Category: wildlife

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Adventure Inspiration Travel Trends wildlife

Naturalist- The New Scope to your Travel Career

Looking for some career options in travel industry? The first thing that may strike you will be a travel agent or an approved tour guide. To your surprise a lot of unconventional choices are becoming popular nowadays. One of them is a naturalist.

Read further to know more about it
Who is a Naturalist?
It is a stream of those people who share a common interest in nature and understand the world of plants, birds and animals and their interdependence. They travel to a region of rich flora and fauna, for example, National Parks or Sunderbans, study about them and introduce the naive to this world.

What do they do?
Though the core job of a naturalist may remain same, with experience and tenure their role keeps changing. Some of them are:

  • Taking students and tourists on nature trails.
  • Teaching others about the environment- its importance and steps how to protect it through seminars, discussions, and workshops.
  • Provide consulting services to government agencies and nonprofit organizations.
  • Studying and teaching about the climate change and weather patterns.
  • They take up projects that aim at protecting and preserving geographical areas such as forests, parks, rivers, and wetlands.

What are the Skills required to be a Naturalist?
There are a certain set of skills that are required to be a Naturalist. Some of the most important ones are:

  • Passion towards nature.
  • Ability to work long hours and stay in isolated locations.
  • A multilingual- especially if you know the local language.
  • A keen observant.
  • Some of the added advantage goes to those who know driving, storytelling, writing & photography.
  • Physically fit and active to explore the jungle.
  • Flexible to work with people from around the world.

How much do they earn?
The starting salary of a naturalist may vary between Rs 20,000 – 25,000, excluding accommodation and food. As compared to the corporate world, the growth and perks here are much less, but still, people opt for it. It is because not money but passion drives people towards this career. Aiming a life towards the betterment of environment and mankind is not a cup of tea for everyone. Those who do something exceptional or go out of their league in their field are accorded with TOFT Awards, as the Naturalist of the year.

Where all can they work?
A lot of resorts and lodges in jungles have their well-experienced team of naturalists. Wildlife agencies like WWF hire nature specialists on their different projects. Apart from that you can work with National Parks, forest departments and be a nature entrepreneur.

After a few years of learning and experience, you can even set up your own NGO and start training those who are new to this field.

Educational Requirements and Courses in India
To be a naturalist, one must pursue bachelor or master’s degree in any of the following field- environmental science, forestry, botany, outdoor recreation or similar fields. You can even opt for subjects like ornithology, plant taxonomy, and urban planning.
There is no specific course as a Naturalist, but some of the ones that can be beneficial are

  • Bombay Natural History Society
  • Nature Conservation Foundation
  • Nature Foundation India
  • Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History

So if you feel that nature inspires you, and travel is all that you aspire then this is something you can go for.

Categories
National Parks North India wildlife

Dudhwa national park is a great paradise for wildlife enthusiasts

Dudhwa national park is a big natural habitat for India’s diverse flora and fauna and lies on the India-Nepal border in the Terai district of Uttar Pradesh. It happens to be a part of Dudhwa tiger reserve and one of the most visited national park for the researchers and tourists alike in the entire country.

The rich and extremely fertile Indo-Gangetic plains play a pivotal role in supporting a flamboyant growth of forests diversity of fauna. Some of the best forests of ‘Sal’ tree in the world, amongst other flora can be found here.

Sprawling across an area of 811 square kilometers of marshes, grasslands, and dense forests, Dudhwa National Park is acknowledged as an unexplored paradise beholding the nature lovers, wildlife enthusiasts, and bird watchers. The main attractions of the park are Swamp Deer and Tigers species.

How to reach

The place is at a distance of about 600 kilometers from Delhi and a drive of 9 hours will take you here. Or take a train to Shajehanpur from where the park is at a distance of 40 kilometers. The nearest airport is Lucknow airport, from where it may take 4 hours to reach the park.

Sightseeing

Dudhwa National Park is home for over 38 species of mammals, 16 species of reptiles and 400 species of birds. The park comprises two core areas: Dudhwa National Park and Kishanpur wildlife sanctuary.

Out of the many attractions, the park has for you, tigers and swamp deer are two most beautiful and endangered species one can see. Hispid hare, one of the most exotic species of rabbits which was considered to be extinct three decades back, was later found right here in the park. So, in a way, there may be some pleasant surprises waiting for you here.

The other animals one could see here are sambar deer, barking deer, spotted deer, hog deer, tiger, Indian rhino, sloth beer, ratel, jackal, civets and jungle cats among many other common wild animals. Other that, there is barasingha, a rare deer species that is hardly found anywhere else in the world. A study that was undertaken on the population of barasingha revealed that of all the barasinghas present in the world today, half of them are right here in Dudhwa national park. One can easily spot the herd of this rare animal walking around casually in the park in its very natural habitat.

Birds

Dudhwa national park is a paradise for birds. Some rare species could be found here, along with the migratory birds that cover a distance of about half the earth to be here. There are more than 350 species of birds that can be witnessed here any day. Of them, there are some special species that are rare such as swamp francolin, great slaty woodpecker and Bengal florican. In winters, the migratory birds settle their bases in the park and leaves as soon as the winter ends such as bulbuls, sales and minivets.

There are also the drongos, barbets, cormorants, ducks, geese, hornbills, bulbuls, teal, woodpeckers, heron, bee-eaters, minivets, kingfishers, egrets, orioles, painted storks, owls. There are other common species as well. In short, it can be said that Dudhwa national park happens to be a sure shot delight for the avid bird watchers and photographers. The Bengal florican has always been in the highest demand when it comes to wildlife photography and a survey revealed that most of the photographers head here from across the country and the world to catch the beautiful bird in their cameras.

Conclusion

India is a diverse country, and so is the animal kingdom that lives here. Among all the other national parks, Dudhwa is one of the ideal in the country for wildlife enthusiasts.

Categories
North India wildlife

Sultanpur Sanctuary- Bird watcher paradise

This National park that is at a distance of 15 km from Gurgaon is not only a sanctuary of birds where birds migrate from all over the world but also a famous picnic spot. We went to Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary during winter months and stayed at the guest house there only. The tourist complex is splendid with a restaurant and bar. The bar is well stocked and the restaurant serves quality food.  We arrived there by road from Delhi (which is 50 km away) on Wednesday which is good because the place is closed every Tuesday and moreover, a permit is required to enter the place before 7 am.

Anyway, the officials told us that it was a good time to visit as the birds migrate to the sanctuary during winter months and thus we got to see a diversity of bird species. I gave in to my passion for bird photography and we did lots of bird watching with our binoculars in hand and our head-turning everywhere, not knowing where to see because it was all so beautiful. With a tiny fee of Rs 5, it is such an astonishing place to visit. Be sure to carry your identity card with you when you visit because you will be denied entry otherwise. There were adequate parking facilities, drinking-water facilities and bathroom facilities making it a place with ease.

There are more than 250 bird species that have been identified there and if you keep a bird book with you, you will be able to identify some of the birds. We were lucky enough to see a spot-billed duck, painted stork, white ibis,  common hoopoe, paddy field pipit, purple, grey francolin, black francolin, Indian roller, white-throated kingfisher, black-headed ibis, little egret, great egret, cattle egret, India crested lark sunbird, little cormorant and Eurasian thick-knee. Within the vicinity of tall and green trees, bougainvilleas and shrubs were these beautiful creatures. We were glad for those binoculars as they helped in letting us enjoy the scene without disturbing the peace of the place. It is also a place for a good trek. Beginners can practice with the easy terrain while also experiencing the scenic panoramic views.

It is a picturesque view as the birds settle around the sanctuary with all their flamboyant, visually pleasing colors and gorgeous wings and sounds. This is what bird-watcher paradise looks like. We had a small picnic there among those birds. We went up to the watch tower to see the sanctuary in its full glory. To be honest, the view from there was breathtaking. The whole place is spectacular. There was also a library, films and an education center for benefit of tourists. It indeed turned out to be very informative and we walked out with more knowledge than we had before.

We saw some children playing within the reserve as there is a special park for them. Also, we saw old write-ups, personal belongings, and photographs by Dr Salim Ali as there is a whole room dedicated to him in the reserve.

The park timings are 7:00 am to 4:30 pm but I do not think that even that is enough time to fully absorb and appreciate the beauty of this magnificent National Park. By the time we left, there were unforgettable memories imprinted in our minds. We felt like explorers in a jungle reveling in the sheer natural charm of this National park. You can visit the park with your family, friends or even alone as it is one place that will leave you flabbergasted.

Categories
Corporate Outings National Parks wildlife

Top 5 National Parks in Kerala

Kerala is known as “God’s own country” but apart from beautiful beaches and backwaters, it also has a wide variety of wildlife. A large area of Kerala is given to National Parks and wildlife sanctuaries for the preservation of biodiversity. Here are some of the National Parks in Kerala:

Eravikulam National Park

It is the oldest National park of Kerala. It is located along the Western Ghats in Idukki district. The highest peak in South India aka Anamudi is also located inside the park. Moreover, it has the largest population of Nilgiri Tahr. The park can be reached from Kochi or Coimbatore Airport or from Munnar town which is just 13 km away. Inside the part, there are motorable roads or you can walk on foot enjoying the scenic views.

Periyar National Park

It is the largest National Park in Kerala. It lies in the district of Pathanamthitta and Idukki. It is most popular for its tiger and elephant reserve and there are also White tigers present here. Periyar National park is as rich in scenic charm as it is in biodiversity. From the forests of this National Park, Periyar and Pamba rivers originate which are delightful visions. You can reach the park by Air from Kochi or Madurai airports or by rail. The nearest railhead is Kottayam and by road, Kumily is the nearest town. Instead of your usual boat cruise, go on a trek with some tribals and fill your eyes with the splendid hills and jungles.

Silent Valley National Park

It is Kerala’s second largest national park. It lies within the Palakkad district in the Nilgiri Hills. An endangered species of primate i.e. lion-tailed macaques is found here. The National Park was named Silent Valley by the British because noisy cicadas were assumed to absent here making this the perfect place of silence and harmony. The nearest railway station is Palakkad. From there, reach Mukkali which is 60 km away and can be reached through bus. From Mukkali, you can hire jeeps to move around. You can see the Kunti river and go at the watchtower that looks over the jungle.

Mathikettan Shola National Park

The name ‘Mathikettan’ itself means mind confused in Tamil. They say that one forgets his path after entering the park. The park is spread over 12.82 km2 in Poopara village of Udumbanchola Taluk. Visitors can approach Mathikettan Shola via Munnar and Cochin International Airport is the nearest airport. The area has unique flora and fauna. There are lion safaris, deer parks and waterfalls to enjoy. It is a haven for botanists and ideal for ecotourism.

Pampadum Shola National park

It is the smallest National Park of Kerala. The name itself means ‘the forest where snakes dance’. The park contains various types of medicinal herbs and is rich in uncontaminated ‘humus’.  The key species of this National park is Nilgiri marten. There are also tigers, leopards, Python, King cobra and Indian wild dogs that can be seen during dusk or dawn. It is just 35 km away from Munnar town and can be reached easily through road travel. You can join the Nature trail to watchtower as an adventure trekking option.

Such richness in biodiversity makes Kerala not only God’s country but also a haven for its innocent majestic creatures. With such fresh air and clear waters, these National parks and wildlife sanctuaries also add to the beauty of the place attracting tourists from all over. Nature lovers are especially drawn to Kerala because of its beautiful forests and greenery.

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wildlife

Ken Ghariyal Sanctuary – a place known for the most amazing Crococodilians!!

Located near the magnetic Khajuraho temples and the very famous Panna national park, the Ken Ghariyal sanctuary is a very attractive tourist spot for the ones interested in the sightings of Ghariyal, an endangered family member of the crocodile family. Spread across the area of about 45 square kilometres the sanctuary happens to be located at the confluence of the Ken and Khudar River.  The popular tourist spot happens to be located in the Chatarpur district in the northern part of Madhya Pradesh.

Reasons to Visit

  • There are ample reasons for having a visit at the place, the brightest one among them being the literal one itself, and the ghariyals. They look similar to crocodiles in many ways but there are certain things that set them apart from their cousins. One thing being, they are far less frightening. Well, only from the outside. They can be seen lying down in the sun, with closed eyes. One wonders whether they are alive at all. They just don’t move an inch while resting, and while on the lookout for the prey. Their patience is incredible while they await the perfect food to eat. They are majestic, they are fierce and they are beautiful. This is one enough reason to visit the Ken ghariyal sanctuary.
  • There are other animals that could be found here in their entire wilderness such as wild boars, deer and Nilgai. Other than that, the sightings of some rare and beautiful birds are also quite a common occurrence at the place.
  • One other reason to visit the place is the nearby attractions. The best among them all, the Khajuraho temples, a UNESCO world heritage site known for its wall carvings and beautiful artworks. The Panna national park is also there within a few hours distance.
  • The forests are well managed and preserved by the authorities. It offers a beautiful view of the Ken river. You can choose to do boating in the Ken river.
  • There is a place called Vulture Point situated into the park which can be seen via a safari If one wants to spot vultures. It’s a must place to visit, which seems like a gorge with forest in the background. Tigers,bears, and leopards are said to visit the bottom of the gorge because of the water resource here and it’s a delighted scene to watch.

Ken Ghariyal sanctuary has done a great job in breeding the rare ghariyals on its own and however, the things aren’t as easy as they seem. They are trying their best to preserve one of the most endangered and beautiful species of reptiles that ever walked the planet. Visit Ken Ghariyal sanctuary and you’ll appreciate the work they are doing, for their love for the Ghariyals.

How to Reach

Satna railway station happens to be the nearest to the place and the best medium to travel in case you were planning a trip here. Jhansi railway station is also a great option and coming out of the railway station, you can either take a bus or hire a taxi to the place. Khajuraho airport is the nearest airport to the place and the best time to visit is winters, when the ghariyals will be seen outside of their pools warming themselves up in the bright sun.

Travel Tip

The place remains closed during the monsoons so the visitors are not advised to come here during the rainy seasons.

Categories
Adventure Beaches Deserts Rejuvenate Travel Trends wildlife

These places could be a perfect holiday escape for families

A good trip is a remedy for almost every other problem you face in life and if that trip happens with the people whom you love the most in the entire world, there is nothing better than that. Today, we bring you the list of the best holiday destinations across the country that you can visit with your entire family. Have fun!

Rajasthan- Rajasthan is India and India is Rajasthan. This north Indian state has something about it which makes it feel like the real India. Whether it is the massive forts or the amazing food, this place is for families having the time of their lives. You could enjoy a lovely boat ride on the Nakki lake in Mount Abu and get dazzled by Udaipur’s Lake Pichola and the fine monuments such as Jaipur’s City Palace and Jodhpur’s Mehrangarh Fort.

If you could spend a little extra, there are enough luxurious options that you can choose from in order to give your family a grand experience.

Goa- Many may disagree with this one and argue that Goa is a party destination and no kids should be allowed there. But the reality is that not all the beaches are filled with alcoholic adults. There are some great beaches in Goa where families can be seen together having a great time. If you are heading for a family vacation in Goa, you should visit places as Basilica of Bom Jesus, one of the oldest churches in Goa, Calangute Beach perfect for a great family time together and Palolem Beach which is famous for dolphin sightings.

One other plus point is the food. From the north Indian to the Chinese to the seafood, it is a paradise for the foodies. The cherry on top is some lush visuals which are perfect spots for clicking photos to create memories.

Jim Corbett national park- Children love nothing more than seeing a tiger all out in the open in its natural habitat. Jim Corbett is the most popular Indian national park and offers some great sightings of rare and interesting species of birds and animals. The safety arrangements are top notch along with the night stay options. Just the very perfect place for a family outing!

Kerala- Whether it is the dense forests or the exotic backwaters, Kerala must be at the top on the list of places you should visit next. The beaches are all lush and beautiful plus the rainforests, everything is far better than you may have imagined in your dreams. However, for the relaxation and health tourism also, Kerala is the best, thanks to the Ayurveda and spa treatments that are given here in its purest form.

Kutch- If you are one of the very few who doesn’t happen to have much interest in the greenery and animal kingdom, head to Kutch in Gujarat to experience what rugged beauty can do to your senses. The barren and wide lands are exotic and the sunsets and sunrise at those places is a sight to savor. This is one of the most underrated tourist spots in the country and could be a perfect spot for your family to spend some time away from the usual life.

Darjeeling- Made popular all over the world thanks to the wide tea plantations, Darjeeling is one of the best tourist spots in the eastern India. The toy train ride is something the kids would enjoy and the adults can go for some more adventures. In short, there is everything for everyone to take some great memories back home.

India is diverse and beautiful, and reeks of true beauty from every corner, ideal for family outing. 

Categories
Central India wildlife

Pench Tiger Reserve !! Experience in Mowgli Land

Madhya Pradesh is one state, which is endowed by inexplicable beautiful forests and thankfully government is working towards preserving this beautiful flora and fauna by maintaining National Parks. Pench Tiger Reserve is one such initiative that extends the borders of Maharastra.  Pench Tiger Reserve is spread over Seoni and Chhindwara districts of Madhya Pradesh and Nagpur district of Maharashtra. Not to miss, this is the original Mowgli Land, as Rudyard Kipling Jungle Book found its inspiration from the place.

Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh comprises of core area of 411.33 sq. km. with buffer zone of 768.30 sq. km. Total protected area is 1179.63 sq. km. Core area also includes Mowgli Pench Wildlife Sanctuary. (118.30 sq. km.)

How to reach Pench

Rail: Board the train till Chhindwara or Jabalpur. From there you can hire a cab till Pench, which is an approximate distance of 190km from Chhindwara and Jabalpur. Another option is to board the train till Nagpur and hire a taxi ahead.

Air: Nagpur is the nearest airport connected to all metros by regular flights. It’s approximately 145 km from Pench that can be covered in a three/four-hour drive.

Road: Pench Tiger Reserve is located on the Nagpur-Jabalpur Highway. You can go by road from Jabalpur or Nagpur and reach Pench in three to four hours. Another option is to go via Bhopal which is approximately 500 km from Pench or Kanha. Nearest bus stand to Pench is Khawasa or Seoni and hourly buses are available from Nagpur.

Best Season to Visit Pench

Park remained opened for visitors from October till June, but post monsoon i.e around August to October, you may witness the myriads colors of nature, as the park is plush green and looks phenomenally beautiful. However, for tiger sightings, May-June is better, as this wild cats usually come out of their dens to the water holes to drink water.

Where to stay

Though you will find several budgets to luxurious hotels near Turia gate, but our recommendation would be to stay at Pench Tree Lodge, operated by Pugdundee Safaris. Starting from staff to the logistics, place is just perfect!!

Wildlife Safari

You may book your safaris from mponline.gov.in or can ask your hotel people to get this done for. Most of the resorts can help you in booking. There are usually two jungle safaris. The morning safari starts at 6 AM till 11 AM while evening starts at 2:30 PM. There are three gates. We went through Karmajhiri gate.

Like all the other parks of M.P., Pench too allows a total number of eight people in a jeep, out of which six are tourists and the other two are the guide and the driver. But you can also book solo jeep for yourself by paying extra.

Flora and Fauna

With a learned naturalist, you can actually explore the national park from depth as they are aware of who’s who of the parks. Pench National Park is endowed with rich flora and fauna. Myriads of birds such as Grey-headed Fishing Eagle, White-eyed Buzzard, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Osprey, Black-Hooded Oriole, Sirkeer Malkoha, Grey Nightjar, Indian Scimitar Babbler, Scaly-Breasted Munia, Jungle Owlet, Common Hawk Cuckoo, Brown Fish Owl, Short Toed Snake Eagle, Yellow Footed Green Pigeon, Racket Tailed Drongo, Crested Treeswift, Jungle Babbler, varieties of Parakeet.. In addition to these, you can spot migratory birds are Indian Pitta, Red Throated Fly Catcher, Orange Headed Ground Thrush, Jacobin Cuckoo, Grey Headed Canary Fly Catcher.

Animals such as the Tiger, Leopards, Common Giant Flying Squirrel, Dhole, Gaur, Barking Deer, Monitor Lizard, Indian Rock Python, Rusty-spotted Cat, Jungle Cat, Small Indian Civet, Asian Palm Civet, Ruddy Mongoose, Porcupine, Bengal Fox, Indian Jackal, Sambhar Deer, Striped Hyena, Sloth Bear can be spotted.

Travel Tips

  • Jungle Safaris bookings should be done in advance, as seats are limited.
  • It is mandatory to carry ID cards for safaris. The ID needs to be the same as the one with which you booked your safari.
  • Carry binoculars to spot the birds and animals in the park.
  • Wear comfortable clothing. Do not miss to put sunscreen, as it gets really hot during Safari time.
  • Carry proper woolens in winters and an effective sunscreen in summers.
  • Only Idea and BSNL works at Pench, so pl communicate accordingly to your near and dear ones.
  • Try to be silent and not to over react as you spot anything, as it disturb their peace and they run away

Last but not least, do not get disheartened if you could not spot a wildcat, as these parks are much beyond wild cat chase. Instead, these jungle safaris are more about getting closer to nature, learning about wildlife habitat.

Categories
Central India Corporate Outings wildlife

Photo Blog : Pench Tiger Reserve

Wondering what this dense Pench Tiger Reserve consists of!! Explore it through the lens of  #ghoomophirosisters in this photo-blog. These beautiful National Parks are not just to spot the big cat, there is much more in them beyond the royal tigers..and this is exactly what we have tried to capture!! We were accompanied by talented naturalist Sagar, Pugdundee Safaris  who enhanced our knowledge about wildlife and share lot of smallest facts around them.

Karmajhiri entry gate. This is the place from where you get passes for the entry to the park. A government guide also accompanies you. There are three gates and Turia is the most congested one, as most if the resorts and hotels are situated there. Only 6-7 jeeps you will find at Karmajhiri.

Inside Jungle, milestones to guide the way through.

Waterholes; You can find several waterholes in the jungles. These are happy spots for both naturalists and animals. Former wait for the later to come to drink water.

As #ghoomophirosisters took a small break for breakfast inside the jungle.

Trying hands to drive through the jungles

Lucky to find the pack of 7 wild dogs, which are rare..Guess they were partying;)

Night jar on the road!! Look at the way, it has camoflagued himself..

Langurs are something, you would definitely find in abundance in Pench

Ahh!! this was sweet one; Peacock running after peahen to woo her:-)

Deers!! Ah, you definitely can expect them in great numbers to maintaing the nature balance.

So what are you waiting for, we are sure pictures would have motivated you to pack your bags and get your bookings done.

Categories
North east wildlife

Kaziranga National Park can give you a super rich birding experience

Kaziranga National Park is a world heritage site, which supports two-thirds of the world’s one-horned rhinoceros population.

For the bird watchers, this may very well be the best place in the entire country. Jorhat airport is the nearest to Kaziranga National Park which is about 100 kilometers away. Bus or a taxi from there can bring you to this place. Guwahati happens to be the nearest railway station. So one can also choose to reach Guwahati and then hire a cab or take a bus from there (220 km).

An estimate says that there are more than 478 different species of birds that can be seen here throughout the year and almost half of them are migratory birds. However, what makes this place one of the UNESCO world heritage sites is the very fact that there are about 25 species of birds that are on a verge of extinction and 21 which are less endangered but still are hard to find in many parts of the globe.

A very versatile biodiversity

Made unique with a lively, well preserved and sustained ecology this park has a very versatile biodiversity which makes Kaziranga National Park a very important and admired tourist destination.

  • One can see all kinds of birds in Kaziranga and the key species include Swamp Francolin, Pale-capped Pigeon, Bengal Florican, Great and Wreathed Hornbill, Jerdon’s Baza, Slender-billed Vulture,  and Pallas’s Fishing Eagle. But this is not the end!!

  • One can see and observe more varieties of birds such as the Greater Spotted Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Pied Harrier, Pied Falconet, Oriental Hobby, Black-necked Stork, Greater Adjutant, Hodgson’s Bushchat, White-vented Myna, Rufous-vented Prinia, Marsh Babbler, Jerdon’s Babbler, Black-breasted Parrotbill and Finn’s Weaver. Besides this rich birding haul, there is a breeding colony of Spot-billed Pelicans near Koladuar in the Agoratoli area.

  • Out of the rarest of rare birds that can be found in the park in their natural habitat are species of geese (lesser white-fronted goose), and ducks (ferruginous pochard, Baer’s pochard).
  • Along with that, there are riverine birds including kingfishers (Blyth’s kingfisher), herons (white-bellied heron), pelicans (Dalmatian pelican, spot-billed pelican), shanks (spotted greenshank) and terns (black-bellied tern).

  • There are also many rare migratory birds that make their annual presence felt in the park (lesser adjutant, greater adjutant, black-necked stork, Asian openbill).

  • The place also has a great number of raptors, which can be seen as a sign of very healthy ecosystem as these predatory birds maintain the balance in nature. These birds include eastern imperial eagle, greater spotted eagle, white-tailed fishing eagle, Pallas’s fish eagle, grey-headed fish eagle and the lesser kestrel. And vultures, one of the rarest birds on the planet once had the Kaziranga national park as their unabashed home.

Apart from the wildlife, the park itself is enormously beautiful with water bodies and forests. Kaziranga is the place to go for a trip full of thrill. While at this place, enjoy the best and most of what Assam’s nature has to offer.

Did you know?

Kaziranga national park was once home to about seven species of vultures but the sad thing is that almost all of them got wiped out due to severe kidney failures caused by eating infected animals and birds in the park. The red-headed vulture and the Eurasian vulture are on the verge of the extinction while Indian vulture, slender-billed,  and the Indian white vulture are technically extinct as there are no sightings of them anymore anywhere in the park.

Categories
Festival North-West India wildlife

Get ready to witness the wonderful sightings of Olive ridley turtles at Velas Turtle Festival

Turtles are interesting creatures, there is no doubt about it but we are accustomed to seeing them in the aquariums and zoos most often. People crave to see them live in their natural habitat and the Velas turtle festival provides them with the opportunity to do so. And without a doubt, it also attracts a lot of foreign tourists as well. Let’s know more about it.

Where

Velas is a small village in Ratnagiri in the western Indian state of Maharashtra. The annual event takes place during April every year and is a massive crowd puller. The village is located at about 220 Kilometres from Mumbai and the commute is easy, especially during the time of the festival. Take the bus from Mumbai or a train, which happens to be well connected and enjoy the festival.

About the festival

The village Velas is famous for the sightings of Olive ridley turtles, which are very rare and can hardly be found anywhere else. The turtles are there in the Arabian Sea and move to the village of Velas in order to lay eggs. A turtle conservation initiative has been taken by the villagers and that makes the event a safe one for the turtles and even the turtles, which are known to avoid human presence at all costs, can be seen behaving all natural. Many NGOs from across the country and the world have taken steps forward in order to conserve the population of the turtles by conserving their eggs and put them in the safe places. One mother turtle lays about a 100 eggs at one time and the incubation period is 50-55 days. The eggs laid by the turtles are then covered with baskets and the track is kept every day about their conditions.

 

However, the moment which everyone awaits with stopped breaths is the one when the eggs break and tiny turtles come out of them and as an instinct, they start moving towards the ocean. This is a grand event and gets covered by media and the general population alike in their phones. The baby steps they take stir some strange feelings of hope and life inside the observers and as they drift away into the ocean, the festival comes to its conclusion.

Timings

The festival goes on for an entire month and some great deals can be achieved from the travel websites and forums.

Tips

This isn’t a picnic spot but a conservation site. So the tourists need to remain calm and should act with caution. Littering around is an offense and the fine will be installed.

-Photography is although allowed, should be done with the flashlights off.

-The tourists need to wear sensible clothes. The locals here are somehow conservative in their approach towards decency and women in shorts or miniskirts may not be allowed.

-The timings may differ, so you may have to stay a bit longer to witness the baby turtles coming out of the eggs. Patience is mandatory.

Conclusion

This is a wonderful sight and everyone should at least one, come here to witness the pure magic.

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