INDIA – AMONG WORLD’S FAVOURITES FOR NATURE & WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY

By Rakesh Arora

(Part II)

Leopard: Distributed across Asia and Africa, leopards have variations in appearance to a certain degree while one moves across the geographical range. What remains common is the beautiful coat, exceptional stealth and the elusive nature. The smallest of the big cat family, spotted nor dotted but wears rosettes and is a cornered cat despite the ability and agility to perform better than other big cats in the art of survival. Clever and cunning, widely distributed, leopards can flourish in areas where other large carnivores cannot .They feed on smaller herbivores species while hunting at night. This agile and adaptable creature is facing increasing threats and conflicts with humans.

Found in all forest types, leopards can survive in tropical rainforests, alpine coniferous forests to temperate deciduous forests. The loss of habitat and illegal trading of body parts has resulted in poaching. Also, decreasing habitat has made these creatures prone to death in road accidents by passing vehicles.

Vidya Attreya, affiliated with a non-profit Wildlife Conservation Society, a leading voice for leopards, stated, “I have seen the report. A similar report by Traffic International in 2012 too reported that a lot of leopards in India had died, mostly due to illegal trade in their body parts. This report is ambiguous about the causes of death and lists them in most cases as “unknown”,

Owing to its adaptability to various habitats, a leopard can reside in human-use areas as well. They are widely found and flourishing in the coppice of Jhalana and the hillocks of Jawai in Rajasthan protecting them from the constant human conflicts in this remote countryside dwelling.

THE LEOPARD, known for its stealthy habits and camouflage techniques, is in its element in the jungles of Ranthambhore, Bandhavgarh, Kanha and other wild life sanctuaries    where it is extremely difficult to sight. 

Having experienced both these destinations, I was heartened to see that human-animal conflict does not exist in these remote countryside locations

AT JAWAI, the leopard is seen  which happens to be the hollow caverns in a hillock of Jawai . In this part of the world, the leopard is mostly nocturnal. Photo : Rakesh Arora Jawai Hills www.rapsafaris.com

Indian Elephant: The largest terrestrial mammal, it evolved around 60 million years ago and can have a height and weight of over 11 feet and six tonnes respectively. The wanderers of the wild, elephants boast soft and sturdy feet pads for movement. They can eat up to 400 kg of greenery in a day to keep their energized and dump dung acting as fertilizers for the forest floor. One can find the highest density of population of a giant, humble yet wild creature in tropical deciduous forests. These giants demand vast forestland with an abundance of food and water for survival.

Despite the huge population of the grey giants, they are running out of habitat as an aftermath of immense levels of industrialization and deforestation. The probe of humans in their habitat for searching land is leaving little room for the elephants. Protected areas are subjected to illegal encroachment and forest cleaning for road development has resulted in loss and fragmentation of habitat. This has caused them to be confined to isolated populations not allowing them to migrate or mix with other herds.

Habitat loss has also raised concerns for human-elephant conflicts while pushing the elephant population to seek food sources in human settlements, farms and plantations. Therefore, we should figure out ways to secure the conflict and initiate harmony.

These elephants are found in KABINI, NAGAR HOLE NATIONAL PARK, PERIHAR NATIONAL PARK IN SOUTH AND RAJAJI NATIONAL PARK IN UTTARAKHAND

The One-horned Rhinoceros: The grey giant, known as the Indian Rhinoceros, is one of the three Asian Rhinos. With a single back horn with a size between 20-60 cms, they can weigh about 1400 to 2700 kg. The species lead a solitary life, except when they gather to graze or at wallows. The primary grazing diet consists of grass, leaves, shrubs, branches, fruits, trees and aquatic plants.

One-horned Rhinoceros are considered a conservation success as the population decreased drastically to only 600 in the 20^th century. The remaining rhinos were sent to a protected reserve to protect them from human harassment, poaching and habitat loss threats. Since then, the significant and successful efforts have resulted in an increase in the number of species rhinos to 3500 by 2015. Today, they proudly stand as the most populous of the three Asian Rhino species. However, despite all efforts of protection and conservation, they face a constant threat of habitat loss and poaching for its horn. Today, the one-horned rhinoceros can be found in India and Nepal, widely in the foothills of the Himalayan range. They have been known to roam in the forests and floodplains along the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Indus River Valley in the past. The rhino is regularly hunted for the horn as it is thought to be an aphrodisiac. its population dropped to 200 individuals. The century-old Kaziranga Park was given the status of a World Heritage Site in 1985 for providing succor to the survival of endangered wildlife,

Indian Bison (Gaur): A massively built animal with strong anatomy, the Indian Bison or Gaur is a social animal generally found in groups of 30 to 40. With strong and sturdy limbs, they can weigh up to 500 to 1500 kg. With a height of about 170-230 cms, Gaur has a convex forehead shape and a ridge running along their back. Prevalent in the Western Ghats, they are widely found in moist deciduous and evergreen forests with a capability of surviving in dry deciduous forests as well.

An array of possible threats has resulted in a decline in the population of the Indian Bison. From food scarcity to poaching, they have also been facing the loss of habitat. Destruction of grasslands has caused them to face scarcity of primary fodder sources. Moreover, the increasing demand for Gaur meat has escalated the cases of poaching as a constant threat to their lives. All this calls for proper regulation for the indiscriminate grazing of grassland and human harassment.

It “wears” contrasting white stockings on all four legs, with a glistening ebony body to boot. Of all the wild cattle in the world, the gaur stands top on the list as the ultimate ungulate. Equipped with a heavy physique, it resembles a trained athlete on steroids

Wild Water Buffalo: Encountering the endangered species can be a thrilling experience in the floodplains of the Koshi River at the Wildlife Reserve. Mostly found in Assam and restricted to Kaziranga, Manas and Dibru-Saikhowa National Parks, they were once found in abundance across central and northeastern India. A body length of around 240 to 300 cm and weight of 800 to 1200 kg, they stand after the Indian elephant and rhinoceros in the list of the biggies. Larger in all proportions, they are quick moving and better coordinated.

Presently, wild water buffalo is tagged as a globally endangered species with around 92 per cent of the population surviving in Assam, India. Earlier, the forests of Bindrawagarh Zamindari allowed the hunting of these creatures. However, this practice was banned in the later years with constant amendments. Experts suggest that the pure breed of wild water buffalo is only left in Assam and Chhattisgarh now.

Where on one hand, the dedicated efforts for protection and preservation have conferred benefits to other species alongside; species such as the wild water buffalo demands direct intervention for preservation. The population of these species is around 4000 with over one-fifth of the total world population present in India, majorly in Assam. Systematic survey and conservation efforts are required to elevate the status from endangered to well-preserved species. Informed conservation strategies and constant efforts are being made but demand more efforts to ensure adequate survival and increase in the population of the water buffaloes.

ICONS OF INDIA / PLACE WORTH SEEING WITH WILDLIFE SAFARIS

TAJ MAHAL  is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna river in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal; it also houses the tomb of Shah Jahan himself.

DELHI CAPITAL OF INDIA

RED FORT , RASHPATIBHAVAN,CHANDINI CHOWK,INDIA GATE ETC.

JAIPUR AND UDAIPUR

Hawa Mahal is a palace in Jaipur, India. Made with the red and pink sandstone, the palace sits on the edge of the City Palace, Jaipur, and extends to the Zenana, or women’s chambers. The structure was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, the grandson of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, who was the founder of Jaipur.

The town of Amer and the Amber Fort were originally built by the Mairs, and later it was ruled by Raja Man Singh I.

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JANTAR MANTAR

CITY PALACE, ALBERT HALL

RATHAMBORE TIGER RESERVE ,BHARATPUR BIRD SANCTUARY

The Khajuraho Group of Monuments is a group of Hindu temples and Jain temples

DHUANDHAR FALLS ,  BEDAGHAT, JABALPUR

PANNA TIGER RESERVE , BANDAVGARH , KANHA , PENCH NATIONAL PARKS

SHOPPING , PUSHKAR MELA IN NOVEMBER, JHALNA LEOPARD RESERVE, JAWAI LEOPARD RESERVE