• About BCR
  • News
  • News @ BCR
  • Rescues
  • Issues
  • Cat Laws
Sunday, January 24, 2021
  • Login
  • Register
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
No Result
View All Result
Home News World

Many trails, few tails

BCR by BCR
February 7, 2010
in News World
0
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

Many trails, few tails

TNN, 7 February 2010, 06:59am IST

You might also like

Cub Petting Shame

Rules

GoFree

NAGPUR: Less than two years ago, a colleague had counted 14 tigers inside two days in this range. It got so monotonous that the last tiger was insulted with just a cursory glance. So, when it came to volunteering for the Monitoring Tigers, Co-Predators, Prey and Their Habitats programme, or simply put the tiger census, the Kolsa range was the obvious choice.

With the vision of hindsight, perhaps we should have opted for any other range in the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve which is spread over 625 sq km and is about a three-hour drive from Nagpur. For, when it comes to census, tigers are reluctant to reveal themselves for a head count. They prefer the sanctity of the thick bamboo and other trees, and also the chest-high hay-coloured grass, bushes and other growth that can camouflage even a giraffe.

From AB’s ode to tigers in ‘Mr Natwarlal’ to Himesh Reshamiyya’s ‘Jhalak Dikhlaaja’, the volunteers tried everything to appease it for a solitary sighting. The real meaning of bad luck hits you when, after a wonderful week in the forests, you don’t spot a single stripe.

“You got to get lucky to spot a tiger,” said a self-styled expert. “But consider yourself lucky that you got to spend so many days in the forest where few have gone before.”

You can pay the nominal fee to enter the forest as a tourist. But the accompanying guide will not permit you to even open the vehicle door. And here we are, eight of us, walking not just on motorable paths but swaying through the thick undergrowth of the forests. Sometimes, we took the beaten path. On other occasions, where we walked became a path.

What are the qualifications needed to participate in such an exercise? Can just about anybody volunteer? Yes. All you require is loads of patience, strong legs, the ability to remain silent for long hours and rough it out, and a passion for wild life. Within a day, you become an expert. After a week, you are qualified to sit on a wild life committee!

In Kolsa, apart from a few of us from Nagpur, there were five from ‘Lion Country’ Junagadh, three from Chandrapur and another four from Hyderabad. Yet, the 200.97 sq km range could have done with 100 more volunteers.

Not spotting a single tiger or any of the 100-odd bears doesn’t mean that their population is on the wane. So much evidence and data was collected that it appears that 200.97 sq km is just not big enough for the tiger population. Forest officers estimate that there are between 12 to 20 tigers in Kolsa. Plus, other carnivores like leopards and wild dogs.

Herbivores like bisons, cheetals, sambars, barking deer, wild boars, rabbits, peacocks and many others are so much in number that no carnivore will ever remain hungry. The thick forests of the range, now dwindling due to human encroachment and illicit felling of bamboo and teak trees, are an ideal home for many species of animals.

“Incest is common amongst tigers,” said a forest official. “There are not many corridors for tigers to move about to other forest areas of the region and this leads to mating among siblings and, even a tigress and its own cub. The gene pool is gradually weakening.”

The season being still winter, there’s still plenty of water in the nullahs, rivers and ponds. Come summer, the animals shed their shyness and willingly reveal themselves at all the water holes. Every volunteer spotted fresh tiger pug marks and scat after walking barely 100 metres on their respective beats (the range was divided into many beats and then to compartments). Warning calls by monkeys and deer would indicate the presence of a carnivore a few feet away. You can smell one. But, to spot one you have to get lucky.

“This exercise is not to take a head count of tigers,” clarified field director Sanjay Thakre, “but to collect data to be analysed by experts.”

Until then, tiger lovers will continue singing AB’s ode in the fervent hope that there is a healthy increase to the national figure of 1411 that was arrived at after the last census four years ago.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Many-trails-few-tails/articleshow/5544059.cms

http://bigcatrescue.org


Tags: News World
Previous Post

Census over, fingers crossed over exact number

Next Post

Goa forest dept mum on tiger report

BCR

BCR

Big Cat Rescue is Caring for Cats and Ending the Trade

Related Posts

Cub Petting Shame
Cat Laws

Cub Petting Shame

January 17, 2021
402
Be Safe Out There!
How To Start A Sanctuary

Rules

March 31, 2020
26
Big Cat Rescue does bobcat rehab and release of native, Florida bobcats.
Articles by BCR

GoFree

March 29, 2020
101
Nik Tiger being Xrayed
How To Start A Sanctuary

What is a day like at Big Cat Rescue?

June 30, 2020
17
Cougars at Big Cat Rescue
Memorials

Artemis

January 28, 2020
54
Next Post

Goa forest dept mum on tiger report

Leave a Reply

  • Default Comments (0)
  • Facebook Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Help Feed Big Cats

One of the best ways to help is through general donations that can be used however it is most needed at the time.To make a general donation just click the Donate Now button below.  This is the best way to give as it has the lowest credit card processing fees and is immediate help for the cats.

Give to Big Cat Rescue

If you prefer to donate via Pay Pal, please use this link: Pay Pal

Take Action Against Abuse

Shop To Save Big Cats

More From BigCatRescue

  • Rescue Missions
  • About Big Cat Rescue
  • Big Cat Rescue News
  • Reviews
  • Our Recent Work
  • Sanctuary FAQs
  • Big Cat TV

Sanctuary Cats

  • Jaguars
  • Leopards
  • Lions
  • Tigers
  • Bobcats
  • Canada Lynx
  • Cougars
  • Ocelots
  • Savannah Cats
  • Servals

Big Cat Information

  • Jaguars
  • Leopards
  • Lions
  • Tigers
  • Bobcats
  • Canada Lynx
  • Cougars
  • Ocelots
  • Savannah Cats
  • Servals

Ways to Help

  • Newsletter SignUp
  • Donate Now
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
  • View AMP Versioin
No Result
View All Result
  • 2018 Appeal
  • About BCR
  • About our Cookies
  • BCR in the Media
  • Big Cat Rescue Caring for Cats and Ending the Trade
  • Big Cat Times
  • Blog
  • Board of Directors
  • Contact Us
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Credentials
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • Embed Link
  • GET THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT CUB PETTING
  • Global Big Cat News
  • Intern Program
  • Kids
  • Latest from Big Cat Rescue
  • Licensing
  • Map
  • Map of Big Cat Owners
  • Netflix
  • News about Big Cats
  • News Gallery
  • News@BCR
  • Our Video Series
  • PressRoom
  • Privacy Policy
  • Rescues
  • Search result
  • Series Archive – Default header
  • Shop
  • SnowLeopard
  • Social Stream
  • Staff
  • Teachers
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Terms of Use
  • Test Gravity
  • USFWS
  • Vets
  • Videos archive
  • Get Involved
    • Automatic
    • Sponsorships
    • Volunteer
      • AdvoCats
      • Click to Feed
      • Intern
    • Legacy
    • Roar! Speak Out for Big Cats
    • Ink
  • Finances
  • How We Started
  • Abuse Issues
    • Issues
      • Exhibitions
      • Private Ownership of Big Cats
      • Zoos
      • White Tigers
      • Circus
      • Fur
      • Trophy Hunting
      • Canned Hunting
      • Why Regulations Don’t Work
  • Our Evolution
  • Photos & Facts
  • Videos
  • Our Volunteers
  • Your Privacy
  • Donate
  • Site Map
  • Field Trips

© Copyright 2021 BigCatRescue.Org. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Add New Playlist