Tiger in Kaziranga NP
Tigers are roaring back in India, Nepal and Thailand, thanks to strenuous interventions in the past few years, reports wildlife viewing specialist Wild Planet Adventures.
“While the fate of the world’s tiger populations remains extremely precarious, there are indications that the urgent interventions, increased anti-poaching efforts and habitat management efforts of the last few years may be taking hold,” notes Josh Cohen, company director.
The total of tigers on six tiger reserves in India’s Madhya Pradesh has grown from 257 to nearly 300, including increases in Bandhavgarh and Kanha national parks. Both parks are visited on two Wild Planet Adventures safaris: India“Ultimate Wildlife” and “Untamed India & Nepal”. The tiger population in Bardia National Park included in the “Untamed India & Nepal” itinerary has also doubled in two years.
Renowned India wildlife expert Raj Singh, author of the top three best selling India field guides and the country manager for both Wild Planet Adventures and National Geographic Adventures, anticipates that the upcoming November-April tiger safari season will be the best in years.
Tiger rescue / relocation programs at Manas National Park in the Assam region of India are also enjoying successes. “Manas is one my favorite little-known secrets; when Raj took me there to scout I was stunned by its sub-Himalayan beauty. It is now one of four UNESCO World Heritage Sites we visit in our India“Ultimate Wildlife Safari,” notes Cohen. “It’s a great compliment to Kaziranga National Park, where we typically see as many as 50 Rhinos, several herds of wild elephants, hundreds of ungulates, and even a tiger, all in our field of vision at once. That kind of wildlife viewing is unprecedented outside of Africa,” says Cohen.
Wild Planet Adventures’ award-winning Ultimate Wildlife Safari 19-day –Leopards, Tigers & Palaces is its most comprehensive wildlife itinerary in India. Guests are mounted on elephants and camels and in jeeps to view leopards, rhinoceros, elephants, tigers and more while traveling through four UNESCO World Heritage Sites and five national parks and wildlife refuges. For a limited time, the 2014 per person, double occupancy rate, based on a group of six is now only $7,198, which is a price reduction from 2013.
Guests lodge in a combination of four and five-star heritage hotels, top safari lodges and classic British-style safari tented camps including the region’s finest Oberoi and Trident hotels. Destinations include the truly off-the-beaten path village of Siana (leopard safari), Doli (Bishnoi sect of Hindus who revere wildlife as part of their religion), Jodhpur (The Blue City), Mehrangarh Fort & Royal Palaces, Jaipur (The Pink City), Palace of Winds & Observatory, Agra, Sloth Bear Rescue Center, Kanha National Park, and the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Taj Mahal and Bharatpur, Manas and Kaziranga national parks.
Scheduled dates in 2013 are Oct. 29-Nov. 16, Nov. 12-Nov. 30 and Dec. 17-Jan. 4. And in 2014 Jan 9-27, Jan 30-Feb 17, Feb 20-Mar 10, Mar 20-Apr 7, and Apr 10-28. See here.
A 13-day program starting at $4,798 per person, (also a price reduction from 2013), is available, which excludes Kaziranga and Manas. See here.
Thailand has also had a significant tiger comeback in the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary in the vast Western Forest Complex, which includes Kaeng Krachan National Park, the largest and least-visited national Park in Thailand, featured in the company’s “Hidden Thailand” and Thailand/Laos “Ultimate Wildlife” itineraries. When guests join a Wild Planet Adventures safari to India, Nepal or Thailand, a portion of the trip fees goes to Project Tiger and other conservation organizations. People can also contribute directly to Panthera Save the Tiger Fund.
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