John Anderson (Berlin)
Visited: February, 2nd, 02
Since
my juvenile years I have recognized India as a country ecstatic with a
tremendous melange of wildlife. I don't know when the inspiration crept into
my mind, but this time it was a passion which surmount all bounds of hold -
finally, I ended up landing at the Indira Gandhi International airport in
New Delhi.
As I hunt the treasures of wild in the country I retrieved an extensive
variety of wildlife habitats of India. If there is the royal Indian Tiger at
Jim Corbett in the Himalayan region, the northeast honored me with the Great
Indian One-Horned Rhino in Kaziranga. While I encountered the majestic
Asiatic Lion at Gir in the west, in south I explored the prodigious Indian
Elephant at Periyar in Kerala. Wildlife treasures of India do not cease in
these evasive mammals- rather it is a bountiful reservoir of aerial
population, reptiles, vertebrates and non-vertebrates which would acquire
more than a life-time for its voluminous discovery.
A life time memory that I can never ever forget how after a tiresome day of
jeep safari with my guide in a Jim Corbett National Park I sighted the
Indian tiger hunting its target. As the antelope ran for its life, swinging
from one side to other, the jungle king was on a rigorous task to quench his
hunger. This is definitely a lifetime adventures for me. I was quite
contented and like to mention that the Indian Government has undertaken a
praiseworthy task by launching the 'Project Tiger' as an intent to safeguard
this exquisite creatures from extinction from the face of mother earth.
After my two-day sojourn to Jim Corbett, it was time
now for a close rendezvous with the Asiatic Lion. I headed for Gir, the last
home of this king of the jungle. Gir is a most preserved and protected area
meant for the conservation of these endangered creatures. I came across
quite a few number of this exquisite beast roaming unalarmed in the dense
woods.
The next day I came back to New Delhi to take a flight for Guwahati in
Assam from there I headed off to Kaziranga, the home of the largely
endangered Great Indian One- horned Rhino. I enjoyed my elephant safari as I
explored the great wilds of Kaziranga, the sight of the gigantic Rhino in
its diverse subtlety of mood, was just mesmerizing. It was just
awe-inspiring to watch how this courageous beast gears the sporadic attack
of leopards.
After my visit to Kaziranga, my final destination was Periyar National Park
in Kerala where I viewed group of wild Indian Elephants wondering in pride
around unconcerned as aware of their royal status in the jungle- being the
largest mammal on land, they have nothing to fear about. Although it is
little smaller in seize than its African counterpart, yet it captivated me
without end.
This is just a summary of the encounters that I had with the Indian
wildlife. The array of wild creatures that I sighted here stands vibrating-
wild bores, leopards, various species of deer, bison, antelopes, wild cats,
the Himalayan black bear, large variety of bird species and reptiles
including falcons, peacocks, hornbills, king cobra, pantheon-the list seems
endless.
