Great Indian Bustard

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The Great Indian Bustard at Ghatigaon Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh

Conservation status

Endangered (IUCN 3.1) Scientific classification Kingdom: Phylum: Class: Order: Family: Genus: Species: Animalia Chordata Aves Gruiformes Otididae Ardeotis A. nigriceps

Binomial name Ardeotis nigriceps

(Vigors, 1831)

The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) also known as Maldhok ()is a bustard found in India and possibly Pakistan. It is threatened by loss of its habitat, large expanses of grassland and low scrub.

Contents
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1 Description 2 References 3 Other sources 4 External links

[edit] Description
It is a large ground dwelling bird with a long neck and long bare legs like that of an ostrich. It stands at about a metre high and is a large, brown and white bird, the male is about 122 cm (48 in) in length, its weight is 1832 lb (814.5 kg) and the female 92 cm (36 in) in length, its weight is 7.815 lb (3.56.75 kg). The sexes are similar in appearance although the male is deep sandy buff coloured. The crown of the head is black and crested. In the female which is smaller than the male, the head and neck are not pure white and the breast band is either rudimentary or absent. The male is polygamous. The female lays only single egg once in a year and incubates it for about 27 days. Nests are situated in the open ground and males take no part in incubation or care of the developing young. The eggs are at risk of destruction from other animals. The fledglings tend to remain with their mother until the following breeding season. It lives in arid and semi-arid grasslands, open country with thorn scrub, tall grass interspersed with cultivation. It avoids irrigated areas.[1] It is omnivorous in diet feeding on seeds of grasses, small shrubs, insects, rats, grams, groundnuts, millets etc. depending on the season.

Breeds during March to September during which time the inflated fluffy white feathers of the male are inflated and displayed. The male also raises the tail and folds it on its back. The neck is folded and the male periodically produces a resonant deep, booming call.[1] The current population is estimated at less than 1,000[2]. The main threat is habitat loss. The bird is found in Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh states of India. Ghatigaon and Karera santuaries in Madhya Pradesh no longer appear to have any birds, whereas they used to have a sizeable population in the past. Other sanctuaries with the species include Karera wildlife sanctuary in Shivpuri district; Nannaj, 18 km from Solapur in Maharashtra and Shrigonda taluka in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra.

Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary

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Facts
Location: Area covered: Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India 29 sq km

Main Wildlife Attractons : White Breasted Kingfisher, Migratory Birds, Sambar, Chital Best time to visit: Places To Stay October to February (The park remains open throughout the year) Bharatpur Forest Lodge, Hotel Laxmi Vilas Palace

About

Bharatpur

Bird

Sanctuary

Keoladeo Ghana National Park, more popular as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary has one of the most prolific avian populations in the country. Two-thirds of the Park remains under water and the remaining one-third is covered in dry deciduous forests and extensive grasslands.

Bharatpur can be called the kingdom of Avian fauna in India with more than 400 bird species already spotted. If your luck permits it is not too tough to spot 50 to 100 species in a day. Travellers during the winter season can expect a sudden (though most unlikely as the last sighting was in the year 2002) encounter with the elusive Siberian Crane wintering here. The fact remains that Bharatpur is one of the only two known wintering haunts of Siberian Crane.

Wiildlife

Attractions

in

Bharatpur

Bird

Sanctuary

Over 350 species of birds find a refuge in the 29 sq-km of shallow lakes and woodland, which make up the park. A third of them are migrants, many of whom spend their winters in Bharatpur, before returning to their breeding grounds, as far away as Siberia and Central Asia. Migratory birds at Keoladeo include, as large a bird as Dalmatian pelican, which is slightly less than two meters, and as small a bird as Siberian disky leaf warbler, which is the size of a finger. Other migrants include several species of cranes, pelicans, geese, ducks, eagles, hawks, shanks, stints, wagtails, warblers, wheatears, flycatchers, buntings, larks and pipits, etc. Attracted by the influx of the water fowl, the predatory birds - tawny eagles, spotted eagles short-toed eagles, imperial eagles and fishing eagle also arrive. Common Kingfisher, Colourful Kingfishers, graceful pelicans, rare

Siberian cranes and trans-continental fliers like the migratory water-fowl are amongst the 400 species of birds found in the Keoladeo National Park. The most spectacular nests are those of the egrets, storks, herons and cormorants which make over 10,000 nests every year. They all form the apex of the biological pyramid of the sanctuary and complete the avian food chain of the ecosystem. There are large herds of the nilgai, chital, wild boar and fear cows in addition to a few herds of sambar. Some of the unique attractions of the park include....

Siberian Crane Siberian Cranes are a highly specialised member of the crane family in terms of habitat, morphology and behaviour. Being omnivorous they eat a wide variety of food items including cranberries, rodents, fish and insects. The threat to the wintering habitats of these species caused due to the growing human population has put a serious questionmark on the existense of these rare birds in India.
read more about Siberian Crane

Waterfowl The story of Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is incomplete without an account of the migratory waterfowl. The most prominent water fowl coming to this park are bareheaded and greylag geese. Ducks also create a lot of fluttering in the lakes. The ducks usually found here are pintail, widgeon, common shelduck, shoveler, garganey, teal, mallard pochard etc. White Breasted Kingfisher The beautiful amalgam of colors as if painted extremely carefully by nature with a brilliant turquoise blue body, a chocolate brown head and neck, a long red pecker and a white front are sure to draw curious glances from on lookers. The main delicacies on its menu include fish, tadpoles, grasshoppers, lizards and other small insects.

Safari
Take an early dawn elephant back safari with an authorized mahout guide. Jeep rides can be arranged at the Tourist Centre. Although jeeps penetrate deeper into the forest than elephants, they cannot get nearly as close to the wild animals.

Other Attractions
Bharatpur Government Museum Another major attraction of the area is the government museum situated at a short distance from the park. The museum contains a rare collection of artifacts and articles from the past that provide a unique insight into the royal past of Bharatpur. Bharatpur Government Museum The majestic Bharatpur Palace is a magnificent building displaying an amalgam of the Mughal and Rajput forms of architecture. The palace is adorned with beautiful chandeliers and other unique furnishing. Lohagarh Fort The invincible Lohagarh Fort has the unique distinction of remaining unconquered despite several attacks by the British. Deeg Palace The Deeg Palace, situated just 32 km north of Bharatpur was the summer resort for the erstwhile rulers of Bharatpur. The massive fortress houses a number of beautiful palaces and gardens. (Palace entry fee is Rs. 10)

How to Get there

Air :Agra is the nearest airport connected to Delhi through a number of flights. However, Jaipur will be the most convenient airport, if you are traveling from cities like Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. The Indian Airlines has regular flights from Mumbai. Those flying in from Kolkata (Dep.15:45) should

opt to travel on Monday, Wednesday or Friday, as flights on other days are not direct. Rail : Bharatpur, on the Delhi-Mumbai trunk route, served by a number of important trains. From Delhi daily trains include the Intercity Exp. (Dep.22:15), Golden Temple Exp. (Dep.7:15), Paschim Exp. (Dep.16:55), Mewar Exp. (Dep.19:00), Dehradun Exp. (Dep.21:45). The trains from Mumbai are Goldentemple (Dep. 21:25), Paschim Exp. (Dep. 11:35), Dehradun Exp. (Dep. 22:25) and FZR Janta (Dep. 7:25). Road :A network of express bus services link Bharatpur with several cities within and outside the State. Tongas and Cycle-rickshaws are the best way to commute within the city. Buses for Sariska are easily available at an interval of 30 minutes. To reach Bharatpur from Delhi, take the NH2 to Mathura via Faridabad, Palwal, Hodal and Kosi Kalan. From Mathura, take the state road to Bharatpur.

Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary

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Facts
Location: Area covered: Main Wildlife Found: Best time to visit: Places To Stay Tamil Nadu, India 321 sq. km Elephant, Tiger, Gaur February to June Jungle Retreat, Bansbari Lodge

About

Mudumalai

Wildlife

Sanctuary

Mudumalai Wildlife Reserve is situated in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The park is separated from the Bandipur national park by river Moyar that flows along the border of the state, acting as a vital water resource that sustains the flora and fauna of the region. The terrain is extremely varied with hills, ravines, valleys, watercourses and swamps, while the vegetation is deciduous with tropical moist deciduous forests, dry deciduous forests and scrub forests occupying most of the area. The best time to visit the sanctuary is during the months from February to June, which is also the time when animals can be easily spotted moving around the area in search of water.

Wildlife

Attractions

in

Mudumalai

Wildlife

Sanctuary

Flora Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary with its tropical climate and varied terrain is home to a variety of flora and fauna. The vegetation is quite diverse with the western ghats covered in a blanket of dense moist deciduous forests, that lend a unique charm to the area. Other variety of trees found in the region include Bamboos, Natural Teak, Anogeissus latifolia, Terminalia, Crenulata/Terminalia Tomontosa, Grewia, Labumusum, Aredesia and Solanancea. Fauna The sanctuary is home to a myriad variety of animals. Some of the most attractive and exotic animals found in

the country have made their homes here in the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. From gigantic Indian Elephants to little Porcupines, prominent among the animals found here include Gaur, Banner, Macaque, Common Langur, Tigers, Leopards, Chital, Panther, Sloth Bear, Python, Barking Deer, Four Horned Antelope, Otter, Crocodiles (Mugger), Giant Flying Squirrel, Sambar, Hyena, Wild Dog, Wild Boar, Mouse Deer, Spotted Deer, Jackal, Hare and Mongoose. Avian Populationsub Besides animals the avian residents of the park are equally large in number. The birds can often be seen flying around, registering their presence to the visitors. Among the major birds listed in the sanctuary are Peacock, Grey Jungle Fowl, Red Spur Fowl, Grey Partridge Quails, Goggle Eyed Plower, Malabar Whistling Thrush, Large Racket-Tailed Dronge, The Magpie-robin, Spotted Babbler, Small Green Barbet, Green Pigeons, Brown Dove, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Bulbuls and Mynahs. Preyry birds include Eagles, Hawks, Buzzards, Harriers, Falcons and Vulture. Other migratory birds can also be seen throughout the year.

Safaris
Moving inside the park is not a problem with jeeps available for hire at reasonable prices. The uneven terrain of the park can be easily covered on a sturdy vehicle which can also penetrate deeper into the areas inaccessible by some of the other means. Besides jeeps, elephant safaris provide a unique thrill and excitement to the visitors. Elephants being a part of the animal kingdom can get closer to the animals without frightening them. Mini bus safaris are organised by the park authorities, the timings for which are 7-9 AM and 3-6:30 PM

Other

Attractions

The area around Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary is a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers with two other national parks of Bandipur and Nagarhole situated at an easily approachable distance. Other touring options around the area include the picturesque hill town of Ooty and the historic city of Mysore, the erstwhile kingdom of theTiger of Mysore, Tipu Sultan.

How

to

Get

There

By Air - Coimbatore city has a major airport which connects the area to other cities in the country through a number of direct and indirect flights. Indian Airlines flight operate between Delhi-Coimbatore (6:30, daily) and Chennai-Coimbatore (14:40, Wed, Fri, Sun). Jet Airways connects Mumbai to Coimbatore (12:35 & 16:00, daily). By Rail - The sanctuary can be easily accessed from the Nanjangud railway station, just 65 km from the sanctuary. Another important railhead is Mysore, 91 km away, which is connected via The Swarna Jayanthi Exp. (Dep. 6:00, Mon) to Delhi. Mumbai is connected through the Sharavathi Exp. (21:30, Tue) while Chennai is connected through the Mysore Exp. (21:45, Daily). By Road - The Ooty - Mysore highway runs through the park and is an easy way to reach the area. The nearest town is Gudalur, just 16 km from the sanctuary. State transport buses provide regular services from all the major neighbouring cities including Ooty and Mysore. To reach by road from Coimbatore, take the Ooty highway to Gudalur, Mysore highway to Theppakadu and Muddumalai's main forest base.