Wildlife of Satpura National Park

Part of Central Indian Highlands so aptly described by James Forsyth in 18th Century Satpura National Park is a wildlife haven. At present, it is a stretch of forest that comprises 3000 sq. km and encompasses Pacharhi Hill Resort. The park lies in Central India or the State of Madhya Pradesh. Dhoopgarh is the highest point in Madhya Pradesh which is in Pachmarhi National Park.  It is 1352 meters in elevation. 

Satpura National Park is also a tiger reserve and is governed by the State Forest Department of Madhya Pradesh. The core area comprises 528 sq. km and along with Bori and Pachmarhi it forms a biosphere reserve. The name is derived from the Satpura Range which flanks South Eastern Park of Madhya Pradesh. On the North in Vindhya Range and both converge at Maikal Hills in the Amarkantak Hill Resort.    

Wildlife of Satpura    

The megafauna includes tiger, leopard, sambar deer, axis deer, barking deer, bison, wild boar, Nilgai, four-horned antelope, fox, jackal, giant squirrel, rusty jungle cat, chinkara, hyena, langur, rhesus macaque, and the sloth bear. Among the small mammals are the pangolin, Indian giant squirrel, three palm squirrels, porcupines, and civet cats.  The diversity of the park ai amazing. 

Birds of Satpura 

There are more than 254 species of birds found at Satpura that include winter migrants. Some of the noted species are verditor flycatcher, shama, Malabar hornbill, racket-tailed drongo, orange-headed ground thrush, honey buzzard, crested hawk eagle, serpent eagle,  paradise flycatcher, Malabar whistling thrush, black-naped flycatcher, jungle prinia, stonechat, spotted owlet, jungle owlet, grey jungle fowl, bar-headed geese, savanna nightjar, grey-headed fish eagle, grey hornbill, Indian skimmer, grey nightjar, Indian nightjar, pariah kite, white backed munia, red avadavat, gold fronted leaf bird, Jerdon's leaf bird,  yellow wattled lapwing, red wattled lapwing, river lapwing, Eurasian wryneck, tawny eagle, steppe eagle, shikra and sparrow hawk. 

Flora of Satpura  

The tiger reserve has more than 62 species of trees, shrubs, and herbs. It has many grasslands that add to the biodiversity. Some of the species are Lynda, Sal, teak, dhain, harra, bahera, aonla, and more.  

Tourism at Satpura 

The park is divided among tourism zones that comprise 20% of the core. Tourism is conducted in both core zones and buffer zones. To make an excursion in the park you have to book a safari at Satpura at MPOnline. You can also book a safari at the gates if they are available. Hence you should book the safari in Advance.

Satpura is at a distance of 260 km from Jabalpur Airport and 190 km from Bhopal Airport. It is accessible from Pipariya Station on the Bombay Howarh line. It is well connected by road.    

Sighting Wild Elephants in India

Wild elephants or Indian Wild Elephants are spread in many states of India. But, they are found mostly in North East, North West, East, and Southern India.  Badly persecuted for their tusks considered an aphrodisiac, and for ivory-based artifacts, their number had gone precariously low. The tusks were also considered as a money transfer from India to other countries where they could be sold to obtain cash.

Once widespread all over the forests of the country their population has reduced, and it stands a little over 30,000. Thanks, to the Project Elephant Program and the ban on hunting the population of the pachyderm, is increasing and they are being sighted in their previous habitats. For example, there have been sightings of herds in Bandhavgarh, Kanha, and neighboring forests. These animals were never heard of in these areas.

Project Elephant   

Launched in the year 1992 by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) to provide financial and wildlife management support the program is doing well.

• It was launched as Central Government Scheme;
• Centrally Sponsored Scheme with following objective
• To protect elephants, their habitat, and corridors.
• To address issues of man-animal conflict.
• The welfare of captive elephants
• to promote not to harm elephants for their tusks.           

More elephant conservation initiatives are being carried out to protect the species in India.

Indian Vs African Elephant

Indian or Asiatic Elephant differs morphologically from African Elephant. The former prefers dense forests while the latter prefers savannah grasslands. Most of the biological features and social life is nearly similar.        

Distribution of elephants in India.

The population in the country stands between 27,785–31,368.

They are found in the Northwest Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

They are found in the Northeast – from the border of Nepal in Northern West Bengal, West Assam plains extending into eastern Arunachal Pradesh, the foothills of Nagaland, and Meghalaya. Small herds occur in Tripura, Mizoram, and Manipur

They are found In the central part – in Odisha, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. The entry into Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh has been recent.

in the South, they are found in   Karnataka, Kerala Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.

Elephant Tourism

Though nothing compared with tiger tourism in the country elephant tourism is not uncommon. Tourists on tiger safari often seek wild elephants at Corbett National Park and Periyar Tiger Reserve. Other places where the pachyderms are seen in the wild are:

• Singhbhum Elephant Reserve
• Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve
• Garo Hills Elephant Reserve
• Anamudi Elephant Reserve
• Chirang-Ripu
• Mahanadi
• Thekkapakadu
• Punnatthurkotta, Guruvayoor
• Dubare

Most of these destinations are elephant reserves while many are camps that display the wild pachyderms. Although not as popular as tiger reserve still a large number of these giants can be seen in the country. Post January elephant sighting at Corbett increases. This attracts a lot of tourists to the reserve. Elephants descend to the foothills as vegetation becomes scarce and winter is at its peak. 

Sloth Surprise

It is not often that you checklist an animal to see in a wildlife sanctuary or a National Park and get to see it.

But it happens!

My American friends came to Kanha on the final leg of their long safari from Corbett, Ranthambhore and Bandhavgarh. They had seen the tiger and many other animals and wanted to see wild dogs and a sloth bear.

"Sloth Bear!" I said rather surprised. "Well lets see," I said Kanha is full of surprises so everything is a possibility.

Sloth bear are shy and nocturnal animals by habit and hence prefer to move in at night. Nevertheless some awaken in search of food and can be seen around the park meadows but with great difficulty. I have seen sloth bears around this jungle camp at Kanha on the periphery which has substantial forest cover and fruity shrubs to forage on. With luck a tourist can see a leopard around this resort as they often hunt spotted deer which make their way here after sunset. Most of the resorts at Kanha safari park are situated in the buffer zone and hence surrounded with lush green forest. The forest at places are dense and hence a habitat for lots of wild animals and birds.

Sloth bear are more often seen at Bamni Dadar hill road which they prefer due to some food factor and perhaps less disturbance. We headed on to the hill top on our morning safari but no luck as there were lot many jeeps on safari here which disturbed all animals including the sloth bears and the tigers.

It was in the evening ride as we were rolling down the hills whence we managed to spot the sloth bear which was well hidden in the jungle bush. The animal has a peculiar gait and is completely hidden in short bushes when on four legs. It was a big surprise not only for my friends but for me as well. It was there perhaps in answer to our prayers. At Kanha you can spot the tiger with greater certainty than a bear or a wild dog.