Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Trek the Sahyadris


Destination Type Date Photos
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Vasota Yes
Harishchandragad
Kokankada
Purandargad
Dukes Nose
Lohagad / Visapur
Chawani Village Nature
Peb Fort
Makarandgad
Sajjangad Temple
Bhimashankar Wildlife Santuary
Tikona
Sinhagad
Malshej
Raigad

Monday, April 17, 2006

Visit to Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary

Visited Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary this weekend, to support the Forest officials for the animal sensex (animal counting). [Team size: 8]

We had a night trail on Saturday, where we strengthened our senses, to identify the location of the animals / insects /birds. Also located some water-holes and hide outs where we can possible hide to see animal at night for the sensex.

Sunday morning was the pugmarks search 6am - 12pm. With help of the forest servant, Ganesh, we identified the pugmarks of Monguse, wild boars, sambhar. Year 2005 sensex had counted 9 leopards (bibtya). During our visit, we identified and recorded 2 leopard pugmarks, one was identified as a young male (3 years old), and one was a female (mostly the other's mother). The pugmarks were fresh and looked like they had passed the location around 3 hours before our visit. [Pugmark prints are taken in plaster-of-Paris (PoP) to record the sitting.] Also sited the state animal - "Shekaru" (the giant squirrel) found in-majority around the Bhimashankar region. All-in-all a great experience and a fruitful event. Do follow the link below for a few photos from the event.

Photos link: Link

Details on Bhimashanlar on the web: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhimashankar