Wildlife Holidays: Sundarbans(Sunderbans) National Park

Location

The Sundarbans National Park is a National Park, Tiger Reserve, UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Biosphere Reserve located in the Sundarbans delta in Indian state of West Bengal. This region is densely covered by mangrove forests, and is one of the largest reserves of the Royal Bengal tiger. It is also home to a variety of bird, reptile and invertebrate species, including the salt-water crocodile. "Sundarban" literally means "beautiful jungle" or "beautiful forest" in the Bengali language. The name Sundarbans may also have been derived from the Sundari trees that are found in Sundarbans in large numbers.

Geography

The average altitude of the park is 7.5 m above sea level. The park is made up of 54 small islands and it crisscrossed by several distributaries of Ganga. The Sundarbans' floor varies from 0.9 m to 2.11 m above sea level. Sundarbans National Park is the largest estuarine mangrove forest in the world. Twenty-six of the fifty broad mangrove types found in the world grow well in the Sundarbans. The commonly identifiable vegetation that grow in the dense mangrove forests at the Sundarbans are salt water mixed forest, mangrove scrub, brackish water mixed forest, littoral forest, wet forest and wet alluvial grass forests.

Rivers in the Sundarbans are meeting places of salt water and freshwater. Thus, it is a region of transition between the freshwater of the rivers originating from the Ganges and the saline water of the Bay of Bengal

Sundarbans Wildlife

Flora

There are 64 plant species in Sundarbans and they have the capacity to withstand estuarine conditions and saline inundation on account of tidal effects. In the month of April and May the flaming red leaves of the Genwa the crab-like red flowers of the Kankara and the yellow flowers of Khalsi can be seen, which add a beauty to the surroundings. Some of the more commonly found plants and trees in the park are Genwa, Dhundal, Passur, Garjan, Kankra, Sundari and Goran.

Fauna

The Sundarbans forest is home to more than 200 tigers. The Royal Bengal Tigers have developed a unique characteristic of swimming in the saline waters, and are world famous for their man-eating tendencies.

Apart from the Royal Bengal Tiger, Fishing Cats, Macaques, Wild Boar, Common Grey Mongoose, Fox, Jungle Cat, Flying Fox, Pangolin, Chital, are also found in abundance in the Sundarbans.

Avifauna

Sundarbans is the El Dorado for bird watchers. Some of the most popular sighted birds are - Open Billed Storks, White Ibis, Water Hens, Coots, Pheasant Tailed Jacanas, Pariah Kites, Brahminy Kite, Marsh Harriers, Swamp Partridges, Red Jungle Fowls, Spotted Doves, Common Mynahs, Jungle Crows, Jungle Babblers, Cotton Teals, Herring Gulls, Caspian Terns, Gray Herons, Brahminy Ducks, Spotted Billed Pelicans, Large Egrets, Night Herons, Common Snipes,Wood Sandpipers, Green Pigeons, Rose Ringed Parakeets, Paradise Flycatchers, Cormorants, Fishing Eagles, White Bellied Sea Eagles.....

 Seagulls, Common Kingfishers, Peregrine falcons, Woodpeckers, Whimprels, Black-Tailed Godwits, Little Stints, Eastern Knots, Curlews, Golden Plovers, Pintails, White Eyed Pochards and Whistling Teals. That’s quite a list!

Aqua fauna

Some of the fish and amphibians found in the park are Sawfish, Butter Fish, Electric Rays, Silver carp, Star Fish, Common Carp, King Crabs, Prawn, Shrimps, Gangetic Dolphins, Skipping Frogs, Common Toads and Tree Frogs.

Reptiles

The Sundarbans National Park houses an excellent number of reptiles as well. Some of the common ones are -

Olive Ridley Turtles, sea snakes, Dog Faced Water Snakes, Green Turtles, Estuarine Crocodiles, Chameleons, King Cobras, Salvator Lizards, Hard Shelled Batgun Terrapins, Russels Vipers, Mouse Ghekos, Monitor Lizards, Curviers, Hawks Bill Turtles, Pythons, Common Kraits, Chequered Killbacks and rat Snakes.

Endangered species

The endangered species that lives within the Sundarbans are Royal Bengal Tiger, Estuarian Crocodile, River Terrapin (Batagur baska), Olive Ridley Turtle, Gangetic Dolphin, Ground Turtle, Hawks Bill Turtle and King Crabs (Horse shoe).

Activities & Other Attractions

The best and only means of travelling the park is to hire a boat and float down the various lanes formed by the many flowing rivers. You can travel in any of the local boats or in luxury launches namely M.V. Chitrarekha and M.V. Madhukar, which are operated by the West Bengal tourism department.

Apart from viewing the wildlife from the boat safaris, you can also visit the following places in Sundarbans which are Bhagatpur Crocodile Project which is a crocodile breeding farm (access from Namkhana), Sagar Island, Jambudweep, Sudhanyakali watchtower, Buriidabri Tiger Project, Netidhopani Watchtower, Haliday Island (famous for Barking Deer), Kanak (nesting place of Olive Ridley Turtle…must visit), Sajankhali Bird Sanctuary (famous for avian fauna).

Accommodation

Forest lodge and forest rest-houses are available for accommodation at Sajnekhali, Bakkhali and Piyali. The cruise launches MV Chitralekha and MV Sarbajaya also have lodging facility.

Lodging facilities are also available at Sundarbans Jungle Camp on Bali Island run by Help Tourism Group with collaboration with local communities and members of Bali Nature and Wildlife Conservation Society.

Approach

►SUNDARBANS IN GOOGLE MAPS◄

• Nearest airport: Dum Dum airport at Kolkata is 112 km away.
• Nearest railhead: Canning is 48 km away from the Park.
• Nearest Road: Road transportation is available from Kolkata for Namkhana (105 km), Sonakhali (100 km), Raidighi (76 km), Canning (64 km), and Najat (92 km), which are all near the Sunderbans and have access to the riverine waterways.
• Nearest town: Gosaba is 50 km away.
• Nearest city: Kolkata(Calcutta) which is 112 km away.

Climate

The average maximum and minimum temperature is 34 °C and 20 °C respectively. Rainfall is heavy with high humidity as high as 80% as it is close to the Bay of Bengal. The monsoon lasts from mid-June to mid-September. Prevailing wind is from the north and north-east from October to mid-March and south west westerlies prevails from mid-March to September. Storms which sometimes develop into cyclones are common during the month of May and October.

Tips

Time to visit the park is September to May, The best time is November to February when the tigers can be seen on the river banks having sunbath.

Entry Permits : The foreign tourists who wants to visit the tiger projects and visit the Sajnekhali, have to obtain the special permits for entry into the Sundarbans National Park. The tourists should contact the Secretary, West Bengal Forest Department, Writer's Building, Kolkata - 700001. To obtain the entry permit for other areas of the Sundarban; the tourists must visit the Field Director, Sundarbans Tiger Reserve, PO Canning, District 24 Parganas, West Bengal. However a boat cruise through Sunderbans outside the sanctuary requires no entry permit.

Quick Info:

Area:

• Core: 1330 km
• Buffer: 1255 km

Best Season: Novemver to February

Nearest Airport: Kolkata(112 km away from park)

Links

general information

www.indianwildlifeportal.com/national-parks/sundarbans-national-park.html

www.india-wildlife.com/sunderbans-national-park.html

West Bengal Tourism Department

accommodation

Sajnekhali Tourist Lodge, Sundarban

Sundarban Tiger Camp, Sundarban

Wildlife Holidays: Kaziranga National Park

LOCATION

Kaziranga National Park is situated on the banks of mighty Brahmaputra River, in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of Assam, India. In 1985 it was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its unique nature. Kaziranga is a vast expanse of tall elephant grass, marshland and dense tropical moist broadleaf forests crisscrossed by four major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, and has numerous small bodies of water. Two-thirds of the world's Great Indian One-horned Rhinoceroses live in the park. Kaziranga has the highest density of tigers among protected areas in the world and was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2006. The park has large breeding populations of elephants, water buffalo and swamp deer. Kaziranga is recognized as an Important Bird Area by Birdlife International for conservation of avifaunal species. The park has achieved notable success in wildlife conservation compared to other protected areas in India. Located on the edge of the Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hotspot, the park combines high-species diversity and visibility. The park celebrated its centenary in 2005 after its establishment in 1905 as a reserve forest.

KAZIRANGA WILDLIFE

FLORA: Four main types of vegetation types exist in the park. These are alluvial inundated grasslands, alluvial savanna woodlands, tropical moist mixed deciduous forests and tropical semi-evergreen forests.

There is a difference in altitude between the eastern and western areas, with the western side being at a lower altitude. The western reaches of the park are dominated by grasslands.  

Tall Elephant grass is found on higher ground, while short grasses cover the lower grounds surrounding the flood-created ponds. Annual flooding, grazing by herbivores and controlled burning maintains and fertilizes the grasslands and reeds. Common tall grasses are sugarcanes, spear grass, Elephant Grass and the Common Reed. Numerous forbs are present along with the grasses. Amidst the grasses, providing cover and shade are scattered trees—dominant species including Kumbhi, Indian Gooseberry, the Cotton tree (in savanna woodlands), and Elephant apple (in inundated grasslands).

There are many different aquatic floras in the lakes, ponds and along the river shores. The invasive Water Hyacinth is very common, often choking the water bodies, but it is cleared during destructive floods. Another invasive species, Mimosa invisa, which is toxic to herbivores, was cleared by Kaziranga staff.

FAUNA:Kaziranga contains significant breeding populations of 35 mammalian species, of which 15 are threatened as per the IUCN Red List. The park has the distinction of being home to the world's largest population of the Great Indian One-horned Rhinoceros (1,855), Wild Asiatic Water Buffalo (1,666) and Eastern Swamp Deer (468). Significant populations of large herbivores include elephants (1,940), gaur (30) and sambar (58). Small herbivores include the Indian Muntjac, wild boar and hog deer. A few centuries ago, the Indian one horned Rhinoceros ranged across the north Indian plains in the wetlands of the rivers Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra. Today this survivor from the prehistoric times is found only in pockets in the north eastern state of Assam and in Nepal. In Assam, their Rhino habitat is limited to just two national parks - Kaziranga and Manas.

Kaziranga is one of the few wild breeding areas outside Africa for multiple species of large cats such as Indian Tigers and Leopards. Kaziranga was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2006 and has the highest density of tigers in the world (one per five km²), with a population of 86, as per the 2000 census. Other felids include the Jungle Cat, Fishing Cat and Leopard Cats. 

Small mammals include the rare Hispid Hare, Indian Gray Mongoose, Small Indian Mongoose, Large Indian Civet, Small Indian CIvet, Bengal Fox, Golden Jackel, Sloth Bear, Chinese and Indian pangolins, Hog Badger, Chinese Ferret Badgers and Particolored flying squirrels. Nine of the 14 primate species found in India occur in the park. Prominent among them are the Assamese Macaque, Golden Langur, as well as the only ape found in India, the Hoolock Gibbon. Kaziranga's rivers are also home to the endangered Ganges Dolphin.

Kaziranga has been identified by Birdlife International as an Imported Bird Area. It is home to a variety of migratory birds, water birds, predators, scavengers and game birds. Birds such as the Lesser White-fronted Goose, Ferruginous Duck, Baer's Pochard Duck, Lesser Adjutant, Greater Adjutant, Black-necked Stork, and Asian Openbill stork migrate from Central Asia to Kazirangha during winter. Riverine birds include the Blyth's Kingfisher, White-bellied Heron, Dalmatian Pelican, Spot-billed Pelican, Spotted Greenshank and Black-bellied Tern. Birds of prey include the rare Eastern Imperial, Greater Spotted, White-tailed, Pallas's Fish Eagle, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, and the Lesser Kestrel.

Kaziranga was once home to seven species of vultures, but the vulture population reached a near extinction by supposedly feeding on animal carcasses containing the drug Diclofenac. Only the Indian Vulture, Slender-billed vulture, and Indian White-rumped Vulture have survived. Game birds include the Swamp Francolin, Bengal Florican and Pale-capped Pigeon.

Other families of birds inhabiting Kaziranga include the Great Indian Hornbill and Wreathed Hornbill, Old World babblers such as Jerdon's and Marsh Babblers, weaver birds such as the common Baya Weaver, threatened Finn's Weavers, thrushes such as Hodgson's Bushchat and Old World warblers like the Bristled Grassbird. Other threatened species include Black-breasted Parrotbill and the Rufous-vented Prinia.

Two of the largest snakes in the world, the Reticulated Python and Rock Python, as well as the longest venomous snake in the world, the King Cobra, inhabit the park. Other snakes found here include the Indian Cobra, Monocled Cobra, Russell's viper and the Common Krait. Monitor Lizard species found here include the Bengal Monitor and the Water Monitor. Other reptiles include fifteen species of turtle, such as the endemic Assam Roofed Turtle and one species of tortoise, the Brown Tortoise. 42 species of fish are found in the area including the Tetraodon.

Other Attractions In Kaziranga

Tourists can stroll through the lush coffee and rubber plantations of the nearby Karbi Anglong or visit the Karbi villages, meet the Karbi people and observe their way of living. Yiu can also venture through the tea gardens that Assam is so famous for and watch how one gets one's daily cup of tea. Film shows on wildlife can be arranged at the various tourist lodges in Kaziranga, on request.

How to Get there

►KAJIRANGA IN GOOGLE MAPS◄

Air

The nearest airport is situated at Guwahati(shares airspace with all major cities in India), which is 217-km away from the park. The other airport is located at Jorhat, 97-km from Kaziranga.

Rail

The nearest railhead is Furkating, situated 75-km away from Kaziranga National Park.

Road

ASTC buses and private buses to Guwahati, Tezpur and Upper Assam are available from the main gate of the park at Kohora.

Best Time to Visit

The park experiences three seasons mainly, summer, winter & Monsoon. Kaziranga's visiting season is from mid-November to early April months. During the monsoons (June to September), the Brahmaputra River bursts its banks, flooding the low-lying grasslands and causing animals to migrate from one area to another within the Kaziranga National Park. Monsoon causes most of Kaziranga's annual rainfall of 2,220 mm. during July & August. The winter is mild & dry. During summer, March & May is hot and one may easily spot animals near water bodies.

Climate

Sub-Tropical Monsoon with average rainfall of 1320 mm and temperature ranging from 8° C in Winter to 38° C in Summer.

ACCOMMODATION

Most of the accommodation is located along the National Highway 37, which runs along the southern border of the park. Accommodation varies from Forest Rest Houses, Bungalows, Lodges and Hotels. As the total number of rooms available is limited it is advisable to book well in advance. Wild Grass Resort & Bon Habi Resort are among the most sought after places to stay.

QUICK FACTS

• Area: 430 sq km
• Best Season:Mid-November to early April
• Nearest Airport: Guwahati(217 km away from the park)
• Key Wildlife: the Great Indian One-horned Rhinoceros, Tiger, Leopard, Wild Asiatic Water Buffalo, Eastern Swamp Deer, Elephants, Gaur, Sambar, wild Boar, Hog Deer, Mongoose, Civets, Fox, Pangolins, Langur, Gibbon and thousands of bird species.

LINKS

general

Wlidlife Holidays: Kanha National Park

LOCATION

Kanha National Park is a National Park and a Tiger Reserve in the Mandla and Balaghat districts of Madhya Pradesh, India. The major feature of this region's interesting topography is the horseshoe shape valley and the whole park area is surrounded by the spurs of the Mekal. The Surpan River meanders through Kanha's central Maidans, grasslands that cover the extensive plateau. Steep rocky escarpments along the edges offer breathtaking views of the valley. In the 1930s, Kanha area was partitioned into two sanctuaries, Hallon and Banjar, covering 250 and 300 sq km each. Kanha National Park was created on June 1st, 1955. Today it sprades over an area of 940 sq km in the two districts Mandla and Balaghat. Together with a surrounding buffer zone of 1009 sq km and the neighboring 110 sq km Phen Sanctuary it forms the Kanha Tiger Reserve(Created in 1974 under Project Tiger).

KANHA WILDLIFE

FLORA: The lowland forest of sal(shorea robusta) and other mixed trees, grassy meadows and ravines provided inspiration to Rudyard Kipling for his world-famous novel "Jungle Book". The highland forests are tropical moist dry deciduous type and of a completely different nature with bamboo on slopes (dendrocalamus strictus). A very good looking Indian ghost tree locally called kullu (a variety of gum tree) can also be seen in the dense.

The famous Kanha Tiger Reserve abounds in meadows or maidans which are generally open grasslands that have sprung up in fields of abundant villages, evacuated to make way for the animals. Kanha meadow is one such example. There are many species of grass recorded at Kanha some of which are important for the survival of Barasingha deers (Cervus duvauceli branderi). Dense forest zones with good crown cover has abundant species of climbers, shrubs and herbs flourishing in the understory. Aquatic plants in numerous tal(lakes) are life line for migratory and wetland species of birds.

FAUNA: Tiger tiger burning bright. If statistics and common sense are expected to converge on your luck of spoting a tiger, then Kanha might be the place to sought after. According to the census of 2006, there are 131 tigers roamig on the face of Kanha. If your adventurous mind needs more predatory stimulation, there are Leopards(80 in 2000), Indian wild dogs(according to the locales and experienced hunters of the past, a herd of these beasts can very well force a tiger to stay away from their trail!), rare Indian wolves(canis indica), Sloth bears(111 in 2000) to strive for.

The most abundant prey species for the large predators is the spotted deer or Chital, whose number is estimated to be about a staggering 20000! The second largest population of deer is that of Sambar (Cervus Unicolor) which constitutes an important prey base of the tiger. Other commonly observed mammals include the common grey langur (6668 in 2000), wild boar (8534 in 2000), Gaur (wild asian ox; more than thousand in 2000),Sambar(3621 in 2000) and Barasingha or swamp deer (this is the hardground swamp deer (Cervus duvauceli branderi), found only in Kanha, barely 1200 survive in the wild). Barasingha were only 60 left in this planet when measures were taken to prevent extinction. As of June 2006, the count is around 1200. An attempt to raise the Black Buck(small Indian antelope) here has failed. The Chousingha(another deer species) and the Nilgai (blue bull), though rare, can also be found in Kanha.

Other larger mammal species of the park are rhesus macaque, golden jackel, bengal fox, smooth-coated otter, honey badger, small Indian civet, python, mouse deer, barking deer, Indian gray mongoose, ruddy mongoose, striped hyena, jungle cat, leopard cat, Indian spotted chevrotain, Indian pangolin, Indian porcupine and Indian hare.

The birds species in the park include storks, teals, pintails, pond herons, egrets, peacock, pea fowl, jungle fowl, spur fowl, partridges, quails, ring doves, spotted parakeets, green pigeons, rock pigeons, cuckoos, papihas, rollers, bee-eater, hoopoes, drongos, warblers, kingfishers, woodpeckers, finches, orioles, owls, and fly catchers.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS

Another heightened attraction within the Park is Bamni Dadar, that offers the most awe-inspiring vista of the sunset against the backdrop of green fields with grazing Sambars and Gaurs, magnifying the natural splendor of the area.

The museum at Kanha national park is another interesting visit that informs the attributes and activities of the park and the tribal culture of the state of Madhya Pradesh.

APPROACH

►KANHA IN GOOGLE MAPS◄

AIR: Nagpur at 266-km is the nearest Airport to visit Kanha National Park and is connected by various domestic airline services with Mumbai, Dehli, Kolkata, Chennai and other metros.

RAIL:Jabalpur at 169-kms is the convenient rail head to visit Kanha.

ROAD:Kanha National Park is connected by road with Jabalpur 175-kms, Khajuraho 445-kms, Nagpur 266-kms, Mukki 25-km, Raipur 219-km.

Within the park: Koshi - Kanha (9-km), Kishi - Katia (4-km), Kishi - Mukki (32-km). There are regular to and fro bus service available from Jabalpur to Kanha.

TIME TO VISIT

The climate of this region is tropical. Summers are hot and humid with a maximum and minimum temperature of 40.6°C and 23.9°C. Winters are pleasant with an average maximum and minimum temperature of 23.9°C and 11.1°C, respectively. The annual average rainfall is 152 cm. The park is closed from July to mid-November during monsoon.

ACCOMMODATION

There are enough decent accommodation options in Kanha, and the scene is getting better every passing day. There are a number of star category hotels catering to the needs of tourists coming to explore Kanha National Park or interesting in exploring the scenic region around.

APPAREL

Cottons, but bring woolens as well, as early mornings and evenings can be chilly, especially in a moving jeep and in the cool season. Try not to wear loud colors.

QUICK FACTS

• Area: 1945 sq. km
• Altitude: 600-900 meters above sea level
• Time to avoid: The park is closed from July to mid-November during monsoon.
• Best Season: February to June
• Nearest Airport: Nagpur(266 km) connected from most of the metros by domestic airlines.
• Key Wildlife: Tiger, Leopard, Bear, Wild Indian Dog, various species of deer and birds.

LINKS

general information
http://www.kanhanationalpark.com
http://www.kanha.net
accommodation
http://www.chitvan.com
http://www.krishnahotels.com/national-parks/kanha-national-park.htm
http://www.tuligroup.com/tulitigerresort.html
Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation Ltd