Jungle Safari Weekend : Bandhavgarh

Bandhavgarh National Park is a national park of India, located in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh. Bandhavgarh, with an area of 105 square kilometres (41 sq mi), was declared a national park in 1968 and then became Tiger Reserve in 1993. The current core area is spread over 716 square kilometres (276 sq mi).

This park has a large biodiversity. The park has a large breeding population of leopards, and various species of deer. Maharaja Martand Singh of Rewa captured the first white tiger in this region in 1951. This white tiger, Mohan, is now stuffed and on display in the palace of the Maharajas of Rewa. Historically villagers and their cattle have been at a threat from the tiger. Rising mining activities around the park are putting the tigers at risk. The Park derived its name from the most prominent hill of the area which is said to have been given by Lord Rama to his brother Laxman to keep a watch on Lanka The fort was built by Gond Dynasty king. (Bandhav = Brother, Garh = Fort).

ANIMALS AND BIRDS :

According to survey , in 2022 , there are around 40 species of mammal . There are more than 250 species of birds, about 80 species of butterflies, a number of reptiles. But many people have the species’ list of about 350 birds along with photographs. The richness and tranquity of grasslands invites pairs of sarus cranes to breed in the rainy season.
One of the biggest attractions of this national park is the tiger (Panthera tigris tigris). Bandhavgarh has a very high density of tigers within its jungles. The 105 km² of park area open to tourists was reported to have 22 tigers, a density of one tiger for every 4.77 km². (Population estimation exercise 2001). The population of tigers in the park in 2022 was about 60-70. There is a saying about the Park that goes: “In any other Park, you are lucky if you see a tiger. In Bandhavgarh, you are unlucky if you don’t see (at least) one.” Bandhavgarh has one of the highest density of Bengal tigers known in the world and is home to some well-known tigers which are large.

 Charger, a tiger so named because of his habit of charging at elephants and tourists (whom he nonetheless did not harm), was the first healthy male known to be living in Bandhavgarh since the 1990s, as well as a female known as Sita. Charger once appeared on the cover of National Geographic and is considered the second most photographed tiger in the world. Almost all the tigers of Bandhavgarh today are descendants of Sita and Charger. Their daughter Joita, sons Langru and B2 also maintained their tradition for frequent sighting and moving close to tourist vehicles. Mohini, another female, became prominent following Sita’s death. She mated with the male tiger, Mahaman. She later died of her wounds from a vehicle accident. Charger died in 2000 and his body was buried at Charger Point where he was kept in a closed region at his old age.Between 2003 and 2006, many of his descendants met with a series of unfortunate ends. Sita was killed by poachers too.

After the death of charger, the fully grown B2 survived as dominant Male of the forest between 2004-2007.Mating with a female in the Siddhababa region of Bandhavgarh, he became father of three cubs. One of them was a male. He was named Bamera.He was first sighted in 2008 and is now Bandhavgarh’s dominant male. In November 2011, B2 died.
 
 Bheema, Bamera, Chandini, Kankati, Rajbhera, Dotty Krishna, Sukhipatia, Marchaini are few of the famous striped cats of Bandhavgarh. They are recognized more by their territory than their facial and stripe marks, which is the suggested way of identifying tigers in the wild.