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Banjaar Tola

One of the largest and most scenic wildlife sanctuaries in India, Kanha National Park is an ideal habitat for both tigers and their prey species. The lush sal and bamboo forests, grassy meadows and ravines of Kanha shelter a significant population of rare species such as tiger, leopard, sloth bear, barasingha and wild dog.

Kanha's mixed forests are interspersed with vast meadows known as maidans. These meadows support a high density of herbivores, including chital, barasingha, sambar and gaur, attracting predators such as the tiger, dhole or leopard to the fringes of the clearings. Perennial streams run through a number of such meadows, providing a source of water for the wildlife even in the hot summers. Kanha meadow, with its hundreds of chital grazing on a carpet of green grass against the backdrop of the majestic Sal forest, has been aptly referred to as 'the Ngorongoro of India".

LEOPARD ON A TREE

Whenever I used to drive past that beautiful Banyan Tree (ficus bengalencis), in Kanha National Park, I always used to imagine a leopard sitting on that tree. But, every time I would pass it, it was merely a thought restricted to my imagination!

But, this time, the opposite was true! It was no longer a wish of mine. I finally saw a beautiful, very bold and lazy female leopard sitting on that tree. Behind the tree, there was a magnificent sunset with golden colours and cloudy weather too.

When we spotted that leopard, we got so excited and all of my guests were jumping in the vehicle, so as to have a good look at the cat. But, after some time, the leopard was relaxed, doing its own work (licking its paw, and yawning), for almost 15 minutes.

I was really pleased to see this leopard after so long and my guests were speechless! We just sat quietly and watched her. Then so many vehicles came to see the leopard too, but she just closed her eyes!

Posted: Banjaar Tola by Narayan Rangaswamy, Date: 12 May 2012

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