Heritage Club Activities Animal Watching and Listing

Animals found in India Indian Elephant or Asian Elephant, Asiatic Lion, Lion Tailed Macaque, Great Indian Rhinoceros, Leopard, Neelgai, Royal Bengal Tiger, Wild Ass, Pangolin or Scaly Anteater, Chinkara or Indian gazelles, Nilgiri Tahr, Indian black bear, Indian black buck, Indian Camel, Clouded leopards, Indian Deer, Striped hyena, Wild boar etc. Endangered animals of India Asiatic cheetah, Asiatic Lion, Asiatic Wild Ass, Bengal Fox, Gaur, Indian Elephant, Indian Rhinocerous, Marbled Cat, Markhor, Snow Leopard, Tiger, Lion Tailed Macaque, Indian Rhinoceros, Nilgiri Ibex or Tahr, Indian Bison (Gaur), Kashmir Red Stag (Hangul), Red Panda etc.

About animal watching… Animal watching is an art and adventure which requires creativity, enthusiasm, love for animals and a lot of patience. It allows you to explore and learn about the places, natural inhabitants and their habitats. Things to be kept in mind while watching animals…

Respect wildlife. Location –to observe a particular type of animal, you’ll have to go where

that animal lives. So, you need to research on the habitat and areas. If you are in a national park or sanctuary, ask guides to help you out.

Season – it be there at the right time of the year because most of the species change their behavior throughout the year. You should learn more about their behaviour patterns throughout the year before going.

Time – it be there at the right time of the day as some animals are most active during day and some are active during night.

Equipment- depending on where you’re going. Make sure to bring appropriate clothing for the climate. Remember to carry a good camera and binoculars.

Don’t wear colognes, perfumes, scented lotions or hair products. Wear cotton fabrics, natural colours to merge with the nature and avoid bright cloths. Wear a hat in summers and dark glasses are a big no.

You should be careful about their daily lives and behavior, their feeding, sleeping, breeding habit etc. The local people have good knowledge of the places where there is high probability of animals.

Keep your distance from animals and be still. Find a good spot and be prepared to wait. You can track animals from their droppings or pug marks.

Be quiet when you are out in their habitat and listen carefully. Most animals have the ability to see, hear or smell you before you are aware of their presence. They observe you about how you act, and then they decide to stay, defend themselves or flee.

Talk less and use hand signals to interact and turn off your cell phone. While you’re watching animals, listen to their sounds.

Do not litter as it can be fatal for wildlife and don’t pluck flowers and fruits.

Make sure you are at the right place at the right time to see the animals.

Bengal Tiger- Bandhavgarh, Madhya Pradesh One Horned Rhinoceros- Kaziranga, Assam Asiatic Lion- Gir, Gujarat Wild Ass- Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat Elephant- Nagarhole, Karnataka Leopard- Kambeshwar Ji Leopard Sanctuary, Bera, Rajasthan Snow Leopard- Hemis National Park, Ladakh

Most parks in offer jeep rides into the park which helps you to cover a lot of distance in the less time and has chances of seeing more of wildlife. Nature is full of wonders you just need to know what to look for and where to look. Few more useful tips…

Keep all the food items in a way that the animals do not see it. Avoid pungent and aromatic foods.

Stay away from young ones of wild animals such as Himalayan bear etc. Don’t go too close to the wild animals even to click a nice photograph. Stay away from carcasses. Wild animals keep an eye on their food and

can attack you if they find you near it. Keep flashlight with you.

Factors affecting animals … Human beings polluting the air, land and water. For ex: frog eggs, tadpoles and adults are

extremely sensitive to pollutants especially pesticides Over-exploitation of natural resources Habitat loss and fragmentation Poaching of wild animals Climate change and changing environmental conditions Over-hunting of animals Diseases and health conditions

You must be patient while observing the animals and should note down their movement, behavior and features for your records. Share it with others.

Pug marks of animals

1. Tiger

2. Leopard

3. Hyena

Documentation Card of the Animal 1. Name of the animal -------------------------------------------------------

2. Category or family--------------------------------------------------------

3. Colour of the body, tail and wings------------------------------------------

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4. Size or built of the animal--------------------------------------------------

5. Any patch or design on the body -------------------------------------------

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6. Sound or call---------------------------------------------------------------

7. Spotted it alone, or with young ones or with a group----------------------

8. Habitat where you spotted the animal-------------------------------------

9. Any usual behavioral pattern----------------------------------------------

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10. Sketch the animal