Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Corbett Chronicles Contd...

Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarkhand is the oldest national park in the country, established in 1936 and named after the well known author and wildlife conservationist Jim Corbett.

Guess my inspiration to visit was 'Man Eaters of Kumaon' by Jim Corbett which I've read off my dad's shelf as a child.

Inspiration in a sense I guess. We enter the resort, and we see this picture of Jim Corbett..... rifle in hand, leg on a tiger carcass, and Diksha's like "he's inspiration ma? from which angle does that look like conservation to you?" :)

No, not my picture, though wish it had been.

Project Tiger has been one of the well run initiatives of the government, and a tiger population which had come down to a mere 1400 in 2006, has now been increased to 4000. (India has 70% of the tiger population of the world)

The safari's are well structured and strictly implemented by the forest department, with a specific number of safari's permitted per day, at specific timings morning and evening.

While we saw no tigers, the safari was itself really nice. The Corbett reserve is a beautiful jungle, and an early morning drive through the jungles in open topped jeeps, spotting the odd animal and some really exotic birds, with it's thick flora and fauna was in itself a worthwhile experience.

Starting with some chai


We were ill equipped to handle the early morning cold of the area. I went into the seat next to Rajesh, our driver, just couldn't handle the cold in the open jeep.


Grasslands in the jungles. These are areas where earlier villages have been cleared out when it was converted into reserve.


A tree full of beehives


A well camouflaged jackal


The drive

A dry river bed. We could hear a lot of elephant trumpeting as we stood there


Diksha on a watch tower


When you don't see tigers, I guess you shoot birds :)


Or pug marks


The drive again


As we ended the safari


Hoping this is the first of many more

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