In May we could steal some time for a four day visit to Kaziranga. It was always a dream to visit this sanctuary since my childhood and I was so glad we could make it just before the park closed for the rains this year. We faced some rains and poor light, but still it was a very good trip.
Kaziranga had floods this year resulted in
significant damage to the sanctuary and the animals.
However I was very happy to see the effect of conservation over the years and the amazing ecosystem that exists across the forest ranges. It is a constant game of cat and mouse with poachers in Kaziranga. It is also a good example of balanced eco-tourism.
Kaziranga has three ranges : Eastern, Central and Western. Iin addition one can visit the Burapahar range and the forests around Pan Bari range. While Kaziranga is known for the one-horned rhino and other mammals, it also home to rare set of birds that are typical to this region stretching from Arunachal Pradesh to eastern Assam.
The Central region organizes the Elephant rides to spot Rhinos and other mammals.
We could get a fleeting glance of a Bengal Florican ( poor shot) and the typical hoevring of Black shouldered Kite.
The afternoon visit was very good with lot of sightings like Asian barred owlet, Chestnut tailed Starling, Crested Serpent Eagle, Pallas Fish Eagle and Grey headed fish Eagle.
The lakes had large number of storks and pelicans. Greater Adjutant, Lesser Adjutant, Black necked and wooly necked storks are common across the marshlands.
The numerous lakes also had herons, darters, kingfishers, Openbills, Egrets, fulvous whistling ducks.
The woods had Yellow footed pigeons, Woodpeckers, Leafbirds, Flower peckers, red breasted parakeets,
Khalij Pheasants, Wild fowls, Jungle Mynas, Greater Coucals, Barbets, Green billed Malkhoa , Spangled Drongo, Imperial pigeon, Indian Cuckoo, Shrikes, etc. We did see the elusive Indian Pitta in the tea gardens but could not capture a decent shot of it. The tea gardens are also home to various warblers.
The raptors included the white rumped vulture, black shouldered kite, crested serpent eagle, changeable hawk eagle, grey headed fish eagle.
The mammal sightings included lots of elephants, Hog deer, Swamp deer, spotted deer, Wild boars, wild buffalo, giant squirrels, capped langurs, and elusive Hoolock Gibbons
The mystic landscape and the amazing bio-diversity, I am sure, will make us visit Kaziranga many times in the future. Just wish the sanctuary recovers from one of the worst floods they faced in this decade.
No comments:
Post a Comment