my trip to Bandipur NP, Karnataka
Bandipur NP
Bandipur NP is around 200 kms from Bengaluru via Mysuru by road (NH67) and offers affordable stay for individuals and families. It features wildlife documentaries before the dinner is served at restaurant attached to the NP...the NP is closed between 9 pm & 6 am making it a safer haven for the wildlife...the forest stretches in TN (Mudumalai) and Kerala (Wayanad)...
...this was my 3rd visit to Bandipur and every visit had a new story - however i didn't expect an action so sooner after my first evening safari...while i was taking shower that late evening, i was alarmed by the cacophony from the jungle, in few moments, i dashed in the verandah with a torch focusing through the fence, but the could not sight any movement...on the stroke of the first rays of the Sun, i was ordered by the naturalist friend to jump in the open jeep: "sir, tiger......!!" tossed-up and holding the roof bar, i was securing myself in the vehicle, as we entered the denser part of the buffer zone, "sir, there it is !!"....silence followed...
i was awestruck to see a magnificent male tiger staring at us, not even flicking of the ear, showcasing his confidence he had...over the next 15 minutes i was capturing frame after frame...the mighty giant once rolled over its back...the naturalist uttered "you are lucky, sir!"; he continued, "sir, this is a 10 year old cat and had a territorial fight last evening with an younger 8er male tiger, which got killed and the fight alarmed the guards in the core area of the jungle, who caught the glimpse of the aftermath at the dawn...the veterinary doc. is on his way for the post-mortem" he continued the story in the stretch, "its sad to loose a younger wild cat, but this is wildlife!", "did you hear anything last evening ???"...so, what i had heard last evening could be this event, i was wondering whether am i getting the powers from the nature that these folks, working in the jungles have acquired ???, becoz. none in the guesthouse, over 20 odd, did not hear a sound...i rested back in my seat, picturing the fight...
...suddenly "are we continuing for birding, sir?"...a query from the naturalist, brought me back to the senses and we were more than happy to ride on our luck.....having said this we spotted Asian Paradise Flycatcher (APF), Brahminy Starling male-female together, Jungle Owlet, Crested Serpent and Changeable Hawk Eagle, Common Hoopoe, Grey Junglefowl, Oriental Magpie Robin, Black Drongo & the House Sparrow...
i was awestruck to see a magnificent male tiger staring at us, not even flicking of the ear, showcasing his confidence he had...over the next 15 minutes i was capturing frame after frame...the mighty giant once rolled over its back...the naturalist uttered "you are lucky, sir!"; he continued, "sir, this is a 10 year old cat and had a territorial fight last evening with an younger 8er male tiger, which got killed and the fight alarmed the guards in the core area of the jungle, who caught the glimpse of the aftermath at the dawn...the veterinary doc. is on his way for the post-mortem" he continued the story in the stretch, "its sad to loose a younger wild cat, but this is wildlife!", "did you hear anything last evening ???"...so, what i had heard last evening could be this event, i was wondering whether am i getting the powers from the nature that these folks, working in the jungles have acquired ???, becoz. none in the guesthouse, over 20 odd, did not hear a sound...i rested back in my seat, picturing the fight... 
trying my luck
...the 2nd evening at the NP, i drove on NH67 and spotted the wild dogs, Dhole, ambushing a Spotted Deer on the other side of the road, in the moon light, i saw many deers around...the Dholes kept their distance and could not witness any action...I continued further to try my luck further, where i encountered a Sloth Bear running away in the thick, on witnessing my car and few meters later, an Indian Gaur, steady and unperturbed, continued grazing...i abandoned the drive much earlier than the restricted time to respect the wildlife and my pockets were full...
next morning, I left for Masinagudi for birding and on the way witnessed the wild elephants as soon as Mudumalai was crossed...keep a safe distance from the wild elephants...always!!!
birds' paradise
as soon as i neared Masinagudi, spotted beautiful steps and expressions of Kathak by a Peafowl along the Singara estate road and few moments later Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Grey Hornbill, the jewel of the jungle - the Indian Golden Oriole... going few paces further, we spotted female Heart-spotted woodpecker, which have black heart-like shapes on their white shoulders with white forehead, the males have black forehead...the species is resident of Western Ghats and E and NE India...
i was accompanied by a funny naturalist, who could view birds having a foot long body or over and who did not show any emotion when i was uttering wows and ahhs.....
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| Heart-spotted Woodpecker, female |
but then he suddenly jumped off his seat...his animated behaviour was hilarious, but there was a reason...
Great Hornbill
he pointed to the tree and pointed towards a branch of a tree.
..as if the nature has showered colors on this very bird, it is massive bird found in Western Ghats and NE India and has a huge mustard yellow casque...the flapping of the wings can easily be heard and it looks like an Alamgir of the birds...the Hornbills have a peculiar characteristic, once a male-female relationship is established, they remain inseparable for the rest of their life...
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so much to inculcate from the jungles...the following day, I left for Bengaluru...looking back with gratitude...
Awesome trip. U r lucky to see most of the animals and beautiful description about it.
ReplyDeleteLong live Myforestshades, I relived the experience reading our blog.
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