Wildlife in India

Wild flora and fauna provide immense pleasure to those who love :nature and admire the wonders created by the Almighty. Preservation of wildlife and forests in India started four centuries before the birth of Christ. Over two thousand (2000) years ago Kautilya wrote in his Arthasastra about the importance of flora and fauna and even described how to take census of wild animals with the help of their sleeping places, pug marks, foot prints, dung, and damages caused to river banks. The method of census is even now in use.

Kautilya also advocated the idea of making sanctuaries for the protection of wild fauna which continued till the early days of British rule, but later it declined rapidly. Instead of protecting the wild flora and fauna its destruction was more in vogue and wildlife started perishing.

Around 1840 when gun powder and heavy bore rifles came into the hands of human beings, killing of wild animals and birds became a pastime and big game for the VIPs, army officers, Maharajas, Nawabs and princes in India. By 1947 the situation reached an alarming stage and many species of animals and birds almost vanished. Can you believe lions used to roam around Delhi (the Capital of India) and the last one there was shot in 1857?

In 1952 the National Forest Policy came into force, due to our first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who loved nature and cared for its preservation. Serious efforts in this direction started in 1957 and since then a wildlife week is celebrated every year in October. Bombay Natural History Society and Indian Board of Wild Life have also played a very vital role in preserving wildlife. In spite of these efforts, ruthless killings of wild animals and birds, as well as destruction of forests by poachers and unscrupulous elements, have not yet stopped. In 1972 India declared a number of animals and birds as completely protected and started "project tiger," declaring 11 sanctuaries, reserved forests and national parks for tigers exclusively. Recently, the Central Government approved another plan to protect wild elephants.

In the wildlife sanctuaries and national parks of India, besides a large number of animals, birds and reptiles which are common with other parts of the world, there are a good number of species which are found exclusively in the Indian subcontinent--like the Asiatic Lion, (Gir forest) Wild Ass (Kutch) White Tiger (Rewa) Bara Singha (Dudhuwa) Golden Langurs (Assam) Hangul (Kashmir), and a larger variety of cat and deer family exists in India, as compared to the other parts of the world. Similarly there are over 1200 species of birds in India and many migratory birds as well. Over 500 species of mammals, 30,000 insects and over 400 varieties of reptiles. In short this sub-continent is a paradise for those who love to observe the grace and beauty of the flora and fauna and for those who want to capture it on film.

Measures to preserve wildlife taken since independence have been fruitful to some extent. Now we have over 200 sanctuaries, national parks and reserve forests spread all over the country. Some of these are as big as 780 km and the smaller ones around 26 km in area. The majority of these are well connected by road and mil and some even by air. Furnished rooms, dormitories, rest houses of the Forest Department and private hotels with all amenities are available.

In most of the sanctuaries and national parks, roads are good. In some places there are watch towers near water holes. Common animals found in abundance in these sanctuaries are spotted deer, neelgae (blue bull) sambar, antelopes, langurs, wild boars, and a variety of birds.

Some of the well-known wildlife sanctuaries and national parks are in Rajasthan, Nhdhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Assam states.

From Bangalore one can go to Bandipur, Madumalai and Nagarhole. During February to May and September to October is the best time to visit these sanctuaries. These national parks are rich in big wild "tuskers," bison, sambar, wild dogs, bonnet monkeys, mouse deer, wild boars and occasionally panthers or tigers. Malabar squirrels, langurs and a variety of cats and a large variety of birds are also to be found in large number.

Twenty-four km from Bangalore there is a lion and tiger safari park "Banargatta" which is worth a visit. Bangalore is well connected by air, rail and road with a good network of buses.

From Delhi one can easily reach Corbett National Park to see and photograph tigers, panthers, elephants, sloth bears and hog deer. (This park is named after the late Jim Corbett, the legendary hunter and lover of nature and animals). Situated in the foothills of the Himalayas where River Ram Ganga flows quietly, this picturesque and attractive national park is also rich in bird life and good for fishing. December to May is the best season to visit Corbett.

Gir Reserved forest of Gujarat is also important and worth visiting as this is the last and only home of the Asiatic lion. For Gir, mid-October to mid-June is the best time. Chausingha (four-homed deer) sambar, neelgae and cheetahs are other animals one can see here.

The home of the tiger is Kanha in Madhya Pradesh, Ranthambore in Rajasthan and Dudhuwa in Uttar Pradesh and for white tiger Nandan Kanan (Orissa). For Kanha, March to May are the best months; Ranthambore--October to May; and Dudhuwa--December to May. In these sanctuaries it is easier to see and photograph this majestic animal in its full glory. All these places can be easily reached from Delhi.

In South India around a beautiful lake is situated one of the biggest sanctuaries, Periar in Kerala. If one visits between December to May one can see herds of wild elephants, big and majestic bison, wild dogs as well as hornbills. To go around the lake, motor boats are available to see and photograph wildlife.

Kaziranga in Assam is another big and famous national park of India. It is best known for the unique one-homed great Indian Rhino and also wild buffalo. December to March is the best season to visit this park and the nearest airport is Zorhat, about 96km.

In Kaziranga, other species are big wild tuskers, hog deer, wild boars, cheetahs, swamp deer, hoolock gibbon, leopard, etc. Among birds, ring-tailed fishing eagle, hornbill, adjutant stork and black-necked storks are there, besides other common water birds. Pelicans, too, are near the village. The landscape of Kaziranga is of sheer forest, elephant grass, rugged reeds, :marshes and shallow pools.

For photographing a large variety of birds, Ghana bird sanctuary of Bharatpur (Rajasthan) and Raganthittoo near Mysore are the best places. In fact, these two sanctuaries are bird paradises, where one can run out of film but not birds. Ghana is 160 km from Delhi, where one can go either by private taxi or a bus. For local species of birds which are over 300 in number, August to November is the best season whereas for migratory birds, including Siberian cranes November to February. Besides a large number of birds here, one can see black buck, sambar, cheetahs, wild boars and occasionally a panther and python as well.

Ranganthitto is on the way to Bandipur in Karntaka State very near to Mysore, and one can cover it simultaneously. This sanctuary is also known as "Ghana of the South." Between July to September the place is full of bird activities. To photograph birds in Ranganthitto the only way is to go by boat, as this sanctuary is around a beautiful lake with small islands.

About 80 km from Bangalore there is another small sanctuary Kokkare Bellur, a famous breeding place for pelicans. Between October to February is the best season to visit, if one wants to photograph pelicans and young ones.

Wildlife photography in India is quite popular. Each year many known wildlife photographers from the world over visit these wildlife parks for film making and still photography. Some of the pioneers of Indian wildlife photography are Jim Corbett, F. W. Champion, Dr Salim Ali, and E. P. Gee, but credit to popularize it goes to the late O. C. Edwards. The path shown by these masters has evoked a lot of enthusiasm among the new generation. Now we have many wildlife photographers who are Associates and Fellows of PSA.

Usually light is good throughout the season mentioned for each sanctuary. 100 to 200 ASA film is sufficient for producing excellent work in color and black and white. As far as lenses are concerned, anything between 135 to 300mm is quite suitable in most of the places. But an additional 400 or 500 mm can also be added for rare occasions.

Photographers who wish to visit India for wildlife or other photography are most welcome by the India International Photographic Council. They can write for information to: Hon. General Secretary, IIPC, No. 1, Modem School, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi-110001 INDIA; Tel: 3327762, 3318460.

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