OikoEssence: January 2018

Chhattisgarh has a lot to offer for all nature & heritage lovers. We visited bastar, kangerghati National park, Sitanadi and Udanti Wildlife Sanctuaries, Barnawapara Tiger reserve. Historical places like Barsur and Sirpur.

Some of the biodiversity Sightings during this camp include
Arachnids
Social spider
Giant wood spider
Signature spider
Funnel spider
Birds
Indian roller
Eurasian Openbill
Painted staork
Night jar
Orange Minivet
Crested serpent eagle
White-eyed buzzard
Jungle owlet
Large green barbet
Black hooded Oriole
Mammals
Indian flying fox
Giant Squirrel
Wild dog
Rhesus macaques

Barnawapara sightings include
Birds
Indian peafowl
Black winged kite
Golden back woodpecker
White bellied drongo
Green bee eater
White throated Kingfisher
Black ibis
Glossy ibis
Indian Cormorant
Pond heron
Cattle egret
White browed fantail
Oriented Magpie robin
Indian robin
Rose-ringed parakeet
Common Myna
Black drongo
Mammals

Spotted deer
Sambhar
Gaur
Hanuman langur
Rhesus macaques

Chitrkote Waterfall clicked by Gauri G

Tirathgarh clicked by Rupali G

Kutumsar caves Stalactite formation clicked by Gauri G

Column formation clicked by Gauri G

Interesting Shivling clicked by Gauri G

Laxman temple clicked by Gauri G

Interesting carved pillar Clicked by Thiruvengam E

Ganeshas Clicked by Rupali G

clicked by Thiruvengadam E

Clicked by Rupali G

interesting carving of snake entering in a hole from one side of the pillar and coming out from other side. Clicked by Rupali G

Bazaar remnants of 6th century Clicked by Rupali G

Barnawapara Clicked by Rupali

Anthill Clicked by Rupali G

Crocodile clicked by Thiruvengadam E

Jungle Owlet Clicked by Rupali G

Greater coucal clicked by Thiruvengadam E

White-eyed buzzard Clicked by Rupali G

Black-winged kite Clicked by Rupali G

Crested Serpent eagle clicked by Thiruvengadam E

Giant Squirrel clicked by Thiruvengadam E

Hanuman Langur Clicked by Rupali G

Gaur Family Clicked by Rupali G

Group

Clicked by Gauri G

OikoEssence Explorers clicked by Gauri G

Explorers Clicked by Rupali G

Group at Sirpur

A stroll in a local tribal market

Local tribal market Clicked by Rupali G

Pic by Gauri G

Dear Friends,

We had a really wonderful camp in Madhya Pradesh in November 2017. We visited Madhav & Kuno-Palpur National Parks; Karera, Ghatigaon Wildlife Sanctuaries. These two wildlife Sanctuaries were formed for the conservation of The Great Indian Bustard. The situation in Karera is not really good as far as this bird species is concerned. In fact it is on the verge of getting de-notify. The forest department is trying to protect the land but it seems that there is tremendous pressure from opposite side. OikoEssence sincerely appeals to the local NGOs in MP to extend their support in protecting the Sanctuary. It still has a capacity to attract many bird species if proper steps are taken. In Ghatigaon forest Department is taking good steps in conservation by creating a habitat for this species. For further readings on the Critically Endangered bird Species - The Great Indian Bustard please check the following link:
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22691932/0

Madhav National Park has excellent scenic beauty. The lake in side the park attracts lots of migratory birds including Bar headed Geese. Kuno-Palpur Tiger reserve too has tremendous biodiversity.

We also visited historical monuments like Jhansi Fort & Gwalior Fort.

Pic by Gauri G

Pic by Bhaskar P

We are thankful to all our participants for taking part in our camps and allowing us to use their photographs for our blog.
Given below is a list of Sightings for this entire camp. The plant list is prepared by our participant - Renee V. Where as all participants contributed in making list of fauna.

Thorny trees & bushes……..

1. Acacia leucophloem Sonjh

2. Prosopis juliflora Vilayati Keeker

3. Acacia catechu Khair

4. Acacia nilotica Babool

5. Dichrostachys cinerea Sickle Bush/Bicolor Acacia

6. Flacourtia indica Kakai

7. Ziziphus xylopyrus Ghatbor

8. Ziziphus mauritiana Ber

Climbers

9. Pergularia daemia Utaran

10. Alistolochia tagada or indica Battak Vel