"A place I have visited"

Kanha: The bleeding heart of India

INDIA | Friday, 28 June 2013 | Views [589] | View Larger Image

Vanishing Vermin: Two decade ago, White Rumped Vultures were so numerous in India that they were almost considered vermin. Today, poisoned by DICLOFENAC, a painkiller administered to cattle, their population has plummeted by over 90%. But in Kanha, they are safe because the park has few cows and breeding pairs of the critically endangered scavenger are often spotted high up on Sal (Shorea robusta) trees.

Langra:

The one who limps – is a dominant male tiger from Kanha, who injured his paw in a fight over territory. There are far more male tigers in Kanha than females, prompting infighting and killing of cubs to bring the latter back into the breeding cycle. This also results in male tigers here having unnaturally large territories, increasing the risk of human contact and poaching.

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On the edge:

Kisli-Patta Wala Male, or the male from the Kisli area, was once an often-sighted occupant of the Kanha’s forests that lie closest to the village settlements. But for the last 18 months, his large distinctive pugmarks have gone missing. Young, dominant tigers usually don’t simply disappear, unless they are poisoned, electrocuted, trapped or shot by poachers, especially on the fringes of the forest.

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"A place I have visited"

Kanha: The bleeding heart of India

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