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The sanctuary is endowed with very rich and diverse wildlife
due to the mosaic pattern of vegetation.
The ecotones
(edge effects) created at the interspersion of different
vegetation types are the vital wildlife habitats. Such junctions
are plenty in this sanctuary and are well distributed as well.
Same is the case with water resources constituted by the
reservoirs, rivers and streams. The abundant herbivore
population present in the sanctuary in turn support a
substancial population of predators like tiger and leopard. In a
nutshell, following is the faunal diversity available in this
sanctuary in various catagories.
|
Category |
Species |
| Mammals |
39 |
| Amphibians |
16 |
| Birds |
268 |
| Reptiles |
61 |
| Fish |
47 |
| Insects |
1049 |
| Butterflies |
124 |
Some interesting facts
Tiger (Panthera tigris)
Tiger, the charismatic predator of the jungle, delineates its
own territory and lives within that. The territory is marked by
urinating on the trees and rocks along the boundary. Trespass by
another male usually ends up in conflict which turns into a
bloody battle sometimes. The tigresses in a family may have
overlapping territories within the male's territory. Even though
tiger is a powerful predator with plenty of tactics, it is
observed that only one in twenty attempts of hunting is really
successful.
Leopard or Panther and Cheetah
Leopard and Panther are one and the same and its zoological name
is Panthera pardus.
Black Panther is not a separate species. Blackness, the general
darkening of colour is due to the excessive presence of a
substance called Melanin which intensifies pigmentation. The
production of melanin is increased where there is a combination
of high temperature, humidity and reduced light. Both black and
normal-coloured cubs may be produced in the same litter. They
are prevalent in the rain-swept Equatorial forests south of
Malaya.
Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) also known as hunting leopard is
different from the ordinary leopard and distinct. The
distinguishing features are small round head, slim waist line,
prominent tear marks and solid close-set individual black spots.
They are more common in Africa. It is supposed to be extinct in
India.
Indian Wild Dog or Dhole
The Wild Dogs (Cuon alpinus) are social animals moving about in
'Packs'. The pack may be one family or aggregation of several
families. In packs
they are capable of hunting larger prey and the way of killing
is gruesome. They are capable of eating meat several times their
body weight. Wild dogs generally communicate with each other
with a peculiar 'whistling' cry and they don't bark like the
common dogs.
Primates (Apes, Monkeys and Lemurs)
'Fur-picking', the universal habit among the apes and monkeys is
not a hunt for lice or fleas. They are naturally remarkably free
from these vermin. On the contrary it is a means of social
communication between members of the troop (a group of monkeys)
and to develop strong social bond. Hoolock Gibbon (Hylobates
hoolock) is the only ape found in India. Rest of the monkeys are
all macaques and langurs.
Elephant (Elephas maximus)
Elephants are the largest mammal living on land. Elephants are
of two namely African Elephant and Asiatic.
Difference between African and Asian Elephants
|
African Elephant
|
Asian Elephant
|
|
Larger than Asian Elephant |
Smaller than African Elephant |
| Both male
and female possess tusks |
Only male
possess tusks |
|
Ears are larger than Asian Elephants |
Ears are smaller than African Elephants |
| Highest
point is the Head |
Highest
point is the back |
|
Difficult to get tamed |
Can be tamed easily |
Elephant is facing a threat to its life from poachers due to
the fact that it possesses valuable ivory.The ivory of elephant
is not a distinct organ but an extension and modification of its
teeth, the upper incisors.
Bison and Gaur
The Gaur in our forests are generally wrongly referred to as
Bison which is a misnomer. What we see in Indian forests is Gaur
(Bos gaurus) and not Bison. Gaur is also known as Indian Bison.
Gaur is a wild relative of our domestic cows and not buffaloes.
Horns and
Antlers
Horns are different from antlers.
Horns are external in origin. It is hollow sheath covering
the bony core arising from the skull. They persist throughout
life. They may wear and flake off as new horn grows below. Horns
are characteristic of Bovidae, the cows and buffaloes family.
Both the sexes sport horns, the only difference being that horns
of male are massive and that of the females are smaller and less
massive.
Antlers are solid horns that are skeletal in origin. They are
shed when old and new antlers grow. Antlers are possessed by
Cervids, members of the deer family. Only the males possess
antlers.
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