Wildlife is depleting day by day, hence we need to Act NOW!

How would the world be without them? 

Yes,  the ecosystem is incomplete without these wild animals. Have you ever wondered why should these animals should be protected? Have you done your bit to save them? 

These are probably the same questions asked by the same wild animals whom we are eager to see on our visits to National Parks or Wildlife Sanctuaries.  

I would like to express the views and also share what our beautiful animals feel!

Carnivores: We represent the top of the foodchain in the forest. We eat the herbivores like deers, bisons, Sambar deer etc to stay alive. More the herbivores, more are our chances of survival. These forests are our only home, you are our guests hence, you need to follow few rules and regulations about behaving in our home same as you do when you visit someone else home. We do not guarantee that we will come to meet you, because your visit is sudden without notice except for the months where the forests close during rains. Our meeting is just luck or say we were at right place on right time.   

We want to take you back in history, during the 19th century our population was between 50,000 - 100,000 We were always sighted and photographed as we were in ample numbers, but over years due to poaching and no proper policy against such crime, our numbers have fallen drastically to 1800 by 1971, more depletion happened till the nos fell to 1400 by 2008. Government is trying to save us and so are some groups who love us, know that why is it important to save us? & will do everything they can to save us. This is creating awareness and people are now changing their attitude towards us, but we need more and we know also about the social media. Well you can post about the images you took of us but along with that if you can add a line about the conservation, we would be thankful and in turn promise you all types of poses we can pose. The numbers have increased to 1551, in 2011. It is said more than 2845 leopards were killed between 1994 - 2010. It is said for every tiger skin, there are at least 7 skins of leopards in haul. We know the numbers are depleting and it is happening rapidly. Government is trying to save and with the help of you all, our population of other species can be revived, we are talking about cloud or snow leopards. Please save us by conserving the forests & stopping the poachers from killing us.

Herbivores:  We are as important as others are in these forests. We represent the base of the food chain, wider the base, higher the top. The whole forest is an ecosystem and we contribute to it. If our homes are gone and we are killed for fun, then there will be an imbalance in the ecosystem & soon it will crumble to ashes and everything will be gone. Along with the annihilation of the forests, the climate will change and there will be destruction everywhere. Please save us and save the world. The herbivores include different types of deer right from Spotted - Barasingha & Gaurs.

Elephants: What have we done to you humans? I personally do not understand what have they done, apart from claiming the lands which are theirs and they have all the right to take it back or wade through it, its like trespassing their property. How about this analogy - Imagine you have a piece of land, which has been there since your birth, but you hardly visit it and taking advantage of that few people have built their house and are leaving in peace. One fine day, you decide to visit it as it is been long time since you have visited the site. So you visit that site & find out about the people living their, now what will you do?  Imagine what Elephants can do & understand Elephants are not as intelligent as humans are! So now after that back to them, where will we go? We come and try to wade along and then we are threatened by using crackers, sometimes even throwing lighted woods at us and more worse than it - run down by trucks! We are also an important part of these forests, killing us will again lead to an imbalance in the ecosystem. 

Birds & Insects: We are highly dependent on trees and different vegetation. We will die if our homes are snatched away from us. Also the poachers are a big threat to us. Our so many species are endangered & many of them are extinct. We are not only beautiful but are important to the development of these forests. We are major carriers of pollen along with the insects which help in pollination & apart from that we eat various type of fruits & our droppings help in development of forests. We along with the wild animals are an important part of the ecosystem. Please save us and save world.

My Take: It is high time now, this needs to stop! These creatures do not invade our homes, in fact we have trespassed their homes. Certain areas are already declared as Elephant corridors, what are we doing in there? how come government are not helping them and not checking whether the areas are cleared or not? 

We are hearing everyday - one tigress electrocuted, another poached, these numbers might be small now, but tomorrow these numbers will multiply. Numerous Elephants are killed in the name of Elephant - Human conflict, but when we invade their homes, whose fault is it? What are waiting for? Are we waiting for these animals being almost extinct? Then, only we will take action right? because till we are thirsty we do not dug up the well right?

Nothing is changed, we can still revive them,  only if the government becomes little stringent on this important matter and we as citizens start spreading awareness and inculcate the ideology of conservation of forests in the minds of future leaders of India. I do not say the government is not taking action, but what is the use of corrective action,  when we can take preventive action! The government needs to be little more strict and take actions in such a way that poachers are compelled to think twice before committing the crime. My only humble request to all of you is to be aware and spread awareness about the conservation o forests and the wonderful animals who reside in it. One more important point is that tiger is not wildlife, nor it is compulsory that one will see big cats. Wildlife is everything which resides in the forests right from Cats to animals to birds to insects. Also do not make any type of noise even if you spot a tiger, because when we are silent then we listen to the noises of forests which in turn helps the guide or naturalist to recognize the calls made by monkeys and herbivores, when the predators are around. Also keep an eye on the pug marks, as pug marks and the calls help in identifying the spot of the wild animals. 

SAVE FORESTS! SAVE WILD ANIMALS!

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Wildlife and Wildlife Photography - Elephants, Bandipur 2016

All eyes were trying to spot the National Animal of India - The Tiger, when one of them whispered a beautiful pair of Elephants! The eyes moved in the direction where this beautiful pair of Elephants were dancing looked like..............

Bandipur has always been one of my favourite wildlife destination, and yes I spotted my first Tiger here. It is a forest full of wildlife diversity and people love coming here, especially those who are wildlife and photography enthusiasts.

Bandipur Tiger Reserve is situated in Mysore, & Chamarajanagar districts of Karnataka. Kabini and Bandipur are separated by the Kabini river, which plays an important part of thriving the wildlife in the forests of Bandipur, Kabini and Wayanad. Bandipur has been a place where the tiger sighting has been regular and not to forget the Prince or the Alpha male tiger, which will definitely meet you the next time you go. Leopard and Bisons are also quite regularly sighted along with birds like Crested Hawk Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Hoopoe, Shikra and many more. 

This is about the encounter I had with the most mesmerizing mammal - Elephants. Elephants are the largest mammals living on land and are divided into Asian Elephants & African Elephants. They can be found in Africa, & South East Asia. Asian Elephants can be divided into Sumatran, Indian, Srilankan, & Borneo. 

Elephants are herbivores and they normally prefer to stay near water and tend to move away or avoid to cross paths with the predators like Tiger, Lions, Leopards or Wild Dogs. This is because, the new born calves are more vulnerable than the adults. So even if any body nears their calves, they either charge or move away from that area. Elephants socialise in groups and in such a way that new groups can get mixed into the other group and thus they adjust themselves. Everyone helps each other and they are lead by Matriarch . The males separate once they reach puberty and then they go with other males. The group first makes calf safe and then they deal with danger, such is their culture and they do not stand any nuisance. It is said that they can run 1 km  while chasing someone.

I and Elephants have a history, for my first visit to Bandipur and the first animal we encountered was of a family of Elephants which had a baby just one week old. We were just admiring the cutie when some flash caused irritation to them and the Matriarch just made the calf and mother safe and charged, unfortunately our jeep did not start, luckily ti was just a mock charge! Phew! it was very close. That was my first wild encounter of Elephants and such an adventurous welcome to Bandipur I received back in 2012.

This time we saw a huge tusker just on the way to Bandipur's forest gates, unfortunately the images were not good, but as we moved in on the evening safari, So our eyes were itching to spot Tiger, when the naturalist whispered Elephants! Our eyes moved to the direction where he spotted a mother and calf dancing as it look like ............... Or She was trying to tell them that "we need to welcome them as they are admirers and not the killers, they are our defenders and not the destroyers. Welcome them baby, C'mon do not be shy!, " We need to save them, they are on verge of extinction, I would like to tell you all, please do your bit in saving these beautiful creatures.

Please see the image here :

Next we moved little further after trying to get the calf to welcome us, and we saw another lovely herd of Elephants again, now it was a huge group with adults and calves all together taking sand bath and trying to cool them from teh scorching heat. These mammals will not do anything, if you do not harass them and people take them in wrong sense and then they perform atrocities on them and thus these beautiful mammals are on verge of extinction.

Please check the image here:

The next day evening safari, we were trying to search the mother and calf pair, when we spotted calf's father as well with them and they were standing to welcome us like the last day, this time they were more cautious, but it was Kodak moment, relish the image here................

Bandipur has lot of resorts and forest guest house as well. The best option would be Jungle Lodges & Resorts , they have their own jeeps and canter to take around the wildlife enthusiast to the forest and the Forest departmetn has the facility of canter to take around the wildlife enthusiasts around the forest. The duration is the difference, the duration or timings are morning from 6:30 to 9:30 hrs and evenings 16:00 to 18:30 hrs and JLR's jeeps and canter take you around for the full 3 hrs in morning and 2.5 hrs in evening, while Forests department's canter will take you around only for 1 hour round and will bring you back. If you wish to take the Forest department's vehicle, book the ride in advance to avoid last minute hassles. The Forest department's website is tariff plan and safari plan by the Forest department.

Wildlife and Wildlife Photography - Barking Deer, Kabini Dec'15

Kabini or Nagarhole, my favourite forest, it just takes you to some other world all together. Once you visit Kabini, you will fall in love with it. Kabini's wildlife diversity is so vast, that every time you go, you will still be amazed by it. People often say to me,"Nimit, why do you go again and again to Kabini? ", the simple reply is it still makes me fall in love with it and every time I see something new. This is what makes it more serene, pure, misty and full of surprises. Every turn will give you a surprise, it might be a leopard (trademark of Kabini), a tiger or simply a Crested Hawk Eagle, but you will never ever be bored of Kabini.

The Nilgiri Bioreserve is seperated into four forests by the Kabini river , namely Kabini backwaters, Bandipur National Park, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. One might not be surprised, that Kabini Backwaters is the reason for such diverse and magnificent wildlife.

Jungle Lodges Resorts  are the best option for any forests stay in Karnataka, yes most of the time it is full and you need to book in advance, apart from them there are many and for more you can contact me on bhattnimit79@gmail.com and I will help you with more options.

Barking Deer or Indian Muntjac is a very shy animal. It will be appropriate if I put it this way, more shy than deers. They are not used to the people seeing them from the safaris.

The Barking Deers usually give calls especially when they sense a predator approaching the area or when they are in danger, but these calls resemble barks and hence the name "Barking Deer". All the Muntjac species are called as Barking Deer.

As I said, JLR has the right to conduct safaris in forests other than government, they have open jeeps 6-7 seater and canters for 15 people. So they have moer than 5 jeeps and 3 canters. So the forest is divided into two zone Zone A and Zone B. The routes are given by the team leader Mr. Prasanna and then the jeeps move into their respective zones. Some paperwork has to be done and then you are into teh magical forest of Kabini. The timings change due to the change in seasons. In summer it starts from 6:30 am to 9:30 am and in evening from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm and in winters, the timings in morning are from 6:30 am to 9:30 am and in evening its from 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm. For more one can check with JLR
We were into our evening safari and we had booked in Jungle Lodges Resort only, as they have the right apart from government vehicle, to conduct safaris in forests of Karnataka. So after futile search for predators, we came near a waterhole, thinking we might spot some predator, but to our surprise, the Barking deer came out and we did not waste time to take few images of this beautiful creature, before it vanishes into the bushes. The landscape with lush green vegetation and waterhole in fromt of it and the reflection of it falling in the river. It was really a beautiful and the wildlife photographers had satisfaction down to the core of their heart, after clicking the images of Barking Deer.


Please see the image here:

Barking Deer - Kabini 2015

Wildlife and Wildlife Photography - Streak Throated Woodpecker, Kabini Dec'15

Streak Throated Woodpecker is one, which does not shy away from photography. It is a small bird with red crown, green back and white colour bellied woodpecker.

Woodpeckers are very easy to find, as you can hear them pecking into wood from long distance as well. Their pecking is so powerful, the way they peck into the wood will give you chills. This beauty was pecking the wood and we could hear it from a distance.

We reached at the spot and found a pair but soon females left and I could get the image of the male only. This was taken at Kabini in December 2015, we were into evening safari.

Kabini is a river and a corridor where the Nilgiri Biosphere is located which comprises of Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Nagarhole National Park and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. Nagarhole National Park is located on the kabini back waters which runs through the park. It is famous for leopards, tigers and recently for Black leopards. It is an ideal place for wildlife photography with the landscapes and natural beauty.

Here is the new addition in my Wildlife and Wildlife Photography blog.........................

Streak Throated Woodpecker, jungle_tales - Nimit Bhatt

Wildlife and Wildlife Photography - FB

Wildlife and Wildlife Photography - Streak Throated Woodpecker

Wildlife and Wildlife Photography - Wild Dogs, Kabini Dec'15

Kabini is a heaven for wildlife photography and photographers. It has everything you need for a good photography. It has greenery, beautiful birds, predators, elephants and the weather. It has got three predators namely, Tigers, Leopards and Wild Dogs.

Wild Dogs are called Dholes in India. They remain in packs and make sure they do not get left out. Their thinking is "United we stand, divided we fall". Whatever they do, they do it in their pack. When they are united, no one can touch them and they are ferocious, but a singular is afraid of the predators lurking around.

Their way of hunting and strategy, one needs to learn from them. They always have a strategy to hunt and everyone co-operates. One who does not, he/she will have to leave the pack. The leader is an Alpha male or the dominant Wild Dog. Everyone needs to follow his orders.

This was a group of 15-20 wild dogs playing on the Jungle Track.

jungle_tales - Nimit Bhatt

Nimit Bhatt - 500 px

Wildlife and Wildlife Photography - Wild Dogs, Kabini Dec'15

Wild DOgs - Kabini December 2015

Wildlife and Wildlife Photography - Jungle Owlet, BR Hills Dec'15

Jungle Owlet is a type of Owl found in Indian Subcontinent. It is small in size and looks very cute. BR Hills in Karnataka is famous for Wildlife Photography, but mainly birds. Brown Fish Owl is the main centre of attraction.

This Jungle Owlet was sitting on a branch with a good scenic view and the light was little dark. I could capture this cutie as it gave enough time and was patient with my photography. This was at BR Hills in December 2015. This was taken in morning safari.

Nimit Bhatt - 500px

jungle_tales - Nimit Bhatt

Jungle Owlet - FB

Wildlife and Wildlife Photography - Jungle Owlet, BR Hills, Dec'15

Jungle Owlet - BR Hills December 2015

Wildlife and Wildlife Photography - Yellow Footed Green Pigeon, Kabini Dec'15

Yellow Footed Green Pigeon - State Bird of Maharashtra - a state of India, Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra and Financial capital of India.

These birds are very cute, well We (my parents & brother) were on our family trip to Kabini in December 2015. Kabini is a very lush green forest and known for its wildlife. Kabini is known for leopards, it is said you visited Kabini and could not spot a leopard - no chance, so we did spot leopards both in morning and evening safari. We could not spot Tiger - once again.

We were trying to spot Tiger, though it was early morning and fog had set in - bad situation for spotting, we came across these Yellow footed green pigeon. Lovely and attractive birds they are, there were total 5 of them, and then a pair flew and sat on a branch.

Another addition to my Wildlife and Wildlife Photography Blog

YFGP - Nimit Bhatt (FB)

jungle_tales - Nimit Bhatt

Wildlife and Wildlife Photography - Yellow Footed Green Pigeon, Kabini Dec'15

Wildlife and Wildlife Photography - Jackal, Kabini Dec'15

This was in Dec'15, we were on our family trip to Kabini, BR Hills and Bandipur. We were into our last safari - morning one and then we had to move to BR Hills. Kabini had this time given us a surprise with the Leopards and Wild Dogs. We had done some good photography of wild animals and nature as well.

We were assigned Zone B, the moment we entered we saw this cute little Indian Jackal or Golden Jackal staring at us curiously. All the poses it gave blended well with the nature and forest, in short the poses were good for Indian Jackal's photography.

Indian Jackal are small wild animals which feed on deers and other antelopes. They are usually found in packs. One who gets separated from group usually forms a relationship with tigers. They are on a considerable distance from them, but they live together and feed on tiger's kill once tiger is done. Not every Jackal gets the chance to form such relationship, only that Jackal who shows considerable self confidence, and can move in and around tigers comfortably. Even animals have to show self confidence !

Also this image of Jackal featured on +AnimalsinHD   - Instagram

This was with us for long time, here are the photos - Wildlife and Wildlife Photography Blog........ 

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Indian Jackal - Kabini December 2015

Wildlife and Wildlife Photography - Jackal, Kabini Dec'15

Wildlife and Wildlife Photography - Indian Gaur, Bandipur Dec15

Me and my family were on family vacation and we visited Kabini, BRT Hills. we were returning from BRT Hills on 25th Dec 2015, the manager at BRT hills said to us that we should visit Bandipur as the tiger sightings are going on. He told us to try our luck, we said we will try. We did visit Bandipur Tiger Reserve, we missed tiger by 1 min and my wait to see my first tiger still increased till this year in March 2016. To our luck, my first date with tiger which happened at Bandipur this year in March 2016.

Bandipur has got lovely wildlife, it has got abundant deer families, which is a good indicator of healthy food chain. It is a dry forest, gaurs, elephants and deers will be seen in abundant, along with one deadly predator Wild Dogs.

So when we visited Bandipur in December 2015, we did see this beautiful Indian Gaur. These are found almost in all the jungles of India. They weigh from 650 kg to 1000 kg. They are dangerous when they are teased. They can even fight the predators and on their day they can even kill them. One video went viral of gaurs fighting lions.

So we were into the forest and we bumped into a herd of gaurs, where one was a huge gaur and was looking straight into the camera. I did click few of them. It was very ferocious and was intensely looking at us and then suddenly it ran and we thought it was towards us, but it changed the course and ran into the waterhole nearby, maybe due to fear. But, if it was to bump us, it would have been a very deadly collision.

Have a look at this huge Gaur - Wildlife and Wildlife Photography blog ...............................

Indian Gaur - jungle_tales - Nimit Bhatt

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Indian Gaur - Bandipur December 2015

Wildlife and Wildlife Photography - Indian Gaur, Bandipur, Dec'15

Wildlife and Wildlife Photography - Leopard, Bandipur, March 2016

Let me tell you, In India, we have four predators found - Lion, Tiger, Leopards and Wild Dogs. Asiatic Lions are found only in Sasan Gir - Gujarat. No other country has got this pride of having Asiatic Lions.

Tigers are found in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Kerela, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and in East India. Leopards are found all over India, same as Wild Dogs as well or Dhole as they are known.

We were into our fourth safari at Bandipur on 26th March 2016 morning, we entered with the hope that we do see Prince, Leopard and Wild Dogs. We were capturing the images of Crested Hawk Eagle or Changeable Hawk Eagle, when we got a tip saying a Leopard was spotted. We sped off in that direction.

We saw like 6 vehicles converging in one place and were pointing towards a tree in opposite direction. Then we saw a Leopard some 100 mtrs away on a tree having breakfast of a deer.

It was a beautiful sub adult leopard, shiny fur and was looking very intense while having break fast. He had managed to take his prey on the tree all alone. It gave few poses while eating and then it went down the tree into the bushes.

Our naturalist said that lets wait because he has not gone very far and it will come back to the tree, as they do not leave the prey unprotected. After 15 mins, it came from the backside of the vehicle and I managed to click a picture (yet to be processed). It went into the bushes never to return not even in he evening.

Please do have a look at this Leopard pics - Wildlife and WIldlife Photography Blog .......................

Leopard, Bandipur 2016 - jungle_tales - Nimit Bhatt

Wildlife and Wildlife Photography - Leopard, Bandipur March 2016

Wildlife and Wildlife Photography -Bandipur Trip 2016

 

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This was at Gopal Swamy Betta hill, me and Rupesh had gone to the hill which was not far away from Bandipur.

Its a lovely place, this place is such a point that you can see the three sanctuaries i.e. Mudumalai, Wayanad and Bandipur converging.

You can even see herds of Elephants down the valley, the road to it has been stopped as it is too dangerous.

This was the pic taken from Samsung Galaxy J5 - Wildlife and Wildlife Photography Blog

Wildlife and Wildlife Photography - Bandipur Trip March 2016

This was a small trip planned 2 months ago and this time bro was not travelling with us.

We are avid lovers of Wildlife and Wildlife photography is my dad's and mine hobby. I even blog about it - Wildlife and Wildlife Photography Blog - Nimit Bhatt.

This time, I wnated to spot a tiger, because it was long wait and this time I wanted to break teh jinx. Well, I did spot the tiget and in the first safari itself.

This was clicked en route to Bandipur - Wildlife and Wildlife Photography Blog

 

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Nimit Bhatt