Nagpur district: Wild Animals And Birds
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Fauna of Nagpur district
Fauna of Nagpur district is quite varied in nature and can be classified mainly into Big game and Small game. The former includes all wild animals except small rodents such as hares, while the latter includes all birds and rodents.
Habits and habitats
Names of wild animals and birds found in the district along with the description of their habits and habitats, etc., is as follows
Felis Tigris.-Tiger is perhaps the most majestic animal of this forest division and occurs in sufficient numbers specially in two ranges, viz., Deolapar and West-Pench. In one single night tiger moves from 8 to 16 km. {5 to 10 miles) in search of a prey, taking more often, paths, cut lines of forests, so that swift-running animals can be easily caught. Tiger makes surprise attacks on other animals at waterholes or salt-lich. Tiger is a silent killer and kills the animal practically instantaneously by breaking its vertebral column at the neck joint with the help of its powerful jaws and body weight.
Tiger is a clean feeder. This is clear from the kills of the tiger wherein the entrails are seen taken out and placed 9 to 18 metres (10 to 20 yards) away from the kill.
Normally, tiger avoids direct encounter with man. However, when injured by poachers and other shikaris it is unable to catch swift animals like deer, sambhar, etc., and under such circumstances it takes to man-eating.
The growl of a tiger will turn to a snarl or a short roar when angry or to a loud whoop when surprised. The animal also makes a belling sound, like the call of the animal on which it preys.
Felis Pardus (Panther).-It is a nocturnal animal having black cloudy spots on the body. When compared with tiger, it is smaller in size but more cunning and dangerous. It has the habit of taking the kill to roofs or over branches and cover it with leaves. Its prey is varied and includes all small game, pigs, deer, monkeys, young. domesticated live-stock, and porcupines. It is often found on the outskirts of villages carrying away village dogs and prefers scrubby jungles to dense forests.
Unlike the tiger it is a filthy feeder and eats away even the entrails along with the other parts of the body.
Melursus Ursinus (Sloth Bear).-This is found in some numbers particularly in West-Pench range of this- division. It digs out Deer.- Cervus duvancelli (Barasingha). Cervus unicolor (Sambhar). Cervus axis (Chital). Cervus muntjak (Barking Deer).
This deer-family is remarkable in that most of them produce and shed annually very large antlers with numerous points or tines. Barasingha, for example, has got forked horns with twelve points on either side. These antlers (horns) rise from bony pedicels on the skull, just behind the eyes. These antlers in the beginning are covered with soft hairy skin called "Velvet". When the full length is reached, velvet dries up on the horn and becomes brittle. It is finally scrapped off against bushes and trees.
Barasingha is often known as swamp deer, for it occurs near the marshy swamps. However, its occurrence on the dry ground is also not uncommon.
Sambhar and Chital occur in the flat country as well as on the hills in this division, often coming out in open grassy areas in the evenings.
Barking Deer is a dark chocolate-coloured deer, so named because of its alarm call, resembling the bark of a dog. This alarm call is given when it feels the presence of carnivora in the near vicinity. Thus this animal is supposed to be a friend of other herbivorous animals as well as those of shikaris.
Antelopes
(1) Antelope Cervicapra (Black Buck). (2) Gazella bennetti (Chinkara) or Indian Gazelle. (3) Tetraceros quadricornis (Four-horned Antelope). (4) Boselaphus Tragocamelus (Nilgai).
These have hollow horns seated on bony cores, and are never shed.
Black Buck is having spiral horns running to 0.76 metre (30 inches), and the glossy back of the upper two-thirds of an old buck's coat contrasts sharply with the white of the under parts.
Chinkara.-It prefers mostly scrubby parts of this division. Four-horned antelopes (Chousinga), mistaken for Chinkara, have no black colour on the face. They have two pairs of upright horns. The front pair is 5 cm. (2 inches) long and the rear pair is 10 cm. (4 inches) long. More often the front pair forms merely small knobs. They move solitary or in pairs.
Nilgai (Blue bull).-It is a big clumsy beast. The males are dark blue grey and the cows brown.
Hyaena.-Morphologically it resembles a dog, but has yellowish grey-coloured body with black stripes like that of a tiger. It lives mostly on the kills killed by either tiger or panther, eating all the putrified flesh left over by them. Often it eats bony portions left over by tigers or panthers. It also prowls at night near the outskirts of villages for fowls or stray dogs.
Sus cristatus (Wild Boar).-It is perhaps the most menacing animal in this division, damaging fields of jowar and other crops overnight. They are brown grey or brown with stiff, rather scanty hair and weigh as much as 181 kg. (400 lb.) These have powerful tushes which are often 12.7 to 20 cm. (5 inches to 8 inches) long.
Canis aureus (Jackals).-It is a dull brownish black-coloured animal. They occur in pairs or in small groups and live mostly on left-over tiger-kills and village fowls, etc.
Cyon dukhunensis (Wild dogs).-These are perhaps the most ferocious animals, occurring in packs of 30 to 40. They do not bark, but give a peculiar whistling cry. They are dull brown in colour with a busby tail which is not curved up like an ordinary dog but remains more or less parallel.
They feed largely on deer, which are run down by these animals for miles around. Even tigers and leopards are sometimes forced to give up their kill by these redoubtable dogs.
Lepus reficaudatus (Hare).- These are rodents living in the burrows made underground and feed on young buds and fruits lying on the ground in these forests. They even attack the young leaves of the neighbouring fields.
Hystrix lecura (Porcupine).-These animals are active during the night only. Their bodies bear powerful claws and quills. The latter when spread over for the defence are sufficient to discourage even such animals as leopards and tigers.
Apart from the animals including big game and small game described above, this division has got quite a few interesting birds also. Their habit, habitats alone with the description, is given below.
Capella gallinago (Snipe).-It is a marsh bird of the size of a quail with straight slender bill. It is dark brown above streaked with black rufous and buff, whitish below. It is found along the paddy fields. It suddenly flushes out on close approach with a characteristic harsh note. It feeds on worms, insects, larvae, etc.
Sarkidiornis melanotos (Duck).-A large duck having black and green colour above and whitish below, head and neck bearing black spots. There is a swollen knob at the base of drake's bill. It walks and dives well and perches freely. It is found in the vicinity of open ponds and feeds mostly on insects and frogs. It gives a low grating croak and a loud honk in the breeding season.
Columba livia Gmelin (Blue Rock Pigeon).-It is quite a common bird of slaty grey colour with a glistening of metallic green and purple on the neck. This bird occupies cliffs and rocky hills. Often it is seen in semi-domesticated condition. It feeds on cereals, pulses etc.
Pavo cristatus (Pea Fowl).-This is a gorgeous tailed bird (in males), with a very beautiful appearance. They usually come out in small packs, either early in the morning or evening out of their hides in open areas on river beds. Their food consists of grains, insects, etc.
Coturnix coromandelica (Rain Quail).-It is a grey coloured quail with upper part of the breast black. It is distinguishable from grey quail by the absence of buff and brown cross bars on the primaries. Usually, it is found hiding in grasslands which provide both food and cover.
Merops Orientalis (common Green Bee-eater).-It is a green coloured bird of the size of a sparrow, reddish brown on head and neck having the central pair of tail feathers prolonged into blunt pins
It is found in open country, along the ponds, fallow lands, launching aerial sallies after bees and after snapping back to. tree-branches where it kills the quarry and swallows it.
Gallus sonneralii (Jungli-murgi).- This bird has a white breast with blackish border and streaked grey back, with metallic black sickle-shaped tail. It is a very shy bird and scuttles into cover at the least suspicion. It feeds on grains, berries, termites, etc. termites with its powerful claws, blows the earth from around them and sucks them up with its moveable lips. During the fruiting season it is seen eating away Bor (Zizyphus Jujuba) or Mahua (Madhuca Latifolia) fruits, etc. It attacks the intruder when surprised, lashing out with its powerful claws, more often because of its short-sightedness. It is also hard of hearing.
Bos gaurus.-There are found in small numbers in the WestPench range and occur in small herds. It is a shy herbivorous animal of the size of a buffalo or even bigger with a prominent ridge on the back and rounded horns. The males are black, with white stockings, while the young ones are 'chestnut red. These animals are noted for their wariness and savagery when wounded.
Deer
Cervus duvancelli (Barasingha) Cervus unicolor (Sambhar) Cervus axis (Chital) Cervus muntjak (Barking Deer)
This deer-family is remarkable in that most of them produce and shed annually very large antlers with numerous points or tines. Barasingha, for example, has got forked horns with twelve points on either side. These antlers (horns) rise from bony pedicels on the skull, just behind the eyes. These antlers in the beginning are covered with soft hairy skin called "Velvet". When the full length is reached, velvet dries up on the horn and becomes brittle. It is finally scrapped off against bushes and trees.
Barasingha is often known as swamp deer, for it occurs near the marshy swamps. However, its occurrence on the dry ground is also not uncommon.
Sambhar and Chital occur in the flat country as well as on the hills in this division, often coming out in open grassy areas in the evenings.
Barking Deer is a dark chocolate-coloured deer, so named because of its alarm call, resembling the bark of a dog. This alarm call is given when it feels the presence of carnivora in the near vicinity. Thus this animal is supposed to be a friend of other herbivorous animals as well as those of shikaris.
Antelopes
(1) Antelope Cervicapra (Black Buck). (2) Gazella bennetti (Chinkara) or Indian Gazelle. (3) Tetraceros quadricornis (Four-horned Antelope). (4) Boselaphus Tragocamelus (Nilgai).
These have hollow horns seated on bony cores, and are never shed.
Black Buck is having spiral horns running to 0.76 metre (30 inches), and the glossy back of the upper two-thirds of an old buck's coat contrasts sharply with the white of the under parts.
Chinkara.-It prefers mostly scrubby parts of this division. Four-horned antelopes (Chousinga), mistaken for Chinkara, have no black colour on the face. They have two pairs of upright horns. The front pair is 5 cm. (2 inches) long and the rear pair is 10 cm. (4 inches) long. More often the front pair forms merely small knobs. They move solitary or in pairs.
Nilgai (Blue bull).-It is a big clumsy beast. The males are dark blue grey and the cows brown.
Hyaena.-Morphologically it resembles a dog, but has yellowish grey-coloured body with black stripes like that of a tiger. It lives mostly on the kills killed by either tiger or panther, eating all the putrified flesh left over by them. Often it eats bony portions left over by tigers or panthers. It also prowls at night near the outskirts of villages for fowls or stray dogs.
Sus cristatus (Wild Boar).-It is perhaps the most menacing animal in this division, damaging fields of jowar and other crops overnight. They are brown grey or brown with stiff, rather scanty hair and weigh as much as 181 kg. (400 lb.) These have powerful tushes which are often 12.7 to 20 cm. (5 inches to 8 inches) long.
Canis aureus (Jackals).-It is a dull brownish black-coloured animal. They occur in pairs or in small groups and live mostly on left-over tiger-kills and village fowls, etc.
Cyon dukhunensis (Wild dogs).-These are perhaps the most ferocious animals, occurring in packs of 30 to 40. They do not bark, but give a peculiar whistling cry. They are dull brown in colour with a busby tail which is not curved up like an ordinary dog but remains more or less parallel.
They feed largely on deer, which are run down by these animals for miles around. Even tigers and leopards are sometimes forced to give up their kill by these redoubtable dogs.
Lepus reficaudatus (Hare).- These are rodents living in the burrows made underground and feed on young buds and fruits lying on the ground in these forests. They even attack the young leaves of the neighbouring fields.
Hystrix lecura (Porcupine).-These animals are active during the night only. Their bodies bear powerful claws and quills. The latter when spread over for the defence are sufficient to discourage even such animals as leopards and tigers.
Apart from the animals including big game and small game described above, this division has got quite a few interesting birds also. Their habit, habitats alone with the description, is given below.
Capella gallinago (Snipe).-It is a marsh bird of the size of a quail with straight slender bill. It is dark brown above streaked with black rufous and buff, whitish below. It is found along the paddy fields. It suddenly flushes out on close approach with a characteristic harsh note. It feeds on worms, insects, larvae, etc.
Sarkidiornis melanotos (Duck).-A large duck having black and green colour above and whitish below, head and neck bearing black spots. There is a swollen knob at the base of drake's bill. It walks and dives well and perches freely. It is found in the vicinity of open ponds and feeds mostly on insects and frogs. It gives a low grating croak and a loud honk in the breeding season.
Columba livia Gmelin (Blue Rock Pigeon).-It is quite a common bird of slaty grey colour with a glistening of metallic green and purple on the neck. This bird occupies cliffs and rocky hills. Often it is seen in semi-domesticated condition. It feeds on cereals, pulses etc.
Pavo cristatus (Pea Fowl).-This is a gorgeous tailed bird (in males), with a very beautiful appearance. They usually come out in small packs, either early in the morning or evening out of their hides in open areas on river beds. Their food consists of grains, insects, etc.
Coturnix coromandelica (Rain Quail).-It is a grey coloured quail with upper part of the breast black. It is distinguishable from grey quail by the absence of buff and brown cross bars on the primaries. Usually, it is found hiding in grasslands which provide both food and cover.
Merops Orientalis (common Green Bee-eater).-It is a green coloured bird of the size of a sparrow, reddish brown on head and neck having the central pair of tail feathers prolonged into blunt pins
It is found in open country, along the ponds, fallow lands, launching aerial sallies after bees and after snapping back to. tree-branches where it kills the quarry and swallows it.
Gallus sonneralii (Jungli-murgi).- This bird has a white breast with blackish border and streaked grey back, with metallic black sickle-shaped tail. It is a very shy bird and scuttles into cover at the least suspicion. It feeds on grains, berries, termites, etc.
Snakes: Nagpur district
Nagpur district comprises five tahsils each of which has mountain ranges with forest tracts on the northern borders. Besides this the district is drained by a number of rivers, both big and small, and contains many tanks and lakes which serve as excellent breeding places for snake life. Hence Nagpur district contains numerous types of snakes. The snakes found in the district can be grouped under two broad headings, viz., non-poisonous and poisonous:
Non Poisonous
Family Typhlopidae
Typhlops sp: These blind primitive snakes could be recorded from the rotting leaves in the forest areas beyond Ramtek. These snakes look like earthworms of bigger size, have brown or deep brown colour and could be distinguished from the worm by the presence of imbricate scales on the body. It does not grow beyond 0.15 metre (six inches), lies buried in soil and vegetation and feeds upon insects and worms. Family Boidae.
Eryx conicus: This “sand boa" snake, locally known as Mandhol or dutondya grows to about three quarters of a metre (two and half feet) in length and 15 to 25 cm. (6 to 10 inches) in girth. Its tail is very blunt and is more or less of the same pattern as the head side; similarly it moves slightly backwards under certain circumstances. Both these characteristics give an impression that the snake has two heads, which is erroneous. This snake is brown with patches of irregular deep yellow patterns all over the body. In fact these patterns give the impression that the snake is a young one of a python. It feeds on rats, frogs and lizards and when cornered bites viciously.
Eryx johni, another “sand boa” is found in the black cotton soil region. It is slightly bigger than Eryx conicus and is rather docile. The colour is uniformly deep brown or black with no patches at all. Many a snake charmer keep this snake for show in this region.
Python molurus: This is locally called Ajgar. It is met with in water sheds of the lake areas and forest region of Ramtek tahsil. It grows to about 4 metres (14 feet) in length and about 36 em. (14 inches) in girth. It is of deep brown colour with variegated yellow patches all over the body. The head region is pink and two spurs project from the anal region indicating the rudiments of the vestigial limbs. This is a very lethargic snake which kills its prey by its powerful muscles. Many charmers keep this snake and often it could be more or less domesticated. Family Colubridae
Ptyas mucosus: This rat snake is locally called Dhaman and is extremely common in the area. It has a chrome yellow body with black spots, especially in the hind region. It grows to about 2.75 metres (9 feet), can climb a tree and is extremely agile. When squeezed it emits a faint noise like a kite. It also has the habit of using the tail to tie a scout type of knot probably to take anchor or pull. It feeds on rats and should be protected.
Lycodon sp.: This wolf snake is common in the vegetable gardens and orchards in the area. It exists along with oligodon sp. Both are faint brown in colour and grow upto 45 cm. (a foot and half) and have either variegated white bars or straight white bars across the body. These snakes feed on lizards, mice and small frogs and are often mistaken for a krait. It differs from the krait in that there are no hexagonal rows of dorsal scales on its body and the ventral scales beyond the anal region are in pairs. Natrix stolata: This snake is locally called Naneti or SitechiLut and is extremely common all over the area, especially in the rainy months. It is olive green with black spots intersected by dorsolateral yellow or buff stripes. It grows to about three-quarters of a metre (2 1/2 feet) in length and could be easily handled.
Natrix piscator: This is called Pandiwad in the area. A large number of them have been noted round the tanks at Khindsi, Mansar, Badegaon and Kondhali forest area. They prefer the vicinity of water and feed upon frogs and fishes. The colour is olive yellow with checkered type black spots in the hind region. It breeds in the vicinity of water and grows upto a metre (three feet) in length and 15 cm. (six inches) in girth.
Dryophis nasutus: It is known as Harantol or Sarptol. It is a parrot green long thin whip-like snake that grows upto one and a half metre (five feet) and often lies hidden amongst green foliage. The head is elliptical, eyes have a vertical pupil and the snake rests on branches with raised head kept swinging in the air. The habit of rigidness gives the impression that the snake is mesmerising. It feeds on small birds and being thin could be easily handled. Pipal trees are often its frequent haunts.
Psamophis sp.: It is met with near the Badegaon and Kondhali forests. It is an active pale olive-brown snake with 4-5 dark brown longitudinal stripes. The lower side of the head is yellowish with a black line along each side at the outer margin of the ventral shields. It grows to about 1.371 metres (four and half feet) and feeds on rodents, frogs and lizards. Family Elapidae
Poisonous
Bungarus caeruleus: The common krait. This snake is locally called Manyar and Karayat. It is steel blue with either double or single row of white cross bars across the body. In some areas these cross markings across the body are very faint and in elder snakes, they look like white dots only. In younger snakes the colour is brownish and the cross bars are very close. However, the distinguishing feature about this snake is that the dorsal scales are hexagonal and the ventral transverse scales beyond the vent are not paired.
This snake remains hiding in rocks, brick walls, and even in thatch. It is normally encountered after the rainy season in the evening or at night time. There is a popular belief that it makes a noise early in the morning akin to that of a bird. No authentic data to this effect is available. This is a very shy snake which strikes only on extreme provocation. The poison is neurotoxk and the only antidote is an anti-venin.
Naja naja: This snake, locally known as Nag is quite common all over the district. It is either brown in colour when it is called Gahuwa or black in colour when they call it Domi. This snake can always be identified by the expanded hood. No other snake raises the head so much and expands the neck region to form the hood. A bionoculate mark on the hood is often present on the dorsal side and three cross bands on the lower side of the hood. Sometimes these markings are absent and in such cases one has to rely on the hood, the head scales and the oblong scales of the body. On the head the loral scale is absent and one scale touches the eye and the nasal. This snake grows to 1.6764 metre (five feet six inches) and may have in certain cases faint brown cross bars on the body.
This snake strikes after raising the hood and the distance of the strike runs to about three quarters of a metre (two and half feet). During the day time the aim is very inaccurate. There is a belief that this snake chases when provoked and takes a revenge. There is, however, no truth in this assumption. The poison of this snake is neurotoxic and the only antidote is an anti-venin
Family Viperidae
Vipera russelli: Russell's viper. This is locally called Chonas and the snake is normally met with in the forest areas of Ramtek, Kondhali area of Katol and in the forest villages of Saoner also. It has been found near the Telankhedi tank forest in Nagpur town also. This is quite a vigorous muscular snake which is seen to grow even upto one and a half metre (five feet). The girth sometimes ranges to 30 cm. (12 inches). The colour is brown with three rows of elliptical spots all over the body. The central row of spots are complete, tapering at the tail end, while the lateral ones often are not properly formed.
Some of these spots have at the periphery white dots like a marginal marking. The head is triangular and the scales are very small. The snake lies coiled up amidst fallen leaves and thick bushes. It is so well camouflaged that unless disturbed and moved, one finds it difficult to spot it. However, it hisses very loudly and continuously. In a cobra the hiss is sporadic and spasmodic, while in this viper it is loud and continuous. This hissing is a warning and the snake remains coiled to take a lever to strike. While thus hissing one could see the reduction and inflation of the snake's body.
The venom of this snake is vasotoxic and the only remedy is; an anti-venin.
Echis carinatus: This “side winder”, is locally called Kander or Phoorsa. It grows to a maximum length of 0.46 metre (18 inches) only. The head is triangular and the important distinguishing mark is an arrow on the head and a row of rhomboid brown marks on the entire body surface. It was collected in Nagpur town itself, but is not a very common snake. During the rainy season one could encounter it in the rural areas. It moves criss-cross and rubs the serrated scales to give the impression of a hissing noise. The bite may not be fatal but the victim may succumb to secondary reactions and after-effects. The only antidote is an anti-venin.
