Posts for Wild life & Conservation Category

DATR: ‘India’s Future Tiger Reserve’

Blog, Wild life & Conservation - GoroadTrip - December 16, 2015

To be called ‘India’s future tiger reserve’ is impressive in itself; living up to the title is quite a task and one that Dandeli – Anshi Tiger Reserve (DATR) accomplishes impressively. Anshi National Park was granted its status as a tiger reserve the same year as Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, in 2007; along with six adjacent protected zones in north Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra, they form over 2000 kilometer square of uninterrupted forest area. This is extremely important in laying the foundation for successful conservation, especially with regard to an animal as territorial as the tiger.

With a larger vision in mind, the concerned Forest Departments are already working in tandem, having set the wheels in motion with forging an undisturbed belt for tiger protection. As part of this, they have also been working on designing scientific itineraries tying together Bhadra, Dandeli, Anshi and Goa so that they function as one unit. Splayed over three states, this wide range puts DATR and Bhadra in the run, lending it the potential to be one of the largest protected areas of the Western Ghats; a corridor that will assume first priority in the national efforts to’Save the Tiger’.

It is shocking to learn that the range of the tiger has been slashed by 93% in the last century alone. A regal predator that once hunted throughout east Russia and Turkey; central and south Asia is now scattered, surviving in habitable forests from India to southeast Asia, the Russian far east and Sumatra.

Though solitary in nature, tigers need a vast area for mating, territory and food; fragmenting available forests with imagined political borders adversely affects their survival. Still, some of its range has been well maintained under a plan called Double Dhamaka.

As part of this, the Forest Department of Uttara Karnataka offers a compensation to villagers in and around Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary if they will relocate to alternate housing provided by the former. This incentivized scheme is working rather well and has given several families the chance to play an albeit small but relevant role in tiger conversation.

Quite apart from addressing the major issue of forest fragmentation in protecting the tiger’s range, DATR is also being prepped as a popular destination for tourism along with its neighbor in Goa. Be it river rafting along the rapids of Kali, trekking against the backdrop of the majestic Dudhsagar or exploring the caves at Syntheri rock, eco-tourism is taking shape and the Forest Departments are certainly headed in the right direction.

That said, many state and national highways run through these protected areas and what is most exciting about them is that you are not limited to thoroughfare but can actually spend quality time immersed in the wild. This is a golden opportunity; as is with all great opportunities, one has the responsibility to to exercise great caution.

For one, it is a disgrace to know that these parts see rising numbers of road kill, from reptiles, small mammals to a wild cat as rare as a malinistic leopard. The immensity in micro habitat means that even smaller animals are affected by reckless driving, the absence of speed breakers only pronounces the problem as the Forest Departments struggle with regulating popular tourism.

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Wildlife in Bisle Ghat: The Lovable Loris

Blog, Wild life & Conservation - GoroadTrip - October 5, 2015

You cross the dense ferns and the evergreen bamboo forests that bring you to Bisle and are 24 kilometers from the misery of the potholes. a nervous distraction from any hope you had to escape the mystery of these hills. Be careful! Before you lose your nerve for fear of missing one of the West’s best ghats.

Let’s introduce you to the best, the most corrective: the most charming excuse to fall in love with Bisle Ghat in just two words: Slender Loris.

Wildlife in Bisle Ghat: The Lovable Loris

Slender Loris, Bisle Ghat

Lean Loris – this truly adorable primate, whose most striking feature is a pair of big, fast eyes, seems to be either permanent or trance-scared. If you can spot any of these nocturnal creatures, their amber eyes will shine in the flashing light of your torch.

The elusive lories make their living on the forest of these deplorable ghat roads that you had to cross. The fact that these roads are not well developed leaves many trees and shrubs intact and provides ample space for this tree-like mammal.

The semi-evergreen forest is the Loris paradise. There are two types of slender loris: Mysore Slender Loris and Malabar Slender Loris; this is endemic to Western Ghats.

Habitat and reputation:

Bisle Ghat provides a unique nocturnal habitat for this social animal that has been observed dormant in a group but feeds separately. The best time to discover them is early in the morning, listen carefully for a high-pitched, booming buzzing that sounds squeaky but smooth.

It will certainly take some time for a recruit to recognize those high notes that permeate the heavy jungle air, but listen and you’ll probably never forget the sound.

Finally, internalize while listening to night walks in the Western Ghats.

Group behavior and sleeping patterns:

Like many other members of their family, thin lories have many characteristics that are strangely similar to humans. Lonely men hold their knees to their chest as they fall asleep quickly, clinging to branches, others sleeping in bound arms and groups of two or three.

Loris in the Western Ghat breed in large trunks of hollow trees and also tend to hang their heads as they sleep in their empty houses. These are extremely docile and peaceful beings who have been rated “endangered” by the IUCN.

Slender Loris, Bisle Ghat

When it comes to eating habits, they can chew on a celotus (garden lizard) like a carrot. Her small wrists end with five fingers (five fingers) that are capable and able to demand meals from her semi-permanent habitat of bamboo and samrani, among others.

Well, now that you know it, do not exhaust yourself with the good energy, by hiding the roads that lead to Bisle, do not forget to look out for the adorable lories that make their home from those winding roads.

Do you want to learn more about the Malabar Whistling Thrush at Charmadi Ghat?

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National parks in Kerala and Karnataka

Blog, Destinations, Wild life & Conservation - GoroadTrip - April 27, 2015

South India is surrounded by natural settings. With the mountain ranges of Eastern and Western Ghats and the seas and Indian ocean, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the union territories, the region of South India is home to many National Parks. Some national parks of Karnataka and Kerala are:

National parks in Kerala and Karnataka

Bandipur National Park, Karnataka:

Belonging to the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve of Tamil Nadu, Bandipur National Park is one of the largest protected areas in South India. This tiger reserve forest is popular for its wildlife and flora and fauna.

Nagarhole National Park, Karnataka:

Nagarhole is also a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and has an impressive population of tigers, elephants and Indian bison. Nagarhole is an enchanting park with terrific scenery as it is located in the foothills of the Western Ghats and is filled with streams, waterfalls, valleys and hills.

Kudremukh National Park, Karnataka:

Located around 100 kilometres from Chikmagalur town, Kudremukh National Park is the second largest wildlife protected area in South India. It is very popular for its bio-diversity.

Bannerghatta National Park, Karnataka:

Bannerghatta National Park is frequented by tourists for its many attractions. It is ideal for trekking, has a butterfly park, a snake house, a safari park and an aquarium.

Periyar National Park, Kerala:

This national park and wildlife sanctuary in Kerala is both a tiger and elephant reserve. Also known as Thekkady National Park, it is spread high up in the Cardamom and Pandalam Hills.

Silent Valley National park, Kerala:

Situated in the heart of the Nilgiri International Biosphere Reserve of South India, the park protects the Nilgiri Langur, Wood pigeon, Malabar Giant Squirrel and Lion-tailed Macaques which is an endangered species.

Eravikulam National Park, Kerala:

Located along the Western Ghats, this wild forest and wild life park is a World Heritage Site. It is home to around 26 species of mammals, many amphibians and a great many species of birds.

Mathikettan Shola National Park, Kerala:

Mathikettan Shola National Park is a part of the Cardamom Hill Reserve. It has a number of endemic animals and plants and offers a good opportunity to explore the Shola forest area of Southern India.

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National parks in Tamilnadu and AP

Blog, Destinations, Wild life & Conservation - GoroadTrip - April 16, 2015

The eastern states of southern India has a host of National Parks in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. A list of them is run here:

National parks in Tamilnadu and AP

Mudumalai National Park, Tamil Nadu:

Lying on the Nilgiri Hills, this park is also a Wildlife Sanctuary. It is bordered by Karnataka and Kerala. The park houses many endangered species of birds and animals like the Bengal Tiger, Indian elephant and leopard and the near extinct white-rumped and Long-billed Vultures.

Guindy National Park, Tamil Nadu:

It is one of the five national parks located inside a city. This park in Chennai has a wide variety of snakes, spiders, butterflies, tortoise, rare species of birds besides blackbucks and spotted deers. With grasslands, water bodies and evergreen scrub, the park forms a natural habitat for these animals and birds.

Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, Tamil Nadu:

Made up of 21 small islands and coral reefs, the Gulf of Mannar is on the east coast in Tamil Nadu. The animals like Green Turtle, Indo-Pacific bottlenose Dolphin and Clownfish and plants are under protection in this marine park.

Mukurthi National Park, Tamil Nadu:

The montane grasslands of the Mukurthi National Park lie on the mountain ranges of the Western Ghats. The park protects the endangered species of the Bengal Tiger, Asian Elephant and Nilgiritahr and langur.

Sri Venkateshwara National Park, Andhra Pradesh:

With three waterfalls, Gundalakona, Gunjana and Talakona, this biosphere reserve is situated in the ranges of the Eastern Ghats of the famous Tirumala Hills. Leopards, jungle cats, sloth bear and wild dogs roam around in this reserve.

Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park, Telangana:

Dedicated to deers, this park has the largest green lung space in Hyderabad. Spotted deer, blackbucks, porcupines and several bird species roam about in the park.

Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park, Telangana:

Yet another National Park located inside a city, this park on Jubilee Hills in Hyderabad also has the famous Chiran Palace within its borders. Owing to the vast expanse of space it is home to over 600 species of plant life, 30 varieties of reptiles and butterflies and around 140 species of birds.

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