Spirit of India
Wildlife parks
India has amazingly diverse wildlife habitats that accommodate a multitude of flora and fauna species. And, on our tour we will enjoy time in two of the more famous. Even with a human population of over one billion, India maintains a number of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries protecting over three hundred and fifty mammal species and over two thousand bird species. Besides the splendid Bengal Tiger; the national parks are home to the Asiatic Elephant, One horned Rhino and Asian lion. The lakes and waterholes in the parks are the best spots to capture wildlife on your camera. And, we hope that during our visits, we’ll be amply rewarded.
Keoladeo National Park
Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, an UNESCO World Heritage and Ramsar Site, is arguably one of the unique bird habitats on earth. Those who knew him confirm that Dr. Salim Ali, the grand old man of ornithology, was happiest here in the midst of nature and with the birds he loved to study and enjoy. The rare Siberian Cranes are known to winter in the park. Like white ghosts in the mist they are lured here from other near and far north Indian wetlands. The ‘Sibes’ have arrived at the park from their breeding grounds in Siberia, 6,400 km. away for decades, in search of reliable food sources, because all their summer supplies were snowed under. Earlier a duck and waterfowl shooting ground of the maharaja’s and the colonial rulers, in 1956 the area was finally declared a bird sanctuary, but shooting was only stopped in 1964. However, the Maharajah himself retained personal shooting rights all the way through to 1972, when the Wildlife (Protection) Act made it illegal. Bharatpur was declared a Ramsar site in October 1981, following which the area was declared a National Park in 1982 and an UNESCO World Heritage Site in December 1985.
Corbett National Park
Aptly called the ‘Land of Roar and Trumpet’, this forest of flowing rivers, blue waters and sal tree-dappled glades, was christened after the famous Colonel ‘Gentleman’ Jim Corbett. It also happens to be one of the last surviving stretches of untouched sub-Himalayan wildernesses. In 1936, it was finally notified as the Hailey National Park, named after Governor Hailey of the United Provinces. After India gained her Independence from the British, the name was changed to Ramganga National Park in 1952. It was eventually re-christened as Corbett National Park in 1957. Project Tiger was set up in April 1973 to protect the tiger and its habitat. Appropriately, the Corbett Tiger Reserve was the location for the launch of Project Tiger, which was officially inaugurated on February 1, 1974.
Corbett is the ultimate park for many species and of course for the ever-elusive tiger. A plentiful prey supports a tiger population, variously estimated to range between 90 to 120. Apart from the tiger, you could see as many as 50 different species of mammals. Leopards are often seen in the hilly areas and outskirts of the park, because the larger and more powerful tiger dominates the prime areas. The jungle cat and the rare fishing cat frequent grassland and riverine areas. Elephants are the dominant mammals of Corbett, but even these are dwarfed by the larger-than-life vistas. They can be seen bathing, drinking and feeding in the Ramganga River and its food-rich surrounds. Herds are seen as frequently as lone tuskers. Relatively easily visible are chital, sambar (the largest deer in Asia) and barking deer. Wild boar may suddenly cross the jungle road as you travel. Bharal, goral, Himalayan tahr and serow can be seen. In the Bijrani area chances of seeing sloth bear are excellent. Attracted by both termites and the sweet nectar of mahua flowers, the bears often seem inebriated. Jackals come close to the Dhikala campus, where they seem to thrive on small rodents and mammals such as blacknaped hare that live in the grassy chaurs. The call of the langur is one of Corbett’s most distinctive sounds. Spread throughout the park, these monkeys can often be seen teamed up with barking deer and chital who have learned to feed on the fruit and leaves dropped by monkeys.
