17th Mar/Sun: Bandhavgarh 2
Bandhavgarh national park is mainly known for the density of its tiger population. This is the place where the famous White Tigers of Rewa were discovered. The other wild attractions in the park include Leopards, Blue Bulls, Indian Gaur (Bison) Chausingha (Four Horned Antelopes), Spotted Deer, Sambar Deer, Wild Boar, Sloth Bears, Fox, Jackals, Wild Dogs, etc. There are at least 22 mammal species and about 250 bird species in the park. The other animals found in Bandhavgarh are Ratel, Porcupine, Small Indian Civet, Palm Squirrel, Lesser Bandicoot rat, the Jungle Cat, and the shy Hyenas. The reptile population in the park includes Cobras, Kraits, Vipers, Ratsnakes, Pythons, Monitor Lizards and turtles. Two primate species – the rhesus macaque and the Hanuman langur – inhabit Bandhavgarh.
Despite driving round all morning and seeing fresh tiger tracks we did not catch any sight of a tiger, just the birds which I had seen previously and a black ibis. Later we came across a small heard of gaur at a pond and grazing on bamboo and then another creature which has been tamed by man – the amazingly beautiful peacock.
Lesser adjutant stork, Indian green bee eaters, black ibis, crested serpent eagle.
