When we were ready to leave, Ramesh the assistant of Mr. Ajay's group, pointed out and shouted, "Tiger! Tiger!" We all got up and saw the tiger departing. It is very difficult to say that it was the same tiger or a new one. The tiger that had departed earlier and the one that departed later were completely in opposite direction (180 degrees to be accurate). The tiger was approaching the waterhole very cautiously as if he was stalking. It was strange that tiger having such a keen sense of hearing could not hear the six of us talking or he was a very courageous tiger trying to be inquisitive. Nevertheless it was an excellent sighting watching one or two tigers in a span of 20 minutes.
 We returned to Dhikala by a new route from Kammarpatta via Bichhoo Boji sot a very exciting return with lantern on both side of us and a very good track for elephants to cross. We made a few pad on the way back. This area was under Ajay and Avdesh.
We started our evening as usual at 4:00 p.m. and went via Patarpani - Kammarpatta Marg where we had to abandon our journey and return since we were encircled by a large herd of elephants from both sides. We returned via Bichhoo Boji and sat down at the water hole for sometime then returned back to Dhikala. From here we picked up our vehicle and went to Kammarpatta via Dhikala Road and saw if any track could be found. With no luck we returned back to Dhikala.
8.May.1997
It had rained all night and still the weather was cloudy. We did not take to our route in the morning. Having come to Dhikala one is never satisfied by staying in the camp. As soon as the clock touched 9:00 a.m. we picked up our jeep and started our journey to Chooha Pani waterhole where for the first time on the way we came across the Great Pied Hornbills, it is a lovely bird and one of the best I would say of these jungles. There were three Pied Hornbills the biggest of the three was annoyed by our presence and started to fly off making a whoosh whoosh sound by the wings. It was a grand sighting. We found nothing more nor any pug marks and returned back to the base.
In the afternoon we had lunch at Israr Mahavat's daughters wedding. The unity in the jungles folks reminds you of the olden days. How everyone gathered within minutes from all communities and made the ceremony look so easy and affordable. The forest guard Mr. Negi along with Mr. Deb Singh prepared delicious food for over 100 people.
In the evening we were delayed a little while starting as the WWF team had come from Delhi with nearly 25 people of the publicity media representing various TV and newspaper organization. I met Brig. Ranjit Talwar of WWF, in charge of tiger conservation cell and exchanged greetings since I had met him earlier and had my say in communicating my feelings regarding the non participation of NGO's in the current census and my disappointment in WWF on the whole. He tried vainly to justify their intentions but the damage had been done. The general impression is that WWF has not done its part well instead of sending their own team for assisting in the actual tiger census they had come on the scene third day of tiger census and that too for the sole purpose of publicity for themselves. It all looked quite farce.
Dr. Ranjit Bhargava, (chairman of WWF India, up state committee) along with Mr. Anup Sah, a noted Floriculturist and Himalayan Photographer, accompanied us in our evening beat (route). We reached the intersection of Kammarpatta and Dhikala Road where we came across the pug marks of a tigress having a stride of 108 cms. We took the marks on the glass and tracing paper and left the plaster of paris to dry and then proceeded further to Chooha Pani waterhole were we waited and talked for a while. We explained in details the complete process of taking tiger pug marks and overall wild life scenario. Talking to Dr. Bhargav was very interesting and it became clear that he is a genuine environmentalist who was doing whatever he could do for the cause he believed in. Listed first in his priority is the pollution control. It is pure luck when you come across good people and am thankful to almighty that we met.
We returned the same way we had come and collected the plaster of paris impression from the intersection. By this time it had dried was o.k.
In the evening we were informed by Mr. Hira Singh Karmiyal (DYP ranger) that as per the directors instructions we were to depart the next morning at 4:30 a.m. for Khinanauli from where we were to proceed to Taulia Chowki and surrounding areas.
On our night walk after dinner we met the director Mr. R. C. Gautam who was accompanied with the previous director Mr. Negi and had the pleasure of talking to them for a brief time.
9.May.1997
We were woken up at 4:00 a.m. and left for Khinanauli by 4:30 a.m.. The morning elephant ride was superb. It was extremely cold and mysterious with not even the birds awake. On the way via Sambhar Road we saw otters playing in the Ramganga. This was the first time that I saw otters in the water. We reached Khinanauli at 5:15 a.m. and after a quick breakfast (parathas) and tea prepared by Thakurji we left for Taulia Chowki. We were accompanied by three students (Santosh, Angshuman and Meher) who were also volunteers from Delhi. While departing we spotted a Grey Hornbill in the trees.
Mr. H. S. Karmiyal was in the lead. We followed him reaching Ramganga in short time, now the problem was to cross the same as the bridge had broken. As suggested by the students who had done the beat earlier we did two things; one we took off our pants and the other was to cross the river with the boots on.
There was some difficulty in balancing in the beginning but the same became easy after some steps. Ajay, trying his level best to keep his camera and jeans away from water was successful half the way when he stepped on a steep rock and lost balance and had a dip in the Ramganga along with his camera and jeans. |
