Lifescapes » Mammals

The Family Tree

Orange County Resorts — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 06:14:48 +0000

Brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, cousins; you’ll find every branch of the Leopard family living, quite literally, on a branch…totally at home in a comfy tree-house in Kabini. But that isn’t the only reason why leopards tower above the rest in the big cat stakes. They are considered the most complete cats as they are adaptive to even the harshest of habitats, from semi-arid deserts to evergreen rainforests. This versatility is the main reason why they have the densest population, even in the forests of Kabini, where they share space with predatory Tigers and Dholes. But since they’re the only climbers in the lot, they are never cramped for style, living as they do a few metres above the competition. What’s unusual, though, is that normally leopards and tigers don’t share territory, but the density of trees and undergrowth, and the sheer variety of prey ensure a relatively easy co-existence. After all, whenever the leopard feels threatened, he knows he can always leave the vertically challenged tiger behind and climb into his upper-deck sanctuary. The lord of his arboreal manor, the Kabini Leopard spends a large part of his life in his tree-house, chilling out, playing, eating and sleeping. Apart from his leafy lounge, he also has a well stocked larder where he drags in and hangs his kills, some of which may weigh twice his body weight. This is where his sheer strength and long claws come in handy, enabling him to haul his meal effortlessly up. Dinner is mostly his favourite serving of Langur, though occasionally, it could be a Spotted Deer, the loser, as it were, of the ‘Duel of the Spots’. Perhaps the Langur and the Deer could have done well to heed the old jungle saying that, in Kabini, a harmless looking tree may have a bite that’s worse than its bark!

Sambar for the Carnivorous Soul

Orange County Resorts — Wed, 04 May 2011 05:02:17 +0000

Tigers must definitely have South Indian sensibilities. For, their favourite meal is the Sambar, a staple of every self-respecting South Indian kitchen. But while the original Sambar is a soupy lentil concoction, the dish featured here is a large serving of meat on the hoof. The Sambar, featured above, definitely boasts more Deer per Deer, and is perhaps a reason why the Kabini area hosts one of the largest populations of Tigers in the world. The largest species of Deer in South East Asia, prime specimens may stand above 5 feet at the shoulder and weigh above 1000 pounds. With a natural affinity for water, they can often be seen swimming, submerged till the neck. No wonder then, the mugger crocodiles infesting these parts have also developed an affinity for Sambar, making it a non-discriminating delicacy that whets appetites both on land and water. Its position in the food chain apart, this deer is a thing of rare beauty and grace, and often travels with a personal groomer to stay healthy. The Mynah in this image is not there just to make a pretty picture. Her job is to keep the Sambar’s skin healthy by protecting it from parasitic insects including those that infest its ‘sore spot’, a small patch of raw skin on the throat, oozing with blood-red glandular fluid during rutting season. While they often travel in small herds, males become solitary during the rut, and aggressively defend their territory. They woo their women with vocal and olfactory displays, and will fight off any competing male. In the midst of all the wooing, it isn’t improbable to think that the bushes around may well contain crouching tigers preferring to remain hidden dragons… praying for a successful courtship… for it’s also in their interests to wait for the next edition of ‘Sambar for the Soul’.

Not a ‘Merchant’ Ivory Production

Orange County Resorts — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 04:31:40 +0000

For centuries, elephants have been seen merely as mobile ivory holders: temporary guardians, as it were, of the world’s most sought after merchandise. The unscrupulous trade in ivory had contributed greatly to the depredation of elephant numbers. Today, conservational activism and legislation have significantly reduced poaching, and the magnificent specimen that we see in this image, has less reason to worry, than at any other period of time. And he is most secure in this ecosystem, where, in the contiguous area of Kabini and the Nilgiri biosphere, you will find the single greatest concentration of Asiatic Elephants. The Bull Elephant featured here, is smaller than his African cousin, but is imposing nonetheless. At his prime, the Bull stands 9 feet at the shoulder and weighs upwards of four tonnes. If sheer size weren’t enough, he also boasts rather heavy armament in the gigantic, curved tusks that he sports so regally. This would be truly intimidating, if not for the fact that he is so gentle, intelligent and sensitive. Which is why he’s so loved and venerated, and is a part of the warp and weft of Indian history, religion and mythology. Of course, ‘gentle’ and ‘sensitive’ are not words that come to mind when this same Bull goes into ‘musth’, a condition of heightened testosterone build up that occurs post-puberty. This is the one time everybody stays clear of a Bull Elephant, for he becomes highly excitable and potentially violent. Did we say ‘everybody’? Well, it seems not, for the girls in Kabini seem to suddenly go weak-kneed when a Bull in ‘musth’ stomps by. Proof that it isn’t only in Hollywood productions that the fairer sex seems to prefer bad boys!

Jungle Deodorant

Orange County Resorts — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 04:30:15 +0000

Deodorants come in some of the snazziest packages these days, though the one found in Kabini takes the cake for being the most eye-catching and innovative. The rare Slender Loris is nature’s own odor-buster, one that keeps the forest smelling fresh by consuming the most noxious and smelly insects. This being the case, it’s funny that the Loris chooses such an offensive perfume for herself, one that normal denizens of the woods turn their noses up at. She prepares for a night out by splashing her face with a pungent urine-wash and even rubs the solution on her hands and feet. Before one wonders if she’s been out in the sun for too long, or if her sense of smell is underdeveloped, we’d like to tell you that this is used less as a cosmetic and more as a salve to ease the stings that her smelly prey is so quick to dispense. This easily explains why all her olfactory trespasses are forgiven; nobody clears the forest of those foul smelling, toxic insects better. When you first meet a Slender Loris, you’ll be captivated by those twin saucers that gaze soulfully at you. The eyes of a Loris are limpid pools that you could dive into, if only they weren’t so high up in the treetops. One is tempted to wonder about the effect on other Page 3 divas, if you were to enter a party with a Slender Loris as arm candy. Those large eyes would grab the eyeballs of every man there and make every woman turn interesting shades of green. The women would, however, be wary of unsheathing their claws, as the reputation of the Slender Loris in dealing with poisonous enemies is far from slender.

The Case of the Bashful Giant

Orange County Resorts — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 04:27:37 +0000

Amongst the largest of his species, this champion athlete of the treetops pulls off gravity-defying leaps of up to 6 meters that’d do a Bob Beamon proud. But you’ll never catch him advertising his prowess. Chances are that you’ll never ever see the Malabar Giant Squirrel, but will often hear him chattering away in the dense canopy above your head in Coorg. This arboreal nut-cracker is so bashful, he’ll rarely come down from his tree kingdom, and it’s quite a task getting an appointment with His Royal Shyness. While it’s already difficult to spot his furry two-toned body hurtling across the leafy roof of the forests, hunting and loss of habitat have conspired to put him on the ‘endangered’ list, and ensured that he’s not likely to become a gregarious party animal too soon. While a well developed sense of self preservation manifests itself as shyness at most times, at others, it peeks out as sheer ingenuity. Consider how he and his partner build several identical nests in a particular area when she’s about to give birth. Just like those Presidential cavalcades of identical limousines, the idea is to keep enough decoys to confuse potential enemies, in his case predatory hawks, eagles and civets. But when he does get spotted, he borrows from the techniques of the guards at Buckingham Palace and freezes into total immobility. You can try all the tricks of the trade, even crack asinine jokes, but he will not be distracted from his statuesque pose till he’s convinced the threat has passed. The best thing to do, however, would be to casually turn back, and allow him to scamper away. For the Malabar Giant Squirrel is an indicator of the health of the forest, and by respecting his right to privacy, we’re acknowledging the larger universe that thrives under the canopy.

The Kabini Philharmonic

Orange County Resorts — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 05:30:04 +0000

Imagine a full scale orchestra playing in the middle of the jungle. Imagine discovering that the composer also happens to be all the musicians and instruments rolled into one. Such aural virtuosity is the sole preserve of one of Kabini’s most recognizable citizens: the Sloth Bear. If you choose to read between the notes, you’ll be able to understand his emotional state, just by tuning in to his frequency. Barks, screams, grunts, roars, snarls, woofs and yelps are common renditions to express anger and discomfort. When hurt or fearful, he yowls or whimpers. And if you hear loud huffing and sucking sounds from even 100 meters away, it means that he is relishing his favourite snack of termites, sucking them through the gaps between his teeth. For Sloth Bears, music is the food of love, and, while mating, they let the whole world know, by belting out a melodious tune at the top of their voice. For someone with such a vast musical range, this bear is rather hard of hearing and reminds us of similarly afflicted uncles and aunts who didn’t allow tone deafness to get in the way of subjecting us to their singing prowess. To continue this similarity, the Sloth Bear even walks around with a slow shuffling gait. But don’t be fooled by this apparently slothful behavior. When aroused, he can run faster than most humans, and will charge anything without fear. They have been known, on occasion, to even charge at a disrespectful tiger. Not a very wise course of action, as most such encounters result in the tiger walking away alone, bringing the concert to a close with a resounding burp. Perhaps a case of one man’s symphony being another’s cacophony, and the tiger just couldn’t bear the music anymore!

WINNER of ‘LIFESCAPES ANNIVERSARY CONTEST’
Some people rhymed. Some reasoned. Some took recourse to a pun. Some just had fun. It was a tough battle, and there were several contenders. The jury is now out. And it’s time to announce the winner of the Lifescapes Anniversary Contest.

And the Winner is… more

Fight Club

Orange County Resorts — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:14:27 +0000

If a friend were to tell you about spotting a striped predator, prowling in the undergrowth near the water bodies of Kabini, the mind would immediately go to the majestic tiger that calls these jungles home. But there is another who has earned his stripes for valour beyond the call of duty, and is as feared by his prey. Meet the courageous fighter par compare: the Stripe-necked Mongoose, the largest of the species in Asia. Most of us are familiar with the almost mythical battles between mongooses and snakes, but down here at Ground Zero, it’s an everyday reality. He’s a canny hunter of crabs, frogs, rodents and fowl, but they are plebian affairs- merely sideshows- when compared with the main spectacle: his epic battles with highly venomous snakes. Contrary to popular opinion, he isn’t immune to the venom, and could die if bitten. What stands him in good stead are his reflexes, ferocity and raw courage, as he darts in, feints and taunts his foe, almost like a matador does a raging bull. And when the snake, distracted by his rapidly moving fur, strikes, he’s just a blur and isn’t where he seemed to be, but is behind the befuddled reptile, sinking his teeth into the exposed neck. Speaking of necking, this battle hardened warrior must find romance highly amusing. For, if you hear high pitched giggles coming from the bushes, chances are that it’s our friend paying court to his lady love. Or perhaps, just perhaps, they’re only sharing a laugh about how he outwitted the serpent once again. Bragging rights in such encounters are, after all, almost always with the Stripe-necked Mongoose of Kabini.

Limited Edition Anniversary Model

Orange County Resorts — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 04:48:48 +0000

Meet the most magnificent specimen that’s rolled out of God’s evolutionary factory. Custom built to be the ultimate moving force in his environment, the Royal Bengal Tiger of Nagarhole doesn’t just have looks that can kill, but the tools that can too. When you check out this model of feline grace and power, take your own sweet time. For, this offer holds good only till stocks last, and they are depleting rather fast. At last count there were only 1411 of his kind left in the wild in India. Even as we feature him on Lifescapes’ first anniversary issue, a rather sobering thought is that there could be less of his tribe by the time we get around to celebrating our next. But while monarchy still holds sway in the animal kingdom, let us raise a toast to His Royal Highness. Or should we say ‘Royal Shyness?’ For, this mighty cat is a timid mouse when it comes to the spotlight, and is bashful beyond compare. While his cousins in the other national parks don’t mind strutting their stuff on the jungle catwalks, the Nagarhole version retains his innate shyness and is seen less frequently. While this may seem a dampener for tourists looking to notch up ‘sightings’, it seems to serve him rather well, and perhaps explains why this belt has the highest population of tigers in the wild. The image above is a classic case of the ambusher becoming the ambushed: the mighty hunter looking surprised and not a little abashed at having been caught on film, a rarity may we add. But with efforts like Lifescapes, whose readers aid in the process of Conservation through Conversations, there’s still hope that the future for the King of Kabini is unlimited.

A Cow in Goat’s Clothing

Orange County Resorts — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 04:30:43 +0000

You are looking at a picture of Kabini’s most prized cows. Now, now…hold your horses! Before you think we’ve been grazing on a different kind of ‘grass’, allow us to clarify. Goats, in much of rural India, are considered the ‘poor man’s cow’, and Kabini is no exception to this belief. A herd of just a few hardy goats can feed and sustain a small family in relative comfort. While goats’ biggest contribution to humanity has been as active, albeit reluctant, participants in the field of gastronomy, the humble Kabini herder values them more for their multi-tasking abilities as earning members of his family. For starters, their milk is nutritious, and finds a ready market. They’re also prolific manure machines, and their droppings are a precious fertilizer that can earn a pretty paisa or two. In fact this prodigious production of manure ensures that finding good grazing is a lark. Farmers queue up to let out their fallow land to goatherds, as the droppings fertilize the fields and the grazing provides a free de-weeding service before sowing season. Quid pro quo, in the truest sense! In this peaceful co-existence, there’s just one thing that gets the herders’ goat: the popular assumption that their charges eat almost anything. Nothing could be farther from the truth, as goats are fastidious eaters who’ll starve rather than touch anything that’s fallen on the ground, or has been half eaten. This touchy topic apart, the goats, and their native Kuruba herders, go about their lives as they’ve done for millennia. While the rest of the world may be well into the digital age, in places like Kabini, these images of a perfect rural idyll look set to continue…until the cows come home.

The Case of the Dog that didn’t bark

Orange County Resorts — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:30:36 +0000

It could be an affirmation of the old adage that barking dogs never bite, for the Dhole, or wild dogs of Kabini, are examples of the converse being true, and are never known to bark. But then, why would one want to bark when you have over five caller tunes to stay in touch? The most distinctive is a tuneful whistling (which, by the way, is not only when well proportioned females saunter by), but also includes growls, chuckles, screams and hisses to break the monotony. Musical abilities apart, these whistlers of the woods also have something our Bollywood heroes would die for. In these days of six and eight pack bodies being routinely flaunted on glossies and TV screens, it isn’t unusual to see Dholes with twelve pack bodies. In fact it’s the pack that is the strength of this lean, mean killing machine, and everything they do is as a single, cohesive body. ‘One for all; all for one’, is the philosophy they live by; one that serves them well to bring down a much larger Gaur, or even put an errant leopard or tiger in its rightful place. This team ethic is, however, not restricted to combat alone. A selfless attitude towards the group’s welfare sees Dholes choosing a single mating pair, to ensure a more successful breeding. The others chip in by doing sentry duty, playing nanny, or fetching food for the newborn. This sense of community is what makes the Dholes not just the pre-eminent predator, but also the most swinging social club in the biosphere. While these dogs may not sit, heel, or fetch the paper, the Dhole of Kabini, can certainly teach our management gurus a thing or two about setting organizational goals and achieving them through team effort. And, no, we’re not barking up the wrong tree.