Hangul or the Kashmir Stag

Hangul or the Kashmir Stag (Cervus elaphus hanglu)

• A deer species more related to the Red Deer found commonly in Europe, Hangul is found in the valley of Kashmir especially in areas above Srinagar called Dachigam.

• The summer coat of Hangul is spotted and has flecks of pale hair and sometimes the coat is dappled with white. This provides them with adequate protection with the surroundings. In the winter the color of the coat becomes more uniform and merges well with the winter landscape.

• Hangul is greatly influenced by the change in the season and its movement becomes migratory with the onset of summers and winters. Hangul stags like to move around in their territories and come to the hinds only during the time of rutting.
  

• The young ones are taken care of by the hinds throughout the time they are with their mothers. The rutting territory in Hangul is less as compared to other big deer as the number of hinds is more in Hangul. The rutting starts in October and the fawns are born in late May.

The Thamin or Brow-Antlered Deer (Cervus eldi)

• This deer is also called the Dancing Deer due to its delicate style of walking. The males usually reach height up to 4 ft and the hinds are smaller in size. The color of the coat in stags is nearly black and the one of hinds is fawn. In appearance it looks similar to Sambar but is smaller in size.

• In India this deer is found only in Manipur in Eastern India and that also on the Shore of Loktak Lake. The most distinctive feature of Thamin is its antlers which have tines from 2 to ten and can reach a length of 2 meter. The antlers of this deer are most impressive of all the deer species. They grow outwards and then turn inwards. The brow tine is specially long and distinct hence the name Brow-Antlered Deer.

• Thamin prefers open woodland, scrubs and undulating land near the rivers and the marshland. Due to its proximity to the cultivation land they tend to raid the crops. With continued encroachment on their land by the humans the Thamin is now confined to a small area in Loktak Lake. They mainly feed on water plants, grasses, shoots and crops.

• The rutting takes place between March and April and after a gestation period of 220-250 days the young one is born. The stags leave the herd after the rutting and are seldom seen with herds till the time of next rutting.

The Muntjac or the Barking Deer

The Muntjac or the Barking Deer (Muntiacus muntjak)

• A smaller deer as compared to Chital, Sambar and even a Hog deer, the Muntjac has small set of antler consisting of short brow-tine and an unbranched beam. The coat is reddish brown in color. An adult male Muntjac or the Barking Deer has very well developed canines which can be used as a weapon of self defense.

• In India Muntjac are found all over India with three distinct species recorded. The species found in North India has a brightest coat from others.

• Muntjac or the barking deer prefers denser parts of the forest and can be seen in pairs or smaller family groups. They are found mainly on the hilly slopes and can be seen till the heights reaching 8-9,000 ft. As with other deer species Muntjac also have scent glands beneath their eyes and in addition they have an additional gland on their forehead.
  

• These glands secrete fluid especially during the mating and are means of attracting the hinds. These are very helpful for deer which inhabit the dense forests. Muntjac feeds on leaves, grass and wild berries and fruits. When alarmed they give a short dog like bark before bounding away. The rutting mainly takes place during winters and young ones are born on the onset of rains.

• Other than above deer India also has following deer species. We have not mentioned in detail about these deer as they are found in relatively remote areas and are also very difficult to see. It requires a complete expedition to go to these places and to see these species.

The Hog Deer

The Hog Deer (Axis porcinus)

• A deer quite related to the Chital it is smaller and more stoutly built then the Chital. Hog deer as named has a peculiar habit of running like a hog with its head down without the traditional leaps of a deer.

• Hog deer has a long body with shorter legs and the color of the coat is brown to dark brown with reddish tinge. It has white inner ears and white under tail. There are white tips on some hair which sometimes give it a spotted look. The summer coat is usually paler in color. The antler size is also considerably smaller as compared to Chital.

• In India, Hog Deer inhabits the alluvial grasslands of the terai forest right from Corbett to the forests of Assam.

• Hog deer favors the grass and reeds along the river banks, the grass covered riverine islands and open grass lands. Hog deer are mainly solitary animals and very rarely they are found in two’s or three’s. They can be seen frequenting similar areas for days together for feeding.
  

• The afternoon’s are always for resting and grazing is in the early mornings and evenings. Being the creatures of open, Hog deer have very acute sense of sight, smell and sound.

• As with other deer species, the young ones are born during the time when rain starts and the grass grows long enough to hide the fawns.

The Chital or the Spotted Deer

The Chital or the Spotted Deer (Axis axis)

• As the name suggest Chital has bright spots on its body. Out of the deer species Chital is the most beautiful of them. Its coat has shining rufous-fawn color with bright white spots all over the body and hardly changes color even in summers.

• In India Chital is very widely distributed from the base of Himalayas to the steaming forests of the south except in the north east. It inhabits the fringes of the forests and prefers to graze in the grasslands. Any place with good grazing ground and plentiful water will have the presence of Chital.

• Chital are always seen in herds numbering 20-30 and will have many stags. In many areas very big herds sometimes numbering hundreds have been seen together. They are known to raid the cultivation fields especially in areas which are adjacent to the forests and cause heavy damage to the crops.
  

• The best species of Chital can be found in the terai region in the foothills of Himalayas and in Madhya Pradesh.

• Out of all deer Chital are most sociable animal. They can be easily seen in the company of other deer species inhabiting the same forest. A very special relation ship worth mentioning is between langur monkeys and the Chital. Where ever langurs feed on the trees, chital can be seen feeding on the leaves and tender shoots which the monkeys drop on the ground.
  

• This relationship also acts as an advance warning system against the arrival of predators. On seeing a predator langurs give alarm call which makes the deer on the ground alert against the danger.

• The rutting season differs in Chital according to the areas they inhabit. In the northern areas of India they tend to breed in winters and in warmer areas of Madhya Pradesh they mate in summer months.
  

• The rutting call of an adult stag is a loud bellow and quite often fierce fight between two stags can be seen for possession of hinds. There are no territorial fights in Chital, the fights when happens are mainly for protecting the doe from other stags.

• As Chital are preyed by virtually all the predators they have a very prolific breeding cycle and give birth to young one every six month. In the wild a hind can be seen with two or sometimes three young fawns all of different ages.

The Sambar

The Sambar (Cervus unicolor)

Sambar is the largest of all deer species found in the Indian Sub-continent. It also has the finest pair of antlers sometimes reaching a length of around 40 inches. A full grown adult stag can reach a weight of 300 kg.

It is mainly a forest dweller and prefers hills and denser parts of the forest. In India Sambar is found from the lower ranges of Himalayas to the forests of south India, from the forests of Rajasthan to the forests of north east India.

The color of the coat is mainly brown with greyish tinge. The coat is mainly shaggy and coarse and in summers the hair fall down. The older stags are very dark in color almost looking black.

Sambar prefers to live in the denser parts of the forest and likes to feed on leaves, wild fruits and grass. They are extremely shy of humans and usually feed during the later part of the evenings and in night. The sense of hearing is very acute in Sambar and they are helped in this by their large funnel shaped ears.

On seeing a predator a Sambar gives a honking bark which is repeated as long the predator is seen. In spite of its size Sambar are very nimble in moving through thick undergrowth without making much noise. They are also very good swimmers and can be seen in the waters especially in the lakes of Ranthambhore.

The shedding of antlers takes place mainly in March end till mid April. Sambars prefer to come to same tree again and again for rubbing off the velvet from the antlers. The antler size varies in between the Sambar found in Madhya Pradesh and the ones found in the forests of North east India.

Sambars have the largest and very well developed facial glands to attract the females by secreting scent and leaving the marks on the tree trunks. The fight between two stags is mainly for protecting the territory and rarely for the females.

The mating takes place mainly in November and December and the young ones are born on the onset of rains when the forest is dense and the grass is high. Males prefer to live alone and separate from hinds as soon as the mating is over. Sambars always move around in small herds with hinds and young stags normally seen together.

The Swamp Deer

The Swamp Deer or the Barasingha (Cervus duvauceli)

One of the most remarkable come backs made by any animal species from the brink of extinction the Barasingha’s is a role model for the conservationists.

The coat of this magnificent deer is golden yellow and the stags are maned and slightly dark in color. The adult males have large and widely flared set of antlers sometimes with 10-14 points.

In India there two races of the is deer found: one is the swamp inhabiting and is found mainly in the Terai region of U.P., small numbers in the Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary and more recently discovered herd in Jhilmil Jheel in Uttaranchal.and as well as in Assam. The other race is the Hard Ground one found only in Madhya Pradesh.

The Barasingha of the swamps of terrain are mainly found in the small islands of reed and grass in the swamps and can be easily recognized by their splayed hooves ideally suited for movement on soft spongy surface. They hardly come out of the water. The hard ground barasingha is found in the open grasslands of Kanha National Park and have smaller well knit hooves adapted to run on hard ground. Swamp deer’s can be seen feeding during the day time and rest only when it is too hot to remain in the open. Their sense of smell is very high.

The herds of Swamp Deer can be seen in mixed numbers throughout the year but during the period of rutting season they form exclusive breeding herds. After the breeding, stags sometime leave the herds to form stag herds.

Swamp deer rarely use tree bark to peel off the velvet from their antlers instead the long grass of their habitat suits their requirement.

DEER FAMILY OF INDIA

DEER FAMILY OF INDIA

Deer are the most ancient of all the ruminants ( cud chewing animals) and are mostly found in the forests or in the open grasslands. Even though they are part of Bovidae still there are many distinctions which separate them from this class. Nearly all the deer species have large fissure below each eye and the gall bladder is absent in nearly all the deer’s.

Unlike other ruminants (cud chewing animals) deer have solid horns and that is its most distinguishing factor. Deer antlers are mass of solid bone and are shed on regular intervals and regrow again. Whereas in all other bovidae’s the horns are permanent and are not shed.

India has a distinction of having the largest number of deer species in the world. The species found in India varies in size as per the areas they live in.

The horn or the antler is the most important and fascinating part of a deer. The process starts gradually and with each shedding it grows more and finally takes its shape. During the growing of the antlers a soft shining skin covers the antlers and is known as “velvet”. This skin is highly sensitive as it is fed by many blood vessels and can be injured easily.

When the antlers grow to take their final shape a ring of bone forms on the base and cuts off the supply of blood to the velvet thus leading to its shedding. During this period many deer can be seen rubbing their antlers on the tree trunk to get rid of the velvet.

Shedding of velvet is usually followed by the period of rutting and many stags are seen sparing with each other to get hold of hinds. These fights are mostly jostling with each other antlers interlocked and are rarely fatal. The shedding of antlers is mainly after the finish of the rutting season. One factor playing important role in the shedding of horns is the availability of good grass.

For males good intake of food means good source of calcium which helps in the formation of bone (antlers) whereas for female this period acts as a good source of nutrients to nurse the young ones.

The surroundings play very important role in the body development of deer species. Deer species of central India are known for their large size and big antlers. Whereas the species found in Eastern and Southern India have antlers smaller in size.

The difference in habitat of swamp deer has led to the development of two sub species, hard ground and soft ground barasingha. The swamp deer and the sambar have large funnel shaped ears to catch maximum sound as both inhabit denser parts of the forests. Whereas the chital has short ears as it inhabits the fringes of the forest and open grasslands where catching sound is much easier.

Deer have profound effect on their surroundings and every type of deer plays a very important role for Nature. They keep a control on the growth of grass and other tree types which are favored by them.

Black Buck Antelope in India:

About Black Buck Antelope

Black Buck, common name for an antelope, mainly of India but with other small populations in Pakistan and Nepal. The black buck has ringed horns that have a moderate spiral twist of three to four turns and are up to 70 cm (28 in) long.

The name black buck has also been applied to the sable antelope of Africa. The adult male stands about 80 cm (about 32 in) at the shoulder and weighs 32 to 43 kg (71 to 95 lb). The body's upper parts are black; the underparts and a ring around the eyes are white. The light-brown female is usually hornless. Males are dark brown.

Black bucks frequent the open plains in herds. When the rut (mating season) reaches a peak, one male establishes dominance.

Kala Hiran also called Indian Black Buck Antelope (Antelope cervicapra L.). It has four sub species, they are:

» Antelope cervicapra cervicapra

» Antelope cervicapra rajputanae

» Antelope cervicapra centralis

» Antelope cervicapra rupicapra

Habitat

It used to be found all over India except the northeast. Now it is seen in Panjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat and central India. It does not live in dense forest but in open plains. It is one of the fastest animals on earth and can out run any animal over long distances. Open plains, which allows it to move fast, are therefore needed to protect it from predators.

The males darken at maturity and the most dominant male in the herd has a black coat. White highlights the eyes, ears, chin, under parts, and rump. Even fawns have these markings. They are brown but turn tan after about a month. Grown males have ringed horns spiraling in a V at least thirty-three centimeters above the head. Record trophies exceed fifty centimeters. The black buck eats mainly grasses. Pods, fruits, and flowers supplement this diet. Few black bucks live longer than twelve years, and their maximum life span is about sixteen years.

Importance of Black Buck

Biological importance

As other animal it is also a part of Nature and we need to conserve it for future generation. Black buck is one of 26 species of mammals, which have been declared endangered and protected by low in Nepal .

Genetic importance

Cross breeding and development of high breed for domestic use.

Economic importance

Each species has value and meaning. In present context Biodiversity richness is greater than monetary value.

Local importance

Tourist, researcher, animal lover may come to see this important animal and it will help the diffusion of local culture or production to the external national or international visitor.

National importance

Tourism development and decentralization of tourist flow.

Ecological importance

System within a system

Musk Deer

Musk Deer - Kasturi Mrigha (Moschus Moschiferus)


¤ The Attraction of Musk

This animal has being paying the price for all that 'seductive musk' with its life. The result – only a few thousand (or hundred?) deer are left in the high altitudes of the Himalayas.
Musk has a great commercial value in the international market, and that’s the reason the males are mercilessly butchered by poachers. What is even more disturbing is the fact that the musk can be extracted without actually killing the animal.

The musk deer is a small deer species that stands 50cm at the shoulder. Biologically, scientists consider the musk deer to be an intermediate species, between the deer and the antelope. It is dark brown in colour, and the males have a pair of canines protruding from the upper jaw – a valuable asset for them as they don’t have horns.

The musk deer cannot bear hot weather and it even avoids direct sunlight. It feeds during the wee hours of the morning or in the evening, and relaxes hidden under the bushes during daytime. It’s an extremely shy animal and can be seen in pairs. It breeds in January and the young one arrives in the last week of June or early July. The litter comprises of a single calf.


¤ Best place To sight

Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary.

Swamp Deer

Swamp Deer - Barasingha (Cervus Duvauceli)


As the name indicates, this species of deer is well adapted to swampy grasslands. and this is exactly the reason for its extinction. In the last couple of centuries, the habitat of the swamp deer has been zealously converted into agricultural land by man, thereby adversely affecting its population. Today, there are only about 4000 of them believed to be living on the planet.


¤ Deer Got Its Name From

The average swamp deer measures 75cm till the shoulder, and can weigh as much as 180kg. It has twelve times on its horns that can collectively measure more than 100cm in length. This is the reason the animal is called Barasingha in Hindi (bara means twelve, singha is horn). The name is so popular among Indians that every horned deer is wrongly called barasinghaThe coat of the barasingha is slightly woolly.

Its colour ranges from dark brown to pale yellow, which camouflages the herd in the tall elephant grasses of the region. There are two sub-species of the swamp deer. The flat-hoofed deer found in Kanha, which has adapted well to the grassland, and the ones living on the wetlands of Dudhwa.


¤ Distinct Behaviours

Just like the other deer species, the swamp deer also displays some interesting mating behaviour. It is non-territorial in behaviour, and dominance is proved through an exhibition of strength. There is hardly a serious conflict between the adult males. They engage in mock fights rather than actually locking horns, and walk with a stiff gait while calling shrilly.

Intriguingly, during the rutting season, the male swamp deer decorates its antlers with grass. Wallowing in the mud and lifting its head to emit hoarse, inviting mating calls, is yet another interesting rutting behaviour. With the end of the mating season, the ‘aggressive’ antlers are shed. The gestation period is six months and the litter comprises of one calf.


¤ Best Place To Sight

Dudhwa, Corbett, Kanha and Manas.

Spotted Deer

Spotted Deer (Axis Axis)


The most common of all deer found in the subcontinent, it is easily identifiable by its beautiful golden brown coat that is decorated with big white spots. An average stag is about 85-90 cm tall at its shoulder, and weighs 80kg. Unlike other ungulates, the coat of the spotted deer remains more or less the same throughout the year. Large herds can be seen in almost all the National Parks of North India.


¤ Spotted Deer - Main Diet of Predatory Animals

To counter attacks from its enemies, the spotted deer has evolved a unique vigilance system in which the entire herd takes part. The weak and the sick animals form the periphery of the herd while the cubs and their mothers remain towards the middle of the group. While grazing, each and every member of the herd is on the alert. The lookout habitually lifts its head to try and get a whiff of predators. It stands still to sense danger. If the threat is for real, it stomps its hind legs, and emits a shrill call – a signal for the entire herd to flee to a safer area.


Memorandum of Understanding

The spotted deer has what can be called a 'memorandum of understanding', with lemurs. Lemurs keep it informed about any possible attack from its predators. The spotted deer also benefits from the leftovers that lemurs keep dropping from trees. In fact, the relation between the two species is so symbiotic that they explore the jungle together.

Another interesting fact about the spotted deer is that it does not wallow during the rut (and why should it, given its beautiful golden coat). Instead it emits a shrill call, and walks proudly, displaying its antlers. The mating season of the spotted deer is not very well defined and varies in different parts of the country. The species breeds once every six months, and the litter comprises of a single fawn.

Gaur (Bos Gauras)

Gaur (Bos Gauras)
you will easily identify this sleek and smart bovine as soon as you see it. Standing at a height 175cm at the shoulders, an average gaur weighs 800kgs. It has a distinctive glistening black coat with a well-built muscular body and a pair of sturdy, aggressive looking horns. The lower portions of the feet and the snout are strikingly white and the hump is low.


¤ A Solitary Animal By Nature

It avoids human beings and prefers to stay in dense jungles. It doesn’t even like to mix with the domestic cattle that graze in the jungle. But a characteristic that has helped the species survive is that it does not graze on crops. Unfortunately, the animal is susceptible to many bovine diseases and vulnerable to tiger attacks.

However, during the mating season, towards the end of winter or in early spring, the jungle witnesses an elaborate display of muscular and physical attributes by eligible males.

The litter comprises of one calf and the young one arrives in the month of September or October.

Wild Boar (Sus Scrofa Cristatus)

¤ Physical Aspects

You would do better to be on your guard against this animal when in the jungle. This is the species that has the guts to challenge even the tiger. With typical pig-like features, an average wild boar rises to a height of 90cm, and weighs more than 100kg, although some can weigh as much as 225kg.

The most distinctive feature of the wild boar is a pair of elongated canines that grow upward and outward. It wears a greyish-black coat that is scantily covered with thick bristle-like hairs arising from its nape and winding their way to its posterior.

The wild boar has an incredible sense of smell, although it has fairly average eyesight and hearing. Its body is well built, but what really makes it stand out is its courage and determination to live and to win the wild bouts. Its thick coat with its layer of fat helps it recover even from the gravest of injuries.


¤ Sighting of Wild Boar

It is not an unusual sight to see a herd of 5-6 animals grazing silently in the middle of the forest, but come nightfall, and the herd becomes really confident. Wild boars are known to raid and damage crops of the farmers living on the peripheries of National Parks and Sanctuaries.

Amazingly, wild boars do not have any fixed cycle for breeding. But whenever it is the mating season, a fair and formal contest decides the dominant male who gets to mate with the female boar. After a gestation period of four months, the mother gives birth to 4-6 cubs.

Thanks to poaching and the loss of habitat, the number of the wild boars is fast decreasing. Once there were 6-7 species found in the sub-continent, but today only a single species has survived.

Threat For Elephants

Asian elephants are mainly found across India and Sri Lanka and towards the south and east as far as Sumatra. They live in a range of habitats from grasslands to wet forests. Asian Elephants have a varied vegetarian diet, and feed on grasses, bamboo, leaves, bark, shoots, creepers and palms. They also prefer seasonal variety sometimes such as fig leaves and fruits, wood apple and mango.

Indian Elephants are very sociable animals and march from forest to forest, seldom staying in one for more than a few days. However, few males in their youth prefer to lead a solitary life. When on the move, the females lead the herd, with the tuskers lagging behind, unless alerted to some approaching danger.

Threat For Elephants

The elephant population is vulnerable to unscrupulous poachers due to their precious ivory tusks. Elephant tusks can weigh up to 22 kg a pair. Elephants feed on barks, roots, fruit and grasses.

The elephant population is now part of the Elephant Project, a nation wide conservation effort to protect these lumbering beasts from extinction. Manas, Corbett, Dalma and Palamu, Bandipur and Nagarhole, Periyar and Madumalai are the best places to watch the Indian Elephant in its natural habitat.

Behavior, Food, Size of Indian Elephants

Behavior of Indian Elephants

Elephants live in a matriarchal family group of related females called a herd. They are led by the oldest and often largest female in the herd. Herds consist of eight to 100 individuals. Males may be associated with a herd, solitary or may live temporarily with other males. Elephants produce a variety of sounds including low frequency calls, high pitched calls and loud trumpeting.

Food of Indian Elephants

Asian elephants eat grass, bark, roots and leaves. They also like crops such as banana grown by farmers, making them a pest in agricultural areas. Adult elephants eat about 330 pounds of food a day. They must drink water every day and are never far from a water source.

Size of Indian Elephants

Asian elephants stand eight to ten feet tall at the shoulder. Females weigh about 6,000 pounds and males can weigh up to 11,900 pounds!

Facts about Asian and African Elephants

Asian elephants are distinguished from the African ones by their smaller size, smaller ears, more rounded back, and fourth toenail on each of their hind feet. They have thick, dry skin with a small amount of stiff hair, and are grey to brown in colour.

Indian Elephant

About Indian Elephant

The Asian elephant is one of the largest land mammals on Earth. The trunk of the Asian elephant has two finger-like structures at its tip that allow the animal to perform both delicate and powerful movements.

Elephants have long, coarse hairs sparsely covering their body. Their skin is brown to dark gray. They have been very important to Asian culture for thousands of years - they have been domesticated and are used for transportation and to move heavy objects.

Nothing can compare the majestic build up of an elephant and when you ride on when, it feels like you've gone back to the times of the royal. Elephants always catch the attention of every onlooker, but just like Tigers and Lions this animal has also come under threat of extinction.

Food Habits and Lifespan / Longevity

Food Habits

The diet of these big cats is surprisingly varied. Prey for this species includes: wildebeest, impalas, reed-bucks, Thomson's gazelles, jackals, baboons, and storks. These are the most common food sources with Thomson's gazelles and reed-bucks making up the majority. However, other prey are included in leopards' diet. At times they seem to show a preference for canines, even attempting in the past to snatch dogs right from the feet of their masters.

They will eat fish and domestic stock such as goats. They will even eat carrion, scavenging tiger kills. These cats are capable of sneaking right up next to the prey before being spotted, almost appearing from nowhere. Bite marks occur on the nape of the neck and the throat. The bite on the back of the neck often occurs when animals are attacked from behind.

Lifespan / Longevity

Leopards live 21-23 years in captivity. In the wild, life span is not exactly known. It can be approximated from reports of "man-eaters" (see negative effects), which are easier to follow; from the beginnings of their attacks until the end, life span in the wild can be estimated around to be 7-9 years .

Expected Lifespan In Wild: 7 to 9 years

Expected Lifespan In Captivity: 21 to 23 years

Economic Importance for Humans

Positive

The skins of these cats have been sought after throughout history. There is still a market for them today, although much of the hunting is illegal. Produces - Fur, leather or wool.

Negative

When living near populated areas these cats will attack and kill domestic stock such as goats and pigs. Where this prey is provided leopards will achieve unusually high densities and the problem persists. They will also attack and kill humans. One particular leopard in India, known as "Kahani man-eater" killed over 200 people although this behavior is not the norm.

Conservation

The status of P. pardus ranges from endangered to critically endangered to threatened depending on the geographic region. Even though these cats are highly adaptable, they still face many problems. These include habitat destruction, being hunted as trophies and for their fur, and persecution as killers. Illegal hunting of leopards for their fur became so common in the 1960s that as many as 50,000 skins were marked annually.

Habitat and Behavior

Habitat

Pantera pardus could at one time be found from British Isles to Japan and throughout most of Asia. Today they can still be found in Africa, except for the true deserts of Sahara and Kalahari, and some parts of Asia such as Sri Lanka.

Leopards are more common in Eastern and Central Africa. Conversely, they are rare in Western and Northern Africa and most of Asia (Nowak, 1997; Sanderson, 1972).

Behavior

Leopards are famous for their ability to go undetected. They may live practically among humans and still be tough to spot. They are graceful and stealthy. Amongst the big cats they are probably the most accomplished stalkers.

They are good, agile climbers and can descend from a tree headfirst. Along with climbing, they are strong swimmers but not as fond of water as tigers; for example, leopards will not lay in water. They are mainly nocturnal but can be seen at any time of day and will even hunt during daytime on overcast days.

In regions where they are hunted, nocturnal behavior is more common. These cats are solitary, avoiding one another. However, 3 or 4 are sometimes seen together. Hearing and eyesight are the strongest of these cats' senses and are extremely acute.

Olfaction is relied upon as well, but not for hunting. When making a threat, leopards stretch their backs, depress their rib cages between their shoulder blades so they stick out, and lower their heads (similar to domestic cats). During the day they may lie in bush, on rocks, or in a tree with their tails hanging below the treetops and giving them away.

LEOPARD IN INDIA

ABOUT-LEOPARD IN INDIA

These cats have an elongate and muscular body. Their paws are broad and their ears are short. In tropical regions their coats tend to be shorter and sleeker, whereas in colder climates their fur is longer and denser.

The coloration varies from the color of straw to grayish to even chesnut. The backs of the ears are black except for a spot either located centrally or near the tips. These appear to other animals as eyes.

The throat, chest, belly, and the insides of the limbs are white. The rest of the head, throat, chest, and limbs all have small black spots. The belly has larger black spots, almost like blotches. Region and habitat have an affect on the appearance of P. pardus.

In Africa, leopards living in hilly areas tend to be larger than those living in lowlands. There is a tendency to melanism (black coloration) in this species. This characteristic is more frequent in densely forested areas where being darker is probably beneficial in remaining unseen as compared to open areas.

Whether spotted or black, leopards' coloration is extremely effective. Scientists have been unable to spot these cats just a few yards away even knowing that they were present. Leopards have been recorded as long as 2.92 meters but that is extreme, 1.37-1.67 is more common.

இந்தியன் lion

Before they were completely wiped out, the lions came under the protection of the Nawab of Junagadh, a local monarch, who banned all lion hunting in the area. Soon, the lion population began to rise in number.

By the declaration of Indian independence in 1947, the government had come to realise the importance and fragile nature of this last bastion of the Asiatic lion, and the Nawab’s conservation policy was upheld. Naturalists were assigned to study and take a census of the Gir’s lion population. At that time there were around 200 lions.

The Indian government then created the Gir National Park and Lion Sanctuary - collectively known as the Gir Protected Area (PA), covering over 1000 km². The area is made up of dry scrubland with hills, rivers, and teak forest. In addition to the lion population, the Gir PA contains leopards, antelope, deer, jackals, hyenas, and marsh crocodiles.

Asiatic lions are slightly smaller than their African cousins, although the largest Asiatic lion on record was an imposing 2.9 m in length. Though they have a less well developed mane, Asiatic lions have thicker elbow tufts and a longer tail tuft.

At the present time the Gir National Park and Lion Sanctuary is the only place to see Asiatic lions in the wild, and the Indian government has begun to do more to make this unique spectacle visible to tourists and wildlife enthusiasts.

Guided jeep safaris through the Gir are available for observing lions. Because the lions are not afraid of people or vehicles these safaris can offer very intimate views of the animals. Sometimes lions will actually approach and look over a vehicle in their midst.

கோ டு தி வெப் சைட் டு சி wildlife

Copyright © 2001 by Wildlywise Adventures, All Rights Reserved

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Found In :

Gir National Park

The Indian lion is another name for the Asiatic lion, Panthera leo persica, the sub-species that once ranged from Greece to central India. This animal has played a major part in the symbols and folklore of Indian culture for over 2000 years.

The Asiatic lion has long been celebrated as Lord of Beasts, and it became a symbol for human power and sovereignty. In ancient societies in India, to fight with a lion was considered to be the ultimate test of leadership. This gradually shifted to a somewhat safer, more symbolic gesture of a leader clothing himself in or standing on a lion skin.

There were magnificent depictions of lions amongst the statues at Mahabalipuram. The most important use of the lion as a symbol of power and strength was associated with the Emperor Asoka in Sarnath, 2000 years ago. This depiction of a lion eventually became the symbol for the modern Republic of India.

As India’s population grew and began cultivating or settling more and more of its forest and scrublands, the Asiatic lion was squeezed nearly out of existence. Early this century the Gir Forest area in the state of Gujarat on the west coast was afflicted with a terrible famine brought on by a severe drought: one so devastating that it is still mentioned in the folklore of the region.

Because of the strained circumstances, the lion population began preying on the human population in the area.
This prompted a massive backlash against the lions, resulting in a catastrophic decline in their population. In 1910 there were reported to be fewer than two dozen lions left in the wild although this low figure may have been publicised to discourage lion hunting - census data from the time indicates the population was probably closer to 100.

Indian Lion

Indian lion

1. The Asiatic Lion is rated the most endangered large carnivore globally. And India has the distinction of being the last earthly refuge of the Asiatic lion.

2. An average Asiatic Lion, also known as the Indian Lion, is generally 2.5 m to 2.9 m tall, and weighs between 200 to 250 kg. It has a majestic mane and a big tail tuft. Indian Lions move about in prides, comprising 2-3 male adults and more lionesses and cubs.

3. They communicate with each other with a variety of grunts, meows, growls, moans and roars, and while female cubs stay with the pride, the males leave after they are three years old.

4. The Asiatic Lions are lazy and indolent creatures that prey on the Sambar, Chital, Nilgai, Wild Pig, and occasionally on goats and camels. Lion males often live in pairs that last a lifetime. However, in the pride it is the females who go out hunting in packs and bring back prey, which is first devoured by the male, and only then by the rest of the pack. In the daytime, they live close to water holes and rest in the shade. Hunting is relegated to dusk, or at night.

5. The Asiatic lion once ranged from Asia Minor and Arabia through Persia to India. In fact, at the turn of the century, Gir was a splendid mixed, deciduous forest of teak, acacia, zizyphas and banyan, sprawled over some 3,386 sq. km.

6. Lions would have thrived there, were it not for their enemies-hunters and a devastating famine that all but wrapped up the prey species. At one time the estimated number of lions went down to as low as thirty. However, due to the efforts of the authorities and the Gir National Park, the Asiatic lion has been narrowly saved from extinction.

7. Though it is still a highly endangered species, statistics show that if efforts are kept up, their numbers might begin to improve.

White Bengal Tiger of India

Special Anatomical, Physiological or Behavioral Adaptations

The Bengal tiger in the Fort Worth zoo is a white female tiger from India. She has black stripes on her body. There is an interesting story to it. In India one of the royalties had killed a white tiger. Later four cubs of this dead tiger were found. They were the only four left in the world. All the white tigers in the world today are the descendants of these four cubs.

Characterstics of White Bengal Tiger of India

Tigers lead solitary lives, and the courtship period, and association between mother and cub is their only interaction and association. Tigers are entirely different in their hunting habits from lions, and hence they are mutually exclusive in their distribution.

Tigers rest during the day in the shade, and begin to hunt for food at dusk. They have keen eye sights and a sharp hearing that helps them stalk their prey. Tiger killings are split second affairs where the prey hardly has any chance of survival. Its formidable and retractile claws play a significant role in capturing and holding on to its prey.

Tigresses are devoted mothers who are very protective of their cubs. They look after their young till they are about two and a half years old.

Copyright © 2001 by Wildlywise Adventures, All Rights Reserved

White Bengal Tiger in India

About White Bengal Tiger

Bengal tigers are also called as Indian tiger, they are the most numerous in population than any other tiger subspecies. They were killed as a part of sport carried out by Indian and British royalties. There number declined at a fast rate.

They are one of the only two species of cats that like water. At full running speed they reach speed of up to 60 kilometers per hour. They do not possess great stamina. The average tiger animal sleeps between 16 to 18 hours.

The ability of big cats to roar is related to the arrangement of bones under the tongue. Also the stripes on its body helps its ability to hide in the tall grass and tress. Bengal tiger animal is very patient, it watches its prey and waits till the right time to make its move.

It has very strong jaws; it catches the prey by its neck and the strong jaws and teeth help him to kill its prey. Bengal tiger has a strong sense of smell. It also has a great vision which helps it to hunt during the night time. Bengal tigers can also swim and move quite swiftly in the water. They have the ability to shed or grow body hair according to how cold or hot it gets.

Physical Description of Indian White Bengal Tiger

Bengal Tigers are fully grown at 2-3 years of age. Male reach weights of 200-230 kilograms and up to three metres in length. The females are 130-170 kilograms and up to 2.5 meters long. They have stripes all over their body.

Their stripes are like fingerprints. No two are the same. The stripes are not only in the tigers fur, but are a pigmentation of the skin. They have a white spot on the back of their ears,whick looks like eyes.

தி TiGER

¤ Courtship Period

Males demarcate their territories by sprinkling urine on prominent trees on the periphery of their territories. They also scrape the tree by their nails and then sprinkle foul smelling secretion from their anal gland. Any intrusion in this territory is taken seriously and the offender is either shooed away or killed. Incidences of tiger killing and eating another tiger have been reported.

Female tigers also mark their territories but not as often and religiously as the males. The scent of their secretions smell even more when the female is in heat, delivering invitations to the males to mate.

Since the territories are distinctly marked and respected, there are hardly any confrontations between the males. But if such an event does take place, it is mostly serious. Knock-out fights are not uncommon and many tigers may die due to injuries inflicted during these supremacy bouts.

The courtship period is short ranging from a week to 10 or 12 days, with actual mating taking place for just two or three days. After the mating period is over, life is once again solitary for both the sexes. After a gestation period of 105 days, females gives birth to six, small, blind and helpless cubs. This marks the starting of another challenging period for the mother tiger.


¤ Identification

Tiger identification and counting its true number has been a challenge for the biologists. Though every tiger has its own unique pattern of stripes and facial features, its not practical to use this method because of its secretive behaviour and other field problems.

Alternative, but comparatively less reliable method of identifying individuals by their pugmarks is employed. Different features of tigers pug, that is size, shape, depth of right and left lobes, placing of toes to name a few varies form tiger to tiger. Using a combination of these features, individuals can be identified.

However, there is a lot of criticism about the pugmark method of identification and counting. Tigers leave different pugmarks on different kinds of strata. There is a strong feeling amongst activists that the actual number of tigers in the forest may be much less than what the forest officials claim.