Lake View Resort near Junona Gate will be our abode for next two days. It is second week of June and the day temperature is still in its 40s. Tadoba - Andhari Tiger Reserve [which gets its name from the local deity Tadoba or Taru] has not surrendered the green cover to soaring heat. This is one of the finest forests of India that is home to different species of birds and animals. Reservoirs within the sanctuary attract variety of water birds in search of food.
We reach our destination around noon. We are greeted by musical notes played by magpie robin. As we look in the direction of his call, he presents himself in black and white with no grey shade. He is busy having a full course non-vegetarian meal, a lizard. In Junona Lake, just some distance away, the darter is enjoying fresh water fish. Open-billed stork, envious of darter's success, is waiting patiently in shallow waters near the grassland for his turn to create his own success story. The jacanas, egrets and black cormorants are making sorties to the water body in search of food. Fish will have to swim deep underwater to ensure that they don't fall prey and become part of success stories of their enemies. Some create success stories by attacking, some by defending. At the end of the day, every one must have a story to tell and pass on the necessary skill sets to the next generation.
Ducks seem to float carefree on the water surface, occasionally pulling a fish out of water by dipping their neck in the water. I suddenly realise that I am surrounded by species who hate vegetarian food.
Next two and half days we scan the buffer zones [Nimdhela, Agarzari, Alizanza Gates] spread across 1100 Sq. Km. and core zone [Moharli and Kolara Gates] spread over 650 Sq. Kms. We take, predominantly, the mud tracks and occasionally tar roads within the sanctuary. As we traverse Teliya Lake, a herd of spotted deer, grazing the lush green grass, stare at us inquisitively. Oriental Honey Buzzard soaks his feet in the water while the only black and white bird in the otherwise colourful kingfisher family compels the shutterbugs to focus on him as he eagerly waits to dive in the lake to catch fish or a frog. On far side of the lake, a peacock is performing a dance show to please a couple of peahens, though they seem to be least interested. He will have to take his performance a few notches up the next time.
We now move in the core zone taking route that was used by the Gond Kings a couple of centuries back. Stone pillars that have been erected to mark the King’s path take us back in the history of this great land. Tall Bamboo trees that cover most parts of jungle in this zone have flowered. We find ourselves lucky enough to see a Bamboo flower since it flowers once only in 40-50 years. Flowering of a Bamboo tree….. is it good news? Well, yes and no. Though, a tree in full bloom looks beautiful, for a Bamboo tree its a curse. It simply means that its days are numbered. It will die a silent death after full bloom.
As we drive ahead, a Jungle fowl makes a small appearance and vanishes in the woods. On hearing a Sambar's call, we pull the jeep on one side of the road and wait for a while as tiger's movement is suspected. Suddenly, a colourful Indian Roller boldly lands on a muddy track in front of our jeep and takes a mud bath. He rolls in the mud a few times before settling on the branch of an adjacent tree. On another tree in the vicinity, Indian Pitta, another small sized colourful flyer is in mood to make the shutterbugs happy as he poses for them. With his fast movements, he also tests their photography skills.
The black faced langoor families show their acrobatic skills as they climb up and down the trees. The naughty young ones are in a playful mood running here and there as their parents watch them from a distance. The babies prefer sitting in the lap of their mother.
Thick skinned muscular monitor lizards sticking out the tongue and golden-haired shining mongoose represent reptiles in this forest.
Spotting sloth bear in this jungle is a rarity.
Keeping a watchful eye on the nearby trees helps one locate perfectly camouflaged birds and their nests. Yellow footed green pigeons, Crested Hawk Eagle, Brown Fish Owl, nests of Black Drongos, Indian Pittas and what not. We see a Indian Paradise Fly Catcher female fly in front of us. Rufous coloured female, and black and white male with a long tail waving as he flies is what every border dreams to see. We saw both in plenty of numbers. The female bird that flew in front of us settled on its nest. Male bird kept a watch on the nest from a distance. This male manages to keep his feathers white throughout his life without using detergent. He doesn't get tanned either. Well.... that's nature.
Tadoba Reservoir is a home to countless crocodiles. Grasslands in the nearby vicinity provide ample food to sambars, deer, bison, neelgai... This jungle ensures food for everyone, whether you are a herbivore or a carnivore, raptor or a scavenger.
Night jars, Jungle Owls, grey-coloured Indian Scops Owls nesting in tree holes, Brown Fish Owls near small water bodies make the night safaris / night walks interesting.
And yes.... before I forget to mention [ending an article on Tadoba-Andhari, without mention of this will be considered as a sin by many], I also enjoyed watching a few BIG CATS at a very close distance.
- Nishad Umranikar
You have seen the 'bigger picture' :) many times we miss small pleasures in search of bigger goals!
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