Forsyth Lodge - Wildlife Log

LOG 1

A pack of nine wild dogs seen regularly through late February. On 1st March only 8 dogs were seen in the Peeliya area, west of Madhai Rest House. On the evening of 2nd March returning from a boat trip we went into the inlet near Madhai and came upon a very large crocodile trying to tear something apart. On closer inspection this turned out to be a wild dog, still whole with patches of fur missing where the croc had had a go at it. For a while the croc hung about and then left. The dog had disappeared by the next day. I estimated the size of the croc at about 10 feet and this could perhaps be one of the big individuals we were seeing earlier in the year at the Sonbhadra-Denwa confluence which has come down river with the reduction of water levels.

LOG 2

The river trips have been fascinating with large flocks of India Cormorant (shag) engaged in communal fishing. One just doesn’t get tired of watching the way they herd the fish into the shallows, dive almost simultaneously with the water boiling over and then surfacing and moving on in a great splashing, roil of water. The waders are in full force gathering before the migration. Greenshanks all down the river, flocks of Little Stints with perhaps Temmincks as well although hard to tell in the uncertain light. The Little terns have gathered in hundreds and one can see the scoops in the sand banks where they will be nesting. They need to breed and rear their young before the rising waters in the monsoon flood the nests. An Osprey down river from Dhaba camp completes this idyllic picture.

No mist and we are woken at 5.30 and by 6.30 we are across the river. We had planned to walk to the Elephant Camp but with the news of the Tigress we are not permitted the walk so back to Kanhaiya and Hari Prasad. At the elephant camp we found that they had already gone out and so we followed them to the area of the kill. They were going in the wrong direction and some low whistling brought them all toward us and soon we clambered onto the back of one of them. There were 3 and Kanhaiya and Hari Prasad sat on each of the others. Some gentle prodding and suddenly we were swaying along looking out for branches that we need to duck from and there we were right above our lady who looked lazy, contented and fat. She just watched us as if to say “It’s mine!” and rolled onto her back and we took turns getting the good view of the Tigress and photographing her. Her kill was partly eaten and just behind her. At one point I noticed that Kanhaiya and Hari Prasad were nodding off to sleep on their elephants. Suddenly it seemed so routine to be sitting on an elephant, watching a Tigress who is completely unperturbed by our presence!

As we returned we complained – only half joking - that we hadn’t yet seen a leopard and somehow were convinced that with our incredible luck a leopard was just waiting for us around the corner. Not this time, though! Forsyth is happening already!

No call materialized and even so I got up at 6 am and went out only to be disappointed by the light mist. Nim arrived and after discussions we decided to take our tea and leave by 7.30 as the mist had started to clear. My optimism, which had been severely dented, started to revive. A brisk walk to the boat landing and we were across. The jeeps were out and the start had been a little late so we opted for a boat ride around the lake. In the special boat fitted with a proper outboard motor we soon rounded some spurs to find ourselves in a sheltered bay where crocodiles and the odd turtle were seen basking on the sunny banks. We laughed because Vikesh, the construction contractor at Forsyth, who had a word on every subject had insisted that we need not rush as the crocs only came out at 11 am. It was just after 9! Loads of Open Billed Storks, Cormorants Large and Little, Grey Herons, Lapwings, Terns and plenty of ducks whose names elude me, were all being identified and pointed out by Nim.

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1. 2nd November- Ram Singh traced the pugmarks of an adult male Leopard from Peelia into Siddhbaba Pahari in the west on an afternoon patrolling mission.
2. A regularly used Crocodile nest was shown by Ram Singh in the Peelia area near Madhai.
3. A Sloth Bear with 2 cubs was seen by Kanhaiya (driver cum guide) near Madhai and another in Badkhova.
4. A Leopard was seen on the 1st of November in the afternoon by Kanhaiya and Asish on a drive with tourists in the afternoon in the Babapaani area.
5. A Leopard was seen by Ashish (guide) while going to Churna in the vehicle on the morning of the 3rd near the first Cement rise close to Khinni Nala.

Participants- Ram Singh (forest guard).

Tracks of an adult male Leopard found in the elephants tracks on the edge of Lora Pahari with very distant sambar alarm calls coming from the Peelia area (west). Tracks of an adult male Leopard found on the Elephant pugdundee behind Bhuri Maati Dam and going straight past the elephant Camp (as was confirmed by the Mahouts who said the Leopard crossed at 4:00 hrs that morning and went into the Terai Plot) The tracks were later traced coming all along the Khapa road before going onto the Elephant Pugdundee and originating in the PIP at Khapa Baaga Nala Phutan- Evidence of a small snake trail having crossed the elephant pugdundee- 5 female Nilgai seen behind Bhuri maati dam. 1 2 ft monitor lizard seen resting in the middle of the road at Baaga Nala in the afternoon.