Kuno Wilderness ...

Sharing images from Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary in this post, of course besides those concerning the fortress. Got an opportunity to visit the Sanctuary for few hours, during recent trip to our base at Agraa, and loved the experience. Hope the images convey some 'feel' of the landscape. 

Had been to Ranthambhore National Park prior to Agraa and my pondering mind inevitably drew lines of comparison. With due respects to Ranthambhore, its tigers and others the Kuno wilderness does make Ranthambhore, well at-least the tourism zone, appear a zoo in comparison. At Kuno the species that tells one to stick on alloted paths, give way for others to see tigers and also honks or screams at times does not occur; one is with the wilderness. 

View from the Forest Guest House. The weather station at the Guest House had shown the temperature crossing 50 degrees a couple of weeks before and water in Kuno river was at its ebb. 

The view of Tongra, highest peak in the Sanctuary and one of the few places that, as I have been told, once can still expect to bump into bears. One of the findings of our survey concerning Moghiyas, undertaken in the landscape, was that they respected bears and as a corollary did not hunt them. Bear is a vehicle for one of their deity - Dhudhu Mai. 

The majestic grasslands of Kuno. A recent report 'Accessing the potential for re-introducing the Cheetah in India' by WII and WTI says of these grasslands - 'Village sites inside the Sanctuary have now been taken over by grasses and scrub, forming a savannah-type grassland habitat'. The report rates Kuno as 2nd most favourable location for Cheetah re introduction. 

We came across this carcass of Nilgai on our way back from Ker Kho; almost on the jeep road ! For some reason, few years ago, a Nilgai was captured from Bhind and released in the Sanctuary after being radio-collared !

A mixed-flock benefits from leakage in the water pipe. During one of my earlier visits the ACF had talked of a 8 km long pipe. 

We came across the carnivores as well ! Besides these wolves we saw a fox a day later. This when we were driving from Agraa to Gwalior. One of the most beautiful sights I have experienced in this landscape was that of a fox walking out of the Pipal Baori gate of the Sanctuary; it's royal tail looking all the more stunning in the backdrop of an angry sun coming down on the Vindhyan Hills.

Cattle Egrets were present in large numbers on the river banks and Indian Pond Herons sat one after another leaving almost uniform gap between themselves, albeit across the river. Chital and peacock too were present in significant numbers on the river bed. 

Thanking Naresh for taking me around.