tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78209222661911029152024-02-20T05:43:54.107+05:30The Wild India - Indian Wildlife and Nature BlogExploring the Nature and Wild Life of India - supporting the cause of conservationEmpower Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679712228632124915noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7820922266191102915.post-63269203379948298672011-02-20T16:05:00.003+05:302011-03-19T12:51:09.216+05:30GIR NATIONAL PARK- The last home of Asiatic Lion<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="Section1"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">January 26 –February 1 2011 : Sasan Gir, <place w:st="on">Gujarat</place> </span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had been across various national reserves primarily to sight the national pride – the Royal Bengal Tiger and allied wildlife. (actually, the big cat has always been the star attraction initially, till we actually started understanding and cherishing the wildlife in toto.) Had sighted Lions in Africa, but despite hailing from Gujarat and that too Saurastra, which is the only and the last abode of the Asiatic Lions, surprisingly had not yet been to the Gir. Actually, was trying to coordinate with a cousin of mine since more than a year - he knew the forest officials there and it is always helpful to have connects, but somehow the same was not being materialized and then, thought of initiating ourselves a wildlife trip to understand the forest, its wildlife and the conservation representing our <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">NGO (Empower Foundation)’s project – The Wild India. </b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_r0Y6tGxkV3P5gvWxI642CNhDIEDj9aNBQj5XfyOwPT9s_8l05xaPiV-sd_zSxewaE1nYrRsrfk2vfxOL8NyHfs2dY_ihW7WJztQabV7hUbTbK3JOD8OawrkoTOFEZYkSZCECjP5eiiK/s1600/FOREST+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_r0Y6tGxkV3P5gvWxI642CNhDIEDj9aNBQj5XfyOwPT9s_8l05xaPiV-sd_zSxewaE1nYrRsrfk2vfxOL8NyHfs2dY_ihW7WJztQabV7hUbTbK3JOD8OawrkoTOFEZYkSZCECjP5eiiK/s400/FOREST+3.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Actually, the charm of seeing a Lion (especially the Male one, with lustrous mane and persona) is a damn good kicker, after all He- is the king of the jungle !<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, coming to the Lions, the first remarkable statement which comes affront of a wild life enthusiast is that while the number of tigers are reducing day by day….1411 being the latest count, how are the number of Lions increasing ? from just next to extinction in 1920s with only around 20 lions alive, during the Nawab of Junagadh, Mahabat Khans time, when the British Administration intervened triggering the protection of the animal that the numbers have shot all the way to 411 in the 2010 census. This itself is a remarkable achievement which other wildlife conservators should learn from Gir. Ofcourse, Narendra Modi using Amitabh Bachchan has been promoting and protecting Gir since a while, but the efforts in saving the Lions has been purely the forest officials credit. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">We left Mumbai at 8:00PM by Saurashtra Mail which reached Junagadh at 2:00 PM the next day. Other option would have been flight to <city w:st="on">Rajkot</city> and then by road or flight to <city w:st="on">Bhavnagar</city> or <place w:st="on">Diu</place>, but the former was more cost efficient over a night journey. Sasan is around 60 kms from Junagadh and the drop charges of an Innova is Rs. 1200-1300. We checked in at the Forest Guest House – Sinh Sadan which is also the entry and booking point for all jeep safaris and permits. Let me say that this was one of the most beautifully maintained government property I have ever come across. MTDC would be rated 20% of the same in terms of hygiene, ambience, cleanliness, location. I would not give you an hour by hour summary of the trip but would like to cover the national park, our experience, wildlife conservation and why lions are more than tigers in my article below.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Zurich Blk BT';">(1) A Background </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMmyjkMwobU15ITZKCGGWYt7nwPZSEd0vOPq8vPVSKIhQ4Iz3RB5PF26SqnhIQxJu1nwE4dxlJVWbLZOcL1vBRwaac2XmeZ3e8HwjzKM2c2hhNFJXFdzCEALqobkRNJZKIkswq2NC_9Hu/s1600/KAMLESHWAR.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMmyjkMwobU15ITZKCGGWYt7nwPZSEd0vOPq8vPVSKIhQ4Iz3RB5PF26SqnhIQxJu1nwE4dxlJVWbLZOcL1vBRwaac2XmeZ3e8HwjzKM2c2hhNFJXFdzCEALqobkRNJZKIkswq2NC_9Hu/s320/KAMLESHWAR.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The Gir forest stretches over an area of 1, 412 sq km of which 258.71 sq. km. was declared a National Park. Gir is one of the largest tracks of dry deciduous forest. The park has a great landscape covering hills, plateaus, valleys and is drained by seven rivers and a waterbody called Kamleshwar dam which makes the topography of the forest very scenic and beautiful.</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Zjdg-d4cRP4EiabgxUEx1qcg7nvv9p5mSDKgIeaWlKNzg4PKXjUlXorrw-A1xIlD_samf9tSL5kQmHCvUvfu-2DqfeW72e6iOZKw657BzD6dHD680u3_wRJC3QSZ-p3Dir-B1zhMTnbT/s1600/WILD+BOAR.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Zjdg-d4cRP4EiabgxUEx1qcg7nvv9p5mSDKgIeaWlKNzg4PKXjUlXorrw-A1xIlD_samf9tSL5kQmHCvUvfu-2DqfeW72e6iOZKw657BzD6dHD680u3_wRJC3QSZ-p3Dir-B1zhMTnbT/s200/WILD+BOAR.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Though Gir is home to a variety of wild animals covering 38 species of mammals, 300 species of birds, 37 species of reptiles and 2000 species of insects. But this wildlife sanctuary is renowned for Lion population and the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">last abode of the Lions in <country-region w:st="on">India</country-region> and also <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">India</country-region></place>'s largest Leopard population. </b>Besides, the wildlife sanctuary is home to several Sambar, Spotted Deer, Chowsingha (Four-horned Antelope), Chinkara, Nilgai, Wild Boar, Gazelle, Langur, Jackal, Hares and Hyena. </span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5ZQXJQX-cwrT1YCJ3dL1HMADaVYIfp3oWidBlPRdo1TyPq1RJlVIMt3YmHiRZZiHUSdBmysAgSG6tSGDMuyH0z-65gIzmiPfAtvYa59KDHMmIhuGsah9CkIJB6JpcDJ5VxH36HhNovNo/s1600/SAMBAR.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5ZQXJQX-cwrT1YCJ3dL1HMADaVYIfp3oWidBlPRdo1TyPq1RJlVIMt3YmHiRZZiHUSdBmysAgSG6tSGDMuyH0z-65gIzmiPfAtvYa59KDHMmIhuGsah9CkIJB6JpcDJ5VxH36HhNovNo/s400/SAMBAR.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Gir is also home to a number reptiles like Marsh Crocodiles, Monitor Lizards, Pythons and a wide variety of snakes. Close to Gir Wildlife Sanctuary there is an interesting crocodile breeding farm at Sasan, where one can see crocodiles in their natural habitat. Apart from these, Gir boasts of numerous bird species like White Necked Stork, Paradise Flycatcher, Black headed Cuckoo Shrike, Bonneli's Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Painted Storks, Pied Woodpecker, Woodpeckers Flamingo etc. And as someone rightly said, that if there were no lions at Gir, it would have been the country’s biggest bird sanctuary !</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Zurich Blk BT';">(2) The Tribes of Gir</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVsSc9S7jmf_5mZ1jltgJZDzr_SiuUAMc635LiZGTpNnYi6w2zYp6zZfH4uAvIxIAcDAih6bp9UanyqUmcZeMCJvo5pulF62bzJjhCjeFyJXsIUAGzKj9iPjAIg3S-NO4rV8WfPB4EZw/s1600/SIDDI.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVsSc9S7jmf_5mZ1jltgJZDzr_SiuUAMc635LiZGTpNnYi6w2zYp6zZfH4uAvIxIAcDAih6bp9UanyqUmcZeMCJvo5pulF62bzJjhCjeFyJXsIUAGzKj9iPjAIg3S-NO4rV8WfPB4EZw/s320/SIDDI.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span></div></div><span style="font-family: 'Zurich BT'; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span><br />
<div class="Section2"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The unique side to Gir is that it houses the local tribals – Maldharis- cattle grazers who live upon cattles and milk, Sorathi Rabaris and Siddi’s who look like Negros and speak Gujarati and are believed to have come to Gujarat in medieval times from African countries. Earlier there were 454 Maldhari villages called “<place w:st="on">Ness</place>” inside the forest and now there are just 54 as the forest department has rehabilitated the same. This was one main reason of man-animal conflict and on the otherside, one reason for the increasing population. For a Lion, who is relatively a lazier cat than the leopard or tiger, it is easy to venture into a ness/village and kill a cow or a bull reather than running stressfully after a deer or a sambhar in the wild. The cattles have formed key diet of the Lion as high has 70% at one point of time and the forest department culls out as much as Rs 150 Crs pa to reimburse the villagers. But today, thanks to the conservation exercise of the forest department that now there is more greenery, and hence more deers etc – from around 4404 (1974) to 52492 (2010) in a decade which now has become the core diet of the Lion, thus reducing the cattle-diet to 30% from 70%. Maldharis and Lions ideally stay together and share the same place to live- the Gir forest. This has caused issues but there have been instances where a lion and a Maldhari is walking together.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"></span><span style="font-family: 'Zurich Blk BT';">(3) Our wildlife experience </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOva6ANCmyxRwKkvFp3KtZLsPiR9SO9Me9UMqCgWtImOEdMhH0BAG8-3mvze4j8EOAhNzqC8py7zVgvyMJk2UHnN8Oio8eS9sEt2hsRLXY2MMng75aCpKSUY7iNi252kBCUqdu5SY5Se5/s1600/DEERS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOva6ANCmyxRwKkvFp3KtZLsPiR9SO9Me9UMqCgWtImOEdMhH0BAG8-3mvze4j8EOAhNzqC8py7zVgvyMJk2UHnN8Oio8eS9sEt2hsRLXY2MMng75aCpKSUY7iNi252kBCUqdu5SY5Se5/s400/DEERS.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Coming back to the core area, there are 7 routes within the park – Route 2,5,6 are almost identical but open from different sides and route 1,3,4,7 which are different from each other. The former are good to sight lions in the winters and the latter the best in summers. But route number 3 and 4 are highly recommended to see the best and the most scenic part of the forest. One needs permit from the forest department to enter the park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The permit costs Rs 500 and the jeep charges are Rs 800 and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rs 100 per camera of 7MP and above and Guide fees Rs 100 (One usually tips above the same based on ones experience and satisfaction- though there are some idiotic guides in the park who can be either mum or over spoken, but one has to depend upon luck to get the guide who are allotted randomly by the forest department, but one can still request the forest guys for a better guide.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglcIc-WxGD-B0_qunUXVzgK3Nc4GOIkYwkTL0bZ1pjSNPJAOGL_5izdJZQF_nvrOZC3iERFm7PL8LuLE4kKCIIzKKq3pYDrQBkMpDVhqJNKZhyphenhyphenNLoUeKqx3IPqEs5lfr41RvET24_e59Y/s1600/OWL.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglcIc-WxGD-B0_qunUXVzgK3Nc4GOIkYwkTL0bZ1pjSNPJAOGL_5izdJZQF_nvrOZC3iERFm7PL8LuLE4kKCIIzKKq3pYDrQBkMpDVhqJNKZhyphenhyphenNLoUeKqx3IPqEs5lfr41RvET24_e59Y/s320/OWL.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Rarest of the Owl</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">In our Safaris, we sighted marsh crocodiles, owls, jackals, sambhars, deers and some rarest birds on route 3,4. And we sighted 2 Male Lions together, 1 lioness and 2 cubs and 1 female single lioness all in just an hour of the morning safari in route number 2. Each sighting was exciting and we never expected to see 2 male lions together. But unlike Tigers, who live in solitude and its difficult to see them with other tigers and tigresses, its easy to spot lions in group and family. Lions are family animals and 2 male brothers can stay together, share lionesses and territories. One would hear from fellow tourists or locals that there was a sighting of 6 lions, 10 lions and so on. It sounded strange as one had to put in so much of efforts to see one tiger, but we bought that when we ourselves saw 6 lions in a span of 30 minutes.</span></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQp3uYJeR9kyQscc68roZHgV6FqaHUPwYr2xt8nnCj6nZkiMviyws3NJsEcAxUqCreAK0sCi0_y1MecK66yghlbofNsTuGfk6p1RsoZinZNhEc0bf-r1Knqs7sh5QKAr_8ehGHYqtMiI0/s1600/JACKAL.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQp3uYJeR9kyQscc68roZHgV6FqaHUPwYr2xt8nnCj6nZkiMviyws3NJsEcAxUqCreAK0sCi0_y1MecK66yghlbofNsTuGfk6p1RsoZinZNhEc0bf-r1Knqs7sh5QKAr_8ehGHYqtMiI0/s320/JACKAL.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sly Jackal at Gir</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">It is recommended that one should do atleast 4-5 safaris to have a good chance of spotting the lion and surely cover all routes like either of 3,4,7 for a good and different forest than route 2,5,6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Summers are best to spot any wild animal as water shortage brings them to the nearest water body, but winters are comfortable and pleasant with temperatures dropping to 10 degree Celsius vs. maximum of 40 degree Celsius in summers. There are 3 Safaris of 3 hours each (around 45 kms of drive each). Morning 6:30-9:30 AM, where chances are better from 6:30-7:30AM ie. Pre complete sun-rise/ early morning and Evening 3:30-6:30PM, when the chances are better in the late evening/dusk when it starts getting darker from 5:30-6:30PM. The lions or tigers usually do movements during non-sunny time or when there is not too much of light. Leopards can be sighted in the day. There is a 9:30AM to 12:30PM Safari too, which is not much worth, but the guides & drivers come to know about the movement of the lions & other animals in the earlier safari and one can check this out.. The ideal way to look for a lion is through pug-marks and alarm calls. There are no Lion shows like Bandhavgarh or Kanha, but the Rescue team of the Gir forest does an early round to locate the lions / groups and check if there is any medical/emergency need (a day before our visit they had rescued a lion cub attacked by a male lion wanting eliminate his future competition and had brought it to the hospital for treatment)</span></span> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKtEORAiKcnxFZWLnGpt_cy1eyvdNUz2fZhbz8roCetaT8oLtUX2UZkWRlCHFPqZTjyvdvq4fFpqLG6H6-DFOpsqf7luU02q5FcjOs2aTeqXkv8lXAh8Qs5PmbAM0Pds-wyTPIcq3kwI/s1600/MALE+LION.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKtEORAiKcnxFZWLnGpt_cy1eyvdNUz2fZhbz8roCetaT8oLtUX2UZkWRlCHFPqZTjyvdvq4fFpqLG6H6-DFOpsqf7luU02q5FcjOs2aTeqXkv8lXAh8Qs5PmbAM0Pds-wyTPIcq3kwI/s640/MALE+LION.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGLVWubgiVNWqU5PFh3afjPLYOQRz_k_T0dytwh3qD__Xx6d0j-JRbheAFB9RXZ77GgdhPnWMd6ZUToBUEOyHhhdaOz-Q2OSY1tkZZp2kqqW4j4RvRyYaEOeqhmPd6Zt7qNJ8rHcn994y/s1600/LION+PUGS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGLVWubgiVNWqU5PFh3afjPLYOQRz_k_T0dytwh3qD__Xx6d0j-JRbheAFB9RXZ77GgdhPnWMd6ZUToBUEOyHhhdaOz-Q2OSY1tkZZp2kqqW4j4RvRyYaEOeqhmPd6Zt7qNJ8rHcn994y/s200/LION+PUGS.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">One more exciting part of our visit was our 19 hour long journey in the nearby areas of the Gir Sanctuary where the permits are given to locals and tourists. We were recommended by a fellow wild life enthusiast from Mumbai to do this route as one can have chances of spotting the lions on the road or while traveling in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and around the nearby periphery / villages. We left early in the morning to visit KANKAI – This forest route is so fat the best in the country and a different one, very highly recommended. From Kankai – Banej – Tulshishyam – Una (near Div) – Gir Garddha- Dron- Dholwada- Babaria- Dhokarwa- Itwaya-Phatsar –Maranka – Talala-Sasan. It was fantastic trip. We missed the lions closely as we saw the fresh pugmarks on a river bank. Saw a lioness jumping on a deer and missing it and saw other wild animals including the rare Jackal whom we followed for 20 minutes, but in all – this route was one of the best and scenic forest route so far we have driven on. One can hire a Sumo or a Jeep from Sasan locally, as other cars may just break into pieces on some of the terrains in the this route.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">So, overall 4 days in Gir alone should be a great fun for sure. But if you would behave like a true Gujju wanting to cover Gir, Diu, Somnath, Veraval, Junagadh etc in all the 4 days, then, my recommendation is don’t insult and bother Gir al the way – please visit your nearest zoo or circus to see the Lion, you deserve the same.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Zurich Blk BT';"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Zurich Blk BT';">(4) How to Reach </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">By Air: Ahmedabad, 415 km away is the nearest airport. Regular flights from major Indian cities fly to Ahmedabad. From <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Rajkot</place></city>, it should be around 300 kms. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">By Rail: Junagadh, 65 km away is the most convenient railhead to the <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Gir</placename> <placetype w:st="on">National Park</placetype></place>. From Mumbai, everyday Saurashtra Janta Mail leaves and while on return once has a n option of the same and also Veraval-BCT Pass Express. AC 1,2,3 are available besides the sleeper class.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">By Road: The park is well connected with good road network from nearby areas. Volvo buses run from Ahmedabad to Junagadh and from here you take mini buses to Sasan Gir. There are govt. buses that run between Junagadh and Veraval via Sasan Gir.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Zurich Blk BT';">(5) Where to Stay: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The Gir Lodge by Taj is one of the few 5 star properties along with Lion Camp Safari. Club Mahindra also have their property in Sasan Gir. Some of the other 3 star or equivalent are Amidhara resort, Vanvaso resort & Gir Birding Lodge. There are also some budget hotels like Maneland hotel & Sinh Sadan which is a GSRTC hotel. Sinh Sadan is also a very nice property with decent clean rooms and the benefit in staying at this place is that the safari booking is also done from their reception for which guests from each and every hotel have to come here. There are also Farm Houses for different budgets with rooms & tents viz Bhavesh Farms, Parmar Farms, Shyam Farm House, Anil Farm house, Om Farm house etc. There is no great food option in Sasan as compared to Bandhavgarh, Kanha etc, which attract more tourists especially the foreigners for whom Tigers are rare species and Lions are what they would have had already seen in Africa. One may try Rajwadi, <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Green</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Park</placetype></place> for good food. One may find from Rs 500 to Rs 10000 per night accommodation at Gir.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The food is decent and can cost something between 70-100 bucks. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Zurich Blk BT';">(6) Wild life Safaris :</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">There are 3 Safaris (6:30, 9:30, 3:30) every day across 7 designated routes :</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Zurich BT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Zurich BT';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">(i)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Jeep Safari Economics</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> : One needs permit from the forest department to enter the park. The forest department is doing a great job by being strict of permit and entry-exit time lines in the core and non-core areas around the forest, which is good for the animals. The permit costs Rs 500 and the jeep charges are Rs 800 and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rs 100 per camera of 7MP and above and Guide fees Rs 100 (One usually tips above the same based on ones experience and satisfaction- though there are some idiotic guides in the park who can be either mum or overspoken, but one has to depend upon luck to get the guide who are allotted randomly by the forest department, but one can still request the forest guys for a better guide.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Zurich BT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Zurich BT';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">(ii)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Routes :</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> Out of the 7 allowed routes - One should visit all possible routes to enjoy the complete forest. For eg. Route no. 2 and 6 are same – only entry and exit changes. So, if one does only these 2 routes he has seen just 5% of the forest. Hence, one should try his hand on route 3,4,7, 1 etc, as the topography of the forest changes drastically in each.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Zurich BT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Zurich BT';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">(iii)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Time Punctuality</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> : One should ensure to wake up at 5:00-5:30AM (we are never used to, but, you dont have a choice)and enter the park sharp at 6:30. The probability of seeing a Lion is 80-90% between 6:30-7:30 and same in the late evenings 5:30-6:30. If you are late, (It takes time in permit seeking etc, there would be long queue, one can request for advance permit a day ahead) than the probability is just 20% ! </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Zurich BT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Zurich BT';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">(iv)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Other forest tour</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> : One should definitely hire a vehicle locally for the nearby route trip. This trip could show you the best of the forests – atleast in Kankai, Banej and Jamvada route and you may be lucky to sight Lions in wilderness.</span></span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1ZZJWev25F_C5y-GX_4n17vYryvbslXpuKR6zxL0jVYMh_iCTAz0fqcSel6A9RVL-6as8ZKzwsIk4b7YP_y88hcEFYVaL3TBFItfs9om6M4AQ6MkKCvtHEMNTQiWCI0EABFI_XQJL7JL/s1600/KANKAI.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1ZZJWev25F_C5y-GX_4n17vYryvbslXpuKR6zxL0jVYMh_iCTAz0fqcSel6A9RVL-6as8ZKzwsIk4b7YP_y88hcEFYVaL3TBFItfs9om6M4AQ6MkKCvtHEMNTQiWCI0EABFI_XQJL7JL/s400/KANKAI.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enroute to the Kankai Forests</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Zurich BT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Zurich BT';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">(v)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Recommended Guides / Drivers</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> (though one can not choose your own guide, but still can request the forest officer at booking window, because the passionate and interested the guide and driver is the better are the chances for you to spot the wildlife and enjoy)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"> Recommended Guides- Rahim, </span></span><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Abhilash, Amit, Imtiaz, Atul, Solanki.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Drivers- Murad bhai, Salim, Dinesh, Bharat Vaja (excellent forest knowledge, you may not require a guide)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Guides / Drivers to avoid :Jagga (Jagdish Vaja), Munir, Shadik (driver and guide)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"></span><span style="font-family: 'Zurich Blk BT';">(6) Tourism in GIR – Pros and Cons</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Every tourist place has some pluses and minuses. Below summarized are the same for Gir with some recommendations for the forest department and government at large.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Cons in tourism at Gir</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">: </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Zurich BT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Zurich BT';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">a)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Target Audience :</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> Having seen many tiger reserves, Gir is much behind in terms of high quality hospitality and tourism pullers like (1) good restaurants (there are average ones which close by 10PM and serve almost similar monotonous food- but a good Kathiawadi and Punjabi food), (2) cybercafés or memorablia shopping centres (3) Medical facilities like good hospitals – this is in Sasan the heart of tourism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe in Talala, which is 15 kms away, the facilities are little better, but there are no formal transportation system between the two. (4) Formal travel operators (there are many unorganized operators)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The reason behind this could be lack of foreign tourists. Like in Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Ranthambhor, Jim Corbett – one can easily see 50%+ of tourists being foreigners. In Gir, out of 30 Jeeps allowed, guess I saw only one jeep consisting of foreigners. The reason could be that the Lion might not be a star attraction for them, which they would have seen in Africa, but Tiger- definitely they wouldn’t have seen in <place w:st="on">Africa</place> or any other part. So, naturally, foreign tourist revenues will develop the above tourist facilities. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The problem is that 50% of the tourists are from <place w:st="on">Gujarat</place>, 40% from all over the country and rest foreigners (This is based on my understanding from local drivers, guides). The most of first 50% come for leisure trip rather than wildlife tourism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Atleast am happy that unlike Maharashtra, <place w:st="on">Gujarat</place> has started taking the forest portfolio and wildlife seriously. Infact, the same day we had come, Mr. Jairam Ramesh, Cabinet Minsiter for Environment and Forest had visited Gir with Mr. S.K,Nanda, IAS & Secretary, <place w:st="on">Forest</place>, Government of Gujarat. Maybe, the hidden agenda would have been to relocate some lions to MP, but whatever, the fact that national level focus is also coming besides the state-level visibility and focus created by Narendra Modi. Infact, a strong recommendation to the Forest Department and Narendra Modi is that Gir should be promoted as a hard core wild life destination and not just a tourism destination. Hopefully, with Amitabh Bachchan as the brand ambassador, this should improve. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Zurich BT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Zurich BT';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">b)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">There are no Lion Shows</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> (a few years back, there used to be Lion shows – wherein a cattle was taken by the forest department and the lions lured to kill it. This stopped post the Lion attacked and killed a tourist’s child. In Bandhavgarh, Kanha etc- there are Elephant shows, where one is taken on the elephant to view the tiger post it is spotted by the forest team. Atleast, from the tourists perspective, one has a better chance to see a tiger if not in the jungle. Hence, more tourists are pulled with some assurance. Imagine, someone spending 4 days and money and coming back seeing just deers and monkeys. It has happened with many of my friends in Corbett, Periyar and Gir. These places which are more beautiful jungles are out of their lists now and Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Ranthambhor have become regular repeat destinations.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Zurich BT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Zurich BT';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">c)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">There is strict following of a route</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">. For eg. If one is allotted route No. 2, he has to be there and follow the same till the exit. One has to agree that in this mobile age, despite of no networks, drivers-guides are able to network and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>share where they saw lions. Now, like in Bandhavgarh or Kanha, one is to strictly follow the given route in the first half (1.5 hrs), post which the jeep has to register at a centre point and then when the necessary information is exchanged, one is allowed to roam freely on the routes where sighting has happened. This enhances one’s chance of seeing the big cat. In Gir, this is not allowed and should be allowed. The counter argument is that the animals may get disturbed when many jeeps would flock together- that is true, but (a) they are used to it and (b) but well these are just 5% of your total population who know that there are tourists coming every day to see them. These are not the wildest of the cats living in the solitude. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Zurich BT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Zurich BT';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">d)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Limited Jeeps</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> : Gir allows 30 Jeeps per safari, which is lesser, but across 3 timings 90 jeeps are Ok. But in the peak season, this would become a key challenge from tourists perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe one can look at more routes. Had heard there were 10 routes earlier.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Zurich BT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Zurich BT';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">e)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Professionalism / Hospitality </span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">: We discussed in the first point, that the demography of the tourist is such that one can live with average hospitality. For eg. In Bandhavgarh, Kanha, there are many highend hotels, upmarket tourists- both Indian and Foreigner – automatically, the quality of service, has to improve. Here, the same is improving, thanks to the forest department that the uniform has been made compulsory for the guides now. But, it is strongly recommended that the drivers, guides, hotel staffs etc should be trained well in soft skills and other specialized areas so the tourists are served better and more tourists come. The local restaurants and shops are also not as hospitable as it should be from a tourism perspective, giving you a feeling that they don’t bother – if you eat or don’t at their place. The experience was same at Green park, Rajwadi restaurants. We did not see anyone going overboard to impress upon or serve extremely well, so one re-visits. This has to improve, else the tourism flow will move towards MP.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Pros in tourism at Gir</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">: </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Against the above Cons, there are many Pros for Gir, which makes it one of the best wildlife destinations of the country and the world :</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4h0yQaiP75-rTu6SJC0qpWDQkNup9Rrujwm3AfOYM_pA8yiVpK7_BXqTacP040DSorNyvtzNcabWuwck6FRnDjLHBy-vDezcWRY9Hn-eSDhPOfRSXR4eCeWp5-5vcsUK7p4E6kEHsYMHr/s1600/3+LIONS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4h0yQaiP75-rTu6SJC0qpWDQkNup9Rrujwm3AfOYM_pA8yiVpK7_BXqTacP040DSorNyvtzNcabWuwck6FRnDjLHBy-vDezcWRY9Hn-eSDhPOfRSXR4eCeWp5-5vcsUK7p4E6kEHsYMHr/s400/3+LIONS.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Zurich BT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Zurich BT';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">a)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Lions are easier to sight</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> : Unlike tiger, which is elusive in most wildlife parks in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">India</place></country-region>, lions in Gir are easy to sight. Gir lions are unafraid of humans and perhaps one of the reasons that their sightings are not as rare as of the tigers. Wildlife experts associate this fact to the proximity of lions to Maldharis, a community who rear livestock and have always lived within the park for a long time now. On the negative side, the lion is much bolder, more fearless of man and less cunning than the tiger and so is much more easily shot. This explains the disappearance of the noble animals from all its other Indian haunts besides Gir whilst the tiger manages to maintain its numbers.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBxUPf5sT5UIrmViYXQNtKATHGjm0Jl0fYrF2etGXeNnTOl0lDosO9OWLZsaMBMZqNxw4h-NaquLMi1xSKrHJFaZD3H4yT7_wycdCbGJyx8a4-DJkuYEyTSlxuejCID4p5dCQFmHzODnl/s1600/PEACPCK.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBxUPf5sT5UIrmViYXQNtKATHGjm0Jl0fYrF2etGXeNnTOl0lDosO9OWLZsaMBMZqNxw4h-NaquLMi1xSKrHJFaZD3H4yT7_wycdCbGJyx8a4-DJkuYEyTSlxuejCID4p5dCQFmHzODnl/s320/PEACPCK.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Besides the King Lion, there are many wild animals to sight and ideally foreigners and the true blue wildlife enthusiasts come to any wild safari for the rest and not just the big cat. Gir, if there would have been no Lions would have been the country’s biggest bird sanctuary with many inland and migratory birds residing here. We too saw some of the rarest of owl, pelicans, jungle birds and more. Peacocks could outnumber the crows of a city !</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Zurich BT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Zurich BT';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">b)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Alternate Lion viewing</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> : Despite the better chances, one can be unlucky to spot the Lions. We saw it in 1 out of 4 safaris. The forest department has created a protected area called Gir Interpretation Centre at Devalia where once can see wild animals including the Lions in their wild.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Zurich BT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Zurich BT';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">c)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">It is Gujarat</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>– This is the most enterprising part of India and you would have any one and every one – be it a rickshaw driver or a labour on the road – who would (1) have a mobile (2) will make an outgoing call for you (3) will want to network for you and help you to get in touch with someone he knows who could add value into your tourism. Be it the guides or drivers, they will put in their best to show you the lions/jungle as they know that they will be tipped. Though, there are some people absolutely opposite, which the training would take care of.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Zurich BT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Zurich BT';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">d)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">State Government backing Gir</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> : Unlike Maharashtra even <place w:st="on">Gujarat</place> has many more sources of revenues from the government perspective, but the government and Narendra Modi has been creating visibility around Gir (even though if it is an egoish tussle to avoid relocating the states pride, it’s good for the wildlife in general).</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Zurich BT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Zurich BT';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">e)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Strong & Passionate Forest Department</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> : The forest department headed by DCF, Dr. Sandeep Kumar – a young, dynamic and a passionate IFS is another strength of Gir. It is not that any IAS aspirant who could not creak UPSC got through in IFS and is spending his time at the posting. It is the otherway, that a young guy deciding to sacrifice his chic urban life for his love for forests that Dr. Sandeep Kumar had moved from <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Delhi</place></city> to the remote Sasan. Some volunteers from The Wild India Project of Empower Foundation requested to meet him for 10 minutes and he was generous to give us much more time to explain the park, its initiatives and also showing us some of the finest wild life pictures, he himself had clicked. I have met many forest officials till date, but have rarely come across such a passionate, hard working (in a remote Sasan, his day begins at 5 and ends at 11 everyday) and dynamic officer. Naturally, this passion and dynamism flows down the line which was evident in other officers, RFO, Rescue teams etc. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the nutshell, our understanding of the forests, wildlife and conservation increased multiple folds post our meeting and my only statement, post Jairam Ramesh’s visit was that looking at how he has conserved Lions at Gir, he might be soon picked up for a national initiative to conserve the attriting tigers- than what will happen to Gir and his answer was simple – the processes and systems build would last for long and the lions would stay, the only thing which will get effected will be his intense love for the big cats of Gir.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Zurich Blk BT';">(7) Wildlife Conservation at GIR</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Now, coming to the biggest area – and a natural question which may come to ones mind- Why in Gir, Lions have increased from just 20 to 411 viz.a.viz declining population of Tigers in the country.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Unlike tiger, which is elusive in most wildlife parks in <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">India</country-region></place>, lions in Gir are easy to sight. Gir lions are unafraid of humans and perhaps one of the reasons that their sightings are not as rare as of the tigers. Wildlife experts associate this fact to the proximity of lions to Maldharis, a community who rear livestock and have always lived within the park for a long time now. MA Wynter-Blyth, a famous naturalist pointed this fact as one of the reasons why lions have disappeared so quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said, “The lion is much bolder, more fearless of man and less cunning than the tiger and so is much more easily shot. This explains the disappearance of the noble animals from all its other Indian haunts whilst the tiger manages to maintain its numbers.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The <placename w:st="on">Gir</placename> <placetype w:st="on">National Park</placetype> in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">India</place></country-region> proves to be a protected area for the lions but threats like human settlements, loss of habitat and prey species are obvious. The biggest threat to the lion population is poaching. Though the punishment for poaching is exemplary, poachers do make bids to bag lion skins. Even the nails of a lion are at a premium. It is believed that since a lion himself is brave and majestic, some of those qualities must be inherent in his body parts. Hence the non-perishable nail, mounted in gold and worn as a talisman, chiefly to infuse courage into a timid person. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">One big reason of man-animal conflict is the lions moving out of Gir to find new territories which also means traveling kilometers away from their places crossing many villages, which naturally means conflicting with the humans. Today, the concern is with increasing population, <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Gir</placename> <placetype w:st="on">National Park</placetype></place> is falling short of space, but on the positive side, instead of men relocating the animal, they themselves moving towards new territories outside Gir like in Girnar, Mitiala & Coastal forests. Today, Girnar itself boasts of 24 plus lions and the 21 lions live in the coastal forests of Kodinar and Chhara.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ol style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Rescue and Animal Care</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> – Gujarat Forest Department has a long history of wildlife rescue, capture and health management with well equipped hospitals, veterinary support which boasts of more than 2000 rescue and release operations in the last decade covering 417 lions, 589 leopards and 112 other animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rescue initiative includes 4 rescue vehicles with teams of rescue trekkers have considerably help reduce the deaths and accidents of lions at large. This is a unique operation I saw viz.a viz. other national parks and Sanctuary Asia has acknowledged this initiative by conferring an award to the Gir Rescue Team.</span></span></li>
</ol><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ol start="2" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Maldhari Rehabilitation</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> - Also Maldharis and other tribes which are the integral part of the forest have livestocks to survive on. These usually encroach inside the forest for pasture hampering the same and creating competition for the animals within the forest for the same amount of available food creating a conflict. On the otherside, since the number of lions are increasing and the territory remains same, they often roam outside the boundaries of the PA, entering into the villages and killing livestock. This creates hostility against the lions and the villagers often leave poisoned bait for the lions to consume. The open wells that have been dug by the farmers for irrigation also act as a trap and many lions have drowned in them. Crude Electric fences connected to high voltage overhead power lines, designed to keep the nilgai (blue bull) away from the crops, have also been the cause of a lot of lion deaths. There have also been cases of poaching in the Gir forest, this is a direct result of the government and the National Parks tightening the security at the Tiger Reserves. </span></span></li>
</ol><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The forest in its upliftment drive has rehabilitated majority of the nesses of Maldharis but even today many still live inside inviting the conflict. The forest department has supported the tribes with leased agricultural land, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>employments, reimbursement for killing of livestocks, supply for firewood, grass etc. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The department has created rubble wall fencing to check cattle movements in the forest and the wild boar, blue bulls movements into the farms to check destruction of the crops. This is supported by effective and strong patrolling</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ol start="3" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Water Supply</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">- water, especially in the summers become the key why lions would stray into the nearby farms and villages. One, they would cause damages to the cattle, farms and mankind. Secondly, they may become victims themselves by falling into unprotected wells. The forest department has been taking various initiatives to ensure supply of water through artificial water holes in the forest, conserving and water harvesting, check dam creation and also building boundary walls around the wells. </span></span></li>
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</div><ol start="4" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Fire</span></b></placename><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> <placename w:st="on">Control-</placename></span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> <placetype w:st="on">Forest</placetype></span></place><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> fires become good reasons for destruction of forest especially in winters post the dry leaves fall. Proper fire control through fire lines etc has been taken up regularly and further developments are in process for the same.</span></span></li>
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</div><ol start="5" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Traffic and Pollution Control</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> – The Highways passing within the park and rail tracks create pollution and also deaths of animals (11 lions in the last decade). The forest department has been instrumental to check and control road and rail traffic post sunset at many places, lobbying for the same on highways also. There are 20-25 small and medium industries around the forest area and a couple of religious spots which draw 1.5 lac pilgrims every year. The department in its endeavor to protect the forest and the lions are evolving with a comprehensive development and control plans for the same.</span></span></li>
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</div><ol start="6" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Awareness</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> – The <place w:st="on">Forest</place> departments have been associating with youth to create and spread awareness. Nature Education Camps (NECS) and Forest Youth Clubs (FYC) have been the strategy in wildlife awareness, conservation and management. There are 125 FYCs engaging with all types of Diaspora right from the Maldharis, Local villagers, students, city dwellers and professionals to impart awareness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Devalia – Gir interpretation centre, a 412 ha of a protected forest area with all wild animals in another example. </span></span></li>
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</div><ol start="7" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Anti-Poaching and allied rules</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> – As compared to other national park, I as a tourist first and then a wildlife activist saw strict following of rules and guidelines, be it permits, the fear / discouragement of locals towards harming the animal and the forests. There is strong patrolling and protection mechanisms to avoid the same besides huge penalties. We hear very seldom of Lion poaching as compared to Tiger poaching news which appear at least once a week today.</span></span></li>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Ideally these conservation methods and initiatives have been instrumental in the controlled and increasing number of lions. Today, the World Bank and Global Environmental facility (GEF) have identified Gir as one of its seven sites for eco-development and this speaks in volume.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">It was very well explained by Dr. Sandeep Kumar on why the Lions have increased. The same example of a human – if a couple is comfortable that they have a sustainable income, own house and future protection, they would go for a second child. The ones struggling with life today might not want to take the additional burden. It all depends on the environment. Similarly, for lions, if the basic amenities and requirements of life namely – (1) food (enough animals ; from 4000 to 52000 deers, for deers enough grassland due to conservation which gives them confidence to expand the family as they would be able to feed their babies), (2) water (natural and artificial water options), (3) protection from poachers, privacy for sex and life (natural and forest supported) are good, they will have confidence to stay and multiply their family.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">As we speak on Gir, one can not avoid the subject these days in the Media on shifting the Lions to MP</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> – this has become a much controversial subject than required, as good as who Priyanka Chopra or Deepika Padukone is dating these days, thanks to the media. But ideally, post visiting Gir and studying the forest and conservation methods in-depth over our visit, what we feel is that with so many number of lions and increasing, the current available infrastructure would be a challenge in the future. More than we, forget the politicians understanding the fact, the lions themselves have started understanding the same and have started moving towards new territories like the coastal area, Girnar, Palitana.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">On the same lines, imagine you are working in Mumbai and your company pulls you, gives you more money, but asks you to relocate to Guwahati – what will be your reaction. Similarly, the animal would feel. Look at the tigers of Sariska unable to live in their own surroundings just nearby post relocation, how comfortable would the lion live in the climate of MP which is much different than that of <place w:st="on">Gujarat</place>.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Now, the question raised by the critics is what if a famine occurs ? Well, the lions are spread all over Saurastra and are migrating naturally to nearby places. The forest department have also planned to relocate (manually) a few lions to Rampara, nearby Wankaner. The threat is not as if all the 411 lions are in one common area, as the normal citizen of <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">India</place></country-region> are given to understand (We too thought so, until we understood the same during our visit.) The same innovative central forest ministry should be well equipped to handle such a famine and relocate the lions if anything like that happens overnight and should focus the energies on those lines rather than satisfying some other government by gifting lions to some other state. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Coming to Mr. Modi, let us think from his perspective – why would you want to give your treasure to someone else ? It is evident that he doesn’t mind exchanging the animals with other animals, but those are from his zoos and not the wild. He doesn’t mind giving you a solution for derisking by offering places like Rampara or any other location within Gujarat, thus not giving any chances to the critics, but let us leave this battle to the warriors themselves and the future to see who wins.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">One should remember that the Lion knows no border and does not stop by at any toll naka or state border before crossing it. If the animal naturally feels that it requires to move out of <place w:st="on">Gujarat</place>, it would already be in Rajasthan by the time you finish this blog.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCzobXCkF_5q4LzBrAaOb0EgvM3IJ7Yu6Fn7dk1SL_8wsWZEL0JogUM3lb2SZhzJx_KiG28zN8PPPsgbIiU87f2df5qkc3AMB_48V3q1kwFNYxuUoqpRdoHRryb1BR7BDe4GjpnPtS3Af/s1600/LION+JEEP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCzobXCkF_5q4LzBrAaOb0EgvM3IJ7Yu6Fn7dk1SL_8wsWZEL0JogUM3lb2SZhzJx_KiG28zN8PPPsgbIiU87f2df5qkc3AMB_48V3q1kwFNYxuUoqpRdoHRryb1BR7BDe4GjpnPtS3Af/s640/LION+JEEP.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">IMAGINE THE ADRENALINE RUSH WHEN YOU SEE THE BIG CAT – THE KING OF THE JUNGLE SO CLOSE – </span></span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">ITS WORTH A 15 DAYS <place w:st="on">HOLIDAY</place> IN THE SWISS, ITS WORTH A MILLION DOLLAR BET AT THE VEGAS !</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div>Empower Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679712228632124915noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7820922266191102915.post-89638854847863814492011-01-20T16:48:00.003+05:302011-03-19T12:20:11.687+05:30PERIYAR TIGER RESERVE- India’s One of the Best Night Safari experience<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQyp8cOh3OQ4iZkVe-FSahMvswdZDv7zq5ke3JasxWjLpcJfBTRYiPDpXHqf7PkfalgQQz3yFguTnaJjfr-4wvl4z2933Hgo-7QZ0Ic0PWsiiHKVjiiBUPxA3Yr6PI1hP6NGW4uwObIEHB/s1600/thekkady1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQyp8cOh3OQ4iZkVe-FSahMvswdZDv7zq5ke3JasxWjLpcJfBTRYiPDpXHqf7PkfalgQQz3yFguTnaJjfr-4wvl4z2933Hgo-7QZ0Ic0PWsiiHKVjiiBUPxA3Yr6PI1hP6NGW4uwObIEHB/s320/thekkady1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">January 27, 2010, Periyar, Thekkady, Kerala</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> : Siddharth and me along with our spouses planned our annual vacation to Gods own country – Kerala covering Kumarakom, Allepey, Munnar, Backwaters houseboat and Thekkady. Thekkady was our important destination as important like the backwaters or kumarakom and it proved right – 2 core reasons : </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">(1) Wild Life – it’s a national park and a tiger reserve also famous for its elephants (2) This is the only Tiger reserve in the country, where wild life enthusiasts like us can do a NIGHT PATROLING in the JUNGLE which was the core USP for it.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksLWQduznOMKt_8mq0pzuSX4NpOnLZjTZz-ym5dGG4mavbj9GZgEIlScTeNbh2o7_Oj_33k9SFcdDJDynAX4xbxjRwFdnH5RIdGXTYxPdI4nZmoEZFiynYP4v28dJqUnS1O-2cM1AqHV6/s1600/kerela+pics+chip+1+511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksLWQduznOMKt_8mq0pzuSX4NpOnLZjTZz-ym5dGG4mavbj9GZgEIlScTeNbh2o7_Oj_33k9SFcdDJDynAX4xbxjRwFdnH5RIdGXTYxPdI4nZmoEZFiynYP4v28dJqUnS1O-2cM1AqHV6/s320/kerela+pics+chip+1+511.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Here, one needs to book in advance with the department of forest and tourism in Thekkady. There are 2 slots only from 7 PM to 10 PM, 10 PM to 1 PM and 1 PM to 4 AM and each slot can take only 5 tourists each. Which means only 15 people can go for this adventurous Night walk in the forest. Ideally, the 5 member team is accompanied by 3 forest guards – 1 with torch and 2 with gun. Ideally, the objective of this activity is to explore the real jungle on feet (3 hrs / 15 kms walk) and </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">contribute to the work of the forest department to patrol and protect the forest from poachers and</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">sandalwood smugglers</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">. Sandalwood is abundant here and the smugglers right from Tamil Nadu and Kerala travel all the way, barefeet in the jungle and cut the sandalwood trees which sells for a huge price. The smuggling of sandalwood is worth Rs 800 Crs per annum and this is more dangerous than the animal poachers. The Nightwalk guards were sharing their experience of once gunning down a gang (they don’t require a permission to shoot at night) and some skinny smugglers clad only in underwear (langot) and no other clothes on the body which was applied with oil, slipped out easily and fled into the dense and thick Periyar forests. For a change, unlike BG and KN they have walky-talkies and high beam torches along with their ammunition quota and they take you along the forest across various topographies – plain, hill, water body, dense forest, mangroves. </span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"> </span></span><shape id="_x0000_i1029" style="height: 155.25pt; width: 207pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"> <imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\124376\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image003.png"></imagedata></span></shape></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_N_I3RZby7V1POy691ulMJv9A3M-GM8HKpuoB2F6I5eFjE08udHGzpgKMcYp2VqzwAX6Dz-gtuJ2eLiy8v7tDTiX95bNJhi26Ohrb-PPEtPjKvXunDp7XRXgeDv_3oYSMh8f9-9rqEQ4G/s1600/DECLA.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_N_I3RZby7V1POy691ulMJv9A3M-GM8HKpuoB2F6I5eFjE08udHGzpgKMcYp2VqzwAX6Dz-gtuJ2eLiy8v7tDTiX95bNJhi26Ohrb-PPEtPjKvXunDp7XRXgeDv_3oYSMh8f9-9rqEQ4G/s320/DECLA.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">You pay Rs 1000 per person and when you assemble at the forest gate (we took the 7 PM slot), you register, </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">sign a bond/undertaking declaring that you will be responsible for any accident/loss/death and not the forest department</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">. Then they give you 2 gadgets. 1 Long khakhi leg covers / boot covers which one has to tie to be protected from poisonous insects, leeches and reptiles. (snakes are common). You get a torch (one per couple) which is very powerful. Our torch which we took along from Mumbai had a 300 m beam and the forest torches were 500-600m beam white lights. Flashes in Camera were strict no, talking with each other a strict no, breaking out of the group a strict no (no one needs to tell you not to do it – I Can bet no one lost in the jungle can find his/her way out by own), perfume or deo is a strict no.</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDm_25No-HQvTH7MN8HERmnwJes7LREpfOS9GP5ePUG-bBMUYjwxcGQ_5FsxRDS6bcT87QzpPzEj3jMy0w87_xCkBTfbN66aMLgmh9Uuv9yETqvkxMmS__ELmq0T0qUCC1X-NVSkIW8RM/s1600/periyar+bird.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDm_25No-HQvTH7MN8HERmnwJes7LREpfOS9GP5ePUG-bBMUYjwxcGQ_5FsxRDS6bcT87QzpPzEj3jMy0w87_xCkBTfbN66aMLgmh9Uuv9yETqvkxMmS__ELmq0T0qUCC1X-NVSkIW8RM/s200/periyar+bird.bmp" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><shape id="_x0000_i1030" style="height: 167.25pt; width: 225pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\124376\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image005.png"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></imagedata></shape><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"> </span></span><shape id="_x0000_i1031" style="height: 167.25pt; width: 242.25pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\124376\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image007.png"></imagedata></shape><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">We began our journey. Sid and Chinly opted out to relax – I believe it was a very big mistake missing this one – well as we proceeded further, post a 15 minute walk entered into the dense forest. The best kicker was to use your torch and explore the jungle and find the animals. The guards would ofcourse show you the animals they sight, with much ease and regular practice. The first life we traced was a herd of deer and that too a few feet away. We saw </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">wild boars</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> – a family of 7-8 – mama, papa and kids whom we followed for 2 minutes and they vanished in a swamp. The best excitement was when we heard huge sounds in the water canal nearby and all of us sped with huge expectations and yes, we found a herd of huge (5 ft in size) </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sambhars</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> with beautiful playing in the water and then fleeing away fast as they saw us.</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnu_vfadyHJc0mp4EgTyZ0GpVjH738z3U2PeMCuzwWNa998c8DOfhN7O6b7k0XpByyXEK8YlHu5QrnAnXJEeTZExWMBA6umaubVtuOybCXqujfHOVRdQFEQEjXFb9XKjowi1Dfn9Um-CH/s1600/periyar_wildlife_sanctuary_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnu_vfadyHJc0mp4EgTyZ0GpVjH738z3U2PeMCuzwWNa998c8DOfhN7O6b7k0XpByyXEK8YlHu5QrnAnXJEeTZExWMBA6umaubVtuOybCXqujfHOVRdQFEQEjXFb9XKjowi1Dfn9Um-CH/s320/periyar_wildlife_sanctuary_2.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">The best part was when we moved from the swampy area to a plain land and across a huge distance the guards showed </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">us a herd of elephants</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">. It was too far and dark to capture so we cherished the live moments, though my video has a dull capture of if. We moved from the plain grass land to a swampy area where we were asked to walk carefully and very slowly to avoid slipping. Some of us did slip a number of times, though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our shoes and pants were all muddy by now, but all was worth. Soon we came across a swamy lake like structure and soon saw some movements – as we approached nearer<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>they were the </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">beavers </span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">(seal types who live in swamp and water). </span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpdnUe7ELWZo_fA_2Sgiwb1RMBZXJBCOipIMp8DqFjg7pZaHaDlRU9D12o10WxbFJ0iRNA-oMwX4VMQQPOoosRymWhkKtqBrJhWOLWEUjioOKtg_Zv3GQeYNOKw4Vc31NHvLLiZAMa8og/s1600/kerela+pics+chip+1+546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpdnUe7ELWZo_fA_2Sgiwb1RMBZXJBCOipIMp8DqFjg7pZaHaDlRU9D12o10WxbFJ0iRNA-oMwX4VMQQPOoosRymWhkKtqBrJhWOLWEUjioOKtg_Zv3GQeYNOKw4Vc31NHvLLiZAMa8og/s320/kerela+pics+chip+1+546.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Post all the walk, as usual, we asked the guard – kuch bada dikhao (show us something big and worth) – a tiger or a leopard. But could not sight one, but the guard warned us and asked us to stay absolutely quite. We wondered why and soon he gathered us around some excrete or dung and he said “beware- </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">a sloth bear</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">” around. And the guard too looked a bit tensed and asked us to move fast. That was to avoid an attack, which we too had learned at Kanha – Sloth bears are more dangerous than the tigers or lions as they come from somewhere unexpectedly and start spitting on the victim. The spit / saliva has some acid which starts immediately reacting on the victim and the victim gets distracted. The bear in the meanwhile hides somewhere and jump and attack the victim from the back usually. Ideally the heavy animal does not hit or bang the victim, it uses its sharp claws to simply rip apart the victim – either an animal or human.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another question which would come to your mind, would be how did the guard come to know from the shit that it was a sloth bear – the answer was that the shit was in round balls and black in color. This is usually the form and there were honey bee and bee nest particles in the shit and bears are know to steal and drink honey – tiger or leopard would never break a bee womb. And how did he know the bear was near –the shot was steamy soft and fresh and well, it’s the forest guards duty or skill to know all this. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Then we moved into a hilly terrain and finally I was getting too tired. We were again warned not to react if we see an elephant nearby, though we did not. It was said that if one reacts before a wild elephant, he is gone and if you behave like a good and silent boy the giant would not harm you. Soon we reached the forest gate post the most adventurous forest trip of ours. The night safari in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Singapore</place></country-region> was a made up one unlike this one – exciting, unexpected and unpredictable and that’s what wild is all about.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdRP8A2TRUh-4T5-iwgX1yGaZhi3RHnA-8SUIuPEp013h4WepRE_15L1HZ8l7mlhMeUGVLSY91rTm_lOBwSGngiERgUnHqUGXwnJNwwLRUslmGnNK9cVX_UTVhLegaj-F-WBg1w7_dM9n/s1600/periyar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdRP8A2TRUh-4T5-iwgX1yGaZhi3RHnA-8SUIuPEp013h4WepRE_15L1HZ8l7mlhMeUGVLSY91rTm_lOBwSGngiERgUnHqUGXwnJNwwLRUslmGnNK9cVX_UTVhLegaj-F-WBg1w7_dM9n/s320/periyar.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">In the day we did a morning boat ride in the </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Periyar lake – saw many birds, eagles, seals, wild buffalos.</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> This was worth too (Rs 60 per person). There are also other wild tourism options like bamboo floating ( you float on a bamboo raft in the eater throughout the day in the jungle, a day long trek on the hills and many more – most of the tourists would be foreigners while the Indian counterparts would be busy getting the Kerala Massage or doing Kerala spice shopping - we were short of time as the rest of the trip was planned and Sid would not have appreciated more of Wild life so left it for the future !</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"></div></div>Empower Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679712228632124915noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7820922266191102915.post-69781398813945969382011-01-17T22:40:00.009+05:302011-03-19T11:55:39.759+05:30Kahna National Park–The Mother of The Jungle Book !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdxsPRmAs0nmzHGHBuGwg-n92TOSRr3e7A9N5ampBqPD8fiwsC2dic__h97OgbJ5czu6OHjYIEB4a8gqsH5mqqb6-9F_jdLE1eps7DoGS5cDSmkf_H5D5cbNCqjTA22g8vxGR8Kw8v93W/s1600/P1050412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdxsPRmAs0nmzHGHBuGwg-n92TOSRr3e7A9N5ampBqPD8fiwsC2dic__h97OgbJ5czu6OHjYIEB4a8gqsH5mqqb6-9F_jdLE1eps7DoGS5cDSmkf_H5D5cbNCqjTA22g8vxGR8Kw8v93W/s320/P1050412.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">January 28, 2009, Kanha, MP </span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">–Remember the the Mogli, Bagheera, ballu and Sherkhan and the song – Jungle Jungle pata chala hai, chaddi pahan ke phool khila hai ? Most of us grew up watching the beautiful cartoon show- the Jungle book on every Sunday morning and today after so many years it is a déjà vu’ effect when I eneter Kanha where </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Rudyard Kiplings “Jungle Book”</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> is based on. It was 8:00PM when we reached Kanha from Bandhavgarh. Thanks to the MP government or the fact that tourism is the cashcow of the state that the roads are just beautiful. We checked into Mogli resort (The name maybe drew us here and the cost too guess around 1800 per room per night on CP). I remember our first reaction entering the resort and the same was of fear ! It was pitch dark and post checking in, we were requested to just walk a few steps and reach our hotel as the bell boy etc were having dinner. We walked a few meters and came back. It was pitch dark, pitch means you cant see anything even with a mobile torch ! Secondly the resort was sharing the boundary wall of the forest. Thirdly, they had made artificial ponds of water outside each cottage cluster where deers and sambars often jumped over to quench thirsts and where there are deers, chances of tigers and leopards being around are also there and some review we read had some tourists encountering the big cat within the resort and may be that was one more reason of ours booking Mogli ! But, our knees shook, a- we did not knew how far the cottages were and b- what could be there in store for us – animals or ghosts – you know the human psyche ! Btw, the driver on our way to Kanha had shared a story of 2 lady spirits, this time not in white standing in the middle</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"></span></b></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> of the road and the driver knowing something fishy over running them and they re-appearing again and again after every few meters ahead of his car for a stretch of a 4-5 kilometers which they say is haunted and do not take late night drives there, even today !</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKbaiS9HMLdzcdz0MgfAwXUHKPLFjoAXZpek3oPZBAQgbUnf1HbcNyEeiOM28FS9ulZepVg_VG4zNcECKcs6N45SNCig_XxfHcTfl3ZTDDldpLC6uq3N4MREoizY4iBNMps-7NxfpcVz7/s1600/P1050415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKbaiS9HMLdzcdz0MgfAwXUHKPLFjoAXZpek3oPZBAQgbUnf1HbcNyEeiOM28FS9ulZepVg_VG4zNcECKcs6N45SNCig_XxfHcTfl3ZTDDldpLC6uq3N4MREoizY4iBNMps-7NxfpcVz7/s320/P1050415.JPG" width="320" /></a> <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Anyways, we went back to the reception and requested the gentleman to escort us and he himself left the reception to guide us to our rooms and thank god. The trip began with excitement and more at 5:00 AM the next day with all our woolens on as we moved ahead into the Jungle book for our total jungle experience but still at the back of our minds to check out the Sherkhan of this forest ! We had read that Kanha-Kisli is one of the diverse and most beautiful jungle of the country in terms of number of animals and birds you could sight here. Foreigners came in mostly for bird watching ! And the sanctuary was famous for the about-extinct Barasinghas (12 horned deer species, much larger than sambhars) which liven in the swamps of Kanha, the mighty Bisons which could throw a tiger by its kick and even over turn a tourists jeep and the Wild Dogs which can chase a tiger out of breathe and compete aggressively in hunting the same deer with a better success rate as they are in groups and can simply “cheer” (tear apart) anything ! </span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKjcEgajyzfvnhZYwFMwj4RuNNBlgyYlq9S_0Sfkq6HDM2qDAawK0Ta23pifT4tLHJ8Riy2pWeTlFuxTRgU7w2XXO4i4qyRoB6GPyVyKIQxFJUMJQ4uz1u6edsI9YqIys3kuML70eKsWk/s1600/P1050462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKjcEgajyzfvnhZYwFMwj4RuNNBlgyYlq9S_0Sfkq6HDM2qDAawK0Ta23pifT4tLHJ8Riy2pWeTlFuxTRgU7w2XXO4i4qyRoB6GPyVyKIQxFJUMJQ4uz1u6edsI9YqIys3kuML70eKsWk/s320/P1050462.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">We moved ahead and </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the forest was just amazing on an early morning at 5:00 AM</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">. It was dark and the morning began by a brown large hare crossing our path, before we could even dish out our cameras. I don’t know like a black cat was it lucky or unlucky, but we moved ahead ! It was reaaly larger than what one can think of – around 1.5 ft in length without adding a feet long ears ! We moved further and as the day broke, that first scene is even yet fresh in our minds. The fog was just at 5 feet above the ground – it was a thing feet long layer, where you could see everything below the belt and above, a very rare scene and the pink sunlight breaking made it more picturesque adding the beautiful fragrance of the forest, differenciating it from the neighbor Bandhavgarh. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><stroke joinstyle="miter"></stroke><formulas><f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></f><f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></f><f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></f><f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></f><f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></f></formulas><path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></shapetype><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfQURDm2UJY2rVbSyPERrbavHdX0dV3ZbdCcT5w_YV-iD2wOBONQJl8sIu_IMCBCF88Xy95334nUdgmJmBgFN_5m9Y46PK5gmVorFwzaKCcpxwDKXEV6-n4WJ1HJLCg9wQDwQX0nzpgY/s1600/P1050475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfQURDm2UJY2rVbSyPERrbavHdX0dV3ZbdCcT5w_YV-iD2wOBONQJl8sIu_IMCBCF88Xy95334nUdgmJmBgFN_5m9Y46PK5gmVorFwzaKCcpxwDKXEV6-n4WJ1HJLCg9wQDwQX0nzpgY/s320/P1050475.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">The same process of locating a tiger, by a call or pug marks began but nothing came our way till 8:00AM and then we knew its time to giveup for the morning as the big cat usually doesn’t roam around post the sun is up. The driver and guide were more disappointed than us, but that is what the difference between Kanha and BG is. In Kanha sighting a Tiger is a not as easy. The reason being the topography, the swaps, the long grass land which can easily camouflage the smart cat and more over the huge big jungle. But, on the otherside, it has so much to offer that we motiviated ourselves and moved ahead as the driver took us to a swapy area and there </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">we saw the rare Barasinghas</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> – not one but a group. It was a very different and beautiful animal, one can not even find anywhere else in the world. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVC8z_VQuJbj2T53ZioKEFPpYDwHdzmpA_J1W3AP1s3owFNjMDQDAkiAVMlPWDa4JviiSeGiviPHZXjLOwK8KPgQL0TBKUC75WXS1BHsAaTOyXFCKMGoF40j2__5BXZqeyPL_GxBT_Y0/s1600/P1050448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVC8z_VQuJbj2T53ZioKEFPpYDwHdzmpA_J1W3AP1s3owFNjMDQDAkiAVMlPWDa4JviiSeGiviPHZXjLOwK8KPgQL0TBKUC75WXS1BHsAaTOyXFCKMGoF40j2__5BXZqeyPL_GxBT_Y0/s320/P1050448.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">W</span></span><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">e moved further to look closely the herd of Bisons and the driver asked us to click pictures fast and move fearing if they charged the vehicle. More than the tiger, these big animals could be dangerous for the Indian tourists, some of whom don’t even think twice before wearing some Govinda- Red or <place w:st="on">Orange</place> colored t-shirt and wearing some morethan required axe-effect (guess a tigress would go gaga over him ?) or eat some sandwich or paratha in the jungle and last but not the least cant stay silent without chatting loudly with co-passengers. God, a </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bison should overturn one such tourist jeep</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">, then some of the jokers would learn a lesson !</span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">In our evening Safari, we yet searched for the Big cat. There were loud calls near a nullah (water stream like) . we waited there for an hour plus. There were other jeeps too. We saw the sambhars just in front of us shouting in a particular direction, which am sure was the Big cat, but there was no movement. The worst part was we heard a few roars, but seems the cat was sitting down and relaxing and would walk post it was dark. It was getting late and if we reach late at the gate their jeep permits and guide permits could get suspended for a week and these guys earn only in the 5-6 months when the tourists are around, that too when they get their names in turns. The monsoon months are to relax or alternate jobs. We decided to take a round nearby and comeback here, since if a tiger is there, it will not run or move that fast, we would spot it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, since we had read about the </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">wild dogs or dholes</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> as they locally say, we requested the guide to take us there and soon we approached a lake called Sravan Tal, where the chances of spotting a tiger is also easy especially in summers. We saw some </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">deers and monkeys</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> here, but little ahead, we hearing some running sound on the leaf and guess what some dogs – 4-5 of them were running. They were thin, reddish-brown and normal looking but strong. These were the wild-dogs, whom we followed for a while and then they vanished into the deep jungles. We then moved further and came across a cluster of jeeps looking at something, When we checked, we were told there are 2 sloth bears there. Everyone was showing us a black spot near a definite tree and we tried our best with the binoculars, 40x zoom handicams but could not see that black stuff moving. Post half an our – forty minutes wait we moved ahead on being satisfied at seeing the sloth bear which could be a stone too ! But the fact that there were honeybee womb near by and the bears like feeding upon honey and there were mahua trees which is the core diet of the fermented alcohol for the bears, the rest of guides were sure to have seen the bears here since a few days. Wish we could have seen it closer. We came back, but with bad luck for the second consecutive time. Guess, the hare shouldn’t have had crossed our path !!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9oAEVl6sfKS4Okzouqk3ACCLvWxwoRulIDW6WCNzOWkZLJUsfbgEkjfk9d06qDgvONWC5-F1VD8clAYyIKIy-edAkgddgSZI7DHMjwGOQ6VUJRxS1SSnP4BayTaljgLOyVmpYwP8NPeEl/s1600/P1050370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9oAEVl6sfKS4Okzouqk3ACCLvWxwoRulIDW6WCNzOWkZLJUsfbgEkjfk9d06qDgvONWC5-F1VD8clAYyIKIy-edAkgddgSZI7DHMjwGOQ6VUJRxS1SSnP4BayTaljgLOyVmpYwP8NPeEl/s320/P1050370.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">The next morning and our last safari at Kanha – All our prayers made, we reached the gate. Checking around for some information from the forest guards about any movements, but no one would share anything. The RFO whom we told that it was our last safari and his jungle was so beautiful, but we would not want to go without the tiger sighting was kind enough to reveal that there is a possibility of a tigress near the swamps and his elephants have left early in the morning to track it. We directly, without wasting much time went towards the area where we could see the elephants. The Mahouts (rider) said, he saw some movements in the morning. The day broke and more jeeps came around. There were atleast 5-6 of them. Soon all of a sudden, we saw the elephants reacting and to our left was a </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">mighty shiny tigress walking with all its pride</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">, letting the elephants know to beware- she is here. The mahouts were right. And soon, the tigress went inside the grassland and sat. The elephant safari began and we with more excitement and cameras and handicams on boarded the elephant and moved close to the tiger and soon saw it just from a 4 feet distance – with equal excitement and equal fear, that if we fell or if the elephant got afraid and even sat down near the tiger, it was the last day of our life. We captured some amazing moments of a stuff-toy like tigress rolling on the ground, with absolutely surf-ultra white chest and stomach which we saw while she rolled. We were told, she just had her meal and hence is lazy. It was a great moment seeing here eye to eye and that too for minutes put together. Was not feeling like moving back, but this elephant safari also has a time line of a 3-5 minutes and we were back to the jeep. We tipped the mahout for all his efforts and courage. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">As we moved ahead, we told the guide and the driver to take us to No. 7 ! The background behind number 7 was our information sought from the mahout (post tipping) on which one single place he recommends us to sight a tiger since it was our last day and he had said No. 7 tigress. Every tiger or tigresses are locally names after the area / territory they live in like Shravatal tiger ; living near the Shravantal or Siddh-baba tigress, spotted around the Siddh-baba temple area. Similarly, Saat Number or Number 7 was a tigress which had given birth to a few cubs a month back, so according to the mahout she would definitely be with her cubs and not too running or moving around, so we could chance seeing her. But the driver had a counter view that the same tigress in fear of her cubs getting hurt and being possessive had charged and chased a tourist jeep for half a kilometer and he would not want to risk it. We still persuaded him to take us there, but that bloody hare, we were yet unlucky this time too ! </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtMUtO1LUJfztLkcfZtqOGr2Hp_uXSxQwq-s4W3y-CbBWRHOrZuLGOQQ-O2rlEKyRnSE2xS9L2jZmNk-YLY1adl-H5WUPIaBSHZbCd0z-EuGdvzoqNSv5J3i3oRbMQD0kK8JNk4bmP-T2c/s1600/P1050426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtMUtO1LUJfztLkcfZtqOGr2Hp_uXSxQwq-s4W3y-CbBWRHOrZuLGOQQ-O2rlEKyRnSE2xS9L2jZmNk-YLY1adl-H5WUPIaBSHZbCd0z-EuGdvzoqNSv5J3i3oRbMQD0kK8JNk4bmP-T2c/s640/P1050426.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">It was getting late and we had to reach back to the gate in time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had seen almost all the animals in the wild till date, besides a leopard. Soon, as we were going out, there were very loud calls of deers and monkeys, maybe the loudest we had heard. It was sunny and the chances of a tiger walking was less, but who knows, there could be a tiger like me ! We stopped the engine and awaited. The calls were just coming from the front, 50 feet ahead of us and we could also spot deers looking towards a tree. Guess, what ? Thanks to Abhi’s binos and my 40x zoom handicam, </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">we spotted the much awaited – Leopard</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">. Though it was not very close, but it was a leopard, sitting beneath the tree and about to kill a prey, I guess. We were praying and wishing for the shiny yellow with black spotted cat to move closer, but on the contrary, the driver started the engine and asked us to quickly shoot pictures and he is about to zoom. The reason was that, unlike a lion or a tiger which would calmly and harmlessly walk a feet away from you, the leopard is one animal which could attack and kill humans and chase a jeep for long and at a 5x speed. We rushed away from the spot blessing the Hare which crossed our way to the first safari for such a pleasant sighting in the forest.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3ZCfJURHuRMyuA7z14dLXHWRJI24Fp_Q-aKGU3_dRndiY4zwNv57rKdZc6GP5sNdrDRSl8Ph4xuO5kvSuBzi-H-j8raTXgnqAdnSHqRdCTjfdM1w7-009H5ohBYUtSaVb3QfmbaLpXM/s1600/P1050413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3ZCfJURHuRMyuA7z14dLXHWRJI24Fp_Q-aKGU3_dRndiY4zwNv57rKdZc6GP5sNdrDRSl8Ph4xuO5kvSuBzi-H-j8raTXgnqAdnSHqRdCTjfdM1w7-009H5ohBYUtSaVb3QfmbaLpXM/s320/P1050413.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">But, the hare would have been killed, if it came in front, as what happened next on our way out is something one would have never expected in the least of ones thoughts. The jeep broke midway ! We were greedy and had let all other tourist jeeps go past us thinking that we will be the last ones to leave today being the last day and the disaster happened. The driver had no walky talky, mobile no network and there were no weapons in our hands to protect if any animal would charge us in the middle of the jungle in our Open jeep. The worst part was that the driver didn’t knew what was wrong and cluld not get down the jeep. When we intervened and forced him down (we were still on board) the jerk came and told us the fuel was over ! We swore and abused him as all of us were getting weird thoughts over that last 15 minutes we were stranded. The silence of the jungle which we had earlier praised and adored was killing. The scent of the forest we loved was now terrorizing us as psychologically, we could smell some animals too !! But, this is what adventure was all about ! I tried recording the situation on my handycam, which I did till the swearing and abuses being thrown at the driver turned towards me and I had to silently sit down shutting my gadgets ! We forced the driver to do something and soon he started walking towards the gate, which was around 3 kms for help and that too with just a stick in hand. The guide said, good we are closer to the gate and the risk is not as much, but the fact was that the risk was still there. Listening to our prayers, God, sent a forest rescue van, which was coincidentally passing by, which stopped and gave us a lift till the gate. And that was an end to our great wildlife experience at Rudyard Kiplings- Kanha !</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">TAG WORDS: </span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Kanha National Park</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Tiger Safari</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Wildlife in India</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Junglebook</span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div></div><img height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3ZCfJURHuRMyuA7z14dLXHWRJI24Fp_Q-aKGU3_dRndiY4zwNv57rKdZc6GP5sNdrDRSl8Ph4xuO5kvSuBzi-H-j8raTXgnqAdnSHqRdCTjfdM1w7-009H5ohBYUtSaVb3QfmbaLpXM/s200/P1050413.JPG" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 570px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 240px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" /> </div>Empower Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679712228632124915noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7820922266191102915.post-1885166620388464882011-01-10T22:39:00.001+05:302011-03-19T12:05:23.606+05:30Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve - The baap of Kruger scene<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Zurich Cn BT'; font-size: 14pt;">Tigers chasing Sambar – The Baap of Kruger Scene ! </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Zurich Cn BT'; font-size: 14pt;">2 Tigers on Land and 2 Crocodiles in water await to kill the Sambar</span></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Zurich Cn BT'; font-size: 16pt;"></span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: DE;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Tadoba (Nagpur), 12-14 Nov 09</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Met the Chief Forest Officer, Thane Zone, IFS (Indian Forest Service Officer, equivalent to an IAS) – Shree Bhagwan a few months back with connection to business. Myself being a wild life enthusiast got into some long drawn conversations which resulted in live experiences and future of the Wild Life in <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">India</country-region></place> shared quite passionately by Shree Bhagwan. I shared my poor perception of wild-life in Maharashtra purely on my experiences at Melghat Tiger Reserve, Chikaldhara and on the under developed Sanjay Gandhi National Park which has immense potential but no-one doing much about it, and the way Madhya Pradesh has projected its sanctuaries like Bandahvgarh, Kanha and Pench. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Shree Bhagwan differed with me saying that one should go to Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (625 Sq. km), which is just 150 kms from <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Nagpur</place></city>. Shree Bhagwan had headed Tadoba around 2003-2006 and he was passionate enough to show me some brilliant pictures of tigers and other animals there and I parked his views in my mind. We had discussions on my experiences of Wild life across <country-region w:st="on">India</country-region> and <country-region w:st="on">South Africa</country-region> and what can turn around the same in <place w:st="on">Maharashtra</place> and the same was taken in positive spirit by Bhagwan ji and each point was given a logical reasoning and view which a layman can not have. The discussion with such a wild life lover and a passionate IFS official was very enriching and remained in my mind and months passed by.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">One fine day, had plans to visit <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Nagpur</city></place> and the thought lying in the corner of my mind lighted up. I communicated with Shree Bhagwan and he was kind enough to meet me and spend some time guiding and mentoring me on Tadoba-Andhari.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH2i1Vwdfc6NsgUj3Bek93sPxlnEICOuhplTCrq46MpTVMd4rWx4HN5AX2QVV7DODFJrDSEqQvps8jzIjBIR9-8-hKy3_jheiFJxrkj039RipgaYMOcJSqIOjP5QlZeG9EEYnAxgXrs7E3/s1600/Tadoba+TOI+Front+Page+16+Nov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH2i1Vwdfc6NsgUj3Bek93sPxlnEICOuhplTCrq46MpTVMd4rWx4HN5AX2QVV7DODFJrDSEqQvps8jzIjBIR9-8-hKy3_jheiFJxrkj039RipgaYMOcJSqIOjP5QlZeG9EEYnAxgXrs7E3/s320/Tadoba+TOI+Front+Page+16+Nov.jpg" width="227" /></a></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">And then, the Headlines followed. We saw a breath taking scene, though post a long patient wait of 4 hours and the scene can be termed as a Baap of Kruger (No.1 National Park of the world). Usually, the scene of Tiger chasing a prey and killing is quite common – all would have seen on Discovery, but a situation, where 2 Tigers <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>chasing a Sambar and the Sambar survives by jumping into the water, but unfortunately 2 Crocodiles await their prey and the battle goes on for 24 hours and finally makes the Headlines of Times of India – Front page on 16<sup>th</sup> November 2009.</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">I witnessed the same and was able to capture a 35 minutes live video of the battle and Star News and Star Maza took my Interview and the same along with my video which was broadcasted on the National television at Prime time 9:30 PM on 16<sup>th</sup> November (Attached the News video)</span></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.5in 0pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYx55YumIay_11I5Dns7PPURkDna4l4FI4mIAViDEwKItadlOFu7Zg5SF80Blo346XkSou3fA-LB2HaHm-xX64OOzVrEiseTmYDBbIxQdAnBRp3v_kWLpxIlw8VyRZlR4tGArIXSq8uIX9/s1600/JM+TADOBA+STAR+NEWS+PIC.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYx55YumIay_11I5Dns7PPURkDna4l4FI4mIAViDEwKItadlOFu7Zg5SF80Blo346XkSou3fA-LB2HaHm-xX64OOzVrEiseTmYDBbIxQdAnBRp3v_kWLpxIlw8VyRZlR4tGArIXSq8uIX9/s400/JM+TADOBA+STAR+NEWS+PIC.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><stroke joinstyle="miter"></stroke><formulas><f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></f><f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></f><f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></f><f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></f><f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></f></formulas><path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></shapetype><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"> JALPESH MEHTA ON STAR NEWS EXPLAINING THE KILLER SCENE OF TADOBA ANDHARI TIGER RESERVE </span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.5in 0pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The World class battle of Kruger</span></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The famous Battle of Kruger, which took place in <country-region w:st="on">South Africa</country-region>’s <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Kruger</placename> <placetype w:st="on">National Park</placetype></place> is one of the most widely-watched vidoes, after being posted on YouTube in 2007, it depicts how a buffalo calf, which is separated from its herd, survives a tug-of-war between a pride of lions and a few crocodiles. Soon after, the buffalo herd, in a stunning display of courage, regroups to rescue their young one, with full-grown members chasing away the lions. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The Rare <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Battle</place></city> of Tadoba-Andhari</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYmDBaoHAgUYi5SPSU3cIO3YZodaQDH2y9iRckn_BpTMfUAiLfncwpgbcuVeGH-jTi2NoPbCP0pr2bFn3X_OQpGOfGgapaWoB5s7fcdR__HWuWKOUw2hbJIQnlnQ49oE7Fize_9UwjZn6Q/s1600/DSC03382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYmDBaoHAgUYi5SPSU3cIO3YZodaQDH2y9iRckn_BpTMfUAiLfncwpgbcuVeGH-jTi2NoPbCP0pr2bFn3X_OQpGOfGgapaWoB5s7fcdR__HWuWKOUw2hbJIQnlnQ49oE7Fize_9UwjZn6Q/s320/DSC03382.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">It was Telia Lake of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve where the battle went on for 24 hourson 13-14 Nov 2009</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"></span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">13 Nov : 6:30 AM :</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> The poor Sambar (The Bigger deer species with long horns) was there grazing on the banks and suddenly 2 tigers attacked, but the sambar was lucky enough to run down the water and save its life, but it never knew that 2 crocodiles were awaiting their dinner ! The tigers went back, but were hiding in the bushes for the Sambar to come out. The Sambar struggled from the crocodiles who finally gave up and the Sambar came on the banks and the injured Sambar, unable to walk came out.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrtjd7SkqaWJfa5PrLbD3GxaIJwkHKJ1nXgdBNCzprq4f_-wxWnypD67Hrz-JPn7EKZaHq9YUCRZt515Cjxm17i9b5T-Rp6Z0f9tTsJ7ZGexZjmgtmJzzUeKTqxyvkj_PB7hKGggZd9A/s1600/DSC03400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrtjd7SkqaWJfa5PrLbD3GxaIJwkHKJ1nXgdBNCzprq4f_-wxWnypD67Hrz-JPn7EKZaHq9YUCRZt515Cjxm17i9b5T-Rp6Z0f9tTsJ7ZGexZjmgtmJzzUeKTqxyvkj_PB7hKGggZd9A/s400/DSC03400.JPG" width="400" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">13 Nov : 5:30 PM :</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"> We sat in our jeeps (only 4-5 in the whole park, unlike 50 in Kanha) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>from 2 PM and at 5:30 PM saw the female tiger slowly coming out of the bushes and strategizing her secret moves to attack. She took the way from water and then the bushes and finally attached but was unlucky again. I was able to capture the whole <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>live incident on my Sony Handicam with 2000X Zoom. <br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">14 Nov : 6:30 AM</b> : When we entered the park, the brave Samber had already lost its battle in the night and the Tiger was enjoying its breakfast and the 24 hours long battle thus ended.</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><shape id="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 172.9pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 243pt; margin-top: 1.4pt; position: absolute; text-align: left; width: 243pt; z-index: 1;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata cropbottom="4046f" o:title="" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\124376\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image007.png"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></imagedata></shape><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">A Background on TADOBA :</span></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Tadoba is Dry Deciduous Forest of Central India with lots of leafy bushes, meadows and Bamboo trees. There are 3 ranges – Moharali, Tadoba and Kolasa. Main area is Moharali which is close to Chandrapur – just 25 kms and there are other gates like Kolara gates and Navegaon gates which are much closer to <city w:st="on">Nagpur</city>, if one is coming from <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Nagpur</place></city> – saves an hour. The Park is a Tiger Project and claims that there are 40 Tigers in the park. Other animals include panther, bison, sloth bear, hyaena, jackal, wild dog, blue bull, sambhar, cheetal, barking deer, four-horned antelope, chinkara, hare, porcupine, langur etc. There is a variety of Birds – around 140 and reptiles and insects. One should not miss the huge Cob webs and Spiders in the jungles of Kolasa. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJa_zbzA7O1fBKuBodcLyONPMguwtKAAw04KBiWXPuMRLzx0hlDny-7U0cN6_BdPCb97St-pROlsdHkiVKHI8gQ32-yZYz2Vpx3oTPvZaBc7kt1fvtkwuKcVCEV3pTZjiiQOYFr3J_aQ/s1600/DSC03478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJa_zbzA7O1fBKuBodcLyONPMguwtKAAw04KBiWXPuMRLzx0hlDny-7U0cN6_BdPCb97St-pROlsdHkiVKHI8gQ32-yZYz2Vpx3oTPvZaBc7kt1fvtkwuKcVCEV3pTZjiiQOYFr3J_aQ/s320/DSC03478.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">How to reach : </span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">This National Park is in the Nagpur-Chandrapur district, easily accessible with good roads – takes 2-2.5 hrs from <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Nagpur</city></place> (directly to Kolara or Navegaon gate) or through Chandrapur to Mohrali gate.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Jeep Safari : </span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">The only developed area is Mohrali (25 kms from Chandrapur) or one can say commercial – around 6-20 jeeps enter this gate while other gates hardly get 2-3. This gives you a place with less tourists like BG and Kanha and once can also have a little leniency in terms of timings. The park opens to Jeep Safaris (from 6AM to 11AM and 2PM to 6PM). We were there for just 3 safaris (1 Morning and 2 evenings). There are not much jeeps and hence no unions which has its own merits and demerits. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Places to stay : </span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">There were foreigners but not as much as in MP and may be this is what is lacking for the development – lack of awareness, hence lesser footfalls, hence lesser business opportunities, hence lesser commercialization (eg. Not many good hotels to stay except MTDC, Saras and moderate rates -1200-1400 for AC rooms and Tiger Trails – around 5000. There are not much private hotels and resorts either. Eating restaurants are also limited to 2-3. Chandrapur is also a decent option to stay (Hotels Sidhartha, <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">Hotel</placetype> <placename w:st="on">Kundan</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Plaza</placetype></place>)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">The People, Guides, <place w:st="on">Forest</place> Officials :</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> The place gives you a real upcountry feel as not much developed or commercialized like Kanha and Bandhavgarh. There are still some villages in the park area and yet to rehabilitated, so you may find some adivasi – tribals cycling or walking around which is not so common in BG and Kanha.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The Guides and <place w:st="on">Forest</place> systems are good and well trained, they have exchange programmes and trainings at BG and Kanha.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The Animal tracking is a but different here - No calls of Cheetal or Monkeys over movements of the Tiger or No common tracking of the Tigers movement like pug marks by guides or jeep guys who would identify an area where tigers are frequenting and all would try the luck there, which in most probability helps see the tigers. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunbpM1Vp-5JVD6bLr-PhmgoBRH_AiK0LKqsa9McU44EikKQjVIia_yEEt66hSHSpfZdzknyivnzPExk9cxCGsnRGlQnl_Cu6-khZc2-D_dVhiwALn2FbcuPyMAh_dv_plkJTGwJKUvV7o/s1600/DSC03419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunbpM1Vp-5JVD6bLr-PhmgoBRH_AiK0LKqsa9McU44EikKQjVIia_yEEt66hSHSpfZdzknyivnzPExk9cxCGsnRGlQnl_Cu6-khZc2-D_dVhiwALn2FbcuPyMAh_dv_plkJTGwJKUvV7o/s320/DSC03419.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Coverage of entire ranges</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> – There are 3 ranges. Drivers of <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Mohrali</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Range</placetype></place> prefer staying around Mohrali only and usually avoid going too far to other ranges like Tadoba or Kolasa giving fake excuses that there are not much sighting etc and the first timers get fooled. The reason of this is to save fuel and efforts driving (they charge Rs. 1300 for each safari and if they make you sit at one place waiting for the animal they save the whole cost). Believe me, the best forest so far I have seen is the Kolasa, which beats even Kanha in terms of the feel of forest. It was just one jeep and the roads are much less travelled with absolutely bushy roads with just two tyre lanes and huge long bushes even on the middle of the road and lot of greenery. It gives you that irky feeling of what if the jeep breaks down here as there are no other jeeps or connectivity – Kolasa drive is a must and there are some points where one can sight animals, though we didn’t like – Kakadghat, Ambewadi, Shravani Zari etc.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Some Useful Numbers :</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Jeep Owners : Sameer Maji – 9325770530, Anil Tewade – 9579010493, (They can organize the stay etc without any charges) –Jeep Fees – Rs 1300 per safari; Guide Fee – Rs 100, Entry – Per Jeep – Rs 50,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>per Person – Rs 20. Forest Office – TADOBA – 07172 251414; <place w:st="on">Forest</place> Officer Chandrapur – 0712 2528953/2552518/2765</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">My Views on TADOBA and Wild Life Tourism in <place w:st="on">Maharashtra</place> : </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Most of us think of beaches or hills or pilgrimage when we think of holidaying near our home – Mumbai, somewhere close for 2-4 days or a weekend trips. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wild Life which is a very exotic and upcoming tourism (<place w:st="on">Africa</place>’s leading revenue making industry) – the problem is </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Zurich BT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Zurich BT';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">(a)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Indians have not really taken this sort of a tourism so seriously, though there is a niche segment. –(My mother says, why do you have to go to such deep forests and for so many days just to see tigers – you can go to the zoo – The mentality of Indian tourism is primarily Beaches, Hills and Pilgrimage no matter however crowded they are !) In this age when space tourism or Horror tourism (you are taken to real haunted places where you “may” encounter ghosts or spirits) are evolving, <country-region w:st="on">India</country-region> should look beyond the typical holidaying and wild life is such an area where more foreigners come as compared to <place w:st="on">Goa</place> ! Many <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yound Indians are getting into Adventure Tourism and that’s a good sign.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Zurich BT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Zurich BT';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">(b)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The experience of Wild Life tourism has to be better than what one gets in the routine holidaying and that is what <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">South Africa</place></country-region> and many National Parks like Kanha or Bandhavgarh have achieved. <place w:st="on">Maharashtra</place> is way behind.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Melghat (Chikaldhara, near Badnera Rly Station) was the saddest experience in wild life in Maharashtra, where could not see a small mouse in the forest, no regrets, but regrets over the poor attitude of the forest officials – the babu culture where they ridiculed the far claimed tiger project names by just a 30 minute safari on some jungle roads, where you literally don’t find any single insect, bird or animal and the guide had to be forcefully picked from home as no one in the village was willing to come unlike other places where the forest department has evolved the lives of local adivasis (tribals) bu uplifting them rehabilitating them and creating multiple job opportunities for them (guides, trekers, helpers, drives, jeep safari owners, restauranters and even employees of forest departments etc) despite of their illiteracy and lack of communication skills. If I could, would want the park to be delisted from being a Sanctuary but am told maybe the landscape of Chikaldhara is such hilly and terraineous unlike Kanha, BG. But in that case the place should not be promoted for tourism but should be maintained as a Core Area only.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Tadoba was great experience but luck factor was also strong. But Tadoba speaks of the future of Wild Life in <place w:st="on">Maharashtra</place> and the scene sighted above is a challenge to all the national parks where tourists could see such a scene at all !</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Bandhav Garh, Kanha, Pench in Madhya Pradesh or Ranthambhore in Rajasthan or even Jim Corbett have created a brand of theirs that attract tourists. Not that they have assured or 100% probability of sighting (Have know many who have spend days in the park with futile efforts to sight a tiger), but the awareness is so strong (through media, word of mouth etc) and the commercialization is strong (Good lodging, boarding, infrastructure, roads, security etc), that people visit these parks. Besides being Commercial, they provide great hospitality and service as they know that their house runs on the same – Right from Hotels, government officials to locals and that is one more reason. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The distance or reachability is also discounted. BG or Kanha are the most difficult to reach parks in terms of airport and rail connectivity (eg. To go to BG from Mumbai, one has to go by train to Katni or by flight to <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Jabalpur</place></city> and travel by bad roads for 3-4 hours, but still lots of people come – lots of foreigners come as these places are becoming brands and the government plays a major role. The same happens if this Industry is taken seriously or the Department of Forest has some strong weight in the respective State. Or the last way is, if the Minister is a strong person with a vision and passion and a will to change things. In <place w:st="on">Maharashtra</place>, the new <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Forest <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Minister</b>,<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>is<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Shri. Patangrao Kadam</b> and he is known for his administrative skills and the way he has mould the education industry and I sincerely hope and appeal to the Hon. Minister to help evolve the Wild Life Industry in Maharashtra. And hope to have more IFS officers like Shree Bhagwan who have given their lives for forests and wildlife and on whose names there are villages (In Tadoba, people have renamed their village as Bhagwanpur as the IFS Officer had rehabilitated the tribals and had helped them evolve in lives and had helped the Forest evolve as a valuable park.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfymDd4dzODZXT3SwSFGZQAeS4xyAunRMtc-uu64K0-esz75F2QgC0ogz8OaDz69Mz7wH2ige_6NFaemCyldcHyBcpYiYJTzdvtrOpJ94ctSm_NaDyZntd5zwPaAcW1NHOcl29SCn_FNwi/s1600/Tigress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfymDd4dzODZXT3SwSFGZQAeS4xyAunRMtc-uu64K0-esz75F2QgC0ogz8OaDz69Mz7wH2ige_6NFaemCyldcHyBcpYiYJTzdvtrOpJ94ctSm_NaDyZntd5zwPaAcW1NHOcl29SCn_FNwi/s320/Tigress.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJ7t8uPgvjKr75Xmd7xlfBEpdlCar5fCQTkJH5q2IFUEfLqPWHhlgshWsiJrRtfSeZa4TuutC9y1yU72krrg5SNAya8eqGeBvoSA_NLqnnhmtjL28YENzWlYJgWI3jq9UyeZWUvW5cuAs/s1600/DSC03560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJ7t8uPgvjKr75Xmd7xlfBEpdlCar5fCQTkJH5q2IFUEfLqPWHhlgshWsiJrRtfSeZa4TuutC9y1yU72krrg5SNAya8eqGeBvoSA_NLqnnhmtjL28YENzWlYJgWI3jq9UyeZWUvW5cuAs/s320/DSC03560.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><place w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Maharashtra</span></place><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> is usually known for Beaches, Hills and Pilgrimage, but Wild Life is also abundant here. Tadoba, Melghat and Pench (One portion is in MP and other in Maharashtra) and even Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai – these can be developed and promoted very well and can attract good tourists as well as revenue to the state. Hope the state looks beyond Electricity, Sugarcane and Commerce !</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div></div>Empower Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679712228632124915noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7820922266191102915.post-11047574471519824152011-01-07T18:48:00.007+05:302011-02-19T20:14:10.387+05:30Project Tiger<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Project Tiger</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> is a wildlife conservation movement initiated in India in 1972 to protect Tigers. The project aims at tiger conservation in specially constituted Tiger Reserves representative of various regions throughout <country-region w:st="on">India</country-region> and strives to maintain viable populations of <place w:st="on">Bengal</place> tigers in their natural environment.</span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In 2008, there were more than 40 Project Tiger reserves covering an area over 37,761 km<sup>2</sup> (14,580 sq mi). Project Tiger helped to increase the population of these tigers from 1,200 in the 1970s to 3,500 in 1990s. However, a 2008 census held by the Government of India revealed that the tiger population had dropped to 1,411. Since then the government has pledged US$153 million to further fund the project, set-up a Tiger Protection Force to combat poaches and fund the relocation of up to 200,000 villagers to minimize human-tiger conflicts.</span><br />
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Goals and objectives</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Project Tiger was meant to identify the limiting factors and to mitigate them by suitable management. The damages done to the habitat were to be rectified so as to facilitate the recovery of the ecosystem to the maximum possible extent.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The following potential tiger habitats are being covered:<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Tiger#cite_note-0#cite_note-0">[1]</a></sup></span></span></div><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sivalik–Terai Conservation Unit (UP, Uttaranchal, Bihar & WB), and in Nepal</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">North east Conservation Unit </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sunderbans Conservation Unit </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Central Indian Conservation Unit </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Eastern Ghat Conservation Unit </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Western Ghat Conservation Unit </span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Organisation</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Project Tiger is administered by the National Tiger Conservation Authority. The overall administration of the project is monitored by a <i>Steering Committee</i>. A <i>Field Director</i> is appointed for each reserve, who is assisted by the field and technical personnel. At the centre, a full-fledged <i>Director</i> of the project coordinates the work for the country.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Wireless communication system and outstation patrol camps have been developed within the tiger reserves, due to which poaching has declined considerably. Fire protection engineering is carried out by suitable preventive and control measures. Villages have been relocated in many reserves, especially from core areas. Livestock grazing has been controlled to a great extent in the tiger reserves. Various compensatory developmental works have improved the water regime and the ground and field level vegetation, thereby increasing the animal density.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">History</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The tiger population in <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">India</country-region></place> at the turn of the 19th century was estimated at 45,000 individuals. The first ever all-<place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">India</country-region></place> tiger census was conducted in 1972 which revealed the existence of only 1827 tigers. In 1973, the project was launched in Palamau Tiger Reserve, and various tiger reserves were created in the country based on a 'core-buffer' strategy. For each tiger reserve, management plans were drawn up based on the following principles:</span></div><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Elimination of all forms of human exploitation and biotic disturbance from the core area and rationalization of activities in the buffer zone. </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">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 eco-system to its natural state. </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Monitoring the faunal and floral changes over time and carrying out research about wildlife. </span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Global organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) contributed much funding to Project Tiger. Eventually, however, it was discovered that the project's field directors had been manipulating tiger census numbers in order to encourage more financial support. In fact, the numbers were so exaggerated as to be biologically impossible in some cases. In addition, Project Tiger's efforts were damaged by poaching, as well as the Sariska debacle and the latest Namdapha tragedy, both of which were reported extensively in the Indian media.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The landmark report, <i>Status of the Tigers, Co-predators, and Prey in India</i>, published in 2007 by the National Tiger Conservation Authority estimates only 1411 adult tigers in existence in India, plus uncensused tigers in the Sundarbans</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The project to map all the forest reserves in <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">India</country-region></place> has not been completed yet, though the Ministry of Environment and Forests had sanctioned INR </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">13 million for the same in March 2004.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Forest Rights Act passed by the Indian government in 2006 recognises the rights of some forest dwelling communities in forest areas. This has led to controversy over implications of such recognition for tiger conservation. Some have argued that this is problematic as it will increase conflict and opportunities for poaching; some also assert that "tigers and humans cannot exist". Others argue that this is a limited perspective that overlooks the reality of human-tiger coexistence and the role of abuse of power by authorities, rather than local people, in the tiger crisis. This position was supported by the Government of India's Tiger Task Force, and is also taken by some forest dwellers' organisations.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Future plans</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Wildlife protection and crime risk management in the present scenario requires a widely distributed <i>Information Network</i>, using state-of-the-art information and communication technology. This becomes all the more important to ensure the desired level of protection in field formations to safeguard the impressive gains of a focused project like 'Project Tiger'. The important elements in wildlife protection and control are: Mapping/Plot (graphics)plotting the relative spatial abundance of wild animals, identification of risk factors, proximity to risk factors, 'sensitivity categorization', 'crime mapping' and immediate action for apprehending the offenders based on effective networking and communication.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Space technology has shown the interconnectivity of natural and anthropogenic</span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">phenomena occurring anywhere on earth. Several tiger reserves are being linked with the Project Tiger Directorate in the GIS domain for <i>Wildlife Crime Risk Management</i>. A 'Tiger Atlas of India' and a 'Tiger Habitat and Population Evaluation System' for the country is being developed using state-of-the-art technology. This involves:</span></div><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Mapping, data acquisition and GIS modeling </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Field data collection and validation </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Data Maintenance, dissemination and use </span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Satellite data is being used and classified into vegetation and land use maps on a 1:50,000 scale, with digitized data relating to contour, villages, roads, drainage, administrative boundaries and soil. The spatial layers would be attached with attribute data, viz. human population, livestock population, meteorological data, agricultural information and field data pertaining to wildlife, habitat for evolving regional protocols to monitor tigers and their habitat.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Conservation of tigers and their prey species faces challenges from the need for income, lack of awareness, and lack of land use policy in landscapes having Tiger Reserves.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TAGS :</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Project Tiger</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Credits and Reference - wikipidea</span></div></div>Empower Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679712228632124915noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7820922266191102915.post-60910369894922051052011-01-07T18:47:00.002+05:302011-01-07T18:47:54.074+05:30The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 has been amended to provide for constituting of the National Tiger Conservation Authority responsible for implementation of the Project Tiger Plan to protect endangered tigers. The National Tiger Conservation Authority is set up under the Chairmanship of the Minister for Environment & Forests. The Authority will have eight experts or professionals having qualifications and experience in wildlife conservation and welfare of people including tribals, apart from three Members of Parliament of whom two will be elected by the House of the People and one by the Council of States. The Inspector General of Forests, in charge of project Tiger, will be ex-officio Member Secretary.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The Authority, interalia, would lay down normative standards, guidelines for tiger conservation in the Tiger Reserves, apart from National Parks and Sanctuaries. It would provide information on protection measures including future conservation plan, tiger estimation, disease surveillance, mortality survey, patrolling, report on untoward happenings and such other management aspects as it may deem fit, including future plan for conservation.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The Authority would also facilitate and support tiger reserve management in the States through eco-development and people's participation as per approved management plans, and support similar initiatives in adjoining areas consistent with the Central and state laws.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The Tiger Conservation Authority would be required to prepare an Annual Report, which would be laid in the Parliament along with the Audit Report.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">State level Steering Committees will be set up in the Tiger States under the Chairmanship of respective Chief Ministers. As recommended by the Tiger Task Force constituted by the Prime Minister, this has been done with a view for ensuring coordination, monitoring and protection of tigers in the States.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">A provision has been made for the State Governments to prepare a Tiger Conservation Plan, which would include staff development, their deployment to ensure protection of tiger reserves and its development, while ensuring compatible forestry operations in adjoining areas. Further, safeguards have been provided for ensuring the agricultural, livelihood, developmental and other interests of the people living inside a forest or in and around a tiger reserve. The core as well as buffer areas have been explicitly explained to avoid ambiguity.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Provision will be made for the States to establish a Tiger Conservation Foundation, based on the good practices emanating from some tiger reserves. The proposed Foundation is a Trust, which would be constituted as per the appropriate statutory provisions in vogue in the State. It will have administrative autonomy as delegated by the State Government for fund generation to foster eco-tourism, eco-development and related activities involving the local people.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2006</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2006 (No. 39 of 2006) has come into force on 4 September 2006. The Act provides for creating the National Tiger Conservation Authority and the Tiger and Other Endangered Species Crime Control Bureau (Wildlife Crime Control Bureau).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The implementation over the years has highlighted the need for a statutory authority with legal backing to ensure tiger conservation. On the basis of the recommendations of National Board for Wild Life, a Task Force was set up to look into the problems of tiger conservation in the country. The recommendations of the Task Force, inter alia include strengthening of Project Tiger by giving it statutory and administrative powers, apart from creating the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau. It has also recommended that an annual report should be submitted to the Central Government for laying in Parliament, so that commitment to Project Tiger is reviewed from time to time, in addition to addressing the concerns of local people.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The National Tiger Conservation Authority would facilitate MoU with States within our federal set up for tiger conservation. It will provide for an oversight by Parliament as well. Further, it will address livelihood interests of local people in areas surrounding Tiger Reserves, apart from ensuring that the rights of Scheduled Tribes and such other people living nearby are not interfered or adversely affected. The core (critical) and buffer (peripheral) areas have been defined, while safeguarding the interests of Scheduled Tribes and such other forest dwellers.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The functions and powers of the Authority, inter alia include : approval of Tiger Conservation Plan prepared by States, laying down normative standards for tiger conservation, providing information on several aspects which include protection, tiger estimation, patrolling, etc., ensuring measures for addressing man-wild animal conflicts and fostering co-existence with local people, preparing annual report for laying before Parliament, constitution of Steering Committee by States, preparation of tiger protection and conservation plans by States, ensuring agricultural, livelihood interests of people living in and around Tiger Reserves, establishing the tiger conservation foundation by States for supporting their development.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The Notification of the National Tiger Conservation Authority has been issued on 4 September 2006, for a period of three years, with the Minister for Environment and Forests as its Chairperson and the Minister of State for Environment and Forests as the Vice-chairperson. The official members include Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Director General of Forests and Special Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Chairperson, National Commission for the Scheduled Tribes, Chairperson National Commission for the Scheduled Castes, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Director, Wildlife Preservation, Ministry of Environment and Forests and six Chief Wildlife Wardens (in rotation from Tiger Reserve States) (Arunachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttaranchal). Three Members of Parliament would be nominated by the Parliament. The Ministry of Law and Justice would also be nominating an officer. The Ministry of Environment and Forests is in the process of selecting the eight non-official experts or professionals having prescribed qualifications and experience, of which at least two shall be from the field of tribal development. The Inspector General of Forests in charge of Project Tiger shall be the Member Secretary of the Authority.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The Ministry is in the process of creating the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, invoking the provisions created after the recent amendment. The Bureau would collate intelligence relating to wildlife crime, ensure coordination with State Governments and other Authorities through its set up, apart from developing infrastructure and capacity building for scientific and professional investigation into wildlife crimes and assist the State Governments in successful prosecution of such crimes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The penalty for an offence relating to the core area of a tiger reserve or hunting in the reserve has been increased. The first conviction in such offence shall be punishable with imprisonment not less than three years but may extend to seven years, and also with fine not less than fifty thousand rupees but may extend to two lakh rupees. The second or subsequent conviction would lead to imprisonment not less than seven years, and also with fine not less than five lakh rupees, which may extend to fifty lakh rupees.</span></div>Empower Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679712228632124915noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7820922266191102915.post-80883515724715586022011-01-07T18:47:00.000+05:302011-01-07T18:47:18.839+05:30National Tiger Conservation Authority<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">National Tiger Conservation Authority</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The National Tiger Conservation Authority was established in December 2005 following a recommendation of the Tiger Task Force constituted by the Prime Minister of India for reorganized management of Project Tiger and the many Tiger Reserves in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">India</place></country-region>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Tiger conservation</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">In June 2007, a detailed survey by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), which used accurate camera traps for counting tigers rather than the more traditional method of counting footprints (pugmarks), reported that previous estimates of tiger numbers in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">India</place></country-region> may be hugely optimistic. The landmark report, Status of the Tigers, Co-predators, and Prey in <country-region w:st="on">India</country-region>, published by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, estimates only 1411 adult tigers in existence in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">India</place></country-region> (plus uncensused tigers in the Sundarbans)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">For example, in the 16 reserves of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, <place w:st="on">Maharashtra</place> and Chhattisgarh there may be only 490 tigers – a 60% reduction from the 1,233 tigers previously estimated for these areas in 2002. Indeed, the same 2002 survey had claimed that in total, <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">India</place></country-region> had 3,500 tigers, whilst the new survey claims that just 1,400 remain.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Although <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">India</place></country-region> does have good laws governing tiger conservation, there is frustration amongst those working in tiger conservation that these laws are not being adequately implemented. However, initiatives such as Born Free’s community and education work in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">India</place></country-region> are getting good results.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Translocating villagers out of tiger reserves can be effective too, if sensitively done. The villagers get access to schools and health care and can farm without risk of attack, the tigers’ prey flourishes in the absence of disturbance, and poachers’ activities are harder to disguise. In <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">China</place></country-region>, the domestic trade in tiger body parts was banned 14 years ago. However, there are at least 5,000 tigers in tiny cages in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">China</place></country-region>, reportedly just for display.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Nevertheless, farmers seem quite open about the fact that tigers are killed so their body parts can be used for Traditional Medicine. At the CITES¹ conference in June, there was a proposal from <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">China</place></country-region> to amend the Convention text governing the trade in tiger parts. This would have effectively given <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">China</place></country-region> the go-ahead to trade in ‘parts and derivatives’ from captive bred tigers. Thankfully this proposal was rejected by the CITES Parties, and instead a landmark decision taken, which states that ‘tigers should not be bred for trade in their parts and derivatives’. Will this decision see the end of tiger farming in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">China</place></country-region>? Only time will tell.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The most recent audit of wild tigers by the Authority (in early 2008) has estimated the number at 1411 wild tigers - 1165 - 1657 allowing for statistical error - a drop of 60% in the past decade</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div>Empower Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679712228632124915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7820922266191102915.post-91509996855124005592011-01-07T18:45:00.003+05:302011-01-07T18:53:33.047+05:30Wildlife Conservation and Empower Foundation...<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Zurich Blk BT';">Wild Life and Nature Conservation</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Each one of us encounters China atleast once a day, either when we see a traffic signal urchin selling a Chinese toy or colleague carrying a new expensive looking cheap Chinese gadget to an extent that even the traditional Indian items like the lanterns for diwali (festival of light) and the idols of Lord Ganesha (the Indian elephant God) are made in China. We either appreciate or or crib about</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">China</country-region></place> for its mass production strategy almost taking over the Indian market. Having said all, <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">China</place></country-region> definitely has given a dent in the Indian Economy and even the wildlife sector has not remained untouched of this dent.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">All would have seen the 1411 Tigers and Save the Tigers Campaign, but, one of the biggest hand in the declining population of our National Animal is <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">China</country-region></place> ! The hunting for Chinese medicine and fur is the biggest cause of decline of the tigers.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The Wild Indian and Empower Foundation with this blog is trying to give all Indians a brief background on the whole issue with some way forwards too.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Zurich Blk BT';">A Background :</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Nearly one tiger is getting killed everyday in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">India</place></country-region> despite many Tiger conservation programs, mainly due to habitat loss and indiscriminate poaching for pelts, bones and teeth used to make medicines allegedly providing the tigers strength. A 40000 Tigers number at the beginning of the 20<sup>th</sup> Century is at just 1411 today !</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">For a poor Indian farmer, for whom word suicide is like common cold, the money from selling a tiger equals six months of hard work on the fields, no wonder killing an endangered animal seems a tempting option. Tiger pelts can fetch up to $12,500 to $15000 in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">China</place></country-region>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Infact, there are poaching tribes existing in the country, many of them are caught with the tiger skins and bones and are spending their lives behind bars.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">As per data by greendiary, even in the woods of Ranthambhore, the only dry deciduous tiger habitat in the world to spot the elusive cat, the tiger population has dwindled to just 35. Meanwhile, the number of people living next to the park has more than tripled, from 70,000 in 1980 to 250,000 today. The new arrivals have brought construction, logging and nearly 1 million grazing livestock. Even as their habitat shrinks the tigers tend to seek out this livestock, resultant in revenge killings by the fa<span style="color: black;">rmers. Its almost humans versus tigers, with land getting more and more limited. Also, Human activities including carbon emissions, other pollution, habitat destruction and fragmentation, and climate change are driving an unprecedented wave of destruction and habitat degradation that is leading to species extinction on a scale never before seen in the Earth’s recent past.</span><span style="color: maroon;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">I began with the Tigers for 2 reasons – (1) Tiger is our National Animal (2) Save the Tigers Campaign has atleast set the base or created the basic plinth about the cause and building on the same will be easy as there is much much more beyond the Tigers. And ofcourse, the government has various projects for other species too.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Equal number of Elephants (for their tusks & bones ), Rhinos (for their horns & bones) and Lions (for their skins and bones) are being killed year on year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many species like the Indian / Asiatic Cheetah, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Snow Leopard, Barasingha, Rhinoceros,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pink-headed Duck, Himalayan Quail, Gangatic Dolphins, etc on its way to extinction. If you even recall the last time you saw a sparrow in Mumbai. We are loosing animals and birds, an important part of our world and the day would soon come when our kids would be shown a tiger in a museum like our parents showed us the Dinosaurs !</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Zurich Blk BT';">What can we do ?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">It is quite alarming – when you ask someone to Save the Tiger – How can I save a tiger is the first question and the cause itself gets killed in the first shot. The campaign gets you only one thing and that is Awareness, well atleast. But what next ? This is a bigger question. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Being friend with some CFCs<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Chief Forest Conservators) / IFSs (Indian Forest Service Officers) below are some simple ways on how a common citizen like me or you can Conserve the Wild Life or Nature.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">CITIZEN LEVEL</b> – A very important stakeholder for the Conservation are us – the citizen of <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">India</country-region></place>, who need to learn, understand and appreciate the cause. Then would follow the other steps.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><ol style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Awareness </b>– The first and the most important step is creating awareness on the subject. For eg. How many of us know about the Wild life of <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">India</place></country-region>, how many of us understand and appreciate the same. How many of us consider Wildlife tourism as a holiday option ? How many of us have initiated a process of taking our kids and showing them the beauty of jungles, animals in their wild habitat and teaching them to appreciate the nature so they can conserve it. Ideally, thewildindia and Empower Foundation would try doing this basic.</span></li>
</ol><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 1.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">One can read websites/blogs and forward good articles to the peer group for awareness. Do you know that Gangetic Dolphin is our National Aquatic Animal ? or do you know that there are many natural destinations near Mumbai where you can explore nature without the crowd of the tourists to the closest over a weekend ?</span></div><ol start="2" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Spread the Message -</b> One can display their respect or love for the cause by means of using a wild animals picture on the desktop/laptop/screen saver or wear a T-Shirt with such cause (Surrogate advertising)</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Participate in a Campaign</b> - One can participate in a petition/pledge for a certain cause (thesedays the same are online). Raise your voice against this injustice. Peaceful protest, human chain, petition and rally are some ways to do it. You can also write a heart felt and logical letter to the government stating your ideas about this issue and how it can be solved. Remember- an RTI has to be replied else the government officials are fined !</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Contribue and Collaborate</b> - One can contribute (time, money) to various NGOs working in that area post being satisfied with their process. Choose and Fight for a cause - Visit Zoo / Circus and if you find poor state of the animals, you could directly or through an NGO file an RTI and fight for the Right of the animal. It hardly takes a few minutes of your life.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Protest -</span></b><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Refuse to buy products that contain animal ingredients such as fur, ivory, and tortoise shell. Refuse to buy products that have been tested on animals. Think about what you eat. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You get Zebra, Antelope, Crocodile Flesh very easily in <place w:st="on">Africa</place>. Some of my acquaintances in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">India</place></country-region> have experienced Wild Hare, Deer and Peacock Meat. Ideally, all should become Vegetarians, but it’s a personal call. Buy recycled paper and save paper for recycling to help conserve forested habitats. Protest illegal tree –felling and Plant trees – a common one though</span></span></li>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">GRASSROOT LEVEL</b> – The most important stakeholder for the Conservation are our Tribals. - Man-Animal Conflict has to be tackled at the ground level and its not that difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><ol style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Awareness at the GrassRoot level- One can Join the <place w:st="on">Forest</place> department officials for some social initiative – As we all know that man-animal fight leads to the extinction of the wild life. Not just wildlife, even teak plantation would soon become endangered with the illegal cutting of trees. Here too, Awareness at the grass root level is required on what to do and what not to do. <place w:st="on">Forest</place> department is too small in strength, be it anywhere in the country and would always require support from the citizens.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Engaging with the Tribals and educating them as the same is the base, so that they who are on the ground can conserve nature first.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Empowering the Tribals with employment generating opportunities (eg. Art)</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Promote Rural Tourism so a revenue generation can happen.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">One can donate Old Clothes, Old cycles, two-wheelers other household items to the tribals.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">One can mentor a tribal family or a class of tribal youth </span></li>
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</div>Empower Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679712228632124915noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7820922266191102915.post-82594413917470248272011-01-07T18:41:00.044+05:302011-03-19T12:17:57.193+05:30SOUTH AFRICA - The Unbeatable Wild Life Experience<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Zurich Cn BT'; font-size: 18pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaxRUrCa-YGHJXaSV99eGy6EMwijLwV_v3WWPxjGSodgKO7D1SsbtcVzva1sbzrle7N68S8lNl4SRQwg3Y8xSfAqy3t0bKde6i9LGUqtGjcSnoLOAOShUjkn4yCHsCUmzdddWW1odc52D/s1600/IMG_2400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaxRUrCa-YGHJXaSV99eGy6EMwijLwV_v3WWPxjGSodgKO7D1SsbtcVzva1sbzrle7N68S8lNl4SRQwg3Y8xSfAqy3t0bKde6i9LGUqtGjcSnoLOAOShUjkn4yCHsCUmzdddWW1odc52D/s320/IMG_2400.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">July 12, 2008, Johannesburg, South Africa</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> : It was around 4 AM in the morning, pitch dark and 2 souls awake in the morning, one not so enthusiastic, till he was there – there at the Pilanesberg Wild Life Sanctuary, my maiden experience in the wild (in my whole senses, besides the ones when I was a small kid). We were on a South Africa business visit for the International Partners business of the bank post which I wanted a Saturday to be spent in the Wild of Africa, post much of Discovery Channel pumping in. With me was Gautam Sehgal who I convinced to join in with an add-on of the <place w:st="on">Sun City</place> visit (where Ms. Worlds or Universe were held) in the evening ;)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6l8kv5_9VeEwdp3gKadSJxbjoWbUH0e_TuVrQXkNFEjpR6mEGGM3p00fwIGPvpfyo9GyYDkAqPR1FwyW9YzTFqyb4HbSjBUbHIBDk1Ff0w5wJq7W_ngCgVDywjCv3SbmJcDARsZZdhhBx/s1600/DSC01160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6l8kv5_9VeEwdp3gKadSJxbjoWbUH0e_TuVrQXkNFEjpR6mEGGM3p00fwIGPvpfyo9GyYDkAqPR1FwyW9YzTFqyb4HbSjBUbHIBDk1Ff0w5wJq7W_ngCgVDywjCv3SbmJcDARsZZdhhBx/s320/DSC01160.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">The <placename w:st="on">Pilanesberg</placename> <placetype w:st="on">National Park</placetype> is situated in the Northwest province, about a 2 hour drive northwest of <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Johannesburg</place></city>. The park ranks among the largest of the national parks in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">South Africa</place></country-region> (it is in fact the fourth largest park), and covers an area of 55,000 hectares. It also has the bonus of being a non-malaria area and is home to the </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">'Big 5' – Lion, Rhino, Elephant, <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Buffalo</place></city>, Leopard.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">A Dark green Pajero arrived at our hotel in the morning, with a 7 ft African (Vincent) greeting us enthusiastically at 4 in the morning with a warm namaste, courtesy his regular business with the bank and Indian officials visiting South Africa and courtesy my friend Afzal Azmi who had almost imbibed many DNAs of India in him !</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">We left and post 2 hours of lovely drive, experiencing the sun break in the midway reached the gates of the Pilanesberg Game Sanctuary. It was yet little dark and to our first surprise was the </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“Declaration Form”</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> which made us sign on various terms, the most astonishing one </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“ I would be responsible for any accident or death caused due to any circumstances in the sanctuary and not the government or the sanctuary authorities. </span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Like normal humans, since all were signing and as there was no scope of questioning at 6 in the morning, we too signed and moved ahead.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSb1-Ecx6iUou2754arfetigue9LrrnOVGWH0idWPWMseQIsU0VUE0koC42aDmu9nmPUI27_UjiTS96GfESaBPpXuFO67GIZakO3_QtFshyphenhyphenL09SKSb2iGk0B9WvU2w3apamIGIp_cv7kq/s1600/IMG_2575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSb1-Ecx6iUou2754arfetigue9LrrnOVGWH0idWPWMseQIsU0VUE0koC42aDmu9nmPUI27_UjiTS96GfESaBPpXuFO67GIZakO3_QtFshyphenhyphenL09SKSb2iGk0B9WvU2w3apamIGIp_cv7kq/s320/IMG_2575.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">As we entered the scene around of the lovely jungle game me the dejavu of the discovery channels with light orange long grassland and a flat topography. And soon the 10-12 jeeps which entered together at the gate vanished into thi9n air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first animal which we saw, I still clearly remember was a </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Rhino along with a Baby Rhino</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">, and that too while passing by, as in we did not put in any major efforts finding them as they were on their morning walks. The first sight of the large animal bigger than our Pajero was like still a dream. We waited there for the movement, though they did not much, we clicked a few pictures and moved ahead as Vincent said theres lot to se, as he has visited this place around 5 times. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The next 30 mins were boring, not being able to find any animal around, though a few birds which Vincent showed us but we were typical Indians and cared least for wasting time on the birds, wherein the britishers and Americans were shooting them as if they were more dearer than their spouses.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLKCBwDilzHPnB_FwGEU8CeRtTar7GvpUY-Fh6cf5SmqGYjLXcT2ZE-Wq91L31A02KGOhBsHlf1T70jsT9XpJ73z9MyA_Qf0c8j0yJJHU-HEw-q2vdZmOmhaomxOOPWK1hYKiy1C-H-HD/s1600/IMG_2586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLKCBwDilzHPnB_FwGEU8CeRtTar7GvpUY-Fh6cf5SmqGYjLXcT2ZE-Wq91L31A02KGOhBsHlf1T70jsT9XpJ73z9MyA_Qf0c8j0yJJHU-HEw-q2vdZmOmhaomxOOPWK1hYKiy1C-H-HD/s320/IMG_2586.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6-FQCjinIFo7DNyTyvPyQx8e6ooCvzf-8v9aFL7D6_q2ZbKP1GYlm4lhNHxOSbdi9nFH3v2yEVopecGgLvO4IuLG0mKctNB2xgUG-_Ii-4oCQCrARML9OUdxGnNuV2e0HrFbQ0P0M43u/s1600/DSC01176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6-FQCjinIFo7DNyTyvPyQx8e6ooCvzf-8v9aFL7D6_q2ZbKP1GYlm4lhNHxOSbdi9nFH3v2yEVopecGgLvO4IuLG0mKctNB2xgUG-_Ii-4oCQCrARML9OUdxGnNuV2e0HrFbQ0P0M43u/s320/DSC01176.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Soon, we entered into a different topography, a bit hilly at the end, but a greener grassland and we saw a scene which beats our first encounter – </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">a herd of more than 100 Zebras</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> ! The scene was fascinating…. The color scheme was breathtaking, any camera could not have captured. And as we moved closer, saw a few different type of animals camouflaged in the herd of zebras. They were neither horse, not goat, nor deer, but a mix of all called the </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">wild beasts</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">. This animal was fascinating as had never learned about it in school or as a child in a zoo or circus !<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, this was just the beginning as per Vincent. He drove further and soon we neared a big lake and he stopped and asked us to stay silent. We did so ! But post 5 minutes asked him does he see something and he said he did, but now that something was not visible and soon in a while we saw a stone like structure move in the water and emerging on a bank near me and another smaller stone too flowing in. As it emerged, we knew we had encountered the </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hippo and the Baby Hippo</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> and Vincent felt or knew that and since these animals are extremely shy and sensitive, he had asked us to be absolutely silent and not murmur a word amongst us.</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -9pt 0pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_rN20FkxtMSUMenyEkNKsQwSfsVrd98woF4NDWnc7m-hSt_x7C4HLi-blue080eu8ufRH6NDKHikaZtiNaKtzR1-TkFfNgYZaYJmgiuNFUpoiNhn07dn__f4L5pHrCarWiseTsPVEoAq/s1600/DSC01198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_rN20FkxtMSUMenyEkNKsQwSfsVrd98woF4NDWnc7m-hSt_x7C4HLi-blue080eu8ufRH6NDKHikaZtiNaKtzR1-TkFfNgYZaYJmgiuNFUpoiNhn07dn__f4L5pHrCarWiseTsPVEoAq/s320/DSC01198.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">We moved further and saw many monkeys (Indians don’t care much as we keep seeing them so often, but there are </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">23 types of monkeys, 8 of them</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> in this park) and </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">also beautiful deers</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">. Soon Vincent screeched and stopped on the way and showed us </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">porcupines</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> running into bushes, which we just managed to quickly take a note of. Hats off to Vincent for his sense of identifying or catching a life in the thick dense African forest. He says it’s the local tribal instinct and he is mostly right. We moved further and again halted as Vincent literally got out of the window to find us a </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">huge herd of African Elephants</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> ! They were far, but beautiful – thanks to my Sony 40X Digicam which could capture what the cameras could not and what a beauty – much different than the Indian elephants, these animals had huge ears and long white tusks and Vincy thanked, that they were not near !</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Being so much impressed with Vincent and his instincts, and having seen these animals, we – the typical Indians asked for just one thing to Vincent – show us some Big ones ! Well, the park housed some lions and leopards but these animals were difficult to sight as the forest his huge and its purely on luck, where instincts also don’t work. But there are ways to arrive to this luck. Well, we were asked to hold our expectations low, so we don’t feel too bad if we don’t see one, but the overall package with so many animals was definitely much important. Vincent promised us more excitement and he only knew why and how.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsRDnRiva2MFIC3UQdovZ1JzAAkHlYdsQqtth-aywY5Uywobs8u0DBACjc0e6MjOr7_9_RZrjkFP8Rgh6-mmDLKk7ToFQ3JGQxgw5xcyykrkit3gH9OGAZT8hW90oPXzSrTFdY8nOTitS/s1600/IMG_2592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsRDnRiva2MFIC3UQdovZ1JzAAkHlYdsQqtth-aywY5Uywobs8u0DBACjc0e6MjOr7_9_RZrjkFP8Rgh6-mmDLKk7ToFQ3JGQxgw5xcyykrkit3gH9OGAZT8hW90oPXzSrTFdY8nOTitS/s640/IMG_2592.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">We quickly had our breakfast (packed one at hotel) at a common point, where tourists were allowed to step down, refresh and answer the natures call. It was around 11 noon. And we spent 5 hrs in the wild. </span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"> </span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">We moved further and Vincent drove us suddenly over some hill, don’t know how and where did it emerge from and asked us confidently to await some surprise and soon we were in a terrain with long trees all around on a plain bushy land and then came our surprise – </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the tall shining giraffes </span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">– not one but many. This topography with tall trees was the best for the giraffes and our man Afro knew it – I shall call it common sense now and no instinct. As we traveled we saw many giraffes and one thing was common none were single. Were always with one to three fellow companions and then were told that these are unconfident animals and like to stay in small groups, of like minded ones, though not in herds. And 3 of them together can make hell out of a lions life and Vincent has seen a lioness being kicked 10 ft in the air by one of the giraffe. The best part with Vincent was to learn the detailed nature and habits of each animal.</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2iwD8RUMOAQxHyRlqHUjjZN_CSpMlDbZ56usq2uG2l5bYDkhU_d61IA-I46Yxe7xJjdtvnmP_orZM1l7PeHUPrnq9dyfu9o9FwfsIi6oqKkNFa-7IV4rExK_0TQYEaOIC-d7EvXIVkY4/s1600/IMG_2644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2iwD8RUMOAQxHyRlqHUjjZN_CSpMlDbZ56usq2uG2l5bYDkhU_d61IA-I46Yxe7xJjdtvnmP_orZM1l7PeHUPrnq9dyfu9o9FwfsIi6oqKkNFa-7IV4rExK_0TQYEaOIC-d7EvXIVkY4/s320/IMG_2644.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Well, now the desire was to see the King of the Jungle and it was getting dark and we desperate, but Vincy said not to worry as dawn and dusk are the best time to trace the Big 5s and imagine what we encountered </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">a Lion and Lioness</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> and Majestic was the only adjective which could describe the scene. What and experience at Pilanesberg – a dream come true<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>! And at this place took birth of my Bug for the Wild and Nature and I said to myself – <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">India</country-region></place> has much and why haven’t I explored it ?</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Zurich Cn BT'; font-size: 18pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">We moved to Sun City post the great day and returned back to our hotel rooms as satisfied as cracking a big deal… but as a greedy human, the real dream is still due- the Masai Mara – Kenya-Tanzania migration experience in <place w:st="on">Africa</place> – Hope to realize this dream soon !</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div></div></div></div>Empower Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679712228632124915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7820922266191102915.post-64600035647087143982011-01-07T18:39:00.003+05:302011-01-07T18:56:02.651+05:30TOURISM – The Indian way to look at it !<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Most of the Indians go in for the following 5 types of Tourisms :</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Zurich BT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Zurich BT';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">(1)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hills</b> – Plenty of them, not just <place w:st="on">Himalayas</place>, but anything above 500 m above sea level and having a climate of 20 degrees as against the average 37 degrees is proudly considered a hill gateway ;)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Zurich BT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Zurich BT';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">(2)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Beaches</b>- 70 % of <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">India</country-region></place> has a coastline giving some great beaches to visit and each state has some great and more importantly accessible beaches</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Zurich BT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Zurich BT';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">(3)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pilgrimage</b> – Indians are usually the God-fearing or god-loving types and all religions be it Hindus, Jain, Muslim, South Indians, Sikhs will have multiple options for the same, and each state would have multiple places worshipped since ages and believed strongly in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Zurich BT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Zurich BT';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">(4)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Leisure </b>– this would cover luxury properties, spas, massages, shopping etc. That’s why some of the best properties do a great business !</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Zurich BT'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Zurich BT';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">(5)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Heritage tourism</b> – would be like Rajasthan, Jaisalmer, Taj etc. where one would find good history, monuments and the buried stories of the past.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Most of the Indians spend across Category 1-4 and a very few towards<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the 5<sup>th</sup> one – Heritage tourism as the same requires a flare of history and above all patience, which Indians would normally lack.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Ideally a core requirement of a common Indian from anywhere in the country would be a good memorable place, good food and good spots to visit. Therefore crowded places like Simla, <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Darjeeling</city></place>, Kulu, Lonavala, Khandala etc thrive in business despite the shitty offerings full of crowd much more than the local trains of Mumbai ! But, the numbers speak good – what can one do !</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Offlate, you hear Indians splurging on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Adventure sports</b> like Bungee Jumping, Skydiving etc. Again a typlical Indian mentality of “why do I spend my own money to screw my happiness” overlaps the attitude to buy your thrill and the witness is the lack of such sports in <country-region w:st="on">India</country-region> besides some River rafting sports in various parts of <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">India</place></country-region>. The world is moving a step further where tourists go for a “Horror Toursim” where you are taken to various locations and haunted properties like palaces, theatres, colleges, etc where you”may” encounter a spirit.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Zurich Blk BT';">The Niche </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">But <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">India</country-region></place>, is still too behind in the evolving tourism options, but yes- there is always a niche for these tourisms. There are people like us who would want to go to a place less traveled and explore and enjoy the nature. Be it, exploring and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>sitting on a silent lake at Jawahar, Maharashtra where no tourists would come<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or find a natural waterfall in Panchgani valleys or taking a night walk at Periyar, Kerala or the not so common boat ride at the Rain Forests of Tama Negara in Malaysia where Anaconda was shot or explore the unexplored side of Goa where you may not find much Indians. Every place has such unexplored side of its and one common factor here is “NATURE” – Untouched and gifted !</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Zurich Blk BT';">Wild Life Tourism</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">One such niche tourism for the Nature lovers is WILDLIFE TOURISM. I come from a Gujju family and till date, 99% of our family tourisms in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">India</place></country-region> or abroad were in the above 5 categories, till the last few years wherein our trips in the above 5 categories are just 20% and 80% into the NATURAL LOCATIONS, where the common man would not want to go. When I ask my mother or uncle to join in for a Wild life tourism, the reaction is “Sher dekhna hi hai to itni door jungle mein kyon jaaye, zoos are here” (If you want to see a Tiger, why take so much pain to go to a jungle, better visit a nearby zoo) and this will be the statement in most Indian families, the proof is 75% of the tourists for wild life are foreigners.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">But, its not just seeing a tiger, the whole experience of exploring the jungle on your own, in an open gypsy early in the morning when its pitch dark and seeing the shades of the forest changing every minute as the sun rises and the efforts you put in to trace a tiger or a lion and the adrenalin kick you get when you after good efforts find a tiger with its cub or a herd of wild elephants or a rare leopard is more than winning a Million Dollars in the Vegas. And enjoying the wild in its natural habitat is a heavenly experience which many of my other holidays put together could have given me. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Zurich Blk BT';">How it started </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">This started in 2007, when me and Gautam, my past colleague visited <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">South Africa</place></country-region> on a business trip. I used to surf through TV Channels and the shots on beautiful wildlife made me stick to the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet that I ended up spending hours on it. I had decided that post our business trip, we would want to visit a Wild Life Safari or a Game Sanctuary in <country-region w:st="on">South Africa</country-region> as most of the wild shoots were from <place w:st="on">Africa</place>. We decided to go to PILANESBERG SANTUARY in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">South Africa</place></country-region> and my “Wild Life Bug” was born. Though as a Kid, I had visited Sunderbans and Kaziranga as a part of my 5 category Indian trip, the same was not that exciting as (a) I was a small kid and (b) It was not so important to visit these places and we just happened to have visited them.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">But, post <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(1) PILANESBERG- South Africa</b>, its 4 years now and I have visited 7 Wild Life Safaris / National Parks like <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(2) BANDAHVGARH</b> (Madhya Pradesh) <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(3) KANHA</b> (Madhya Pradesh) <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(4) MELGHAT</b> TIGER RESERVE (Maharashtra) <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(5) TADOBA NATIONAL PARK</b> (Maharashtra) (6)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>HIMACHAL PRADESH<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(7) PERIYAR TIGER RESERVE</b> / THEKKADY (Kerala) and have committed myself to visit at least 1-2 a year ! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">India</place></country-region> has a huge resource of Wild Life which attracts huge number of foreigners every year mostly between October to March and also from April to June (which is very hot- 47 degrees, but best time to site animals). It was in 2009, when a friend, philosopher and guide from the IFS (Indian Forest Services), the then CFC (Chief Forest Conservator) of Thane, Maharahstra, Shree Bhagwan guided me to Tadoba, where once he held forte, and I was able to sight the best wild life scene of my life, also covered by an interview by the Star News and Star Maaza, I thought that I should do my bit towards “Wild Life” !</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Being from the Rajput clan of the Princely state of Wankaner in Gujarat and may be, as my Mom says there is some genes from the ancestors, that I have such a strong liking for wild life. The process remained same – exploring the jungle, tracing the wild, the only differences being they used guns and I use my camera. The big cats adored their palaces and walls and they adore my memories, they cherished and showcased their collections of stuffed tigers and other wild animals to the world, and I through this blog am trying to showcase the beauty of the Indian wildlife to the world. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Zurich Blk BT';">The Wild <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">India</place></country-region><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>www.wildIndia.blogspot.com</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Welcome to the Wild India and through this medium, I would try to bring you close to each of the exciting wild life and nature experiences we have, right from explaining you how to go, where to live, what to do, some secret spots and ofcourse some exciting pictures. Hope you enjoy this and hope this blog would help promote wild life as a tourism adding on to the revenue of the country, giving employment to the local tribals and for the generation of tomorrow to conserve nature ! Do share your feedback.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div>Empower Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679712228632124915noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7820922266191102915.post-51372364974386323302010-01-07T18:49:00.000+05:302011-02-20T16:22:25.172+05:30LIST OF TIGER RESERVES IN INDIA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a <b>list of tiger reserves in <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">India</country-region></place></b></span></span></div><table border="1" cellpadding="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="mso-cellspacing: 1.5pt;"><tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">State</span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tiger Reserves</span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Year of Estd.</span></b></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Total Area (km2)</span></b></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Assam</span></country-region></place><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Kaziranga</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2006</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">859</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Assam</span></country-region></place><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Manas</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1973-74</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2840</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Assam</span></country-region></place><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nameri</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1999-2000</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">344</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Arunachal Pradesh</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Namdapha</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1982-83</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1985</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Arunachal Pradesh</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Pakhui</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1999-2000</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">862</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Andhra Pradesh</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1982-83</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3568</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Bihar</span></place><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Valmiki</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1989-90</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">840</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 8;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Chhattishgarh</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Indravati</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1982-83</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2799</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 9;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jharkhand</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Palamau</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1973-74</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1026</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 10;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Karnataka</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Bandipur</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1973-74</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">866</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 11;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Karnataka</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nagarhole (extension)</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1999-2000</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">643</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 12;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Karnataka</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Bhadra</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1998-99</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">492</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 13;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Karnataka</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dandeli-Anashi</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2007</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">875</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 14;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Kerala</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Periyar</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1978-79</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">777</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 15;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Madhya Pradesh</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Bandhavgarh</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1993-94</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1162</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 16;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Madhya Pradesh</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Bori-Satpura</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1999-2000</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1486</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 17;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Madhya Pradesh</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Kanha</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1973-74</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1945</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 18;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Madhya Pradesh</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Panna</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1994-95</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">542</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 19;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Madhya Pradesh</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Pench</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1992-93</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">758</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 20;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Madhya Pradesh</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ratapani</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2008-09</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">674</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 21;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Maharashtra</span></place><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Melghat</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1973-74</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1677</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 22;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Maharashtra</span></place><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Pench</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1992-93</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">257</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 23;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Maharashtra</span></place><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tadoba-Andhari</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1993-94</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">620</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 24;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Maharashtra</span></place><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Shahayadri</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2008-09</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">569</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 25;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mizoram</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dampa</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1994-95</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">500</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 26;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Orissa</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Simlipal</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1973-74</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2750</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 27;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Orissa</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sunabeda</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2008-09</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">856</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 28;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rajasthan</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ranthambhore</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1973-74</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1334</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 29;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rajasthan</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sariska</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1978-79</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">866</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 30;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tamil Nadu</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Kalakad-Mundathurai</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1988-89</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">800</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 31;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Uttar Pradesh</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dudhwa</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1987-88</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">811</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 32;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Uttar Pradesh</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Katerniaghat (extension)</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1999-2000</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">551</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 33;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Uttar Pradesh</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Pilibhit</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2008-09</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1089</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 34;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Uttarakhand</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Corbett</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1973-74</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1316</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 35;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">West Bengal</span></place><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Buxa</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1982-83</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">759</span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 36; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">West Bengal</span></place><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sunderbans</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1973-74</span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: #ece9d8; border-left: #ece9d8; border-right: #ece9d8; border-top: #ece9d8; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-top: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2585</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Retrieved from "</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tiger_reserves_in_India"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tiger_reserves_in_India</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div></div>Empower Foundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679712228632124915noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7820922266191102915.post-73317035466784042102009-01-02T18:43:00.008+05:302011-03-19T12:47:11.731+05:30Bandhavgarh – The best place on earth to encounter the Tiger !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjsXhgIR-ZEqAMd9ET9_DvtdPXJWbDUrWQdaTP0ODoqPof-q3w4o3bEO1PXcL-GOb5atU7SORXXTjI-YS3tZh6niHfPuDfcp0Oe_H0J9xLri97OEgwQduxCXchnGokITLDZBrQmUhOJSZ/s1600/DSC01682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjsXhgIR-ZEqAMd9ET9_DvtdPXJWbDUrWQdaTP0ODoqPof-q3w4o3bEO1PXcL-GOb5atU7SORXXTjI-YS3tZh6niHfPuDfcp0Oe_H0J9xLri97OEgwQduxCXchnGokITLDZBrQmUhOJSZ/s320/DSC01682.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">January 28, 2009, Bandhavgarh, MP </span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">- It was the 5:00 AM in the morning and viz.a.viz a 35 Degrees of temperature, it was 8 Degrees in Bandhavgarh National Park (BG), Madhya Pradesh. We knew it would be cold, but not this cold. Our Thermals, Sweaters, Jackets, Monkey Caps were not at all enough and we had to take 2 blankets each from the Hotel as we left in our Open Gypsy for encountering the Pride of India – the Tiger ! </span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Day 1- (Morning Safari (1)-</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> As we reached the Park gate –4 of us -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Me, my wife Sheetal, my cousin Hetal and her hubby Abhishek-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we paid the park fees (Guess Rs 100/-) and fees for using Digital Cameras (Guess Rs 50/-) and Handycams (guess 200/-) and there were around 30 Jeeps in queue. All were being allotted a Guide (the tribals were trained to guide by the forest dept and this generated a livelihood for them and it was compulsory to have one, Cost, Rs 200/- guess). Here too, one has to sign an undertaking that the park or government will not be responsible for any accident/death etc. This made Sheetal a bit nervous !</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Also allotted to each jeep were different routes - A,B,C,D within the park, so the park is not crowded in one area. The Rule was that the Zone Token has to be kept and abided till 8:00AM and then post all come to the centre (choice is yours) for some tea, refreshments (You get there and ideally hotel you stay pack it in a basket for you – toast, sandwich, paranthas, juice etc), one is free to roam anywhere in the park. How it works is that when all the Jeeps meet at the Centre point, all the drivers exchange their feedbacks and then all rush to the area/zone where the movement of tiger was seen in the early morning. Thanks to our government linkages, thanks to Dr. Nigam Uncle, dad of my colleague Gaurav Nigam, that our visit was radioed to the forest officials and local police and we were given VIP Entry where in we were free to get into whichever zone we wished to. The driver was smart and took us to the </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">C Route where in the last safari the earlier evening a tiger was seen very closely. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvHIlluv0FGKbvTvCPOcHx-sEGrmwoRA3Q_erVnjHEGqRK7YQoMmah_VWPn6HQ50ZM68qI4uRsqEqq9mSO2Xp9apYYi4CU-EDJpVtgouXuLXXlXM1BJtgAAxhQ-4X9q6WZp6c0XzQGOeA/s1600/P1050322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvHIlluv0FGKbvTvCPOcHx-sEGrmwoRA3Q_erVnjHEGqRK7YQoMmah_VWPn6HQ50ZM68qI4uRsqEqq9mSO2Xp9apYYi4CU-EDJpVtgouXuLXXlXM1BJtgAAxhQ-4X9q6WZp6c0XzQGOeA/s640/P1050322.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">As we moved in, it was still pitch dark and the headlines were on the first encounter was of a </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">herd of deer – around 30-40</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> of them crossing our path. Their eyes hone in the lights of the headlight and so did their skins… We moved further. Well, actually the experience of the jungle early in the morning is so fascinating and beautiful that no blog, no photographer can express the same. Soon, the day broke and the forest became light orange post the violet blue shade as it Hussain was stroking his brush.</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><stroke joinstyle="miter"></stroke><formulas><f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></f><f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></f><f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></f><f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></f><f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></f></formulas><path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></shapetype><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NcGidlV1g1De3eX_Js2OHp1EHxpbhVPWJcCE627dm-M0Mwkz75_x3W8HiGsSDlMBJmyUg1vZ7Ycg7aesSGWDfYFNvP8sPry2igtbf6_bUWw3lEdroMpq1tyVdolLk2vIAEQYZ7r9cuLU/s1600/P1050226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NcGidlV1g1De3eX_Js2OHp1EHxpbhVPWJcCE627dm-M0Mwkz75_x3W8HiGsSDlMBJmyUg1vZ7Ycg7aesSGWDfYFNvP8sPry2igtbf6_bUWw3lEdroMpq1tyVdolLk2vIAEQYZ7r9cuLU/s320/P1050226.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMb6lfiijqE49qWAVrC-JnsVUS4oPQn-ODP_Au6KED8NpSE8LldO88Ymr6cP3LY1-SkOLOS2rpga1NnivEYfH6C27UVv0Y-a4gAPgbzUIM1um-D7XkFdhYoW4epqruBnZMSYZzyw92n4/s1600/P1050175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMb6lfiijqE49qWAVrC-JnsVUS4oPQn-ODP_Au6KED8NpSE8LldO88Ymr6cP3LY1-SkOLOS2rpga1NnivEYfH6C27UVv0Y-a4gAPgbzUIM1um-D7XkFdhYoW4epqruBnZMSYZzyw92n4/s320/P1050175.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">The driver, post watching all the </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">deers, wild boars, sambhars and monkeys</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>directly took us to the area where the earlier evening the Tiger was seen. As soon as we reached there, the driver and the guide, started look down as they drove very slowly - they were looking for the fresh pug marks of the Big Cat – a tried and tested method of finding a tiger and tracking its movement. They found and showed us – and we were excited ! Another way to find the big cat movement was to follow the “Call” – the call means – when a deer or monkey sees a tiger walking – they would make a panic sound which would echo in the jungle – when the cat is sitting, they wont shout. The guide, driver would try to move towards the sound and then would wait somewhere to welcome the Tiger. We too did the same and the wait was becoming unending and we were becoming impatient. Post a long wait we went to the centre at 8 and to addon to our frustration, we met other tourists showing their photos and video clips of the tiger they encountered on Route A. Nothing could have been more frustrating in life than this ! But, one thing which we sighted that others did not and the same is not so easy sighting is a </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Jackal with a fawns head</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> (baby dear killed) in its mouth whom we chased around for 5 minutes !</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKcoZsw0COjBB7s4_aoKa1fv-9qTQS0wr2we7zjHIPLkw0R5sta99aEAJfuEK2lW8wnxsyW78ukZ9COB9j0c3t7s2iL6CRtBZLCGuxaJuPLusySZ8Bp1AAaCIVnrAkxhxFuwTsYA0wojM/s1600/P1050233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKcoZsw0COjBB7s4_aoKa1fv-9qTQS0wr2we7zjHIPLkw0R5sta99aEAJfuEK2lW8wnxsyW78ukZ9COB9j0c3t7s2iL6CRtBZLCGuxaJuPLusySZ8Bp1AAaCIVnrAkxhxFuwTsYA0wojM/s320/P1050233.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Post my SA Experience, this is my first Indian Wild Life Experience. Expectations were high and it was my <country-region w:st="on">India</country-region> to prove that its no lesser than <place w:st="on">Africa</place> ! We chose Bandhavgarh as the park is smaller as compared to other parks and the density is also not too much and thus probability of encountering His Highness of Her Highness of the Jungle was much higher ! So I was trying to play a short shot and my confidence shattered in my first safari from 6 to 10 AM as we did not see what we came for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, we had planned for a 3 Days/2 Nights in BG which means 5 Safaris – 3 Morning (6-10AM) and 2 Evening Safaris (2 to 5 PM).</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">We went to the Route A but as the Jungle rule goes the probability of the Tiger viewing is highest between 6-7:30 AM and between 5-6:00PM – nearing dark. When there is sun over the head, the big cat too rests in shady places ! So post our futile safari, we returned back to the Hotel. And to addon salt on wound was a board at the Safari Entrance/exit saying – “you may or may not see the tiger, but for sure, he is seeing you” ;(((</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Day 1- Evening Safari (2):</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> Recharged with our motivation, we hit back at the Park for the afternoon safari and somehow rather than exploring the beautiful jungle our solo objective of coming to BG was becoming too too evident – just give us the </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Tiger</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> and maybe god heard of our greedy wish and as we went to route A – we finally saw the Majestic Cat – but was a 500 m away ! We were satisfied but not much ! After enjoying the scene, the driver &<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the guide – a different one at each safari – told us that they would explore a water lake where the tigers come to drink water (but usually in summer – 110% chances of viewing remains, subject to you bearing 45 degrees heat !) and at a place called Sidh Baba temple area. We asked the guide how and we were told another Rule of the Jungle – Each tiger marks his/her own territory – by pissing on the trees and scratching on them with the sharp nails and no other tiger would dare to enter the others territories. So, it means that in a 10 sq km area, you would definitely have a tiger, a tigress or two and some cubs for sure – its then your luck – how and when do you spot them. But, seems lady luck still chose not to smile at us !</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCgofW9rr_CANBIK6MSXH3MsOge7ZIIBMpE-ae1nWR7SKnwSiQwKCHjASspRW1y2TQrVE9T67dJPNR4XFlrsnOhHNbTPiQfmAPi8z1lZMo1mtGHY1fu9sPt7hdsnEG7Q9IzcQtwabWn67/s1600/P1050221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCgofW9rr_CANBIK6MSXH3MsOge7ZIIBMpE-ae1nWR7SKnwSiQwKCHjASspRW1y2TQrVE9T67dJPNR4XFlrsnOhHNbTPiQfmAPi8z1lZMo1mtGHY1fu9sPt7hdsnEG7Q9IzcQtwabWn67/s400/P1050221.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Day 2- Morning Safari (3) :</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> Again an early morning safari with more excitement and hopes. We chose Route B as the forest officer wanted to oblige us by leaking the news of hearing the tigers roar there. We roamed and followed the same process to locate the Big Cat. In a day, we too were experts to identify the pug marks and listen to calls. An hour passed by and futile. Soon we passed the Sidh Baba Temple (with a Shiv Ling) and my wife and sis prayed to the god – give us a tiger… we still roamed and then came the best moment of our lives – as we re-passed the Sidh Baba temple once created by the local tribals – the driver screeched and stopped – and at a distance of 4 ft – a huge </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">8 ft big Tiger walked out of the meadows</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">, stopped, stared us eye to eye, walked, stopped, changed poses and slowly moved up the hill. This was for 60 Seconds – but each second was orgasmic – our cameras and handycams would too swear ! You could have seen the shiver in each of our spines and the awestruck faces were like a kid being amazed to see a rabbit out of a magicians hat ! Thanks to Sidh Baba – we did gave the local guide Rs 51/- to offer a coconut and flowers to the Almighty for this obligation – and almighty only knew whether these reached him or not ;)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">We were too satisfied and flaunted our experience and the Centre at 8:00 AM and the best part was we were the only Jeep who encountered this and no others. Well, now we were motivated enough to explore the rest of the jungle post getting what we came for. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfohSGNJNz-5dxG-WZ6XlgY3WUOz7FVw10y5AEL_oJKxwt19PVSatikpUMAQSnolSlp8wSJZrlPMEhitjgwV9dCQVQ8lGskHN4pfQHFMZsc0AiXwPkLrvx1dnNzTABSQX6JtzMaiVweM7O/s1600/DSC01246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfohSGNJNz-5dxG-WZ6XlgY3WUOz7FVw10y5AEL_oJKxwt19PVSatikpUMAQSnolSlp8wSJZrlPMEhitjgwV9dCQVQ8lGskHN4pfQHFMZsc0AiXwPkLrvx1dnNzTABSQX6JtzMaiVweM7O/s320/DSC01246.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVfvuRRlUkxQVL8_MwwOtp3fv-V3uZNlz6e-5giOdZjOATSf9UUH2nWlcn1kHPQX74x5-Np6st84abnXzFwgbZPw9Yk-P5whZfLRprsCtF_Hf_UaaN_4zNLYCxWAAG-EZuxa2dInwwKrA/s1600/DSC01583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVfvuRRlUkxQVL8_MwwOtp3fv-V3uZNlz6e-5giOdZjOATSf9UUH2nWlcn1kHPQX74x5-Np6st84abnXzFwgbZPw9Yk-P5whZfLRprsCtF_Hf_UaaN_4zNLYCxWAAG-EZuxa2dInwwKrA/s320/DSC01583.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Day 2- Evening Safari (4) : </span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Being satisfied with what we saw in the morning, we explored the beautiful jungle in the 2<sup>nd</sup> half and then understood that well, tiger ofcourse was what one comes for, the real beauty of the jungle is what overrides everything else – the landscape, the trees, the mountains, the plains, the flowers, the other animals and the entire feel of the forest – the air, the scent and the energy, which pen can not explain neither a camera could !</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Day 3- Morning Safari (5) : </span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">This was probably another lucky day. As we entered the park, the rumors were already around that there was a young tiger in the rocky area a few kilometers away. We directly rushed there and there were a few jeeps lined up for something unique called the elephant safari or the tiger show. The forest team on 2-3 elephants would leave early morning tracking the movement of the big cat and once traced would inform the jungle authorities, which would open limited bookings for the show. Rs 150 or Rs 200 per person. Soon 4 of us boarded the elephant which started climbing up the hillock. We never knew the elephant could climb almost vertically on a rocky terrain and every mover was a shaker filled with fear for us, thinking we may fall anytime as we weeded past the bushes brushing almost us and saving our heads and faces from tree branches and wild thorns. Soon, the mahout (rider) who guides the elephant in hindi shouts ‘ruk’, which means stop and </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">we see a tiger walking on the rocks just 10 feets away</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">. Soon the mahout takes us closer and the tiger climbs down and sits near a tree. What a scene, what a posture and the moment of his opening his mouth roaring as we almost wet our pants added by the fearful thought of what if we fall down the elephant as there are no safety belts or covered seats. And what if the elephant fearfully sits down in front of the tiger ? but the mahout told <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>us that both the elephants fear and respect each other and rarely a tiger attacks. We took closer looks and captured all the moments in our digicam and handicams. Soon the big cat started walking and the elephant too followed. There was another elephant from the otherside with other tourists and the tiger was just in between. It stopped, did a fashion show type of walk and climbed the cliff again. This was a superb and a very close experience. There are 3 elephants which does a 5 minutes show each on turn. Luck is a factor that the tiger has to stay closeby and the elephant takes one to the closest. On the positive side, this is a unique initiative of the forest department to ensure that no unlucky tourists go without seeing a tiger and on the negative, this is interference in the wild and maybe the tiger is too used to the elephant and tourists coming to see it daily, so then its not the wildest wild tiger, but all said and done, it is a great great experience to see the big cat so close with all the risks on the elephant back<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>!! </span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRyaC8Gp5_LuSaLVbtRuCmh37hw3GlZC6g-pLLp_Wu4QDYxTJT8m_IkzMePxl-D7U1s3tTJcLOOqti6YrmiFJdDo-CeU5W24M7OQ7T4fO0phsXReb4z4BVO7gZztYL4yuueKgY5HW_PY4F/s1600/P1050348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRyaC8Gp5_LuSaLVbtRuCmh37hw3GlZC6g-pLLp_Wu4QDYxTJT8m_IkzMePxl-D7U1s3tTJcLOOqti6YrmiFJdDo-CeU5W24M7OQ7T4fO0phsXReb4z4BVO7gZztYL4yuueKgY5HW_PY4F/s640/P1050348.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Soon we moved ahead and it was a </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">double whammy</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> for us… soon </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">a tiger from no where emerged out of the bushes and started walking on the road.</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> We followed it for 2 minutes and then it moved towards a tree and started scratching it and peeing on it to mark his territory – what a rare sight to see the cat almost climbing the tree to scratch it with its sharp nails. This rendezvous lasted for 10 long minutes and then the cat vanished into the forest. Soon the time to come out was coming closer and we moved ahead with the most satisfying wildlife day of our lives !</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Day 3- Afternoon Safari (6) : </span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">As we saw in a BG documentary, there was a priest who stayed in the BG fort and temple 811 m above the sealevel and the tigers used to come and sit next to him since years. He had died, but the temple is still around. We hired a jeep and went up there to have a look at the beautiful fort. The route over the hill was superb and good for sighting vultures and tortoises near the temple. And if one is lucky, once can surely sight tigers here, but guess we had enough for our BG Trip, 5 Safaris and 4 tigers sightings – that too 3 of them from a 4-5 feet distance, what else could one ask for !</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Location</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Bandhavgarh</span></placename><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> <placetype w:st="on">National Park</placetype></span></place><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> is one of the wild life sanctuaries in the Indian state Madhya Pradesh. The national park is situated at 197 km away north-east of <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Jabalpur</place></city>. This wild life park derived its very name from an ancient fort in the area. <placename w:st="on">Bandhavgarh</placename> <placetype w:st="on">National Park</placetype> belongs to the Vindhyan mountain ranges of central <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">India</place></country-region> and it boasts to have the highest density of tiger population in the country. Now there are about 46 to 52 tigers one can spot here. <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Bandhavgarh</placename> <placetype w:st="on">National park</placetype></place> is located in Umaria District on the extreme north eastern border of Madhya Pradesh. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The terrain is of great rocky hills rising sharply from the swampy and densely- forested valley bottoms. The finest of these hills is Bandhavgarh, sided with great cliffs and eroded rocks, and on its highest point stands Bandhavgarh fort, thought to be some 2,000 years old. Scattered throughout the park, and particularly around the fort, are numerous caves containing shrines and ancient Sanskrit inscriptions.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Covering 448 sq. km., Bandhavgarh is situated in Shahdol district among the outlying hills of the <place w:st="on">Vindhya range</place>. At the centre of the park is Bandhavgarh hill, rising 811 mt above MSL. Surrounding it are a large number of smaller hills separated by gently sloping valleys. These valleys end in small, swampy meadows, locally known as 'Bohera'. The lowest point in the park is at Tala (440 mt above MSL). The vegetation is chiefly of Sal forest in the valleys and on the lower slopes, gradually changing to mixed deciduous forest on the hills and in the hotter, drier areas of the park in the south and west. Bamboo is found throughout.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Bandhavgarh</span></placename><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> <placetype w:st="on">National Park</placetype></span></place><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> is spread at vindhya hills in Madhya Pradesh. <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Bandhavgarh</placename> <placetype w:st="on">National Park</placetype></place> consists of a core area of 105 sq km and a buffer area of approximately 400 sq km of topography varies between steep ridges, undulating, forest and open meadows. </span><placename w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bandhavgarh</span></b></placename><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <placetype w:st="on">National Park</placetype> is known for the Royal <place w:st="on">Bengal</place> Tigers. The density of the Tiger population at Bandhavgarh is the highest known in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">India</place></country-region>.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">History</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Prior to becoming a National park, the forest around Bandhavgarh had long been maintained as a Shikargah, or game preserve, of the Maharajahs of Rewa. Hunting was carried out by the Maharajahs and their guests - otherwise the wildlife was relatively well-protected. It was considered a good omen for a Maharajah of Rewa to shoot 109 Tigers. His highness Maharajah Venkat Raman Singh shot 111 Tigers by 1914.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHJfZ3uucM4WcN10-YBDbjjG2AM3kiktSmrCWgMOkBaZC84hnstGra3W_6yEiV0lbAq2MJNceVKQLyy9CT-0RoTBneYvW0qFdIKa7PQYyupH1WmFT-A5SbwR_krHub3SSLt-livsU62Q/s1600/DSC01684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHJfZ3uucM4WcN10-YBDbjjG2AM3kiktSmrCWgMOkBaZC84hnstGra3W_6yEiV0lbAq2MJNceVKQLyy9CT-0RoTBneYvW0qFdIKa7PQYyupH1WmFT-A5SbwR_krHub3SSLt-livsU62Q/s640/DSC01684.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Bandhavgarh has a very deep-rooted importance of it's own in the history and mythology of <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">India</place></country-region>. Looming high over the entire park and located in the heart of it's core area, is a fort dating back to the mythological era of Rama and Hanuman from the Hindu epic Ramayana. It is said that the two monkeys who created the "setu", or bridge, between <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">India</place></country-region> and Lanka to enable Rama to cross over and vanquish the demon king, Rawana, were also the architects of the Bandhavgarh fort. This fort was used by Rama and Hanuman on their journey back to their kingdom from Lanka. This fort was later handed over by Rama to his brother Lakshmana who came to be known as the "Bandhavdhish", lord of the fort.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">This title is still used by the Maharaja of Rewa, who even presently owns the fort. It is thus necessary to procure his permission before entering the fort. This permission can however be obtained locally. In the northern areas of the park is where you will come across the oldest indicators of bygone eras. These are caves dug into sandstone and carry "brahmi" inscriptions dating back to the 1st century BC. The Chandela kings of bundelkhand, who are famous for the Khajuraho Temples built by them, also ruled Bandhavgarh. The ancestors of the Maharaja of Rewa were the Baghela Kings who started their rule here in the 12th century. Bandavgarh was the capital of their dynasty till 1617 after which it moved to Rewa, which was 120 km to the North. Due to this moving of the capital, Bandhavgarh went through a period of neglect in the times to follow. This was in one way a boon for the present forest present there.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Once this area got taken over by forest cover, the animals in the area too began to multiply. The negative aspect to this was that the royal family and their guests started using it as a hunting reserve. This continued until the Maharaja decided to hand it over, minus the area inside the fort, to the government.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Flora And Fauna</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Bandhavgarh</placename> <placetype w:st="on">National Park</placetype></place> is a jungle consisting mainly of bamboo and Sal trees. Only on higher sides the vegetation changes to Sali, Sage, Saja, Dhobin etc.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHAxOJRiRhCgW6brgYvcEWRj8PArwt7HJPgL_1W7tw6YbTQ6nSOzzeH6wxGJ9qX9viOgxsLPpFgZQ_AiFKqODqasMd7IxonGD-BBDxBmExnHe3QfrIy81EQFJiPz3TrmKN0Be41XlHFX2/s1600/P1050359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHAxOJRiRhCgW6brgYvcEWRj8PArwt7HJPgL_1W7tw6YbTQ6nSOzzeH6wxGJ9qX9viOgxsLPpFgZQ_AiFKqODqasMd7IxonGD-BBDxBmExnHe3QfrIy81EQFJiPz3TrmKN0Be41XlHFX2/s320/P1050359.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5OaOGisErfJK9JlAmg78B1xb40nuO_PaLMO6YT5pISafsFuHFYB3UZ5m3Cq0EiSiIunvvl0ChHj-Ts1F5-7pUc1eddDxTkhzKV0wZco5os7sDh1QoBxGk8HbXFRwlVN1PoKJr4c6GTwY/s1600/DSC01681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5OaOGisErfJK9JlAmg78B1xb40nuO_PaLMO6YT5pISafsFuHFYB3UZ5m3Cq0EiSiIunvvl0ChHj-Ts1F5-7pUc1eddDxTkhzKV0wZco5os7sDh1QoBxGk8HbXFRwlVN1PoKJr4c6GTwY/s320/DSC01681.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">There are more than 22 species of mammals. Carnivores include Tiger, Leopard, the Asiatic jackal, Bengal Fox, Sloth Bear, Ratel, Gray Mongoose, Striped Hyena, Jungle Cat, Common Langurs and Rhesus Macaque represent the primate group. Around 250 species of birds like Little Grebe, Egret, Lesser Adjutant Saru Crane, Black Ibis, Lesser Whistling Teal, White- eyed Buzzard, Black Kite, Crested Serpent Eagle, Black Vulture etc. </span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTyXemhTl9KR9bJe9W8pv8tTsBTvuNVM-3uP6mnUVphqmfekOHm-xJ0VhDH2w-V2mAxbJ3IyWFvL3vNKD8pFWeZBTRMR6pVdL_OySN0Zl4dyg-MLA60COEm4hVgljIBarARDXxOwq5hNko/s1600/DSC01418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTyXemhTl9KR9bJe9W8pv8tTsBTvuNVM-3uP6mnUVphqmfekOHm-xJ0VhDH2w-V2mAxbJ3IyWFvL3vNKD8pFWeZBTRMR6pVdL_OySN0Zl4dyg-MLA60COEm4hVgljIBarARDXxOwq5hNko/s400/DSC01418.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The Famous Tigers of Bandhavgarh</span></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Bandhavgarh has the highest density of <place w:st="on">Bengal</place> tigers known in the world, and is home to some famous named individual tigers. Charger, an animal so named because of his habit of charging at elephants and tourists (whom he nonetheless did not harm), was the first healthy male known to be living in Bandhavgarh since the 1990s. A female known as Sita, who once appeared on the cover of National Geographic and is considered the most photographed tiger in the world,[</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">citation needed</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">] was also to be found in Bandhavgarh for many years. Most of the tigers of Bandhavgarh today are descendants of Sita and Charger.</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Another female, known as Mohini, became prominent following Sita's death. She gave birth to three cubs: B1; B2; and B3, from whom she was separated in 2003 following a vehicle accident and an incident in which tourists separated her from the cubs. She later died of her wounds from the vehicle accident.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Charger died in 2002. Between 2003 and 2006 his family met with a series of unfortunate ends. B1 was electrocuted and B3 was killed by poachers. Sita was killed by poachers. Mohini died of serious wounds to her body. The fully grown B2 survived as the dominant male in the forest between 2004 and 2007, mating with a female in the Siddhubaba region of Bandhavgarh and fathering three cubs. One of them was a male. This new male was first sighted in 2008 and is now Bandhavgarh's dominant male; however, one of his daughters has been known to mate with another male tiger who is likely to challenge B2's son for the crown.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><br />
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Structure</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Tourists are restricted to an area of 105 km² of the park, known as the Tala range. However this area is richest in terms of biodiversity, mainly tigers. There are four more ranges in the reserve namely – Magdhi, Kallwah, Khitauli and Panpatha. Together, these five ranges comprise the 'Core' of the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve constituting a total area of 694 km². The buffer zone is spread over the forest divisions of Umaria and Katni and totals another 437 km². The legal status as a national park dates back to 1968, but was limited only to the present Tala range for a considerable length of time. In 1993 the present scheme of things was put in place.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Sight Seeing </span></span></b></div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Bandhavgarh Fort </span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Baghel</span></placename><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> <placetype w:st="on">Museum</placetype></span></place><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Village Tala </span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Mahaman Pond </span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Climber's Point </span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><city w:st="on"><place w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Bari</span></place></city><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> Gufa etc. </span></span></li>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_6XPK0RjOQCV-PYOCherdxPFkuIlR8PoxjBlwSiHV-C6l8dwKIG0ILJzcbep1nqSjrLMys6ZJeChic4ID-n80KIKksn9K00_KI2pL0O9j7y6MUk1WRDQKrEauq6FL0KlLQgMRay0VwYrx/s1600/DSC01312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_6XPK0RjOQCV-PYOCherdxPFkuIlR8PoxjBlwSiHV-C6l8dwKIG0ILJzcbep1nqSjrLMys6ZJeChic4ID-n80KIKksn9K00_KI2pL0O9j7y6MUk1WRDQKrEauq6FL0KlLQgMRay0VwYrx/s640/DSC01312.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Activities Planned</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Bird watching, <strong>Jungle Safari</strong>, Visit to Fort, Wildlife excursion in the National Park by Jeep and elephants</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The Fort</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">No records remain to show when Bandhavgarh Fort was constructed. It is thought, however, to be some 2,000 years old, and there are references to it in the ancient books, the Narad-Panch Ratra and the Siva Purana. Various dynasties have ruled this fort: for example, the Maghas from the 1st century AD, the Vakatakas from the 3rd century; the Sengars from the 5th century and the Kalchuris from the 10th century. In the 13th century AD, the Baghels took over, ruling from Bandhavgarh until 1617, when Maharajah Vikramaditya Singh moved his capital to Rewa. The last inhabitants deserted the fort in 1935</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Best Time To Visit</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The ideal season for Tiger sighting is from October to June. The park is closed from July 1st to September 30th.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Weather</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">The temperature ranges from a maximum of 42 degrees in May and June to around 4 degrees in Winter. The mean annual rainfall is 1,1173 mm.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">What To Wear</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Light clothes preferably in beige or jungle greens in summers with the definite inclusion of cap and dark glasses. During winters, especially between the Month of November and February, carry warm clothing for chilly mornings and misty evenings.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">How To Reach</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">By Air : The routes to Bandhavgrah are either by air to Khajuraho ( 210 kms) or <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Jabalpur</city></place> ( 170) kms from the national park.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">By Rail : The nearest railheads are <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Jabalpur</city></place> ( 170 kms), Katni ( 102kms), And Satna ( 112kms) on the Central railway and Umaria ( 30 kms) on the South Eastern Railway.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Places to stay –</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> We stayed at a superb property called Mapple Bundela. The best and the most luxurious property is Taj Mahua Kothi and there are properties for all budgets right from Rs 1500 per night to Rs 25000 per night available. Some of the good properties are :</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Zurich BT;">Infinity Resort, Bagh Sarai Resorts, Nature Heritage Resort, Tiger Trails Resort, Baghela Resort, Salvan, Hotel Narmada Palace, Tiger Hut Resort, Nature Heritage Resort, Churhat Kothi, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tiger Den Resort, Bandhavgarh Jungle Lodge, Maharaja Royal Retreat, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tiger Trails Resort<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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