Winter settles into Kanha slowly, almost as if the forest is preparing for a performance. The mist begins to rise from the waterholes at first light, drifting gently across the sal forest. As the morning grows colder, a thick layer of frost forms on the grass, turning the entire meadow into a sparkling white carpet. On a good chilly winter morning, you can even see the whole grassland covered in frost. The landscape of Kanha changes.

Kanha National Park, being one of the most famous parks in India in terms of tiger sightings and sal forest, has one more gem of a species, the Barasingha or Hard Ground Swamp Deer (Rucervus duvaucelii branderi). A species which went on to the brink of extinction a few decades back now thrives in the meadows of Kanha National Park. In the 1960s the Barasingha population went down to just 66 individuals here and was the only population left in the world. All thanks to the MP Forest Department’s extensive efforts to save this species. Now there are over 1000+ individuals in Kanha, and some of them have been relocated to Van Vihar Bhopal, Satpura Tiger Reserve and Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.

Read More

A stunning blue damselfly Dark-striped Spreadwing, scientifically known as Lestes nigriceps, has made a remarkable reappearance after nearly a century of obscurity. Initially described in 1924 by Fraser, this species has recently been documented by researchers in Maharashtra, sparking renewed interest in its distribution and habitat.

Recently a specimen of this was spotted by David Raju, a well known Odonata expert and our team of in-house naturalists of Outpost 12, Tilari while on a walk in the lodge grounds.

Read More

The Cat-Eyed Climber of Kanha

When we think of cats in Kanha, the first thing that comes to mind is the majestic tiger, leopard, or other smaller wild cats. But Kanha is also home to a fascinating creature that shares a very distinct cat feature 'its eyes'.

Meet Forsten's Cat Snake (Boiga forsteni), a large, forest-dwelling species of snake with cat-like vertical pupils.

A thick black or dark-brown postocular streak runs from the eye to the jaw, which again resembles a cat. This species occurs in a wide range of color morphs, from grey, brown, and reddish, with zig-zag patterns or crossbands on the body. Some individuals are reddish-brown with faint patterns or even completely patternless.

Read More