This image of Gaur in Kodaikanal town in the Palani Hills of South India represents a common sight these days. The reasons for their sauntering into urban areas and hanging around need to be studied in detail, but some, or several, of the following factors, may play a role: habitat fragmentation due to the haphazard growth of Kodaikanal town, private estates, and plantations (and perhaps the fencing around these lands), rampant tourism and development, invasion of the shola-grassland ecosystem by … Read More
Mopa Airport Risks Wildlife and Livelihoods in Goa
Ecological and social impacts apart, detractors have questioned the economic viability of the airport.
We are at the Barazan plateau on the northern tip of Goa, more famous as the site of Mopa, the state’s contentious upcoming airport, peering with delight at lumpy mounds of defecation not unlike the gobar of the venerated cow. Yes, delight, because that particular turd belongs to the largest bovine in the world, the gaur, or the Indian bison as it is also called.
A … Read More
Wildlife in Tea Plantations, Western Ghats
When was the last time you saw a continuous stretch of forest in India — wilderness as far as your eyes can see? It has indeed become a rarity. There is always a settlement or an agricultural field. Human imprint is everywhere and the notion of a ‘pristine’ wilderness doesn’t exist anymore. Our growing demands have led us to expand widely and rapidly, and now, more than ever, this has brought us in direct contact with wild animals. Wildlife is … Read More
Tiger – Gaur Face-off, Bandhavgarh
I was on a evening drive in the Magdhi zone of Bandhavgarh national park when I came across this big male tiger. He was walking along the fence that was erected to contain gaur when they were reintroduced to Bandhavgarh from Kanha. Suddenly the tiger froze. I couldn’t figure out why. He had certainly detected something, but I couldn’t see it. After about ten minutes he walked back on the road and suddenly I saw him face to face with … Read More
Bull Gaur Crossing Road, Nagarahole
This image was taken on Tithimathi – Konnankatte road in the heart of Nagarahole National Park in Karnataka. The state transport bus driver was considerate and stopped the bus upon seeing the herd of gaur. The gaur were quite shy and hurried across the road. The bull in the frame was the last one to cross the road.
Highways and roads through protected areas can have a serious impact on wildlife behavior, survival and movement. This is especially true for … Read More
Wild gaur falls into well, dies
A wild gaur that fell into the ground level farm well died at Kovil Athupatti village at Paaganatham panchayat in Vadamadurai block near Thoppanasamy hill forest range in Tanil Nadu. Acute water crisis was the prime reason for the incident.
Earlier, the wild animal invaded a hut and attacked two out of eight persons who were sleeping inside. S. Sankan (60) and P. Siva Sankar, native of Kovil Athupatti were injured.
Sankan was admitted to the Dindigul Government Hospital for … Read More
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