivalik and Outer Himalaya geological region. It forms the catchment area of the Ramganga, a tributary of the Ganga.
The Ramganga flows from East to West in the reserve through landscapes of incredible beauty. Dammed at Kalagarh at the south-western end of the reserve in 1974. The reservoir created, submerged 40-sq. km. of prime grassland. The area on the western side of the reservoir now constitutes the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary.
After India attained independence in 1947 the park was renamed as Ramganga National Park. In 1956, it was renamed as Jim Corbett National Park, in memory of Jim Corbett. Project Tiger, India's ambitious conservation program to save the tiger and its habitat was launched from Corbett in 1973.
Prior to the years 1815-20 of the British Rule, the forests of the Jim Corbett National Park were the private property of the local rulers. Though the ownership had passed into the British hands, the government paid little or no attention to the upkeep of the park. The sole aim was to exploit the natural resources and extract as much profit as possible from the jungle. It was only in the year 1858 that
Major Ramsay drew up the first comprehensive conservation plan to protect the forest. He ensured that his orders are followed strictly and, by 1896 the condition of the forest began to improve. Ramsays plan reflected the deep thought he had given to the science of forestry. In 1861-62 farming was banned in the lower Patlidun valley. Cattle sheds were pulled down, domestic animals were driven from the forest and a regular cadre of workers was created to fight forest fire and secure the forest from illegal felling of trees. Licenses were issued for timber and count of trees was undertaken. In 1868, the Forest department assumed responsibility for the forests and in 1879 they were declared reserved forest under the forest Act. In a letter dated January 3,1907, Sir, Michael Keen for the first time referred to the possibility of turning these forests into a game sanctuary however the proposal was turned down. It was years later in 1934 the governor, Sir Malcolm Hailey, supported the proposal for the sanctuary and wanted the enactment of a law to give it protection. To overcome the delays that legislation would entail the area was made into a reserve forest by the Chief Conservator of forest. Later in consultation with Major Jim Corbett, the boundaries of the park were demarcated and in 1936 The United Province national Park Act was enforced and this reserved forest became the first national Park of India. And it was aptly named Hailey National Park after its founder Sir, Malcolm Hailey Initially the park measured merely 323.75 square kilometers, but to accommodate wild animals like Tigers and Elephants, it was expanded to its present area of 520 square kilometers (core area) in 1966. The year 1973 was a landmark in the field of wildlife preservation. It was in this year that wildlife preservationist and naturalists from around the world launched PROJECT TIGER the most prestigious and biggest total environmental conservation project ever undertaken. The Jim Corbett National Park has the distinction of having been chosen the venue for the inauguration of this project.
The different habitat types of Corbett i.e. mountains, sal forests, chaurs, khair-sissoo forests, and rivers have their distinct assemblage of plants. More than 600 species of trees, shrubs, herbs, bamboos, grasses, climbers and ferns have been identified in the Park.
Trees
The most visible trees found in Corbett are sal, sissoo and khair. Many other species that contribute to the diversity are found scattered throughout the park. Chir pine is the only conifer of the Park and is found on ridge-tops like Chir Choti but comes quite low in Gajar Sot. The upper reaches near Kanda
have Banj Oak growing, which is essentially a Himalayan species.
Palms include Date palm that grows in open areas. Kanju (Holoptelia integrifolia), Jamun (Syzygium cumini) and Aamla (Emblica officinalis) are found scattered moist areas. Other major tree species are
Bel
Kusum
Mahua
Bakli
Flowering trees lend colour to the forests in Corbett. The main ones are Kachnaar (Bauhinia variegata) with pink to white flowers, Semal (Bombax ceiba) with big red blooms, Dhak or Flame-of-the-forest (Butea monosperma) with bright orange flowers, Madaar or Indian Coral (Erythrinia indica) with scarlet red flowers and Amaltas (Cassia fistula) with bright yellow chandelier like blooms. Some species of trees that do not occur naturally in the Park have been artificially planted in and around habitation. These include
Teak (Tectona grandis),
Eucalyptus,
Jacaranda
Silver Oak
Bottlebrush
Grasses
Grasses form the largest group of plant species in Corbett with more than 70 species recorded. They occupy different habitats, especially chaurs. They include
They include
Kansi ,
Themeda arundinacea,
Baib or Bhabar ,
Narkul ,
Tiger Grass ,
Khus Khus ,
Spear Grass with conspicuous sharp blades that adhere to clothes and penetrates skin.
Bamboo
In some parts of Corbett the vegetation is dominated by bamboo forest. The main species is Male Bamboo having clustered stout stems and shining papery stem sheaths. Bamboos follow a peculiar flowering process. All bamboos in a forest, flower together at the same time once in several decades. After flowering, fruiting and dispersal of seeds, all plants die together.
Shrubs
Shrubs dominate the forest floor. There are several species of Ber found in open areas that provide food and habitat to many birds and animals. Maror phali is an easily noticeable shrub. Its fruits are in the form of twisted spiralling pods. Karaunda with pinkish-white flowers and sour fruit is found under sal. Hisar has yellow, juicy, berry-like fruits that are savoured by animals. Jhau is found along the Ramganga basin on sandy or rocky soil.
For the survival of such a remarkable gamut of floral and faunal species in Jim Jim Corbett National Park , water is a crucial factor. The Ramganga river forms the most prominent hydrological resource, supplemented by tributaries, most prominent of which are the Sonanadi, Mandal and Palain rivers. The river Kosi runs proximate to the Park and is also a significant water resource for nearby areas. Wildlife is dependent on rivers, more so in the dry season, for they provide drinking waters
and also forms home to several key aquatic species.Ramganga Ramganga river is crucial for Corbett infact without it there would be no Corbett. It is the largest of the precious few perennial sources of water in the Park. A rain-fed river originating near Gairsain in the Lower Himalayas, the Ramganga traverses more than 100 km before entering Corbett near Marchula. Inside the Park it flows roughly 40 km till Kalagarh where it enters the plains. During this run through the Park it gathers waters from the Palain, Mandal and Sonanadi rivers. The Ramganga is inhabited by key aquatic species like mahseer fish, the endangered gharials, mugger crocodiles, otters and turtles. Many species of birds, like kingfishers, fish-eagles, terns and storks depend on the Ramganga. During winters the Ramganga reservoir attracts many migratory bird species, especially waterbirds from Europe and Central Asia. Kosi The Kosi is a perennial river like the Ramganga and its catchment lies partially in Corbett NP. From Mohan through Dhikuli till Ramnagar, the Kosi forms the eastern boundary of Jim Corbett National Park. Even though the Kosi does not enter the Park boundary, wild animals from Corbett use it for drinking especially during pinch periods. Its bed is strewn with boulders and its flow is erratic and often changes course. Kosi is notorious for its unpredictable and damaging torrents during monsoon. Like Ramganga, the Kosi too is inhabited by mahseer and attracts migratory birds.
Sonanadi The Sonanadi is an important tributary of the Ramganga. Named after this river the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary adjoins Jim Corbett National Park and forms an important part of the Corbett Tiger Reserve. The Sonanadi enters the Park from the northwest direction and meets the Ramganga at the reservoir. The name Sonanadi means river of gold. At one time grains of gold, found in the alluvial deposits washed down from the higher areas, were extracted from the bed sand by sieving, washing and mercury treatment.
Mandal and Palain The Mandal rises in the eastern heights in Talla Salan in Chamoli district. Forming a part of the northeastern boundary, Mandal flows for 32 km and joins the Ramganga at Domunda a little distance above Gairal. During the dry season, the Mandal contains very little water but during the monsoons it turns into a furious torrent. It forms a vital breeding ground for the endangered mahseer. The Palain is the third important tributary of the Ramganga and enters the Park from a northern direction. It meets the Ramganga about 3 km north of the Ramganga reservoir.
Sots Sot is the local name for a seasonal stream. While traveling across the park you may cross several of these bouldery dry streams. Though most of them appear dry and lifeless, they are very important for the Park ecology. Animals depend on these sots for their drinking water requirements for a good part of the year. There are some sots in Corbett that are perennial, important ones being Paterpani, Laldhang, Kothirao, Jhirna, Dhara and Garjia. Since water is a limiting factor, these perennial sots provide water to wildlife during pinch periods. Many of these sots are covered with thick growth of evergreen shrubs and bamboo clumps which form ideal shelter for many animals including the tiger.
The elusive tiger is perhaps the most celebrated of the wild animals of India. It is symbolises raw power of nature and finds an important place in our culture, mythology and legends. It has been worshiped as the guardian and ruler of the forest.
Today this perfect carnivore is a critically endangered species, though once it roamed freely in most of Asia. India is home to the largest population of wild tigers in the world. There are estimated to be only 5000 to
7500 tigers surviving in the world. Out of these, the subspecies found in the Indian subcontinent, the Bengal tiger has 3000 to 4500 surviving members, more than three-fourths of which are in India. The terai-bhabar region, including Corbett, was once the best place to find tigers but this habitat has reduced tremendously due to development. The tiger has always had a close association Corbett National Park earlier through the writings of Jim Corbett and other shikaris and later because of the launch of Project Tiger, Indias tiger conservation programme, initiated from the Parks soil on 1st April 1973. Tigers hunt deers and wild boar. They choose the largest of the prey species since larger prey represents more energy for the effort spent. For this reason the sambar population density is believed to be a good indicator of the presence of tigers. Occasionally, tigers will also attack young of elephants and take smaller species, including monkeys, birds, reptiles and fish. Adult tigers are usually solitary, except for females with cubs. However, sometimes several are sometimes seen together. Generally, both female and male tigers maintain home ranges that do not overlap with the home range of another tiger of the same sex. Females have home ranges of approximately 20 sq. km while those of males are much larger, covering 60-100 sq. km. Male home ranges cover the territory of many smaller female home ranges. The male protects his territory and the females within it from competing males. To mark their territories, tigers use several means of advertising this fact. Urine and anal gland secretions are sprayed on trees, bushes and rocks in various places throughout a particular area. They also make claw marks on trunks of trees. Such markings help avoid physical confrontation since any intruders in the territory recognise the owners scent and generally keep out. Among the large cats in India tigers have the greatest reputation as man-eaters. Several legendary man-eating tigers have been known, especially during the terai-bhabar region. Such tigers have been immortalised through the writings of Jim Corbett. For example, the Champawat tiger is said to have killed 434 people before Colonel Jim Corbett finally succeeded in killing it. However, in recent times, with the huge decline in the numbers of tigers, attacks on humans have been relatively rare. Man-eating is usually the result of a tiger’s inability to catch usual prey when it is too old to hunt or if it has an injury. Being a carnivore and a master predator, the tiger lies on top of the food pyramid. It keeps the population of ungulates under control and thus maintains the ecological balance. The tiger is an indicator of a healthy wilderness ecosystem. If the tiger is protected, our forests will also live. And forests mean good air and plenty of freshwater, both of which affect our own survival.
Dudwa National Park
Area: 490 km² core, 124 km² buffer
Established: 1958 as a wildlife sanctuary, 1977 as a national park, 1988 as a tiger reserve.
Dudhwa Tiger Reserve lies on the India-Nepal border in the foothills of the Himalaya and the plains of the ‘terai’ in Uttar Pradesh. The main attractions of the park are its Swamp Deer (population over 1,600) and tiger (population 98 in 1995). The park is famous for the efforts of ‘Billy’ Arjan Singh, one of India’s leading conservationists, who was instrumental in the creation of Dudhwa as a sanctuary of the Swamp Deer. Later he successfully hand-reared and re-introduced zoo-born Tigers and Leopards into the wilds of Dudhwa.
The forests here are reminiscent of the forests of Bardia on the Nepal side, with huge Sal trees, tall termite mounds, patches of riverine forests and large open grasslands. Its lakes offer excellent opportunities for observing Swamp Deer, Hog Deer, and birds from ‘machans’. In the mid 1980s, Indian Rhinoceros was reintroduced into Dudhwa from Assam and Nepal. The park has a rich bird life, with over 350 species, including the Swamp Francolin, Great Slaty Woodpecker and Bengal Florican.
Dudhwa National Park is full of mosaic grasslands and dense sal forests to swampy marshes. Dudhwa National park’s terrain is as diverse as the wildlife population of it. While the northern edge of the Park lies along the Indo-Nepal border, the River Suheli is in the southern boundary.
Tourist can hope to find some of the rarest species of animals at Dudhwa Wildlife Park, one of them is Hispid Hare, a dark brown animal earlier thought to have become extinct, but rediscovered in 1984. The other animals to be seen here include Swamp Deer, Sambar Deer, Tiger, Rhinoceros, Sloth Bear, Ratel, Barking Deer, Jackal, Jungle Cat, Leopard Cat, Spotted Deer, Hog Deer, Civet, Fishing Cat and many more.
The major attractions of Dudhwa National Park are the Tigers and Swamp Deer. The park also has a considerable number of the One-horned Rhino. Other major wildlife animals are Elephants, Sloth bear, Jackal, Wild pig, Fishing cat, Leopard, Jungle cat and many. Dudhwa also boasts off quite a good range of migratory birds that settle here during winters. It includes among others, painted storks, black and white necked storks, Saras-Cranes, woodpeckers, barbets, kingfishers, minivans, bee-eaters, bulbuls and varied night birds of prey.
Flora: The Dudhwa National Park is punctuated by extensive stretches of grasslands. The predominant tree species found in the park are Shorea robusta, Terminalis tomentosa, Adina cordifolia, Eugenia jambolana, Terminalia belerica, Bombax malabaricum and Dalbergia sissoo, and more.
Fauna:Swamp Dee r, Chital, Hog Deer, Tiger, Sambar, Rhino, Hispid Hare, a dark brown animal earlier thought to have become extinct, but rediscovered in 1984.
Avian-Fauna: Drongos, Barbets, Cormorants, Ducks, Geese, Hornbills, Bulbuls, Teal, Woodpeckers, Heron, Bee Eaters, Minivets, Kingfishers, Egrets, Orioles, plenty of painted storks, sarus cranes, owls and more. One can also spot rare species like the Bengal florican.
Major Attractions:
Barasinghas: Passing through open grasslands, one can spot herd of these rare animals. Around half of the surviving population of Barasinghas is found in the park. These animals are smaller than sambar and weigh around 180 kg. The barasinghas have 12 antlers that measure up to 100 cm. Due to their slightly woolly, dark brown to pale yellow cloak, the grasslands acts as the perfect camouflage.
Elephant Rides: The spotting of animals and birds in their natural habitation, and that too sitting on top of an Indian elephant is an experience to treasure for a long time.The Dudhwa National Park is spread around 500 km2 along with a buffer area of almost 100 km2. Dudhwa National Park is home to one of the finest Sal forests in India, some of these trees are more than 150 years old and over 70 feet tall. In 1976, the park had a population of 50 tigers, 41 elephants and 76 bears apart from five species of deer, more than 400 species of birds, crocodiles and some other species of mammals and reptiles.
Dudhwa's birds, in particular, are a delight for any avid bird watcher. The marshlands are especially inviting for about 400 species of resident and migratory birds including the Swamp Partridge, Great Salty Woodpecker, Bengal Florican, plenty of painted storks, sarus cranes, owls, barbets, woodpeckers, minuets and many more. Much of the park’s avian fauna is aquatic in nature, and is found around Dudhwa’s lakes- especially Banke Tal.
Dudwa National Park is a stronghold of the barasingha, swamp deer, which can be spotted in herds of hundreds, this species of deer is found only in India. It is interesting to note that around half of the total Barasinghas on the Earth are present in Dudhwa National Park. Smaller than the sambar, the barasinghas have 12 antlers that collectively measure up to 100 cm.En route to Dudhwa, the unique Frog Temple at Oyal can also be visited. The only one of its kind in India, it was built by the former Maharajas of the Oyal state in the district of Lakhimpur-Kheri. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the base of the stone temple is built in the shape of a large frog. The temple is at a distance of 10 km from Hargaon on the route to Lakhimpur-Kheri and Dudhwa.
Built in the Indo-Saracenic style by the rulers of the Singhai state, Surat Bhawan Palace is one of the famous palaces of the Terai area. Not far from the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve on the Lakhimpur-Nighasan-Dudhwa route, the palace is set in a large green, 9-acre (36,000 m2) retreat. Expanses of lush lawns, fountains, a swimming pool and interesting architectural details make a visit to the palace worthwhile.Area : 490 km2
Season
Mid November-mid June, the best period being February-April.
Headquarters : Lakhimpur (Kheri), UP, India
Altitude: 150-183 meters Nearest Town: Palia (10 km.) Nearest petrol pump! Hospital / market /bank / Post & Telegraph Office are at Palia
Climate (Dudhwa National Park): Like the rest of north India, Dudhwa also has an extreme type of climate. Summers are hot with the temperature rising up to 40 °C. During winters, the temperature hovers between 20 and 30 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1,600 mm., a hand reared supposedly Bangal tigress acquired from Twycross Zoo in England in July 1976 was trained by Billy Arjan Singh and released to the wild in Dudhwa National Park, India with the permission of India’s then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in an attempt to prove the experts wrong that zoo bred hand reared Tigers can ever be released in the wild with success. In the 1990s, some tigers from Dhudhwa were observed which had the typical appearance of Siberian tigers: white complexion, pale fur, large head and wide stripes. With recent advances in science it was subsequently found that Siberian Tigers genes have polluted the otherwise pure Bengal Tiger gene pool of Dudhwa National Park. It was proved later that Twycross Zoo had been irresponsible and maintained no breeding records and had given India a hybrid Siberian-Bengal Tigress instead. Dudhwa tigers constitute about 1% of India's total wild population, but the possibility exists of this genetic pollution spreading to other tiger groups, at its worst, this could jeopardize the Bengal tiger as a distinct subspecies.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
Established: 1958 as a wildlife sanctuary, 1977 as a national park, 1988 as a tiger reserve.
Dudhwa Tiger Reserve lies on the India-Nepal border in the foothills of the Himalaya and the plains of the ‘terai’ in Uttar Pradesh. The main attractions of the park are its Swamp Deer (population over 1,600) and tiger (population 98 in 1995). The park is famous for the efforts of ‘Billy’ Arjan Singh, one of India’s leading conservationists, who was instrumental in the creation of Dudhwa as a sanctuary of the Swamp Deer. Later he successfully hand-reared and re-introduced zoo-born Tigers and Leopards into the wilds of Dudhwa.
The forests here are reminiscent of the forests of Bardia on the Nepal side, with huge Sal trees, tall termite mounds, patches of riverine forests and large open grasslands. Its lakes offer excellent opportunities for observing Swamp Deer, Hog Deer, and birds from ‘machans’. In the mid 1980s, Indian Rhinoceros was reintroduced into Dudhwa from Assam and Nepal. The park has a rich bird life, with over 350 species, including the Swamp Francolin, Great Slaty Woodpecker and Bengal Florican.
Dudhwa National Park is full of mosaic grasslands and dense sal forests to swampy marshes. Dudhwa National park’s terrain is as diverse as the wildlife population of it. While the northern edge of the Park lies along the Indo-Nepal border, the River Suheli is in the southern boundary.
Tourist can hope to find some of the rarest species of animals at Dudhwa Wildlife Park, one of them is Hispid Hare, a dark brown animal earlier thought to have become extinct, but rediscovered in 1984. The other animals to be seen here include Swamp Deer, Sambar Deer, Tiger, Rhinoceros, Sloth Bear, Ratel, Barking Deer, Jackal, Jungle Cat, Leopard Cat, Spotted Deer, Hog Deer, Civet, Fishing Cat and many more.
The major attractions of Dudhwa National Park are the Tigers and Swamp Deer. The park also has a considerable number of the One-horned Rhino. Other major wildlife animals are Elephants, Sloth bear, Jackal, Wild pig, Fishing cat, Leopard, Jungle cat and many. Dudhwa also boasts off quite a good range of migratory birds that settle here during winters. It includes among others, painted storks, black and white necked storks, Saras-Cranes, woodpeckers, barbets, kingfishers, minivans, bee-eaters, bulbuls and varied night birds of prey.
Flora: The Dudhwa National Park is punctuated by extensive stretches of grasslands. The predominant tree species found in the park are Shorea robusta, Terminalis tomentosa, Adina cordifolia, Eugenia jambolana, Terminalia belerica, Bombax malabaricum and Dalbergia sissoo, and more.
Fauna:Swamp Dee r, Chital, Hog Deer, Tiger, Sambar, Rhino, Hispid Hare, a dark brown animal earlier thought to have become extinct, but rediscovered in 1984.
Avian-Fauna: Drongos, Barbets, Cormorants, Ducks, Geese, Hornbills, Bulbuls, Teal, Woodpeckers, Heron, Bee Eaters, Minivets, Kingfishers, Egrets, Orioles, plenty of painted storks, sarus cranes, owls and more. One can also spot rare species like the Bengal florican.
Major Attractions:
Barasinghas: Passing through open grasslands, one can spot herd of these rare animals. Around half of the surviving population of Barasinghas is found in the park. These animals are smaller than sambar and weigh around 180 kg. The barasinghas have 12 antlers that measure up to 100 cm. Due to their slightly woolly, dark brown to pale yellow cloak, the grasslands acts as the perfect camouflage.
Elephant Rides: The spotting of animals and birds in their natural habitation, and that too sitting on top of an Indian elephant is an experience to treasure for a long time.The Dudhwa National Park is spread around 500 km2 along with a buffer area of almost 100 km2. Dudhwa National Park is home to one of the finest Sal forests in India, some of these trees are more than 150 years old and over 70 feet tall. In 1976, the park had a population of 50 tigers, 41 elephants and 76 bears apart from five species of deer, more than 400 species of birds, crocodiles and some other species of mammals and reptiles.
Dudhwa's birds, in particular, are a delight for any avid bird watcher. The marshlands are especially inviting for about 400 species of resident and migratory birds including the Swamp Partridge, Great Salty Woodpecker, Bengal Florican, plenty of painted storks, sarus cranes, owls, barbets, woodpeckers, minuets and many more. Much of the park’s avian fauna is aquatic in nature, and is found around Dudhwa’s lakes- especially Banke Tal.
Dudwa National Park is a stronghold of the barasingha, swamp deer, which can be spotted in herds of hundreds, this species of deer is found only in India. It is interesting to note that around half of the total Barasinghas on the Earth are present in Dudhwa National Park. Smaller than the sambar, the barasinghas have 12 antlers that collectively measure up to 100 cm.En route to Dudhwa, the unique Frog Temple at Oyal can also be visited. The only one of its kind in India, it was built by the former Maharajas of the Oyal state in the district of Lakhimpur-Kheri. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the base of the stone temple is built in the shape of a large frog. The temple is at a distance of 10 km from Hargaon on the route to Lakhimpur-Kheri and Dudhwa.
Built in the Indo-Saracenic style by the rulers of the Singhai state, Surat Bhawan Palace is one of the famous palaces of the Terai area. Not far from the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve on the Lakhimpur-Nighasan-Dudhwa route, the palace is set in a large green, 9-acre (36,000 m2) retreat. Expanses of lush lawns, fountains, a swimming pool and interesting architectural details make a visit to the palace worthwhile.Area : 490 km2
Season
Mid November-mid June, the best period being February-April.
Headquarters : Lakhimpur (Kheri), UP, India
Altitude: 150-183 meters Nearest Town: Palia (10 km.) Nearest petrol pump! Hospital / market /bank / Post & Telegraph Office are at Palia
Climate (Dudhwa National Park): Like the rest of north India, Dudhwa also has an extreme type of climate. Summers are hot with the temperature rising up to 40 °C. During winters, the temperature hovers between 20 and 30 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1,600 mm., a hand reared supposedly Bangal tigress acquired from Twycross Zoo in England in July 1976 was trained by Billy Arjan Singh and released to the wild in Dudhwa National Park, India with the permission of India’s then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in an attempt to prove the experts wrong that zoo bred hand reared Tigers can ever be released in the wild with success. In the 1990s, some tigers from Dhudhwa were observed which had the typical appearance of Siberian tigers: white complexion, pale fur, large head and wide stripes. With recent advances in science it was subsequently found that Siberian Tigers genes have polluted the otherwise pure Bengal Tiger gene pool of Dudhwa National Park. It was proved later that Twycross Zoo had been irresponsible and maintained no breeding records and had given India a hybrid Siberian-Bengal Tigress instead. Dudhwa tigers constitute about 1% of India's total wild population, but the possibility exists of this genetic pollution spreading to other tiger groups, at its worst, this could jeopardize the Bengal tiger as a distinct subspecies.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
The tiger (Panthera tigris) is a member of the Felidae family; the largest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera.[4] Native to much of eastern and southern Asia, the tiger is an apex predator and an obligate carnivore. Reaching up to 3.3 metres (11 ft) in total length and weighing up to 300 kilograms (660 pounds), the larger tiger subspecies are comparable in size to the biggest extinct felids.[5]HYPERLINK \l "cite_note-bbc-5"[6] Aside from their great bulk and power, their most recognisable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes that overlays near-white to reddish-orange fur, with lighter underparts. The most numerous tiger subspecies is the Bengal tiger while the largest subspecies is the Siberian tiger.
Highly adaptable, tigers range from the Siberian taiga, to open grasslands, to tropical mangrove swamps. They are territorial and generally solitary animals, often requiring large contiguous areas of habitat that support their prey demands. This, coupled with the fact that they are endemic to some of the more densely populated places on earth, has caused significant conflicts with humans. Of the nine subspecies of modern tiger, three are extinct and the remaining six are classified as endangered, some critically so. The primary direct causes are habitat destruction and fragmentation, and hunting. Their historical range once stretched from Mesopotamia and the Caucasus through most of South and East Asia. Today it has been radically reduced. While all surviving species are under formal protection, poaching, habitat destruction and inbreeding depression continue to threaten the species.
Tigers are among the most recognisable and popular of the world's charismatic megafauna. They have featured prominently in ancient mythology and folklore, and continue to be depicted in modern films and literature. Tigers appear on many flags and coats of arms, as mascots for sporting teams, and as the national animal of
The word "tiger" is taken from the Greek word "tigris", which is possibly derived from a Persian source meaning "arrow", a reference to the animal's speed and also the origin for the name of the Tigris river.[8]HYPERLINK \l "cite_note-8"[9] In American English, "Tigress" was first recorded in 1611. It was one of the many species originally described, as Felis tigris, by Linnaeus in his 18th century work, Systema Naturae.[3]HYPERLINK \l "cite_note-9"[10] The generic component of its scientific designation, Panthera tigris, is often presumed to derive from Greek pan- ("all") and theron ("beast"), but this may be a folk etymology. Although it came into English through the classical languages, panthera is probably of East Asian origin, meaning "the yellowish animal," or "whitish-yellow."[11]
A group of tigers[12] is rare (see below), but when seen together is termed a 'streak' or an 'ambush'
In the past, the tiger's range was widespread in Asia, from the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea to Siberia and Indonesia. During the 19th century, these cats completely vanished from western Asia, and became restricted to isolated pockets in the remaining parts of their range. Today, their range is fragmented, and extends from India in the west to China and Southeast Asia in the east. The northern limit is close to the Amur River in south eastern Siberia. The only large island inhabited by tigers today is Sumatra. Tigers vanished from Java and Bali during the 20th century, and in Borneo are known only from fossil remains.
Tiger habitats will usually include sufficient cover, proximity to water, and an abundance of prey sources. Bengal Tigers live in many types of forests, including wet; evergreen; the semi-evergreen of Assam and eastern Bengal; the mangrove forest of the Ganges Delta; the deciduous forest of Nepal, and the thorn forests of the Western Ghats. Compared to the lion, the tiger prefers denser vegetation, for which its camouflage colouring is ideally suited, and where a single predator is not at a disadvantage compared with the multiple felines in a pride. Among the big cats, only the tiger and jaguar are strong swimmers; tigers are often found bathing in ponds, lakes, and rivers. Unlike other cats, which tend to avoid water, tigers actively seek it out. During the extreme heat of the day, they often cool off in pools. Tigers are excellent swimmers and can swim up to 4 miles. This cat will also carry their dead prey across lakes.
The oldest remains of a tiger-like cat, called Panthera palaeosinensis, have been found in China and Java. This species lived about 2 million years ago, at the beginning of the Pleistocene, and was smaller than a modern tiger. The earliest fossils of true tigers are known from Java, and are between 1.6 and 1.8 million years old. Distinct fossils from the early and middle Pleistocene were also discovered in deposits from China, and Sumatra. A subspecies called the Trinil tiger (Panthera tigris trinilensis) lived about 1.2 million years ago and is known fossils found at Trinil in Java.[13]
Tigers first reached India and northern Asia in the late Pleistocene, reaching eastern Beringia (but not the American Continent), Japan, and Sakhalin. Fossils found in Japan indicate that the local tigers were, like the surviving island subspecies, smaller than the mainland forms. This may be due to the phenomenon in which body size is related to environmental space (see insular dwarfism), or perhaps the availability of prey. Until the Holocene, tigers also lived in Borneo, as well as on the island of Palawan in the Philippines.[14]Tigers are among the most recognisable of all the cats. They typically have rusty-reddish to brown-rusty coats, a whitish medial and ventral area, a white "fringe" that surrounds the face, and stripes that vary from brown or gray to pure black. The form and density of stripes differs between subspecies (as well as the ground coloration of the fur; for instance, Siberian tigers are usually paler than other tiger subspecies), but most tigers have over 100 stripes. The pattern of stripes is unique to each animal, and thus could potentially be used to identify individuals, much in the same way that fingerprints are used to identify people. This is not, however, a preferred method of identification, due to the difficulty of recording the stripe pattern of a wild tiger. It seems likely that the function of stripes is camouflage, serving to help tigers conceal themselves amongst the dappled shadows and long grass of their environment as they stalk their prey. The stripe pattern is found on a tiger's skin and if shaved, its distinctive camouflage pattern would be preserved.
Like other big cats, tigers have a white spot on the backs of their ears. These spots, called ocelli, serve a social function, by communicating the animal's mental state to conspecifics in the gloom of dense forest or in tall grass.Further information: Panthera hybrid, Liger and Tigon
Hybridisation among the big cats, including the tiger, was first conceptualised in the 19th century, when zoos were particularly interested in the pursuit of finding oddities to display for financial gain.[41] Lions have been known to breed with tigers (most often the Amur and Bengal subspecies) to create hybrids called ligers and tigons.[42] Such hybrids were once commonly bred in zoos, but this is now discouraged due to the emphasis on conserving species and subspecies. Hybrids are still bred in private menageries and in zoos in China.
The liger is a cross between a male lion and a tigress.[43] Because the lion sire passes on a growth-promoting gene, but the corresponding growth-inhibiting gene from the female tiger is absent, ligers grow far larger than either parent. They share physical and behavioural qualities of both parent species (spots and stripes on a sandy background). Male ligers are sterile, but female ligers are often fertile. Males have about a 50% chance of having a mane, but, even if they do, their manes will be only around half the size of that of a pure lion. Ligers are typically between 10 to 12 feet in length, and can be between 800 and 1,000 pounds or more.[43]
The less common tigon is a cross between the lioness and the male tiger.[44]
Main article: White tiger
Highly adaptable, tigers range from the Siberian taiga, to open grasslands, to tropical mangrove swamps. They are territorial and generally solitary animals, often requiring large contiguous areas of habitat that support their prey demands. This, coupled with the fact that they are endemic to some of the more densely populated places on earth, has caused significant conflicts with humans. Of the nine subspecies of modern tiger, three are extinct and the remaining six are classified as endangered, some critically so. The primary direct causes are habitat destruction and fragmentation, and hunting. Their historical range once stretched from Mesopotamia and the Caucasus through most of South and East Asia. Today it has been radically reduced. While all surviving species are under formal protection, poaching, habitat destruction and inbreeding depression continue to threaten the species.
Tigers are among the most recognisable and popular of the world's charismatic megafauna. They have featured prominently in ancient mythology and folklore, and continue to be depicted in modern films and literature. Tigers appear on many flags and coats of arms, as mascots for sporting teams, and as the national animal of
The word "tiger" is taken from the Greek word "tigris", which is possibly derived from a Persian source meaning "arrow", a reference to the animal's speed and also the origin for the name of the Tigris river.[8]HYPERLINK \l "cite_note-8"[9] In American English, "Tigress" was first recorded in 1611. It was one of the many species originally described, as Felis tigris, by Linnaeus in his 18th century work, Systema Naturae.[3]HYPERLINK \l "cite_note-9"[10] The generic component of its scientific designation, Panthera tigris, is often presumed to derive from Greek pan- ("all") and theron ("beast"), but this may be a folk etymology. Although it came into English through the classical languages, panthera is probably of East Asian origin, meaning "the yellowish animal," or "whitish-yellow."[11]
A group of tigers[12] is rare (see below), but when seen together is termed a 'streak' or an 'ambush'
In the past, the tiger's range was widespread in Asia, from the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea to Siberia and Indonesia. During the 19th century, these cats completely vanished from western Asia, and became restricted to isolated pockets in the remaining parts of their range. Today, their range is fragmented, and extends from India in the west to China and Southeast Asia in the east. The northern limit is close to the Amur River in south eastern Siberia. The only large island inhabited by tigers today is Sumatra. Tigers vanished from Java and Bali during the 20th century, and in Borneo are known only from fossil remains.
Tiger habitats will usually include sufficient cover, proximity to water, and an abundance of prey sources. Bengal Tigers live in many types of forests, including wet; evergreen; the semi-evergreen of Assam and eastern Bengal; the mangrove forest of the Ganges Delta; the deciduous forest of Nepal, and the thorn forests of the Western Ghats. Compared to the lion, the tiger prefers denser vegetation, for which its camouflage colouring is ideally suited, and where a single predator is not at a disadvantage compared with the multiple felines in a pride. Among the big cats, only the tiger and jaguar are strong swimmers; tigers are often found bathing in ponds, lakes, and rivers. Unlike other cats, which tend to avoid water, tigers actively seek it out. During the extreme heat of the day, they often cool off in pools. Tigers are excellent swimmers and can swim up to 4 miles. This cat will also carry their dead prey across lakes.
The oldest remains of a tiger-like cat, called Panthera palaeosinensis, have been found in China and Java. This species lived about 2 million years ago, at the beginning of the Pleistocene, and was smaller than a modern tiger. The earliest fossils of true tigers are known from Java, and are between 1.6 and 1.8 million years old. Distinct fossils from the early and middle Pleistocene were also discovered in deposits from China, and Sumatra. A subspecies called the Trinil tiger (Panthera tigris trinilensis) lived about 1.2 million years ago and is known fossils found at Trinil in Java.[13]
Tigers first reached India and northern Asia in the late Pleistocene, reaching eastern Beringia (but not the American Continent), Japan, and Sakhalin. Fossils found in Japan indicate that the local tigers were, like the surviving island subspecies, smaller than the mainland forms. This may be due to the phenomenon in which body size is related to environmental space (see insular dwarfism), or perhaps the availability of prey. Until the Holocene, tigers also lived in Borneo, as well as on the island of Palawan in the Philippines.[14]Tigers are among the most recognisable of all the cats. They typically have rusty-reddish to brown-rusty coats, a whitish medial and ventral area, a white "fringe" that surrounds the face, and stripes that vary from brown or gray to pure black. The form and density of stripes differs between subspecies (as well as the ground coloration of the fur; for instance, Siberian tigers are usually paler than other tiger subspecies), but most tigers have over 100 stripes. The pattern of stripes is unique to each animal, and thus could potentially be used to identify individuals, much in the same way that fingerprints are used to identify people. This is not, however, a preferred method of identification, due to the difficulty of recording the stripe pattern of a wild tiger. It seems likely that the function of stripes is camouflage, serving to help tigers conceal themselves amongst the dappled shadows and long grass of their environment as they stalk their prey. The stripe pattern is found on a tiger's skin and if shaved, its distinctive camouflage pattern would be preserved.
Like other big cats, tigers have a white spot on the backs of their ears. These spots, called ocelli, serve a social function, by communicating the animal's mental state to conspecifics in the gloom of dense forest or in tall grass.Further information: Panthera hybrid, Liger and Tigon
Hybridisation among the big cats, including the tiger, was first conceptualised in the 19th century, when zoos were particularly interested in the pursuit of finding oddities to display for financial gain.[41] Lions have been known to breed with tigers (most often the Amur and Bengal subspecies) to create hybrids called ligers and tigons.[42] Such hybrids were once commonly bred in zoos, but this is now discouraged due to the emphasis on conserving species and subspecies. Hybrids are still bred in private menageries and in zoos in China.
The liger is a cross between a male lion and a tigress.[43] Because the lion sire passes on a growth-promoting gene, but the corresponding growth-inhibiting gene from the female tiger is absent, ligers grow far larger than either parent. They share physical and behavioural qualities of both parent species (spots and stripes on a sandy background). Male ligers are sterile, but female ligers are often fertile. Males have about a 50% chance of having a mane, but, even if they do, their manes will be only around half the size of that of a pure lion. Ligers are typically between 10 to 12 feet in length, and can be between 800 and 1,000 pounds or more.[43]
The less common tigon is a cross between the lioness and the male tiger.[44]
Main article: White tiger
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