Back

Weekend at Jungle Resort, Masinagudi - 7, 8 Jun 2003 We managed to book a room at Jungle Retreat for the last weekend(7,8 June). Jungle Retreat is a private resort at the southern edge of Mudumalai WS, at the foothills of Nilgiri mountains. The first day we had two government safaris(morning, evning) in Mudumalai sanctuary, and then a night safari with Daniel(Guide at Jungle Retreat, freelance naturalist, wildlife enthusiast, based at Masinagudi). The first day's highlights were two elephant chases on the Masinagudi-Theppakadu road. Daniel was very skilful in handling the Gypsy, and kept the elephant at a 10ft distance, as it ran towards us trumpeting, and we went back in reverse gear. The guys(first timers) with me were shell shocked. Currently, a group of tigers, possibly a family comprising a mother and three/four grown cubs, have taken up residence near a big waterhole inside the mudumalai sanctuary, adjacent to the regular safari route, and the tourists have been regularly sighting them for the past two weeks or so. However, we were out of luck, and didn't spot them there, but the next immediate safari trip after us had spotted them, we were told in the evening. The tigers are still there. Sighting tigers inside Mudumalai WS is rare owing to the denser forest canopy than Bandipur NP. Hence, this family of tigers is the talk of the town now. The second day morning we had a 3 hour trek into the dense forests adjoining the Sanctuary, guided by the famed Mr. Kuttappan. Kuttappan's skills were on display, and we were on the tracks of a tiger, pugmarks of which were seen. One of the cattle that graze the grasses adjoining the Masinagudi - Theppakadu road had been killed by a tiger few days back, and Kuttappan, going by the tiger's tracks, brought us to the kill. It had been fully eaten, and only the skeletal decomposing remains were there. Kuttappan also showed us the drag route, where we also found the neatly broken horn of the cow/bull. Subsequently, we were on the tracks of elephants, and came upon a family of 4 elephants, some 100 metres away. We were also in close proximity with Gaurs(20-30ft), which crashed through the jungle after sensing us. Herds of Chital were also spotted. The second day evening we had a government safari at Bandipur NP, at 4pm. It was a boring one, with no good sighting, except for chital and mongoose. The forests were very dry, and the waterholes had very little water. The monsoon is late, and everyone is hoping that this long summer will end soon. I do not have much knowledge of birds, but this time learnt to identify the following: Birds Seen & Identified: Common Mynah Bee eater Black woodpecker (big one) A big eagle sitting on the ground and eating something Animals: Chital Gaur Sambar Another small variety of deer, with small antlers(Mouse deer?) Mongoose Malabar Giant Squirrel Wild boars Wild elephants Wild dog pack Peacocks, hens Common Langurs