Debasis Bose
05-01-2014, 06:02 PM
This visit to corbett (20Dec-3 Jan) was quite fruitful, encountered with 9 different tigers including 3 cubs, one mating pair, mother tigress killing chital in grassland and then taking the kill to her cubs - a total of 20 tiger sightings, one leopard, young tusker, elephant forming a fortress to protect their few months old baby, then mother violently thumping her right foreleg to ground, and the final act of charging, jackals, yellow throated marten, mongoose, pangolin, cobra snake, mugger crocodile, alligator, mahaseer fish, goonch fish (atleast 30-40kg), turtle, hog deer, barking deer, sambhar, chital and innumerable species of birdlife - to be exact 57 species and still counting the photographs.
This particular male in the picture is about 4 years old, have already sired 3 cubs of about 11-14 months old through her sister and apparently is mating her another sister. They are cubs of Badi madi - one of my first photograph posted in Indiawilds. They are now ruling the grassland of dhikala. Father of the pictured male was apparently poached in 2012 and the area surrounding two side of the dhikala grass land has two very dominating male at each side side and the kalagarh dam lake on the other two side. Most probably that may have restricted the present male from migrating away from his birth place (in short 3 causes, poaching of male who fathered the cubs, two dominating male gauding teritory and two sides blocked by large water body). This proves how the lack of viability of the forest corridors connecting tiger habitats has a direct affect on a tigers' chance of finding an unrelated mate and on the ability of tiger populations to maintain genetic diversity. Most of us may be aware of, genetic diversity allows species to survive disease and habitat stress and encourages long-term survival.
I visit Corbett twice a year and have records of the three tigers (one male and two female), who have formed pairs and one has already given birth to 3 cubs and hope soon we will see the other will also give birth. Is that good for the Indian Bengal Tigers - In my opinion the lack of genetic diversity will accelerate the process of extinction of these majestic tigers from the Indian forests, unless some drastic steps are taken concurently with antipoaching schemes.
Nikon D700, Nikor 300mm f2.8, shot at 1627 hrs, exposure 1/250, ISO 200.
Wish all the members of Indiawilds and their loved ones Fabulous and Healthy New Year 2014.
This particular male in the picture is about 4 years old, have already sired 3 cubs of about 11-14 months old through her sister and apparently is mating her another sister. They are cubs of Badi madi - one of my first photograph posted in Indiawilds. They are now ruling the grassland of dhikala. Father of the pictured male was apparently poached in 2012 and the area surrounding two side of the dhikala grass land has two very dominating male at each side side and the kalagarh dam lake on the other two side. Most probably that may have restricted the present male from migrating away from his birth place (in short 3 causes, poaching of male who fathered the cubs, two dominating male gauding teritory and two sides blocked by large water body). This proves how the lack of viability of the forest corridors connecting tiger habitats has a direct affect on a tigers' chance of finding an unrelated mate and on the ability of tiger populations to maintain genetic diversity. Most of us may be aware of, genetic diversity allows species to survive disease and habitat stress and encourages long-term survival.
I visit Corbett twice a year and have records of the three tigers (one male and two female), who have formed pairs and one has already given birth to 3 cubs and hope soon we will see the other will also give birth. Is that good for the Indian Bengal Tigers - In my opinion the lack of genetic diversity will accelerate the process of extinction of these majestic tigers from the Indian forests, unless some drastic steps are taken concurently with antipoaching schemes.
Nikon D700, Nikor 300mm f2.8, shot at 1627 hrs, exposure 1/250, ISO 200.
Wish all the members of Indiawilds and their loved ones Fabulous and Healthy New Year 2014.