Save the Tiger!

The latest tiger census presented a shocking report that only 1411 tigers are remaining in India.This means that we have lost around 2500 Tigers in the last 3-5 years.
But the fact is, only this time the census department have used proper techniques to take the count of the Tigers. earlier they were determining the count by using Pug Marks methodology which was not at all accurate.
Now they use camera trapping also where in infrared cameras are set up in common tiger trails and whenever anything passes by it takes a picture.
Tiger stripes are like finger prints. No 2 tigers have the same kind of stripes.This helps in not counting a tiger twice.
so now they use these snaps and pug mark methodology to determine the count.


There are very few people who understand the true importance of protecting the tiger.
Most people feel it is only a matter of saving an animal that makes a beautiful sight to see. This reason only makes up a fraction of why we need to save this incredible animal. The tiger is at the top of the food chain in the jungles that it roams.
The following is a very basic description of the chaos that would ensue if the tiger became extinct.
If this was to happen, the populations of prey species like Spotted deer and Sambhar would burst at the seams.
This excessive population would then totally ravage it's food source - vegetation. If the vegetation in the jungles was devastated, where and how would the insects survive. They may even shift to the crops in farmlands. If the plants in the jungles would be finished, what would refurbish the soil. If the soil was no longer fertile, new plants would not sprout. Over the years, this would probably mean the end of the jungles.
Without the tiger to control the populations of its prey species, it would have a devastating effect on the forest as a whole.
The end of jungles also means the end of the biggest suppliers of the oxygen filled air,
which we take so much for granted. This is a very simple layman description of what the result of tiger extinction could mean to our own survival.
The truly scientific description is even more alarming and drastic.
It isn't necessary for every one of us to take world-awakening steps.
All we have to really do is influence those that are a part of our own lives.
Obviously, anyone wanting to do more than that is another breath of fresh air for a dying tiger.

The least we can do is sign up to the NDTV save the Tiger Campaign
and enlighten our friends about the seriousness of the situation.
Here's the link -- http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/savetiger/sthome.aspx

In 1900 we had 40000 Tigers and now we have 1411.
Let us please do our bits to save our National animal.

Cheetah is already extinct in India.
Let this not happen with our Royal Bengal Tiger.
This truly is our last chance.

Bandipur

We were 5 people who just wanted to go out there and have some fun.But this turned out
to be a completely different experience.we definitely had a lot of fun but we also fell in love with wildlife.

We started at around 11 on a Friday night.a common mood was set in the car of how difficult it was to
lead an urban life.how we got ready early in the morning, wearing ironed formal clothes and went to our "Workstation"
to sit there and do our Job. For 500 bucks per day we sacrifice our personal life, our interests, sat in office
for hours together, worked on weekends and what not. we are just white collared slaves.and we have to live in a city like
Bangalore for 500 per day for crying out loud.
you go to a pub and order a Peg of whiskey,its 150 bucks. A Dinner for 2 costs you 1000 Bucks in a decent restaurant.
So this trip was to get away from this demanding Urban life and get Wild!

We took a couple of long Breaks in a Dhaba and coffee day on Mysore road so that we can exactly make it to
Bandipur at around 6 AM.
As planned we did reach the National Park early in the morning and saw quite a few 'Spotted Deer',Peacocks and Wild Boars.
i am sure everyone whose goes to Bandipur will definitely spot all of the above.

we had made a booking in Tiger Ranch and the check in time was 12 noon so we went to madhumalai (10-15 km from bandipur)
to see whether we can catch an Elephant Ride). unfortunately the tickets were sold out so we had breakfast and
came back to bandipur for the safari.
This is arranged by the forest department and costs you 75-100 bucks and the safari is for 1.5 hours.
(we had tried to book for a Jeep safari through the forest department but they said the Jeep had gone for repairs so we could not get that. (It costs around 1500 for the Jeep Safari and can easily be shared by 5 people).


The safari in the jungle was amazing. i had never been to a forest before and i fell completely in love with it.
we saw quite a few animals but could not spot an elephant/Tiger/Leapord
but i know i will someday.
you need to be very lucky to spot these rare animals.
according to the latest censes,there are around 88 tigers and 80 leapords in bandipur.
but the sight of the forest, those water holes, hunting fields and everything else was just awesome!

After this we went to Tiger Ranch at around 11:30 and checked in. This place is really inside the forest
and its best to go there in a car. Its 800 Bucks per day per person inclusive of food and its totally worth it!
Remember its a forest. so expect the following,
1. No electricity. Till 6 PM you will have no power except that he plays music using a battery. Then he fires the
Generator till 11 PM where in you can charge your phones,camera or do whatever u want.
after that its only an oil lantern.
2. No Urban comfort. the cottages are ok. There are not very comfortable or very clean but not bad too.
so if you are an Urban freak this place is not for u.
3. Open air bathroom. it is covered from all 4 sides but. :)
4. No hot water.
5. People who come here are all fun loving people. so Noise will be there.

This is not a place for Families and Boo-Hoo's. so only if you are ready to adjust with the above things,
choose Tiger Ranch. but trust me you are going to have a ball.


If you are not comfortable with this place, u can go to Tusker trails. they charge 2200 per person per day.
An urban place with jeep safari included in the package.

We all were a little tired and as i was sitting with munna in the front while he was driving i dint have a minute to sleep.
so we took some rest, got up and went again for the evening safari.
Then we had to buy booze for the evening, so we went to the Gundulpet (20 km from Bandipur) and came back to Tiger Ranch.
Now, The party started. He had set up 3 camp fires and tables there so that the bottles can be kept there.
He played amazing music. I was really surprised with this and it seems popular DJ's visited this place and gave CD's as
a compliment to him. we did get completely drunk,danced like crazy and were having one of the best times of our lives.

We were in the middle of a jungle and we were at one of the best parties of the night.
After 11, munna and raj crashed to bed, me and jeetu went for a walk.
the darkness scares and excites you at the same time.
after some time even we crashed and got up at 10 AM in the morning.
I was having coffee in the open and he was playing soft music ('Feel' by Robbie Williams) and it felt so divine.

i had forgotten about all my Pressures and tensions and felt completely free.
That moment was just too good.
meanwhile,jeetu and raj had gone for a Trek early morning and the resort owner was not too impressed with this.
that betta was called karadi betta (Bear's mountain) and was supposed to be dangerous.
but i wanted to go. like always munna is always scared and lazy so i dragged jeetu and raj and started the trek, but now the
sun had come up and we knew it would be difficult. half way i felt i was going to die. was really tired and on
top of that jeetu had dropped the water bottle. i wanted to kill him then.
After this, all 3 of us were climbing a small part of the hill with raj in front me and jeetu a little behind.
as raj tried to go up we both heard something. to me it sounded like heavy breathing/an animal drinking water.
we shat our pants and started slipping down cuz of the fear.Jeetu dint hear the sound and started blabbering.
i think he still had a hang over. we waited a few minutes and then went up.
We were pretty sure it was a sloth bear.after great diffculty we made it to the top and i felt it was worth it.
The sight from up there is wonderful.

then we got down, got fresh and left to Gopal swamy betta. This place is a paradise.you really have to see to believe it.
you'll definitely spot elephants on your way up to the betta.
well after this, we started out journey back. and we spoke and spoke and spoke....
we traveled 200 km without knowing how it went by.
at the end of the journey,we realized that in the morning at tiger ranch the car was parked in another direction and
in a different place compared to the night before.
Now how did this happen???
i think we solved the mystery...... :)