Tiger Spotting
The
first thing you realize is that you seldom watch an animal satisfactorily just
by luck. This certainly applies to mammals. An animal detects your present long
before you know it is there. In every case it is a contest of wits you are pitting
your knowledge against the instincts of self preservation of a wild animal, instincts
that are helped by acute senses, particularly those of smell and hearing.
In general, wild animals are shy and elusive. Many times visitors to a national
Park are disappointed on not spotting any wild animals especially big game like
the tiger and leopard.
Tracks or pugmarks provide important clues. Not
only do they tell us of the presence of wild animals but they can also indicate
the size, sex, and sometimes even the age of an animal.
The marks of
animal feet on the roads of the Park reveal their presence and the freshness of
the tiger's pugmark reveals its whereabouts.
Tracks on the road can also
reveal the presence of cubs with a tigress. Looks on the road can also trees where
tigers leave territorial signals that demarcate their home range.
These
trees are also marked by their scent. Alarm and scare calls of animals like sambar,
chital, bluebull, chinkara, langur monkey or even Peacock, provide clues to the
exact location of the tiger.
Understanding and interpreting visual signs
and sounds ins an art in itself. And one of the most enjoyable to learn while
you drive through the forest.
Ranthambore's 300 km of roads have been
superbly planned and tigers that are soft padded animals walk them frequently.
As long as you don't get too close or intrude and disturb them they will pad along
the road and have even been known to block traffic for long periods of time as
hey did with president Clinton's convoy in 2000.
Always pause, listen
and assess the clues that the forest provides about the tigers presence. Remember
that the edges of the roads will have scats (droppings )of tigers and their scrape
marks, which are also indicators of the freshness of their presence.
Crows on a tree are also good indicators of meat nearby and provide clues to a
kill. Tree pies do much the same by either calling incessantly or flying over
a specific spot. Remember to look for low circling vultures, especially if the
are dropping down at a spot they are excellent indicators of a kill. King vultures
and Egyptian vultures sitting patiently on a branch of a tree can also indicate
a kill nearby. All these scavenging birds can lead you to tigers, leopards of
jackals.
Tiger Spotting,
Royal Bengal Tiger Reservation Form
Bookmark
this Page !! 
E-mail this page to
your friend !! 
Print this
Page !!
Copyright
© Tiger
Safari Tours. All Rights Reserved (No rights for
reproduction of Images / Contents from this website)
