Generally speaking big cats are 1) Wild and 2) Considerably bigger than the small domestic or wild cats (a Siberian tiger for instance may be up to 100 times heavier than our 8 pound domestic feline). Other commonly used classifying method is the ability to roar. Big cats have an elongated larynx and elastic hyoid bone that enables them to roar (and prevents them from purring). Small cats are the opposite. Their hyoid bone is ossified, thus they are unable to roar, and may only purr.

Other interesting difference is the shape of pupils. All big cats have round pupils and small cats, apart from lynx, have slit-like pupils (exaggerated in bright light). Also big cats usually consume their meals lying down, apart from snow leopard, whereas cats – as we all know- eat in a sitting position!
Many of the earlier classifications used to include only four species: Tiger, Lion, Jaguar and Leopard into big cats. However, today big cats are expanded to include also Cougar, Snow Leopard, Clouded Leopard and Cheetah.

Despite significant differences in size in all the big and small cats, all felines are remarkably similar in their basic body make-up and sensory perceptions. They have similar attributes and hunting and behavior profiles in most cases. They are in short a true representation of Nature’s masterwork in creation. With grace and elegance, big cats are master predators and hunters!

Gopal is a cousin, friend and fellow wildlifer. He is much more – a businessman, nature photographer and birding enthusiast. Since years of our association, he has matured into an interesting person especially when it comes to wildlife and nature.

He relishes good life and leaves no stone unturned whence it comes to enjoying nature. 
Apart from his interest in nature he is an excellent photographer ….amateur if you call him since he is not full time into it. Here are some images he and his friends captured on tiger tour to Bandhavgarh. It was difficult to sort out from the lot since all images carry heart and soul.

The images have been captured by Ila Ben S Dalal (nee Ambani), Shrujal and Gopal Desai.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

The Central government, under whose purview the project lies, has initiated negotiations with the families likely to be affected by offering a compensation of Rs. 10 lakh each for their relocation. “We are working with these families. We cannot shift them forcibly,” Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh says. Mr. Jairam Ramesh, who is currently in the tiger reserve on a two-day visit, sees “great potential” for revival of the area.

Monthly payment
Mr. Ramesh said in an innovative measure to protect the dwindling population of tigers, 400 youth hailing from the Chenchu tribes had been recruited and entrusted the task of monitoring the tiger population in tiger reserve. The tribal youth will be offered payment of Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 4,000 a month for fulfilling their responsibility. “Police and forest guards alone would not be in a position to protect tigers and we have preferred local youth for the purpose,” he said.

Mr. Jairam Ramesh, who held extensive interactions with the ‘new recruits’, told The Hindu that these local youth would forthwith be the ‘tiger watchers and protectors’. Though the department had taken up similar initiatives elsewhere, “it is really taking off in Andhra Pradesh.” He said the department was also facing one of the biggest threats to the protection of ecology in the form of grazing. Close to four lakh cattle came to the reserve for grazing and efforts had been initiated to identify lands where fodder could be grown or areas which could be converted into grazing grounds to prevent cattle from entering the reserve. In addition, the location of nine temples in the sanctuary area was creating hindrances in the revival efforts. “We have to first regulate the traffic flow through the forest area and a mechanism is being evolved in this direction.”

He said the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam tiger reserve, spread over 3,600 sq. km, was by far the number one among the 39 notified areas in the country, but suffered destruction over a period of one decade from 1994 to 2004. Efforts to revive the reserve had started yielding results with the current tiger population, pegged at 70, showing “great scope for revival”.

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/states/andhra-pradesh/article431151.ece

Tiger Reserves in IndiaBehold the spectacular black and yellow amidst swaying grass or peep over a rock is enough to titillate your heart with colourful cameos. You need not be a wildlife enthusiast to appreciate this wild beauty. So exciting is it, that people abandon all luxuries and comforts to roam in the jungles ignoring scorching heat and biting cold.

There is’nt any other better place in the world to encounter this fascinating beauty in its natural habitat than India.The Indian sub-continent has around 80 National Parks and 441 Sanctuaries of which some have been conserved as Tiger reserves under the Project Tiger Scheme.

Visit India!! and know what diversity is !

No place in the world offers such a diverse spectrum of wild wonders as does India. This ecologically blessed land perpetuatuates wildness and scatters the colours of nature, randomly. In fact vacation to the Indian wild zone is like a rendezvous to the who’s who of the Kingdom Animalia. The tourist’s indeed can act as the parks’ best ambassador and introduce them to the remainder of the world. The exposure at times may harm the ecological balance of the area but the constant flow of tourist help stop the poaching and plundering of this endangered species.

Several tiger reserves are established in the former hunting grounds of the former Indian and British aristocracy. Some parks do offer modern styled guesthouses with electricity while others only have bungalows with basic amenities. Jeep or Van ride is available everywhere and in some, elephant or boat rides are organized to scan these areas more discreetly.

Tiger Safari in IndiaAll these reserves are protected under ‘Project Tiger’ and bookings are generally done at state forest departments or through private operators. Sometimes the state even promotes a particular area as a part of its tourist attraction. Advance booking in accommodation is advisable. One should obtain necessary permits, where required, prior to entry.

Save the pride of the wild!

Protecting the tiger is a serious cause and by the virtue of serious and persistent endeavors, this royal animal is now more and more active (and hence more visible). Hence, we must move ahead.

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The resulting conflict not only threatens the world’s remaining wild tigers, but poses a major problem for communities living in or near tiger habitat.

Revenge killings

If tigers don’t have enough prey (due to hunting of prey species by people or poor quality habitat), they will instead hunt domestic livestock – which many local communities depend on for their livelihood.

In retaliation tigers are often killed or captured and sent to a zoo, in order to prevent similar events happening later on. Tigers killed as “conflict” animals often end up for sale in the black market, creating a link between human-tiger conflict and poaching for the illegal trade in tiger body parts.

Tiger prey species are also killed by villagers in retaliation for destroying essential crops. This further exacerbates the problem by reducing the availability of the tiger’s natural food source.

In addition, many local communities living around tiger habitats depend on forests for fuelwood, fodder and timber. But by entering forests, they increase the likelihood of tiger attacks – which have increased recently. Unsustainable activities within forests also further degrade the habitats of tigers and their prey.

Regarding their weight, mountain lions are considered the fourth heaviest of the wild cats, and the third heaviest in America. They are skilled predators and their prey ranges from small insects to cattle and deer. They are extremely territorial in nature.

These mammals are considered the biggest amongst the small cat which have the ability only to purr or growl and not roar unlike other big cats. They have a plain coat of light brown, red, silver-grey or brownish orange in color, the patches being lighter on the chin, chest, abdomen, jaws and throat. They have large paws and a tail that measure up to a third or half its body length. They have strong hind legs which assist in sprinting and leaping. They are good swimmers and climbers too.

They have different life spans which could range from 8 to 15 years while in captivity or up to 20 years when living in the wild. These mammals have a litter of 1 to 6 cubs with a gestation period of almost 9 months. The survival rate being low, only 1 or 2 tend to survive.

1. Tigers are the largest naturally occurring specie of cats.

2. Of tiger subspecies, the Siberian Tiger is the biggest cat that can weigh well up to eight hundred pounds.

3. Tigers are very beautiful and their striped coat makes for ideal camouflage.

4. A tiger’s stripes are like fingerprints – no two are alike. In fact the stripes’ pattern is often used to identify individual tigers in the wild.

5. In India paw prints or pug marks are often used by local wildlife officials to identify individual tigers. However, this technique is now deemed to be flawed since an individual tiger may leave several different types of paw prints depending on its speed and terrain.

6. Tigers are largely solitary cats and are most active between dusk and dawn.

7. Tigers are largely muscular and rely on stealth and power to bring down a prey rather than speed. Like other big cats most tiger ambushes are unsuccessful.

8. Tigers are perhaps the most notorious big cat for man-eating. In fact the single greatest man-eater is history is believed to be the Champawat Tigress who killed over four hundred thirty people in India decades ago until she was finally killed by the great Jim Corbett.

9. Tigers are highly ferocious and unlike the laid back male lion, it’s never wise to turn your back to a tiger even in captivity. Even seasoned zoo keepers report tigers assume a stalking position and prepare to strike when they turn their back to them in the cage.

10. Tigers have suffered greatly at the hand of humans for their beauty and majestic appeal – they have been hunted nearly to extinction in most of their former territories – the largest pool is now in India where recent reports suggest there may be as few as fifteen hundred of the Bengal tigers remaining.

11. An adult male tiger in the wild requires around one hundred and fifty kilograms of meat a month.

12. If Chinese traditional medicine makers were to stop using animal parts – tigers, rhinos and many other endangered animals would benefit greatly.

13. One of the best places for watching tigers in the wild is the Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh in central India.