[abheekg]

Dear Friends,
After a month long silence on the travelogue section, I am back again with some very good news from a prime central Indian Tiger reserve.

I visited the reserve as it opened after a 3month break and needless to say I came across an ecosystem totally rejuvinated by the good rains that we witnessed this year.

In the coming days I will post a complete account of 2 days I spent there including my experience on the night of the brightest full moon of the year.

Watch out.

Dr. A Ghosh

[ExtremeTorque]

Aha! There you are Abheek! Have been following your Pench updates on FB and looking forward to the detailed account.

P.S - Folks, in good humor, I think we should start referring to Abheek as 'Tigerman' of Team-bhp

[KRRaj]

The Doc is back with his Tigers . Looking forward to the travelogue.

[joe1980]

Expecting a plethora of Tiger pics

[neoonwheels]

hmmm finally we gonna see spectacular jungle pics after the monsoon. Keep them coming bro !

[Surprise]

Even without a photo or a detailed log, I voted 5 stars. I knew what's there in store. Please bring it on quickly

[SPARKled]

This suspense is excruciating. Let's have details out quick now. Pench and tadoba are on my must visit radar in 2011. Your inputs will be very valuable.

[abheekg]

Thank you friends and sorry to keep you waiting.
First and foremost let me declare that this wildlife travelogue will be different than many others that I have posted. There will be less of Tigers and more of the varied flora and fauna that this region abounds in. It has been a constant endeavour on my part over the last 5 years to wean the general jungle ghooming crowd away from being Tiger-centric to experiencing nature in its complete glory as it unfolds in front of our eyes as we enter the jungles.

It pains me a lot when I come across a tourist who after going around the beautiful park for over 5 hours comes back to the gate and says that he has not seen anything inside.

The typical psyche of the general Jungle going crowd is that there is only the Tiger to be seen in these parks and they are here to see the Tiger. A successful tiger sighting leaves them awed and spell bound while a dry day goes down very badly and they go back with only bitter memories of that place. Sometimes if elephants are available, they corner the poor Tiger and view them in "Tiger shows" from elephant backs. The poor tiger appears terrified or extremely angry to be made an object for the tourists to see him and I don't understand how and what pleasures do the tourists get to see such a cornered animal.

Anyway, I am not here to sermon you but to present before you the Nature's bounties that I see through my eyes and capture through my lens.

Pench Tiger reserve is one of the 5 Project Tiger protected reserves around Nagpur within a radius of 150kms. Tbhp members who have read my travelogues before will know me as a maverick cardiologist who works for 5 days a week and compulsorily spends 2 days of the weekend visiting one of these reserves.

In the last 3 months of the monsoons, I was visiting Tadoba on almost every weekend and documenting the growth of "Circuit-the tiger cub and his siblings" [ you can read about some of my experiences here http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...ml#post2068056 ] .

Visiting Tadoba Tiger reserve during the rains had its own highs but I was intently awaiting the reopening of Pench as it opened after the customary 3 month break for the rains.

Tadoba Highs during rains


The last summer was super brutal with the water table down to near zero in most of the reserves and all the animals facing acute water shortage.

Almost dry Beejamatta water hole in Pench


Dry Sitaghat in summer


By the end of May almost all the water bodies inside Pench had dried out and we were having confirmed animal (including Tiger) sightings if we patiently waited near some of these drying water bodies.

Confirmed animal sightings if one waited patiently near the few places where water was left


By mid June 2010, the rains announced their arrival and with the first few showers the park started getting refreshed and the the start of the rejuvination process could be already seen.

Jamun nala in Pench with hovering black clouds - just before the advent of rains


Pench Landscape after first rains


Pench Landscape after first rains


I visited Pench along with my dear friend Moin bhai from Hyderabad as we were returning from Kanha on the evening of 27th June (and ran into royality).

Encountered Royality on the last day Pench was open before if closed down for rains


Thereafter the park officially closed from the 28th as the thundershowers started.

After that it was goodbye to Pench for sometime and I concentrated all my energies towards Tadoba and was successful in documenting some super lush green moments in the rains.

Joys of Tadoba in Rains


In the 3 months good rains lashed the park and I kept on getting updates from the rangers and the Mahouts who kept on going inside the park on patrolling duty. We (Wildcats Nature club) also did a medical camp for the forest rangers and the other workers during the same period.

The park officially reopened on 16th of October and I was there to document the transformation.

Beejamatta after rains


compare with:

Beejamatta before rains


Early morning dew rising at Alikatta


I again visited the park on the 23-24 October and this travelogue is a combined report of these 2 visits.

regards,
Dr. A Ghosh

Warriors and their gears of war




.............................to be continued.

[TaureanBull]

Nice beginning. So, you prepared for this travelogue over a period of time. Its a great dedication and enthusiasm.

I hope you will be putting up a detailed travelogue (photologue ) including the persons participated, travel to destination, accommodation and of course sighting!

Roll them on doc.

[Wanderer78]

Great beginning sir. I am planning a trip tp Tadoba and Pench in january and your writeups have been a great help. Looking forward to this one.
BTW : Is January a good time to visit Tadoba and Pench (for Royalty sightings?)

[rjstyles69]

doc good start there with your travelogue. What's with the 6th and 7th picture ? Dirt on the camera sensor or did you take that image sitting inside a vehicle ? To my eyes it looks like dirt on the camera sensor,whats your take ?

[gajadonga]

Doc good to hear that you spend most of the weekends what you want to do.
Wildcat nature club a passion. Good going doc.Waiting for your pics

[netarchie]

I plan to visit Pench, mid-november,that is next month. this report will surely come very handy. Thank you very much sir!

[StarVegabond]

Doc,

It pains me a lot when I come across a tourist who after going around the beautiful park for over 5 hours comes back to the gate and says that he has not seen anything inside.

I too have experienced such instances when people say there is nothing inside. It is a pity that some people have no vision or mindset to appreciate the nature and it's beauty.

You pictures of the landscape after the rains are prove the effect of the rains. it appears couple of the pictures have been taken from inside the vehicle (some dirt spots are visible on the windshield).

your picture of tiger cubs playing in water is simply outstanding. i remember seeing it some where before in your Tadoba logs.

look forward to read more.

[pramod]

Originally Posted by abheekg

The last summer was super brutal with the water table down to near zero in most of the reserves and all the animals facing acute water shortage.
By the end of May almost all the water bodies inside Pench had dried out ...

Abheekg - I have a question here. I guess it is pretty Valid.
Isnt it a possibility to artificially fill up water holes in the harsh summers for the sake of the animals?

I know that, there is always a counter argument for this, saying that, it should be left to the nature to follow the darwin's theory.

But my question is, we havent left the animals and its surroundings to the nature, which has obviously resulted in lesser rains, lesser ground water levels.

My opinion is, these pretty obviously located water holes, frequented by animals could be artificially filled up during summers and i am pretty sure, we can see some happier animals

Regards
Pramod