Number of Endemic Wildlife by sites

Source: www.wildlifeindia.co.uk

ANTELOPES & GAZELLES

Antelopes are known for their graceful build. The main feature in antelopes is their horns which are more or less cylindrical and marked with rings. The females generally do not have horns in antelopes. Antelopes have a gland beneath the eyes and from outwards it look like a slit on the skin but underneath has a pocket in which a secretion in exuded. They also have large glands between their hooves the sole purpose of these glands is to leave a scent mark for the rest of the members of herd to follow and to know of the presence of a member in an area.

Gazelles can be recognized by their color which is normally sandy colored with a white streak on the sides of the face. They also have tufts of hair growing from the knees. In Gazelles both male and female have horns which are fully ringed.

Antelopes and Gazelles prefer open plains and grasslands as their habitat. They have been hunted for their meat by the people over the years and this has resulted in loss of many big herds which once roamed the plains and grasslands of India. In recent years with lot of emphasis given to the protection of animals both antelopes and gazelles have made come back in certain selected areas.

One species of the Antelope which is facing the onslaught of poaching is the Tibetan Antelope also known as the Chiru. It has been hunted very badly for its soft and woolly hair from which shawls and coats are made. It is now mainly found in the Tibetan plateau and under the pressure from all quarters the Chinese government has come out with many plans to protect this creature from poachers.


 

The Chinkara or Indian Gazelle

(Gazella gazelle)

A small graceful gazelle with light chestnut color The Chikara is easily recognized by its straight ringed horns and by constant flickering of its tail.

In India the Chinkara is found in the plains and low hills of Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and the plains of Deccan.

Chinkara’s are quite shy in nature and tend to run off at the slightest sound. They prefer broken lands interspersed with ravines and nullahs. Chinkara come out to feed mainly in the evenings and are not prone to raid the crops. Chinkara has very well developed sight, smell and sound (hearing).

Chinkara can generally be seen in small groups of 3-4 but sometimes the group size can increase depending on the availability of fodder. They feed on grass, leaves, fruits especially ber and crops in the fields. Chinkara used to the dry and arid land is quite adapt in going without water for long durations. In certain instances they fulfill their need from the dew which forms on the leaves.

Breeding in Chinkara’s is twice in a year and the gestation is mainly for 5 months. The average height of a male Chinkara is around 24-26 inch at shoulder with horns in between 10-12 inches. Male Chinkara are quite territorial and protect their territory from other males.


 

The Blackbuck or Indian Antelope (Antilope cervicapra)

Blackbuck can be very strongly termed as the most beautiful animal of its kind. It is the only true representative of the genus Antilope in India. It beautiful color and spiral horns gives it great elegance unparallel by any other of its class.

In the younger blackbuck the color is fawn and same is of the doe also but gradually it becomes darker with age. In Southern India the coat of an adult male can be of brownish color. The horns of an adult male Blackbuck can easily reach its own shoulder height and start becoming spiral only from the age of third year.

In the old days Blackbuck was found all over the plains of India in big herds but was decimated by relentless hunting. Mughal king were known to hunt them regularly and used pet cheetahs for hunting the blackbucks.

Blackbuck prefer open plains covered with grass and scrubs. They can also be found near the cultivation fields. They have very keen eyesight and are known for their speed. When alarmed they run in leaps and bounds are known to clear 20-25 ft in a single leap. The herd is always led by the oldest and most seasoned female.

The breeding happens in February and March and during this time the males get into fights, with their horns locked, in order to posses the does.

The Chowsingha or the Four Horned Antelope (Tetracerus quadricornis)

The Chowsingha even though called an antelope is not a true antelope like the Blackbuck. Its horns are not spiral but keeled in front.

Chowsingha or the Fourhorned Antelope is only antelope to have two pairs of horns. The front pair is always shorter then the back pair.

The color of the coat in Chowsingha is dull reddish brown with white on the belly. It has dark colored stripes on each leg with the stripes on forelegs more defined.

Chowsingha is found from Rajasthan to Orissa and in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh.

Its ideal habitat is undulating hills with tall grass and sparse forest. It can also be seen near the villages next to the forests. Chowsingha requires water quite frequently and is never far from the water body. Chowsingha lives a solitary life and come together only at the time of mating. As with other antelopes it has a habit of coming back to same place for defecating.

The breeding starts in the hotter months and can continue till the onset of rains. Young ones are born from October onwards till February. The normal gestation period in Chowsingha is 8 months.

The Blue Bull or the Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus)

An antelope found only in India, the Blue Bull or the Nilgai is unlike antelope in its build. It has a body of horse, face of a cow with high withers and low rump.

An adult bull has a dark grey coat with white ring on each foot. The color of coat in young bulls and cows is tawny. Male bulls have a distinct tuft of black hair on the throat. Bull Nilgai have very stout horns which are triangular at the base and circular towards the tip.

Nilgai is found only in India from the foothills of Himalayas to the forest of Karnataka and from the dry forest of Rajasthan to the forest of West Bengal and Assam.

Nilgai avoid dense forest and prefer the plains with low hills and scrubs. They are prone to raid the cultivation fields and are considered as pests by the farmers. They feed during the mornings and evenings and like to sit in shade in the afternoon. They are both grazer as well as browser and like to feed on leaves and on ber fruits. In central India they are frequently seen eating the fallen flowers of mahua tree. In the grasslands of Rajasthan and Gujarat they can be seen feeding along side black bucks. Nilgai drinks very little amount of water and go for a long period without water in winters and in summers also. The smell and the sight are good in Nilgai and any hint of danger can make them gallop at a very high speed. They have tendency of coming back to same spot for depositing their droppings. It also acts as a mean to meet with all the members of the herd.

The bulls are always seen solitary and the young bulls give company to females and other young ones. The number in a herd is normally around 4-8.

The normal gestation period in Blue Bull is 8-9 months and the mating takes place through out the year.

APES FAMILY OF INDIA

Unlike Africa in India we have only one species of Apes which even though is an ape yet is not one to be classified as one of the Great Apes (Chimpanzees & Gorillas). It does has distinctive build of an ape-arms are longer than the legs and the body is tailless.

Hoolock Gibbon ( Hylobates hoolock)

It is the only ape to be found in India and is generally to seen in the forests of the North- East India and neighboring Bangladesh and Burma. The males have a black coat and the females can be distinguished by their lighter coat having grayish color.

Hoolocks prefer to live in small groups in the hilly forests and feed on tender leaves, fruits, and insects including spiders. Their main source of water is from the dew which forms on the leaves. The young ones are normally born in the winter months between December and March. The average height of a Gibbon is 3 feet and the arms are normally double the length of its legs.

Monkeys

Monkeys in India can be classified as one from same family – Cercopithecidae, but with two subfamilies- Cercopithecinae and Colobinae ( macaques and the langurs).

Langurs are taller then the macaques which are smaller in size and are sturdier build. Macaques have cheek pouches to store food whereas langurs have pouches in their stomach for storing food.

The Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta)

The most common monkey seen in the entire Northern India including the Himalayas is the Rhesus Macaque. The males are heavier in build then the females and this species can be easily distinguished by its reddish fur on the loins and on the rump. The male can reach height of around 2 feet and can weigh almost 10 kg with females around 1 to 1 ½ ft and weighing 5-6 kg.

Rhesus move around in big troops and can be seen almost every where- be it a village or a town. As with other species of macaques Rhesus also have a male dominated system. They are known to raid the crops and are quite aggressive in their behavior.

Rhesus prefers open grounds as their habitat and even in some of the forest areas of India they like to remain in the periphery. The preferred food for Rhesus is ground plants and insects but they are known to adapt well to their surroundings.

The Bonnet Macaque ( Macaca radiata)

This species of Macaque is slightly smaller then the Rhesus and can be distinguished by its long tail which longer then its body. Its distinct feature is its bonnet of thick hair on its crown. The coat varies in between the season with darker brownish coat in the winters with whitish underparts and a dull grayish coat in the summers.

This species of Macaque is found mainly in the Southern parts of India with river Godavari acting as its northern most barrier. As with Rhesus this species can also be found near villages and on the periphery of the forests. The feeding habits are also same as of Rhesus- fruits, berries, tender leaves, insects etc. This species of Macaque has a more socially active life with highly organized troops living in very well defined territories. They mate throughout the year with young ones being born from January till April.

The Assamese Macaque (Macaca assamensis)

This macaque is the heaviest of all the macaques found in India. It can weigh up to 12 kg and is taller then the Rhesus. The only distinguishing factor for this macaque from Rhesus is the absence of any color on its rump and loins. It is found almost in the entire Himalayan range eastward from Uttaranchal and also in the forests of Sunderbans.

The Assamese Macaque has same habits as Rhesus but is less aggressive in its behavior. It ranges from the heights of 2000 ft till 6000 ft and usually descends down on the foothills around the main towns looking for food. They are normally found in the denser parts of the forests and live in groups of varying sizes. Unlike other macaques their call is more musical and when faced with danger they have a peculiar habit of jumping down from the trees and escaping in the dense bushes. They feeding habits are like other macaques. They are widely hunted by the local tribesman for food and also due to misconception about the medicinal value of their flesh.

The LionTailed Macaque (Macaca silenus)

This species of macaque is different in appearance from all other species of macaques. It has a thick mane of long dark-grey hair around its cheeks and temple as well as a darker coat.

It is mainly found in the Western Ghats from the Northern Karnataka till Kerala and in some areas of Tamil Nadu. This species of macaque inhabits the denser parts of the evergreen forest of the Western Ghats ranging between 2000-3500 feet. These monkeys also live in groups like other macaques but are very elusive in their behavior. The call of the male species of this monkey closely resembles human voice. Instead of jumping from one tree to another like other monkeys the LionTailed Macaque climbs down and walks on the ground to reach the other tree. Due to its habitat destruction this species of macaque is facing danger to its existence.

Langurs

The Common Langur or the Hanuman Monkey (Presbytis entellus)

This species is the most commonly seen in the entire Northern, Western, Southern and Central India and can be found in the Himalayan range till at least 12,000 ft. The Himalayan langurs are heavier then the ones found in the peninsular India and also have a heavy coat the peninsular ones. The langurs found in the Himalayas, in the Peninsular India and in the Southern parts of India, even though differ in color, and are actually sub evolved races from single species. The Himalayan langurs have slightly pale whitish heads with darker body; the ones in peninsular India have darker hand and feet and the ones in Southern India have very pale color of their coat.

Langurs can be found anywhere in India, forests, villages, towns, they are quite adaptable to live with humans. They owe much of their existence to the religious belief of the Hindus and because of this they are seldom harmed. Their feeding habit is quite opposite to that of macaques and is not considered as the crop raiders by the farmers. Their main enemy in the wild is the leopard. On seeing a predator they give out a guttural alarm for rest of the group to become alert. Being less aggressive then the macaques, Langurs have a very mild dominance interactions within the groups. In Northern India April-may is the time for the younger ones to be born and in Southern India much of the younger ones are born in January-February. The normal gestation period in Langurs is 6 months and a mother usually takes care of the young one till at least two years.

The Capped Langur (Presbytis pileatus)

With physical characteristics same as the Common Langur the main distinguishing feature is the cap of hair on the forehead going backwards. The distinguishing feature is its color – darker on back and limbs in contrast with golden red on it’s under parts and cheeks.

The Capped Langurs are found from Assam to the neighboring areas of Bangladesh and in the hills of Upper Burma (Myanmar). All together there are five sub species (races) of the Capped Langurs in the hills of Assam & Burma all distinct from each other because of their color.

The Capped Langurs lives in the dense forests of the hills of Assam and the Burma. This species of langurs always keep to the trees and hardly come downs to feed and drink even though this area is very rich in water source with many streams flowing through the forests of these hills. They fulfill their requirement for water from the dew and the drops of water on the leaves and are purely vegetarian in their feeding habit like other langurs in this sub-continent. Due to their elusive nature and habitat Capped Langurs behavior is very less known but what ever is known about their behavior indicates behavior similar to other langur species. This species of Langurs is also known as The Leaf Monkey due to their habitat preference.


 

The Golden Langur (Presbytis geei)

This is species of Langur in the Indian Sub-continent the Golden Langur derives its name from the color of its coat which is cream throughout and looks golden in the bright sunshine.

The feeding habits observed indicate habits similar to the other langur species as being vegetarian. The habitat of this species of langur is a forest tract between India and Bhutan in the forests of the Manas. National Park half of which is in India and rest in Bhutan.

The Nilgiri Langur (Presbytis johni)

The main characteristic feature of this species of Langur is its shining black coat with yellowish-brown head. The females have a patch of white on the inside of thighs.

The Nilgiri Langur is found in the Western Ghats from the Coorg region till Cape Comorin. This species of Langur favors the dense evergreen parts of the forests< also known as Sholas, covering the Western Ghats and the range generally covers levels from 3000 ft till 7000 ft. Like other species of langurs this one also is vegetarian in their feeding habit but is known to raid the plantations in the Western Ghats to look for the tubular plants.

Due to extensive destruction of the forests, which now have been replaced by the plantations, the habitat of Nilgiri langur has also suffered and as a result the population of Nilgiri langur has gone down quite drastically. The Nilgiri Langurs troop varies between 8-9 langurs and has a single male leader. The birth of young ones is normally in the month of June.

Lemurs

Out of all the primates, The Lemurs lack any resemblance to the humans. Their long snout they look more like a fox then a primate. Their body structure as well the brain has levels which are considered lower then the primates. But their well developed hand and feet closely resemble the primates. In India we have only one species of the Lemur, the Lorises, rest of the species of them are found in Africa especially in Madagascar and the south-western Asia.

The Slow Lorris (Nycticebus coucang)

A purely nocturnal animal, The Slow Lorris is found in the forests of Assam, neighboring hill tracts of Bangladesh and Burma. It is very rare to be observed and mostly comes out in the night to eat fruits, leaves and insects. It is very slow in its movement and sometimes gives an impression of being too deliberate.

The Slow Lorris has a round head with round eyes with brown circles giving it an owl like appearance. The distinguished feature of Slow Lorris is its second toe with claws and other toes with flat nails. It has a thick fur with varying color and a distinct brown stripe from middle of its back till the head.

The Slender Lorris (Loris tardigradus)

This race of Lorris resembles Slow Lorris but is lean in its appearance with longer limbs and more pointed snout. The coat is less thick with varying color with few flecks of silver. The prominent stripe of Slow Lorris is less visible in the Slender Lorris.

It is found in the Southern India and has same nocturnal habits as the Slow Lorris. Unlike Slow Lorris, the Slender Lorris can be seen in the open patches of the forest also including the plantations. It favors anything which can be caught and eaten by it. The main items favored by it are the lantana berries. Slender Lorris is usually found solitary and sometimes in pair.

BEARS FAMILY OF INDIA

Like all other animals, the origin of bears is also from the Northern Hemisphere. In India three species of bears are found, The Himalayan Black Bear, The Brown Bear and The Sloth Bear.

Bears can easily be recognized by their heavy body, thick coat of hair, protruding lips and lumbering gait. Bear’s have very good sense of smell which in a way overcomes the handicap of poor hearing and sight. Out of these three species of bear, The Himalayan Black Bear is the most sharp and cunning animal. Living in the forests up in the Himalayas it follows the migratory pattern by coming down in the winters and that is the time when maximum conflicts happen with the humans. By nature all bears are very good swimmers, the Polar Bear being the best example.

The largest bear species found in the world is from Alaska where the Brown Bear have reached at least 600 kg plus in weight. In India The Black Bear and the Brown Bear are found in the Himalayan ranges whereas the Sloth Bear is found all over the peninsular India. The Brown Bear is known to live in the higher reaches of the Himalayas whereas the Black Bear inhabits the forests of lower Himalayan range.

The Himalayan Black Bear (Selenarctos thibetanus)

Himalayan Black Bear is a large yet compact of all three bear species found in India. It can reach a length of 5-6 ft and when standing it can be a formidable sight and foe to tackle with. It has a smooth black shining coat than the sloth bear and has a distinct V shaped mark on the breast.

In India it is found right from Kashmir till Assam in the Himalayan ranges from a height of 5000 ft till 12,000 ft. In winters it tends to come down lower in the valleys to look for food in the maze and corn fields and in summers it goes higher in the mountains to look for the berries, nuts, pears, apricots and the honey. Insects and termites makes for its staple diet. Himalayan Black Bear is very aggressive by nature and can attack without any provocation. It has been observed to kill goats, sheeps and occasionally small mules of the villagers and the herdsman. During the winters when it comes down from the hills to look for maize and corn the maximum number of man/animal conflict happens.

The breeding in Himalayan Black Bear takes place usually in autumn and the cubs are born at the end of winters or early spring. Generally 2-3 cubs are born in one litter.

The Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)

The Brown Bear of Himalayas is heavier in build and weight than the Black Bear. It’s brown coat is easily recognized in the higher reaches of the mountains.

It prefers to live and search for food in the altitude above the tree line. It is usually found near the snow line looking for food in the higher pasture or underneath the rocks. It has been observed to have a liking for fresh growing shoots of grass. It also likes to hunt marmots and other insects. During the summer it goes in for the fruits from the orchards and likes to eat peaches, apples, mulberries and apricots. It also kills the goats, sheeps of the graziers who come to the high pasture to graze their animals. In spite of its carnivorous habit it is not known to attack human beings.

During my years as a trekker in the higher ranges of Himalayas lots of my fellow trekker friends and myself encountered both the types of bears but were never bothered by the Brown Bear. However, we escaped many a times the charge of a Black Bear.

Brown Bear hibernates in the winter being the animal of higher reaches and comes out only when the snow starts melting. Breeding in Brown Bear is earlier than the Black bear and usually happens in early summers. Young ones are born to mothers while they are in hibernation.

The Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus)

The most unkept looking bear out of three species found in India is the Sloth Bear. It can be recognized by its long muzzle protruding lip and heavy shaggy hair. It has a V patch on its breast and has comparatively shorter hind legs.

Sloth Bear is found throughout India from the foothills of Himalayas till the Southern most end of India. It is also found in Assam and continues over in the neighboring countries.

It is primarily nocturnal in nature and hunts for the food during the night. The ideal habitat of sloth Bear is forested area with rocky outcrops having caves and other openings. In the forests where there is hardly any human interference Sloth bear is seen in the daytime looking for the food. It mainly eats fruits, tubers and insects but termites are its staple diet. In summers when trees are in bloom and honey is plentiful, the Sloth Bears are seen very frequently either on a tree or in the hollows where it can find the honeycombs.

Sloth bear has a very unique way of sucking out the termites from the base of tree trunks and from termite mounds. It digs a hole at the base of a tree or a mound and than blows the air in and sucks it out with termites along. Recently we observed a female sloth bear doing this ritual for more then one hour without being bothered of our presence.

Sloth bears near villages and small towns have a habit of raiding the crops in the night to eat sugarcanes and maize crop. In the central India they have a fair liking of Mahua flower/fruit that blooms and fall on the ground. This flower/fruit also has an intoxicating effect.

Breeding in Sloth Bears is usually in the hotter months and the young ones are born in the winter month of December/January. A lot of times a mother Sloth Bear has been observed carrying young ones on its back while going to look for food. She is most dangerous during the time she has babies with her and can attack immediately without any provocation.


 

CATS FAMILY OF INDIA

India is the only country in the world to have the distinction of having 3 main species of Cats in its tally i.e. The Lions, The Tigers and the Leopard along with many other smaller cat species. Even though they differ from each other in appearance yet they all belong to one single family, the Felidae.

The Tiger (Panthera tigris)

With an average length of 9-10 ft, Tigers inhabit the length and breadth of India from the lofty heights of the Himalayas to the forests of Southern India. The size varies according to the type of habitat they live in, Tigers from the Himalayas being larger in size from the ones from Central & Southern India.

The Indian Tiger also known as the Royal Bengal Tiger is bright in color with well developed stripes and a short luxuriant coat. It is mainly a solitary animal keeping itself to the densely forested areas. It is only during the mating when a Tiger and a Tigress come together for a number of days. The rearing and taking care of the cubs is essentially a Tigress’s job and takes around two years till the time the cubs grow up to take independent territories.

In India the remains of the tigers have been found till the altitude of 10,000 ft which shows its adaptability. It can be found in the dense evergreen forests, in the forests on the foothill of the Himalayas, in the forests of central India and in the Sunderbans where it leads a sort of amphibious life.

Tiger’s survival depends on availability of adequate number of prey species, fair amount water and good foliage for cover. With rapid urbanization and de-forestation many places in India have lost the presence of Tigers. Over the years also the Tigers have been hunted as a game trophy and also under a myth of having magical curing power of many diseases.

The decline in the population of the tiger has made our government aware of the grave situation facing the tiger and many remedial measures have been taken to protect and preserve this magnificent cat species.

The Lion (Panthera leo)

Indian Lion on first sight looks slightly smaller then its African cousin due to absence of mane. But it makes up on this with a tuft of hair on its elbows, at the end of its tail and on its belly. The average length of Asiatic Lion is around 9 ft.

Lions were quite common at one time through out Northern and Central India and there have been recorded instance of Lion hunt on the outskirts of the Delhi. At present the Lions are found only in the Gir forest in the district of Junagadh in Gujarat. This forest reserve at one time was the hunting reserve of the former Maharaja of Junagadh and on his initiative Lions were protected from their impending death. The forests of Gir are mainly palas, jambul, stunted teak with undergrowth of thorny bushes and scrubs. It is ideal habitat for the Lions to hunt and to live.

Gir also has the highest density of Leopard population in any of the protected areas (around 250). The main prey basis of Lions in Gir isSambhar Lake , Chital, Nilgai (Blue Bull), and Wild Boar and domestic cattle’s of the nomadic herdsman living in the vicinity of the Gir reserve.

The Gir Lions have been observed to mate during October/November with gestation period of around 115-120 days. Unlike Tigers the Male Lion usually stays with the pride and help the female to look after and to feed the young cubs.

The estimated present population of Lions in Gir is around 359 and there is a proposal to relocate few prides of Lions to a new area to help preserve them and to protect the existing Lions from any man made or natural calamity.

The Leopard (Panthera pardus)

Most adaptable of all the cat species Leopards or Panthers are found almost through out the Indian Sub-continent. The Indian leopards are known to attain a length of at least 7ft with female being slightly smaller in size to the male. The Leopards vary in size throughout India and normally have bright coat with small black rosettes. The color may differ depending on the area where the leopard is found.

Leopard can live almost anywhere and thrive on almost anything. They are found in the deserts, in the hills, in the snow, in the dense forests, in the open grasslands, near the towns and villages. Other then the large prey species the leopard can hunt and kill every type of animal, birds like peacocks, partridge, porcupines. In the vicinity of villages the main prey of the leopards is the dog. They occasionally turn into cattle lifters and it sometimes result in man-animal conflict resulting in an animal becoming a man-eater.

Leopards breed throughout the year and generally 2-3 cubs are born per litter. The gestation period in Leopards is in between 85-95 days.

The Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)

With its longish body and tail but with smaller length then the Leopard from plains the Clouded Leopard is more beautiful in appearance. The color of its coat is bright yellowish brown with tawny color on the under parts. It has stripes on its face like the smaller cats with two set of band running along the sides from ears to the back. The broad patches form a sort of clouded pattern on the body with tail having ornamental rings.

Clouded Leopard is found in the forests of Assam especially the areas of forests bordering Bhutan and Nepal. The Clouded Leopard inhabits the dense evergreen forests hunting in night hence is very difficult to see. It has very powerful jaws and has very big upper canine teeth which make it easier to kill deer and other large animals. It also has a tendency to turn into a cattle lifter like its other cousins in India.

The Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia)

Smaller in size then its brother from the plains the Snow Leopard has thick coat of soft grey fading to snow white with a longer bushy tail. The rosettes are less noticeable on Snow Leopards and the main distinct feature is its high forehead with short muzzle.

Snow Leopard is found throughout the Himalayan range right from Kashmir to Bhutan. It is now on the verge of extinction due to its large scale hunting for its pelt.

The normal habitat of the Snow Leopard is in the higher altitudes of the Himalayas sometimes reaching heights of 12-13,000 ft. mainly because of the inhospitable terrain very few studies have been done on the behavior of Snow Leopards. Snow Leopard hunts during the nights and its main prey base is the wild goats and sheep of the Himalayan range, Himalayan hare, marmots and occasionally birds. It also kills the domestic sheep & goats of the herdsman in the high pasture lands. On the setting of winters it migrates to the lower areas in search for food.

The cubs born per litter are normally 2-3 and the gestation is for 3 months.

The Marbled Cat (Felis marmorata)

The Marbled Cat found in India is slightly larger then the domestic cat and has a rich thick brown coat. It is physically quite different from the other cat species of its genera i.e the Leopard cat, it has a broad and more rounded head with wider cheek arches.

The most recognizable feature on these cats is the pattern on the coat; it has stripes on the neck, back and the head with marbled spots on its flanks. It is sometimes confused as being the young one of the Clouded Leopard due to its color and pattern.

Marbled Cat in India is found mainly in Assam and neighboring Nepal and Bhutan.

It inhabits the dense forest and is quite adaptable in climbing trees to catch the birds and other rodents. It is quite rare to be observed because of its nocturnal habit.

The Leopard Cat (Felis bengalensis)

The Leopard Cat looks like a dwarf Leopard due to its color and the markings and is of a size of the domestic cat with rather long legs. The color pattern of this cat varies from region to region and is usually yellow on the top with white below. It also has couple of bands from the crown running along the neck and shoulders.

The Leopard Cat is found from the forests of Kashmir till the southern most tip of India at Cape Camorin. It is quite nocturnal in its habit and hunts small birds and other animals. In some of the areas where this cat is found near the villages it is known to kill the poultry of the villagers. There are instances of Leopard Cat breeding with domestic cats.

There is another sub species of this cat known as the Rusty Spotted Cat found in the Western Ghats till the tribal areas of Gujarat as well as in Kashmir. It has bars and spots in a regular line with markings changing from brown on the head to rusty on the flanks. It is found in the open grasslands, scrub and the jungle.

The Golden Cat (Felis temmincki)

The Golden Cat is the largest of all smaller cat species. It has no clear marked pattern on its body and has a golden brown shining coat. The most prominent mark is usually found on its face with a horizontal white or buff stripe running from below the eye to behind the gape. Sometimes there can be a curved line running from above the eye to between the ears.

In India it is found in Sikkim and Assam and neighboring Nepal with further extension into Burma and S. East Asia.

It is known to kill even the young calf of cows and buffaloes. It generally hunts poultry, goats, sheep’s and smeller deer’s.

The Jungle Cat (Felis chaus)

Most widely found in the entire Indian sub-Continent, The Jungle Cat has a short tail and long legs. The color of its coat varies from sandy grey to yellowish grey. The one found in the Himalayan range has a heavier coat and the one found in the plains is smaller in size and weight. It is also found in the desert and has a sandy color.

It inhabits the drier and more open parts of the forests mainly the grasslands, scrubland, and reeds on the river banks. It is quite bold and can be seen to hunt in the daytime also. It is very swift in its movement and is known to seize its prey twice its size. We have seen a kill of a peacock in one of the national parks made by a Jungle Cat.


 

The Desert Cat (Felis libyca)

The Desert Cat is easily recognized by its color of the coat, which is pale yellowish with black spots on it. The end part of its tail has a black ring and the chin, throat and the breast are spotless and white. Its ear is also like the Jungle cat but is pale in color with black hair at the tips. It co-exists with the Jungle Cat in many areas be it The Thar Desert of Rajasthan or the dry arid land of Central & Western India.

It is quite an elusive animal and very less is known about its habits. It preys on small birds, rodents and other insects found in the desert and the dry arid land.

The Caracal (Felis caracal)

The Caracal closely resembles Lynx in its look; it has same broad head with tufted ears but is lighter in build with a longer tail and no hair around its face. Its coat is soft with a uniform reddish grey color.

It range covers the drier parts of Central India, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan. It is highly elusive and is rarely observed in the wild. It favors the scrub jungle and hunts the birds, small mammals, antelope and deer’s. It is known for its agility and is capable of springing quite high in air to catch the birds in flight.

It rears it young in the burrows or crevices in rocks but not much is known of its breeding habits.

The Lynx (Felis lynx)

A slightly heavier cousin of the caracal, The Lynx has most distinguishing feature- long straight tufts of hair at the tips of its ears. It has a short tail and a fringe of hair around its face. Its coat is much thicker then Caracal and has a distinct pale grey or isabelline color.

In India it is found in the upper ranges of the Indus valley including Ladakh and adjoining Gilgit and Tibet

Lynx favors the cover provided by tall grass, patches of willow scrubs and reeds on the higher ranges. It hunts and kills birds, hares, marmots, partridges, pheasants and occasionally sheep and goats of the herdsman. It also follows the seasonal migration of animals in the high altitude

Very little is known about its breeding habits as it is quite difficult to observe due the terrain in which it lives.

The Pallas Cat (Felis manul)

It is smallest of all the Cat species, much smaller then the domestic cat also. It has short widely separated ears set very low behind the cheeks and a distinct low forehead with a long-tail.

It has an advantage on other cats due to the formation of its ears and the forehead as it can easily lye low and observe its prey without being detected. The color on the face is normally grey with other parts of the body either silvery or darkish grey. It has rings on its tail and a black end. The coat on the chest, belly and on the thighs is considerably thicker and acts as protection when lying or resting on the snow.

It inhabits the desolate high ranges of Ladakh and Tibet. Nothing much is known of the habits of this species due to the extreme ruggedness of the terrain it inhabits.



DEER FAMILY OF INDIA

Deer are the most ancient of all the ruminants ( cud chewing animals) and are mostly found in the forests or in the open grasslands. Even though they are part of Bovidae still there are many distinctions which separate them from this class. Nearly all the deer species have large fissure below each eye and the gall bladder is absent in nearly all the deer’s. Unlike other ruminants (cud chewing animals) deer have solid horns and that is its most distinguishing factor. Deer antlers are mass of solid bone and are shed on regular intervals and re grow again. Whereas in all other bovidae’s the horns are permanent and are not shed.

India has a distinction of having the largest number of deer species in the world. The species found in India varies in size as per the areas they live in.

The horn or the antler is the most important and fascinating part of a deer. The process starts gradually and with each shedding it grows more and finally takes its shape. During the growing of the antlers a soft shining skin covers the antlers and is known as “velvet”. This skin is highly sensitive as it is fed by many blood vessels and can be injured easily.

When the antlers grow to take their final shape a ring of bone forms on the base and cuts off the supply of blood to the velvet thus leading to its shedding. During this period many deer can be seen rubbing their antlers on the tree trunk to get rid of the velvet. Shedding of velvet is usually followed by the period of rutting and many stags are seen sparing with each other to get hold of hinds. These fights are mostly jostling with each other antlers interlocked and are rarely fatal. The shedding of antlers is mainly after the finish of the rutting season. One factor playing important role in the shedding of horns is the availability of good grass. For males good intake of food means good source of calcium which helps in the formation of bone (antlers) whereas for female this period acts as a good source of nutrients to nurse the young ones.

The surroundings play very important role in the body development of deer species. Deer species of central India are known for their large size and big antlers. Whereas the species found in Eastern and Southern India have antlers smaller in size. The difference in habitat of swamp deer has led to the development of two sub species, hard ground and soft ground barasingha. The swamp deer and the sambar have large funnel shaped ears to catch maximum sound as both inhabit denser parts of the forests. Whereas the chital has short ears as it inhabits the fringes of the forest and open grasslands where catching sound is much easier.

Deer have profound effect on their surroundings and every type of deer plays a very important role for Nature. They keep a control on the growth of grass and other tree types which are favored by them.

The Swamp Deer or the Barasingha (Cervus duvauceli)

One of the most remarkable come backs made by any animal species from the brink of extinction the Barasingha’s is a role model for the conservationists.

The coat of this magnificent deer is golden yellow and the stags are maned and slightly dark in color. The adult males have large and widely flared set of antlers sometimes with 10-14 points.

In India there two races of the is deer found: one is the swamp inhabiting and is found mainly in the Terai region of U.P., small numbers in the Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary and more recently discovered herd in Jhilmil Jheel in Uttaranchal.and as well as in Assam. The other race is the Hard Ground one found only in Madhya Pradesh.

The Barasingha of the swamps of terrain are mainly found in the small islands of reed and grass in the swamps and can be easily recognized by their splayed hooves ideally suited for movement on soft spongy surface. They hardly come out of the water. The hard ground barasingha is found in the open grasslands of Kanha National Park and have smaller well knit hooves adapted to run on hard ground. Swamp deer’s can be seen feeding during the day time and rest only when it is too hot to remain in the open. Their sense of smell is very high.

The herds of Swamp Deer can be seen in mixed numbers throughout the year but during the period of rutting season they form exclusive breeding herds. After the breeding, stags sometime leave the herds to form stag herds.

Swamp deer rarely use tree bark to peel off the velvet from their antlers instead the long grass of their habitat suits their requirement.

The Sambhar Lake (Cervus unicolor)

Sambhar Lake is the largest of all deer species found in the Indian Sub-continent. It also has the finest pair of antlers sometimes reaching a length of around 40 inches. A full grown adult stag can reach a weight of 300 kg.

It is mainly a forest dweller and prefers hills and denser parts of the forest. In IndiaSambhar Lake is found from the lower ranges of Himalayas to the forests of south India, from the forests of Rajasthan to the forests of north east India.

The color of the coat is mainly brown with greyish tinge. The coat is mainly shaggy and coarse and in summers the hair fall down. The older stags are very dark in color almost looking black.

Sambhar Lake prefers to live in the denser parts of the forest and likes to feed on leaves, wild fruits and grass. They are extremely shy of humans and usually feed during the later part of the evenings and in night. The sense of hearing is very acute inSambhar Lake and they are helped in this by their large funnel shaped ears. On seeing a predator aSambhar Lake gives a honking bark which is repeated as long the predator is seen. In spite of its sizeSambhar Lake are very nimble in moving through thick undergrowth without making much noise. They are also very good swimmers and can be seen in the waters especially in the lakes of RANTHAMBORE.

The shedding of antlers takes place mainly in March end till mid April.Sambhar Lake s prefer to come to same tree again and again for rubbing off the velvet from the antlers. The antler size varies in between theSambhar Lake found in Madhya Pradesh and the ones found in the forests of North east India.

Sambhar Lake s have the largest and very well developed facial glands to attract the females by secreting scent and leaving the marks on the tree trunks. The fight between two stags is mainly for protecting the territory and rarely for the females. The mating takes place mainly in November and December and the young ones are born on the onset of rains when the forest is dense and the grass is high. Males prefer to live alone and separate from hinds as soon as the mating is over.Sambhar Lake s always move around in small herds with hinds and young stags normally seen together.


 

The Chital or the Spotted Deer (Axis axis)

As the name suggest Chital has bright spots on its body. Out of the deer species Chital is the most beautiful of them. Its coat has shining rufous-fawn color with bright white spots all over the body and hardly changes color even in summers.

In India Chital is very widely distributed from the base of Himalayas to the steaming forests of the south except in the north east. It inhabits the fringes of the forests and prefers to graze in the grasslands. Any place with good grazing ground and plentiful water will have the presence of Chital.

Chital are always seen in herds numbering 20-30 and will have many stags. In many areas very big herds sometimes numbering hundreds have been seen together. They are known to raid the cultivation fields especially in areas which are adjacent to the forests and cause heavy damage to the crops. The best species of Chital can be found in the terai region in the foothills of Himalayas and in Madhya Pradesh.

Out of all deer Chital are most sociable animal. They can be easily seen in the company of other deer species inhabiting the same forest. A very special relation ship worth mentioning is between langur monkeys and the Chital. Where ever langurs feed on the trees, chital can be seen feeding on the leaves and tender shoots which the monkeys drop on the ground. This relationship also acts as an advance warning system against the arrival of predators. On seeing a predator langurs give alarm call which makes the deer on the ground alert against the danger.

The rutting season differs in Chital according to the areas they inhabit. In the northern areas of India they tend to breed in winters and in warmer areas of Madhya Pradesh they mate in summer months. The rutting call of an adult stag is a loud bellow and quite often fierce fight between two stags can be seen for possession of hinds. There are no territorial fights in Chital, the fights when happens are mainly for protecting the doe from other stags.

As Chital are preyed by virtually all the predators they have a very prolific breeding cycle and give birth to young one every six month. In the wild a hind can be seen with two or sometimes three young fawns all of different ages.

The Hog Deer (Axis porcinus)

A deer quite related to the Chital it is smaller and more stoutly built then the Chital. Hog deer as named has a peculiar habit of running like a hog with its head down without the traditional leaps of a deer.

Hog deer has a long body with shorter legs and the color of the coat is brown to dark brown with reddish tinge. It has white inner ears and white under tail. There are white tips on some hair which sometimes give it a spotted look. The summer coat is usually paler in color. The antler size is also considerably smaller as compared to Chital.

In India, Hog Deer inhabits the alluvial grasslands of the terai forest right from Corbett to the forests of Assam.

Hog deer favors the grass and reeds along the river banks, the grass covered riverine islands and open grass lands. Hog deer are mainly solitary animals and very rarely they are found in two’s or three’s. They can be seen frequenting similar areas for days together for feeding. The afternoon’s are always for resting and grazing is in the early mornings and evenings. Being the creatures of open, Hog deer have very acute sense of sight, smell and sound.

As with other deer species, the young ones are born during the time when rain starts and the grass grows long enough to hide the fawns.

The Muntjac or the Barking Deer (Muntiacus muntjak)

A smaller deer as compared to Chital,Sambhar Lake and even a Hog deer, the Muntjac has small set of antler consisting of short brow-tine and an unbranched beam. The coat is reddish brown in color. An adult male Muntjac or the Barking Deer has very well developed canines which can be used as a weapon of self defense.

In India Muntjac are found all over India with three distinct species recorded. The species found in North India has a brightest coat from others.

Muntjac or the barking deer prefers denser parts of the forest and can be seen in pairs or smaller family groups. They are found mainly on the hilly slopes and can be seen till the heights reaching 8-9,000 ft. As with other deer species Muntjac also have scent glands beneath their eyes and in addition they have an additional gland on their forehead. These glands secrete fluid especially during the mating and are means of attracting the hinds. These are very helpful for deer which inhabit the dense forests. Muntjac feeds on leaves, grass and wild berries and fruits. When alarmed they give a short dog like bark before bounding away. The rutting mainly takes place during winters and young ones are born on the onset of rains.

Other than above deer India also has following deer species. We have not mentioned in detail about these deer as they are found in relatively remote areas and are also very difficult to see. It requires a complete expedition to go to these places and to see these species.


 

Hangul or the Kashmir Stag (Cervus elaphus hanglu)

A deer species more related to the Red Deer found commonly in Europe, Hangul is found in the valley of Kashmir especially in areas above Srinagar called Dachigam.

The summer coat of Hangul is spotted and has flecks of pale hair and sometimes the coat is dappled with white. This provides them with adequate protection with the surroundings. In the winter the color of the coat becomes more uniform and merges well with the winter landscape.

Hangul is greatly influenced by the change in the season and its movement becomes migratory with the onset of summers and winters. Hangul stags like to move around in their territories and come to the hinds only during the time of rutting. The young ones are taken care of by the hinds throughout the time they are with their mothers. The rutting territory in Hangul is less as compared to other big deer as the number of hinds is more in Hangul. The rutting starts in October and the fawns are born in late May.

The Thamin or Brow-Antlered Deer (Cervus eldi)

This deer is also called the Dancing Deer due to its delicate style of walking. The males usually reach height up to 4 ft and the hinds are smaller in size. The color of the coat in stags is nearly black and the one of hinds is fawn. In appearance it looks similar toSambhar Lake but is smaller in size.

In India this deer is found only in Manipur in Eastern India and that also on the Shore of Loktak Lake. The most distinctive feature of Thamin is its antlers which have tines from 2 to ten and can reach a length of 2 meter. The antlers of this deer are most impressive of all the deer species. They grow outwards and then turn inwards. The brow tine is specially long and distinct hence the name Brow-Antlered Deer.

Thamin prefers open woodland, scrubs and undulating land near the rivers and the marshland. Due to its proximity to the cultivation land they tend to raid the crops. With continued encroachment on their land by the humans the Thamin is now confined to a small area in Loktak Lake. They mainly feed on water plants, grasses, shoots and crops.

The rutting takes place between March and April and after a gestation period of 220-250 days the young one is born. The stags leave the herd after the rutting and are seldom seen with herds till the time of next rutting.


DOG FAMILY OF INDIA

Everyone is familiar with the dog, its characteristics, and its family bonds and to term it further -as a friend. Wolves, Jackals, Foxes and wild & domestic dogs all compose this family, the Canidae

Out of all beasts of prey The Canidae are most widely distributed. As with the other species the origin of this species is also from the Northern Hemisphere with gradual spread to other continents except Australia.

In India also the wolf, the fox, the jackal and the wild dog all came to India from the North. Out of these the Jackal has been most successful in adapting to the country, living in the mountains, the desert, the forests and the plains. The fox and the wolf adapted themselves to the open countryside and the wild dogs to the forested area. All these species are in no way different from there cousins from the northern latitude. The only difference being the size which is bigger in the species found in the northern latitudes.

The Wolf (Canis lupus)

Wolf is most easily recognizable of all the Dog species because of its size and shape. The color varies from sandy fawn to blackish in wolfs of plains and the Himalayas.

In India it is found in the higher altitudes including Ladakh and Kashmir and in plains it is found in the desert areas of Rajasthan and Gujarat and the open plains of the central India.

Wolves are seen in the forested areas but their general preference is for the open countryside. In the Himalayan region they migrate as per the movement of the local herdsman and of other wild goats and sheeps. There shelter comes from caves and holes and cavities in the rocks. In the plains and in the desert they prefer burrows or the relative shade of the thorn bushes. In India they have known to become child lifter in certain areas due to paucity of prey base and due to continued encroachment by humans on their habitat.

In the open grasslands of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra they regularly hunt the black bucks, chinkaras, hares and even foxes.

The normal breeding happens at the end of monsoon and the gestation period in wolves is 60-65 days with cubs born by December.

The Jackal (Canis aureus)

Nearer to the wolf in shape it is smaller in size and more cunning. It’s howling in the night especially near villages is an indication to its presence even though it is not seen by the people. The color of the coat varies from season to season with mostly black mixed with buff.

In India it is found variably every where, in dense forests, in open plains, in deserts. It is known to be at the heights till 10-12,000 ft. In virtually all the hill stations in can be found in the neighborhood. In the plains it can be frequently seen near the villages and small towns. Jackals usually are seen in a pair but they do sometimes form a pack to hunt big animals. Near the villages they are known to become poultry thieves and often kill goats and sheeps. There is no proof of its attacking any human being until unless it is a rabid Jackal. In the forested areas they have been seen killing large deer, like a male Chital, but in a pack.

During the cultivation and ripening of crops they have been known to raid the fields ripe with musk melon, water melon and sugar canes. Jackal also have known liking of the fallen berries. Cubs are born throughout the year in Jackals and the gestation period is like Wolves, 60-65 days.

The Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)

This a beautiful fox with rich luxurious coat having reddish tinge with upper half of the ear black and tip of its tail white.

In India it is known to exist in the Himalayan ranges in Ladakh, Kashmir till as far as Sikkim and in the North-Western fringes of the dry desert zone. In the Himalayas it favors the terrain of cultivated fields, in the desert area it prefers to live among the sand dunes, in the dry river beds. Red Fox shelters in burrows in the grounds or amongst the rocks. They prefer drier areas more to the wetter ones. Red Fox comes out mainly in the night to look for the food and the staple diet is small birds like partridges, rodents and other insects. They are known to pair for the life and usually hunt in pair.

In the Himalayas the Red Fox’s main diet is the marmots, hares and squirrels. In the desert they look for sand rats and lizards and other small insects.

Red Fox remain partner for the life and make home same den for the entire duration of their life. As a safety the burrow always has more than one entrance.

The normal gestation period in Red Fox is 50-55 days and six to seven cubs are born in one litter.

The Indian Fox (Vulpes bengalensis)

Most commonly sighted Fox on the plains is the Indian Fox, a very pretty, slim and smaller fox than the Red Fox. The color of the coat is normally grey with tip of the tail being black.

Its distribution is in entire India right from the Himalayas till the southern most point of India- Cape Comorin.

The Indian Fox prefers to keep to the open countryside rather then the forest areas. It is found in areas next to the villages preferably in the cultivated fields and the bunds bordering the water channels. Its habitat is same throughout India, scrub land, cultivation fields, and rocky hills.

It makes its den in a burrow in the ground and each burrow has several openings as a mean of escape. Being nocturnal in habit it comes out in the night to look for food hunting mainly small insects, reptiles, rodents, and after the rains –termites. Indian Fox living near the villages becomes a sort of thief entering the premises to sneak out with food.

Being small in size its main defense against any attack is its speed and dextrousity.
The main breeding season is in winters and the gestation period is 50-55 days. Usually 3-4 cubs are born mainly in between February till April.

The Indian Wild Dog or the Dhole (Cuon alpinus)

Smaller then the domestic dog with body like a wolf, the Indian wild Dog has shorter legs and muzzle. It has a very bushy tail with the tip generally black and well rounded ears around the tip.

The Indian Wild Dog is found throughout India. Dhole prefers the shaded forests more to the open ones as it has food and water to meet its need. Wild Dogs are highly social animals always found in packs. The packs are usually an extended family with many adults and young ones. Wild Dogs are known for their steady yet tireless cater while pursuing a prey and are fearless in attacking prey many times its size.

The Dhole or The Wild Dog always attacks in a pack and every individual plays its role to the perfection. While chasing a prey they seldom make any noise and are known to start eating the prey even before it has died. The most common sound associated with Wild Dogs is a “whistling” sound by which they communicate with each other. There are old records of Wild Dogs attacking and killing a Tiger.

The breeding season in Wild Dogs is between November and December with a gestation period of around 70 days. The pups are born by February and every litter has around 5-6 pups.



 

THE ELEPHANT OF INDIA

Proboscidea, is the name given to the Elephants because if its trunk (Proboscis). In the present world, only two species of Elephants are found, Indian (Asiatic) and African. During the prehistoric age many species of the mammoth were founding roaming the world. The Wooly Mammoth is the best example found intact as a fossil of this species from the past.

Present day elephants have two different set of teeth, one set on the upper jaw is visible as the tusks and the other set of molar has two grinding teeth which keeps on replacing at regular intervals. The process starts at the age of 2 years followed by one at 6, 9, 25, 60 and the last till it is alive. There is a saying, but not substantiated, that when the last pair of molar falls off, the elephant dies shortly after as it is unable to eat.

The Indian Elephant (Elephas maximus)

The Indian Elephant is a smaller than its African cousin. The average height of an Indian Elephant is around 8-9 ft with female being slightly smaller in size. The difference between an Indian Elephant and an African one other than the height is its ears, The African Elephant has very big ears (looks like map of Africa) as compared to the Indian Elephant, its forehead is smaller then the Indian Elephant, it has three nails on the hindfoot as compared to Indian’s four, the African elephant’s trunk has two lips at the end and the Indian Elephant has only one.

In Indian Elephant only the male has tusks whereas in the African one both male and female has the tusks. Some of the male Indian Elephant are without tusks and are called “Makhnas”. These elephants are very big in size and are prone to charging.

In India, The elephants are found in the lower ranges of the Himalayas, in the Western Ghats right on till the forest of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Orissa, West Bengal, Assam.

Elephants like Bamboo and are generally found in areas having plenty of Bamboo forests. They prefer tall forested areas for the shade and move quite a distance in search of food. In the dry season they tend to keep themselves to the denser parts of the forests but sometimes in search of food they raid the cultivation fields near the forests and the plantations causing extensive damage to the crops. Elephants are always seen in herds comprising of an extended family of cousins and aunts and is always lead by the most experienced and old female. Large males or the bulls are never part of the herds but are always seen following them at a distance.

Elephants usually follow a familiar path over years and feed and rest in the same area. Elephants generally rest during the hotter part of the day while coming out to feed in the mornings and late evenings. The staple diet of an elephant comprises grass, leaves, bamboo and crops from the fields and plantations. The normal daily requirement of an adult elephant is around 250 to 300 kg of fodder.


Elephants have very high sense of smell and their hearing is also very good. Sometimes an elephant mainly the male goes into musth and this is time it seeks female for mating. The main indication of this condition is a oozing of thick liquid from the glands located behind the ears. An elephant in musth is very difficult to control and many deaths (humans) have occurred especially from the domesticated elephants.

The breeding season in the elephants is suspected to be the summer with a gestation period of around 20 months. Only one calf is born and the mother is always assisted by the other grown up females in nursing the calf.

THE RHINOCEROS

Out of all prehistoric looking creatures Rhinoceros is most unique in its shape and size. In the ancient times Rhino’s were found all over from Europe to the Middle East to Africa and to Asia. But now they are found only in Africa where two species exists and in Asia where three species are known to exist.

In ancient times Rhino’s were found all over India and the Mughul historians have documented hunting Rhino’s near Delhi. At present only one species of Rhinoceros is found in India and that also is confined to the Assam and adjoining areas.

Due to many superstitious beliefs about the supposedly magical powers of Rhino’s horn it has been heavily poached and nearly faced extinction. But due to dedicated efforts by various governments it has now managed a come back and has been reintroduced in the terrain region of the Himalayas under constant supervision.

The Great Indian One Horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis)

It is the second largest of all Rhinoceros in size and comes after the White Rhino’s found in Africa. The average height of One Horned Rhinoceros is over 6ft at the shoulder. Its horn is not bigger than the ones found in African variety. The horn is mainly formed by a thick matt of fiber growing from the skin and is attached to the bone on the skull. It is in no way part of the skull or the bone to which it is attached.

The rhinoceros has a skin which looks like armor and has many folds around the shoulders and the front legs. The skin behind the shoulder especially the flanks and hindquarters has round tubercles giving it a distinct look.

In India it is found flood plains of West Bengal, the Dooars and the Assam. The ideal habitat of One Horned India Rhinoceros is swamps and the grasslands of the Dooars and Assam but they are also found in the low hills and jungles of West Bengal. With persistent efforts of the various authorities One Horned Rhinoceros has now been sighted in areas where it was wiped out because of hunting.

One Horned Rhinoceros is mainly a solitary animal but occasionally females can be seen together or a pair during the period of mating. The Rhinoceros main food is mainly grass but during the times of floods they enter the villages in search of food. Rhinoceros has a peculiar habit of dropping its excreta at same place and because of this habit they generally fall prey to the poachers.

The normal period of gestation in rhino’s is 16 months and usually one calf is born. In India majority of rhinoceros are found in the world famous Kaziranga National Park in Assam.

The Small One Horned Rhinoceros or the Javan Rhinoceros

This rhino was smaller in size to the Great One Horned Rhinoceros and once was thought to exist in Assam and neighboring Bengal. It is extinct now in India even though there are unconfirmed reports of its existence in the thick forests of Arunachal Pradesh neighboring Mynmar or Burma.


 

UNGULATES OF INDIA

The ungulates also known as the hoofed animals have their own class distinction due to the shape of their toe. The Cattle, sheep, goats, deer and pigs are one family (Artiodactyla) and horses; rhino’s and tapirs are part of other family (Perissodactyla).

The Asiatic Wild Ass (Equus hemionus)

In India the horse family (Equidae) is represented by The Asiatic Wild Ass also known as Ghudkhur. The main feature of the horse family is the formation of their hoof which has complete toe encased in it. Zebras, Asses and horses are all part of this family.

The Asiatic Wild Ass has a pale chestnut coat and has a dark brown mane which extends till the tail. The belly and the inner parts are while in color.

In India the wild ass is found in the Little Rann of Kutchh and can be seen in this vast expanse of plain marshland with small little islands known as the bets. These bets are a sort of islands of grass in this vast expanse of land. During the monsoon when this entire area gets inundated by floods the Ghudkhur or the Wild Ass take shelter on the high grounds of the Bets. In the dry weather these small group of asses tend to congregate together in the bets where there is still some grass and water for feeding. The Wild Ass or Ghudkhur’s beauty and grace amazes all who see them. We have seen a Ghudkhur run along with our vehicle neck to neck for many minutes at a high speed for quite some distance.

The period of gestation in Wild Ass is around eleven months and the mating takes place during the months of September-October.

Some attempts were made to tame these wild animals but were not met with success.

There is one more place in India where Wild Ass is found, in Ladakh. They are leaner and have a darker reddish coat than their cousins from Rann. They prefer high plateaus of the ladakh.

The second family of the Ungulates is sub-divided in many smaller families and the oxen, sheeps, goats, the antelopes and the gazelles constitute the largest of them. They are all clubbed together in a single family known as the Bovidae.

All these animals have feet which is ideally suited to the terrain they inhabit and are built for quick movement. Due to the shape, the size and structure of the toes these animals are also called the ‘cloven-hoofed’ animals. Being vegetarians these animals require large quantity of food. The main staple diet of these animals is grass and found more in the open areas. As remaining in open areas bring more danger to them, nature has provided them an escape. All these animals have four chambers in their intestine. They swallow their food hastily without even chewing it and later in relative safety they ruminate or chew the food.

The Bovidae family has horns which are there for life long. They do not shed their horns like deer’s do.

The Gaur (Bos gaurus)

The Gaur also known as the Indian Bison is largest of all the ox family in the entire world. An adult bull can reach height of more than six feet at the shoulders with exceptional girth of horns. The females are slightly smaller than the males with shorter yet sturdier horns. A fully grown adult male can easily reach a weight of 800-1200 kg.

Gaurs are quite distinct in their appearance with huge head, massive body with highly muscular shoulders and white stocking on the legs. The young ones are golden yellow when borne and then turn to reddish brown as they grow.

In India, Gaurs are found from the forests of Central India down to the forests of southern states and West Bengal onwards till the forests of North east India.

Gaurs generally prefer the denser part of the forests and like to keep on the hills and hilly slopes full with bamboo growth. They come down in summers when the water and food is scarce and can be seen in the meadows grazing on the grass. Gaurs are by nature very shy and avoid any sort of contact with humans. It is very rare for them to come out and raid the cultivation fields and plantations of the villages especially in the south India. In the north-east India especially in Arunachal Pradesh, Gaurs have been known to mate with the domestic cattle and the hybrid breed is called ‘mithun’. It has similar features as Gaur and has great importance in the hill tribes of the north east.

In the forests of India, Gaurs have nothing to fear from except occasional killing of semi adults and younger calf by tigers. Only thing they suffer is from rinderpest and foot-and -mouth disease which is contracted from domestic cattle they come in contact with. These diseases can wipe out entire population of Gaur in an area as happened in the forest of Bandipur couple of years ago.

Gaurs live in small herds of 8-12 animals and are mainly constituted by a single family. Bulls can be seen throughout with the herds of females and young gaurs. The hierarchy in Gaurs is mainly settled on size and age and the older bull always has its say while mating. Gaurs by nature are non-territorial and always keep within their range. Occasionally during the time of draught or scanty rains many herds come together to graze.

The Yak (Bos grunniens)

The most unique animal to the Indian sub-continent is the Yak. Found in the temperate forest of the Himalayas Yak’s original home was central Asia. It inhabits the alpine altitudes of the Himalayas and the Tibetan plateau.

An adult Yak mainly the bull can attain height of at least 6 ft and can easily weight about 500-600 kg. Yaks found in the wild have high humped shoulders, straight back with short legs. It has course hair which covers its chest, shoulder, thigh and the belly. The dense coat of hair protects it from the biting winter of the higher altitudes. In the summer this mat of hair starts falling from the body and the nomads use this hair for making cloths and rugs for protecting themselves for cold.

The coat of Yak is darkish brown with little white color on the muzzle. The wild Yak has horns which are bigger in size then the domesticated ones. The domesticated strain of the Yak with domestic cattle is known as Dzo in the local language and is used for transporting men and supplies at these high altitudes. The domestic breed is of two types one with horns and other without horns and has few speckling of white color on their coat. The domestic breed is sturdier then the wild one and becomes the main stay for the local villages providing them with wool for cloths, milk and occasionally meat.

In India Yak is found in the higher reaches of Ladakh and neighboring valleys and in Sikkim. In summer Yaks migrate to the higher altitudes sometimes reaching the heights of 20,000 ft. In winter they don’t descend below the levels of 14,000 ft. In summer they graze on the grass and shrubs growing on high plateau and in winter they migrate long distances to search for food and sometimes die in this process. The sight and hearing is poor in Yaks but their sense of smell is very high.

The breeding in Yaks is generally in October and the young calves are born in April.

The Wild Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

The Wild Buffalo looks quite similar in appearance to the domestic buffalo but is more heavy and agile looking. It has massive set of horns curving outwards from the head sometimes the average spread is about 1 m.

In India they were once found in big herds in the state of Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, and West Bengal, Assam but are now found only in riverain plains of Assam and some parts of Chattisgarh, Jharkhand (both part of former Madhya Pradesh) and Orissa.

The tall grass in the swamps is the ideal habitat of Wild Buffalos as it provides them with enough grass to feed on and water for drinking and to lie in and mud wallows in which to roll. In the swamps of Assam they prefer to lie during the day in the shadow of high grass or simply wallow in the shallow polls. They graze in the nights or at the dawn and dusk when it is relatively cooler. In the forest of Bastar (Chattisgarh/Jharkhand) they move around looking for food and can cover quite distances in the hills and valleys. They are the most boldest and aggressive of all the bovine species. They are tolerable to humans and can be seen in the neighborhood of human settlements. Wild Buffalos are known to raid the cultivated fields during the growing of crops and can cause too much damage without being scared away.

Wild Buffalos are fearless when facing their attacker and have been known to tackle tiger easily. The mating starts in Wild Buffalos after the rains and the calves are born during the month of March to May just before the rains start. There are some instances of Wild Buffalo breeding with domestic ones.