This is to inform all that the National Parks in Madhya Pradesh (Bandhavgarh-kanha-Pench-Satpura) now will open from 16th October 2009.
Earlier the park use to open from 1st October.
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Birding Trip Report - Bharatpur
@ 2009-02-21 – 22:10:24
Trip Report - Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
Organizer - India Footprints
India Footprints a package tour operator organized a briding tour to Bharatpur - Chambal River Valley - Sattal - Corbett National Park in India.
Bharatpur is a well known wetland in the state of Rajasthan in India. It is spread over an area of 29 square kilometers and encompasses wetlands, scrub forest and small patches of grassland and forest canopy.
Bharatpur is home to approximately three hundred species of birds including winter migrants. Hence it is best destination for birding expedition in India to checklist a large number of bird species. On our two day trip we visited a near by reservoir called Ban Baretha which is a lrage water body about fifty kilometers away.
We were able to checklist more than two hundred species in our three day.
Among the noteable species were:
Eurasian Sparrow Hawk
Greater Spotted Eagle
Lesser Spotted Eagle
Imperial Eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle
Shikra
Eurasian Marsh Harrier
Siberian Ruby Throat
Grey Night Jar
Large Tailed Nightjar
Ruddy Shelduck Duck
Northern Pintail
Eurasian Wigeon
Shoveller
Common Teal
Lesser Whistling Teal
Comb Duck
Red Crested Pochard
Spot Billed Duck
Sarus Crane
Wooly Necked Crane
Brown Fish Owl
Dusky Fish Owl
Spotted Owlet
Indian Scops Owl
Dusky Crag Martin
Oriental Skylark
Paddy Field Pippit
Richard's Pippit
Rufous Tailed Lark
Zitting Cisticola
Sarus Crane
Rosy Pelican
Spoon Bill
Great Cormorant
Tickell's Thrush
Black Headed Ibis
Red Rumped Swallow
Whiskered Tern
River tern
White Capped Bunting
Spanish Sparrow
We were unable to see the Indian Skimmer at Ban Baretha but did see it at Chambal River Sanctuary.
Over all the trip was a big success with our foreign birders making the most of the bounty.
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Tigresses to be relocated at Panna National park
@ 2009-01-22 – 19:39:07
Wed, Jan 21 08:55 AMNew Delhi, Jan 21 (IANS) A tiger count is in progress in Madhya Pradesh's Panna Tiger Reserve even as officials are finalising plans to fly in two tigresses from another sanctuary next month, officials said.
'The two tigresses will be selected for relocation either from Bandhavgarh or Kanha tiger reserve,' said L.K. Choudhary, field director, Panna Tiger Reserve. He added that the step has been taken to partially correct the skewed sex ratio of tigers in Panna.
Lately there have been concerns of low tiger population in Panna and officials admit that they have not seen any tigresses or cubs in the reserve for the past couple of months.
But tigers, they said, still roam the forests as is evident from the pugmarks observed by forest guards during patrols.
Habitat destruction and disturbances were considered main causes for the low tiger population in Panna.
'The present survey by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) would ascertain these facts in Panna, mainly the causes for low tiger density, as well as their numbers through camera traps and other methods,' said Rajesh Gopal, head of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) that manages the tiger reserves in the country.
'This is however not a government of India's (central government) survey but a study commissioned by the state to WII. The findings would help us to plan better protection in the reserve,' he added.
Choudhary said that between April 2006 and March 2008, a gang of criminals had been using the forest as their hideout. Last year the leader of the gang was killed, while several other gang members were arrested by the police.
Officials believe the disturbances might have forced the big cats to migrate to adjoining forests.
The Panna field director alleged that a local farmer had hired the criminal gang to prevent forest staff from taking charge of an area that he used for mustard cultivation.
'He hired the Thokia gang after the forest department objected to his (the farmer's) encroachment on the tiger habitat. But after the police gunned down the gang leader and several of the gang members were arrested, the situation has gradually improved, as forest staff can now do their work without fear,' Choudhary told IANS on phone.
The 670-sq km Panna reserve, nestled in the picturesque Vindhya Hills of the Bundelkhand region, was declared a tiger sanctuary in 1994 and is one of the five tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh. The others are Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Pench and Satpura-Bori-Pachmari.
Although the latest tiger numbers would be known only after the completion of the survey by the WII next month, a 2000 estimate had put the number at 32. The reserve is home to many other endangered animals such as the black buck, the chinkara deer, hyena, the Indian wild dog and different varieties of birds.
Weblink for news: http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20090121/812/tnl-two-tigresses-to-be-flown-into-panna.html
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Affordable Safaris by India Footprints
@ 2009-01-02 – 18:43:10
India Footprints have introduced for the first time affordable safaris to two popular national parks in Central India - Kanha & Bandhavgarh.
We are a top level travel agency and package tour operators. Perfect delivery and high quality service is what we believe which our past record shows well.
Affordable or low cost does not mean low quality... we do not comprise on services at all. We have years of expereince in conducting wildlife safaris and guided tours to National Park and Sanctuaries in India. All our wildlife trips are in the company of accomplished naturalists and guides.
We believe in fair price and always request our guests to travel atleast in a group of four persons so that we can put less stress in the park and can also save huge money, not possible if we travelling independently.
Looking at the slow economy we have introduced a low cost Tiger Safari based on a minimum of 4 persons travelling together.
Affordable Tiger Safari
Tour Duration: 10 days
Season: Oct to June
Tour Customizable: Yes
Number of Participants: minimum four
Tour Price per person: 770.00 Euros.Hotels Foreseen
Delhi: Sun star Standard Hotel on B&B (can be upgraded with an extra cost)
Kanha: The Krishna Jungle Resort
Bandhavgarh: Nature Heritage.Tour:
Day 01
Arrive Delhi transfer to hotel on B&B Day free.Day 02
Transfer to station to connect direct train to Umaryia overnight train.Day 03
Arrive Bandhavgarh National park evening game drive.Day 04, 05
Morning & evening game drive.Day 06
Drive to Kanha evening game drive.Day 07, 08
Morning & evening game drive.Day 09
After morning game drive, transfer to Jabalpur (3 hrs) to connect direct train to New Delhi. Lunch in Jabalpur included along with Packed Dinner on Train.Day 10
Arrive Delhi transfer to International airport or to Hotel if you have booked extra nights.The Cost Includes:
Airport Pick up & Drop
Delhi standard hotel on B&B
Kanha & Bandhavgarh on full board with all meals, stay, all game safaris, entrance fees, elephant ride
Rail journey by AC sleeper class
Road journey by Deluxe air conditioned carsOur Cost Does Not Include:
International Airfare, Visa and airport tax
Medical care and travel withdrawal, luggage and health insurance.
Meals other than specified.
Personal expenses such as table drinks, laundry, telephone bills or any other expenses not specified above.
Any insurance for any change in program due to circumstances beyond or control or emergency.
Any increase in Government taxes, fuel increases, etcFind more exciting travel packages to India on our website. Contact US for more information.
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Dead Tiger found floating
@ 2008-10-10 – 17:00:03
Tiger body in river...
from the pages of THE TELEGRAPH newspaper (Calcutta edition,7th October Indian)
Calcutta, Oct. 6: Tourists cruising down a Sunderban river hoping for a glimpse of a Bengal Tiger saw one today, but it was dead. The tiger’s body was found floating in the Bidya in Gosaba, some 260km south of Calcutta.
The tourists, on a motorized launch, alerted the crew who called officials at the forest department camp at Dobanki, 50km away.
At Sunderbans Tiger Reserve team arrived in about three hours and took away the “full-grown male” for post-mortem. Officials said the place where the carcass was found was at least 100km from human habitat.
“We haven’t found any external injury marks. The post-mortem will reveal whether it was poisoned by poachers or it died of some disease,” an official said. Reserve director Neeraj Singhal could not recall another instance of a dead tiger floating on a river.
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Tiger Tourism in India
@ 2008-10-09 – 20:14:10
The major tourists destinations in India incidentally offer best prospect of tiger tourism as well. The endangered tiger is the most charismatic animal in the World hence tourists from all over come to see this magnificent animal.
In Madhya Pradesh which is primarily dependent upon wildlife tourism and safaris it is Kanha National Park which attracts thousands of tourists followed by the enchanting paradise Bandhavgarh National Park which is famous for tiger safaris in India.
Kerala has Periyar tiger reserve which again is a major tourist destination. For those on Kerala travel and tours a visit to Periyar for wildlife watching is a must.
Rajasthan also offers best wildlife watching and tiger sightings at Ranhthambhore tiger reserve. This park is famous for diurnal behavior of tigers in India. The best birding scope while on Rajasthan tours is Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary which is World famous birding destination. Sariska also offers good wildlife watching but off late tigers have been poached there.
Goa though famous for beach resorts offers wildlife watching yet unexplored. There are many interest wildlife sanctuaries which have yet to come in lime light for its unique flora and fauna.
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India Travels
@ 2008-09-05 – 20:30:46
Barry & Sandra UK
Well this was our second visit with India Footprints and as usual it went just great and will surely come back again. They offer the best package tours in India.They have excellent guides & have excellent knowledge on Indian Wildlife..Cheers
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Park opening
@ 2008-08-21 – 20:19:53
Tiger safari News
Park will be re opening in Central India from 1st Oct. onwards. As earlier it was decided to re open parks from 16th onwards but taking the last years traffic it was decided again to re open the park with the usual date of 1st Oct. 2008 this year also. Hence hotels at Bandhavgarh National Park and Kanha have prepared themselves to meet guest requirements early.
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Wildlife at Kerala
@ 2008-07-06 – 22:42:47
In my recent visit to Kerala I was astounded by the greenery all around me. I visited Kerala to relax at backwaters and swim at the beach.
But I discovered more the discussion at an Ayurvedic massage center the masseur told me about Periyar. Thanks to time at hand I added tiger safari at Periyar in my Kerala tour and was not at all disappointed.
I am as it is very fond of wildlife safari and Periyar was a new and exciting discovery. Wild elephants and rare sight of the Bengal tiger really justified Kerala trip in Southern India. The herd of spotted deer, wild bisons and the large Sambar deer was thrilling beyond expectations. Periyar as I discovered was extremely rich in Indian birds belonging to Southern Taxa.
Like a wildlife resorts at Kanha Periyar Mational Park offers varied accommodations and lodging. You can spend enjoying wildlife in luxury. Periyar also offers wonderful nature treks in the surrounding jungle and rafting on the river at Thekkady which is not a done thing at Kanha National Park in Central India.
Apart from Periyar Kerala has many wildlife sanctuaries and bird habitats that the eco tourist find very appealing to visit.
I enjoyed the God's owm country immensely and visited many forts and palaces apart from the beaches, spas, and backwater and yes wildlife at Kerala. In fact time allowed me to visit all the places worth seeing in this Indian state.
I recommend Kerala as an exciting holiday destinations to tourists from all over the World.
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Spotting a Tiger at Kanha
@ 2008-07-04 – 20:46:21
Wildlife Safari at Kanha
The best place to see the tiger in India is Kanha National Park which harbors more then one hundred tigers in the wild. Situated in Maikal Hills a branch of Satpura range Kanha is a wild life heaven and offers the best tiger sightings in India. Kanha has more than 22 mammalian species and more than two hundred bird species. The number of species of insects including butterflies is un countable. Reptiles are common but being nocturnal in nature they are a rare sight except Indian python and the rat snake.
Locating Tigers
The method of a successful tiger sighting lies in the reaction to the animal's movement in the forest. When the tiger is on the move in the jungle, his realm is as responsive as the court of Great Mughal Rulers. Peacocks blare, Sambar deer bell, Spotted Deer call frantically, Hanuman monkeys explode in cough-like alarm, Jungle Fowl screech, Bison whistle and barking deer emit the impossibly raucous bark which is dog like hence their name. The repetition of alarm cries as well as the combination from two or more animal species in the same area of the jungle is a good sign that Bengal Tiger is moving nearby.
Using your ears to listen to what other animals are saying is a good method of locating a Tiger.