I walks toward the Wanar-Chuva. It was a comparitive cool and fresh morning of summer. I was in my favioate wildlife place, Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), in Chandrapur district of Maharastra state. That was the end of April and I am there as a representive of NGO, for the "Tiger and Wildlife Census" conducted by the forest department. Tiger cencus always held in hot months of summer. In that months, water level of all waterholes in jungle are
get down. Only few waterholes would have contain very small quantity of water. This would be the ideal condition for Tiger cencus. That waterholes have been daily checked by participants, including forest guard and nature lovers. Tigers are very uncomfartable in those days, when the day temprature risen quickly and get very high. In Chandrapur district,the tempareture goes up to 46 c to 48 c ,which make him very thristy. That heat pulls him towards such waterholes from cool shady bushes. Once in a day Tiger definatly comes for water and leave his immpression of pugmarks on wet soil. This pugmarks are carefully searching by team and take their tresses on tressing glass and shift them on tressing paper. that immpressions also takeing on plasercast using plaser of paris. That is a great time for sighting this apex carnovora in his natural habitat.
This morning was fresh and smell of jungle, allow me to leasen each and every sound cames from jungle, try to sight every moment around me. The jungle was now coming off the sleep. The call of peafowl and Grey junglefowl, tells that night was over and another day was arrived. I clearly heard melodious calls of a Greater racket tailed Drongo from nearby Mahua tree which thrills me. A White Browed fantail Flycatcher dancing from one to another branch, for his first breakfast of flies. The loud calls of Roseringed Parakeet aware me that their flock are went to waterhole. The musical call of Tree pie, Golden and Blackheaded Oriole and Indian Pitta make my mind totally dissolve in jungle. Whistling call from the sky, appers and I knew that the flock of Lesser Whistling Teals are back from their night roosting to the lake, for feeding. The terretorial calls of langur was also noticeble.
Walking with me, a forest guard and a nature lover friend. We walking towards a waterhole which was in the Andhari river bed. We approach that spot and check all the waterhole very carefully, but no sign of tiger pugmarks their. At one spot I get immpression of Leopard's Pugmarks. That was looking very fresh on the wet muddy soil of waterhole. With associated this pugmarks, their are many hoofprints of other animals . Like pugmarks of Chital, Sambar, Gour, Langur, Peafowl and other birds. We tress the Leopard pugmark on tressing glass and then shifted it on to the scaled tress paper, specially prepared for the Tiger cencus. I look all over the river bed. In this hot months, the river was totally dried and only some spots remain with water, like that one now we are standing.
We start walking back to our resthouse, which was 6 kms. from their. When we came out from the Andhari river at a forest kachha road. My nose suddenly smells a odour. This odour is not ordionary and I always recognise it even in dream. This was the odour of urinal sprey of Leopard. Some leaves of a small bush at roadside looking wet. I quickly approched near it and getting very deep smell of urine. This was terretorial mark of Leopard, telling others that this would be the area of him. The wet leaves of bush indicates that the Leopard just leave this spot and not going to far. I look at road, where fresh immpression of Leopard's pugmarks on red soil are the evidence of his presence. I realised that the Leopard walking stright on to the road, at the distance of some meters away from me. The road had some very big curves, so that Leopard can't seen. We start walking with drumming heart. Suddenly I heard the alarm call of Langur. That call was quikely mixed with the alarm calls of Barking Deer and Peafowls. All indicate that Leopard was walking on road.
We accelarate our speed of walking. Carefully and curiouslly, we crossed a "U" tern and I freezed for the moment. I getting a glimpse of a yellowish-red animal with the black spots on the coat. That was neither than a Leopard, which was strightly walking on road in front of us. I quickly put my binoculars on my eyes and get a clear view of him. I can't belive on my eyes, my heart jumping and I totally thrilled by the sheer beauty of nature. That was a big male Leopard, fearlessly walking on the forest road. The calls of Langur, Barking deer and Peafowl was continue, but he can't notice that. His white tail tip was clearly seen. We silently srarts following him. That was a great delighting moment in my entire jungle experiance. Next 2 kms. , the following was continue. At a turning, he slowly turns and vanished in jungle. The magic of Tadoba was over for that morning for me.
TADOBA
Tadoba gets the reputation of the oldest national park of Maharastra. It was decleared as a sanctuary in 1955, so it was a best protected sanctuary of state. That time it only had 116.55 sq. kms. area. Adjoining that national park area their are another patch of superb forest named 'Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary'. It had total area of 508.85 sq. kms. and one of the best sanctuaries that time. Before it decleared a sanctuary, some part like Karwa and Kolsa are famous shooting blocks those day. Kolsa was the well known shooting block that time. In 1969, it was parmanently closed for all types of shooting. in 1995, 116.55 sq. kms. of Tadoba national park and 508.85 sq. kms. of Andhari wildlife sanctuary was connected and form 'Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve', total area of 625.40 sq. kms. The name Tadoba was derieved from the tribal god 'Taru', which was belived that fallen dead, fighting with a Tiger. The name 'Andhari' cames from Andhari river, which flows through the TATR. The temple of tribal god Taru is situated on the bank of Tadoba reserviour. Every year in January, hundreds of tribal pilgrims cames accross all over nearest villages.
In the heart of TATR, Tadoba reserviour is a major source of water for the wild animals. From this reserviour many small channels are flows into the forest, provide major source of water to the wildlife. TATR comes into the 'Southern Tropical Dry Decidious' type of forest, which looks almost dry in summer and terns greener and dense in mansoon. The terrrian is flat in many area, but some area is hilly and rocky. That makes it a superb habitat for wildlife.
HEVEN FOR WILDLIFETATR is an exellent and superb protected area for the animal like Tigers. The number of Tigers are very good and TATR had reputation of highest Tiger sighting of all tiger reserves of Maharastra. The wildife of Tadoba are very remarkable. With the Tiger, other animals are also is in good quantity , providing prey base to major carnivorous animals like Tiger and Leopard. Tadoba is famous for its Tigers and Gaurs. Plenty of sighting of this two species specially in summer. One who would be a real nature lover, had often see a Tiger from Machan or ground hide, specially built near many waterholes. This is a exellant technique of sighting Tiger as well as other animals and birds too.
The apex carnivora Tiger is supported by the Leopard and Dhole or Wild dog. Leopard has a shy creature but it friquently sighted on Moarli-Khatoda road. His shy nature makes him very diffcult to watch. But in Tadoba one had lucky to get a opportunity to watch a Leopard at Jamunbodi, Vasant bandhara or Jamni area. Wild dogs are social animals and commonly seen here. This whistling hunters are hunts in pack of 2 to 16. Some time they also seen in curcumfarence of one km. from rest houses.
Harbivorous animals are numerous here. From the gaint but shy Indian Gaur to the small size Barking deer. Gaurs are the easiest sighting in summer. The large herds of Gaurs are seen at roadside, Panchdhara and Jamunbodi. In hot days, they also gathering on Tadoba lake and easily seen from rest house. In deers , Chital or Spotted Deer, Sambar and barking Deer are the main species. Chitals are numerous and easily seen even from canteen siping a cup of tea in cool morning of mansoon. Pandharpauni is the best place for watching them in group of hundreds. This area is grassy and flat, turns an ideal feeding ground for Chitals. The largest deer of India, Sambar is also in large number. They are seen in small herds or eventually a big solitary male had also seen. They are live in dense forest, so they seen in evening and morning, when they came out for grazing. In summer, Sambars are seen at Panchdhara, a coll place beacuse of evergreen Jamun trees, sinking their head in water for their favoraite water plants. Barking deer always seen alone or in pair. They are shy and sensetive, so their sighting are somewhat difficult. Some time thry seen on waterhole, came for drinking.
Nilgai or Bluebull is a largest antilope. Ambathira and katezari are their favoraite areas. They are seen in small herd of a male and some females. Big solitary male is also seen sometime at lake, even in daylight. Fourhorned Antolope or Chowsingha is also a small but tiny antilope found in Tadoba. He had usually seen alone or in pair. Tadoba lake and Ambathira are the favoraite spots of Chowsingha. Its pose of bending forelegs, for drinking water is a exellent sighting.
The omanivorous Sloth Bear is an another attraction of Tadoba. Digging holes in ground by his powerful claws, for Termites and Ants, wandering for sweet and testy fruits of Tendu, Jamun and Ber, serching for fresh flowers of Mahua is his habit. In summer when all sort of sweet fruits are available all over in jungle , Bears are easily seen at place like Telia dam and Vasant Bandhara . Telia is one of those places , where you easily sight one or two Bears, pack of Wild Dogs, large herd of Gaur, Chital, Sambar and Blue bull at a time.
The wild cats, Civets, and Mongooses are attracts some nature lover. Rustyspotted Cat and Leopard Cat are rare, but Jungle cat common sighting. Small Indian Civet and Toddy Cat both are present here. But of their noctornal habits, eventually they seen at jungle. Common and Ruddy Mongoose are seen with Chital and wild Boars. Small Indian Mongoose is difficult to sight, beacuse of its smaller size and shy nature.
In rarest and uncommon mammals, Ratel or Honey Badger is on top. Only few sightings of this highly noctornal and shy creature are recorded in Katezari, Waghnala and Andhari river. Local people called him 'Chandi Aswal' , means silver bear, beacuse of its upper silvery-white stripe. Indian Pangoline is another animal of night. Flying Squirrel is noctornal, but I always saw them on tree near rest house at night. About 4 feet wingspan of ' Flying Fox' surprised anybody. Small Indian Pipisttrile is a lovely bat seen in evening.
FEATHERS AND FLYING JEWELS OF NATURE
Tadoba is a paradise for bird watchers. Total of 279 birds species were recorded by me. From the tallest flying bird of world and biggest bird of India, Sarus Crane to the small Tickell's Flowerpeaker, all are here. A pair of Sarus is resident at Moharli lake, right on the boundery of TATR. The most watchful birds are Eagles, Vultures, Falcons, Buzzards, Peafowls, Junglefowls, Treepies, Orioles, Mynas, Flycatchers, Drongos, Cuckoos, Pigeons and Doves. Just adjoing to the boundry, back water of Erai dam is a good site for watching migratory birds. Geeses, Ducks, Waders, Ibis, Storks, Egrets, Herons, Cormorants are seen here in winter. Large congragation of River Terns are also seen here. With this Pied, Marsh and Pale Harrier, Osprey, Greyheaded Fishing Eagle are also seen. In noctornal birds Owls, Owlets and Nightjars are make their presense by calls, at night.
This is a fantastic place for watching nature's flying jewels, the Butterfly. Total 94 species of Butterflies are recorded here. The large wingspan of Great Eggfly to the smallest of all Grass Jewel, all are attracts to nature lovers. On the dropping of Jungle Cat or Civet, you often see fast flying butterflies like Common Nawab, Rajahs and Commander.
MUGGAR'S PATHFrom very exellent verity of reptiles, you could lucky to found pathmarks at the muddy bank of reserviour, made by a Mugger or Marsh Crocodile. They are common in Tadoba, found every where in reserviour, warerholes, nullahs and dam. The biggest of all snake, Indian Rock Python is also a terror for animals like Chitals and Langurs. Panchdhara is the spot where Python often seen. It also seen at Waghdoh near Khatoda. Once I saw a big Python Swallowed a chital female, at Panchdhara tank, very near resthouses.
Indian Monitor Lizard, Geckos, Skinks, Lizards, Cameleon, Calotes are the other releted family members of Mugger, are commonly found here. Snakes are make their persense, venumou or non-venumous. Cobra, Russell's Viper, Saw-scaled Viper and Common Crait are the venumous and Boas, Keelbacks, Rat snake, Trinket, Wolf snake and cat snake and many other represents the non-venumous.
FAR FROM PARADISE
In past, Tadoba suffers from many critical problems. A state highway proposal which was going through into the heart of TATR,was finally cancelled , after long battle win by nature lovers. Total five villages, inside the tiger reserve, are waiting for rehabilited, outside the TATR. Illicut and poaching are not on peak, but some cases are done on the pheraphary of reserve. Which are needed totally stop by the proper vigillance and petroling by forest department , with the help of NGO's. Nawargaon Chowki is an exellent place, adjoining and just outside the tiger reserve. This area would contain Tigers, Leopards, Bears, Gaurs, herbivorous and large variety of birds. Poaching of wild animals, trapping birds, illicut felling are common practices in this area, beacuse of poor vigilance and outside the TATR. Tigers and other animals of TATR are frequently use this area for water in summer, beacuse of good avaibality of water of Erai dam. Mines outside the reserve are also a big problem. Recently "Adani Power Ltd." recived the rights to start open cast coal mine in the connected corridor area of Tadoba at Lohara forest. This area having very rick flora and fauna, including Schedule 1 animals like Tiger, Leopards, Wild Dogs and Sloth Bears. A great protest and oppose to this mine by many nature lovers and organisations will help to cancelled this coal mine. But many more coal mines are in waiting position which are big threat for the superb forest like Tadoba, which is a real home for
Pantheria tigris and many endangered species of mammals and birds.
Apart from problem, TATR is the best protected tiger reserve of the country. A magnificiant home of big stipped cat and other wild creature. It is one of the best habitat and jungle, of Vidarbha. In recent years, good managment makes it much best tiger habitat. Total ban on entering two and three wheeler vehicles was proved a good dissision. With this changes, wildlife is now more comfortable than ever before. Conducting feild study and reserch works on wildlife by forest department with the help of local NGO's, is getting very good result for conservation. That study makes easy to the Tiger reserve managers to think better about conservation measures and wildlife managment. With the help of NGO's, regular dialoges with local villagers, in and around the TATR results less conflict of Man-animals. But their are some more need of public awarness programmes, which definatly helps to save Tadoba's fine jungle. But, far from all that, today Tadoba is an exellent and marvallous home of Royal Bengal Tiger, are awaiting for you.
I am always ready to help to those wildlife and nature lover, who want to came and explore Tadoba for wildlife watching, Photography and study. Your help will definetly save the tadoba for long time.
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Recently my new book " MAHARASHTRATIL VANYAJIVAN" (Wildlife of Maharashtra)was published. This book is in double crown size (About magazine sized) and printed entirely on glossy art paper. This book contain more than 50 colour wildlife photographs taken by me. Cover page as you see nicely designed and printed photograph of RED AVADAVAT ( Munia). This is my 8th book on wildlife.
