A Tusker on the Kabini Banks

As we approached closer to it, the big bull delighted us with some elephant ‘acrobatics’; he drilled in the mud on the river banks, flinging it in many different directions! The guests were excited to sight the giant so close to Kabini’s waters and gaze at it swing its long trunk.

Craning through my binoculars, I discovered that mud (a wet patch) was more prominent on the right of the pachyderm on its hind region, very close to its thighs. On further examination, I spotted a little wound close to the tusker’s thighs.

This large bull was really concerned about this ‘patch’ on his skin; the elephant was itching as the wound irritated it.

Hence the tusker used his indispensable tool – his trunk, to nurse the wounded spot by applying mud on it, flinging the mire to his right in the process. He then used his tail to massage the mud in a clockwise and anticlockwise direction on the wound and around it. This would also help to keep flies at bay.

When I explained to the guests accompanying me on the safari what was actually happening in the elephant’s mud ‘scub bath’, they were left spellbound.

The Healing Mud!

It’s fun to be on a Boat Safari each evening; the sheer numbers of bird, mammal and reptile species sighted during the safari is simply mind-boggling; they’re countless!

Come winter, and plenty of ‘visitors’ from across the globe become guests at Kabini! It’s a pleasure welcoming these guests, who have travelled thousands of miles to reach their destination.

Besides colourful winged migrants, soaking up the sun on Kabini’s banks is the Marsh Crocodile or Fresh Water Crocodile. These crocs bask open-mouthed on sunny days, off and on – a tactic to control their body temperature.

By the Kabini Waters: a Marsh Croc

These crocs are very sensitive to sound, and hence you need to be cautious during their sighting. There are skilled boatmen who can help sight these reptiles sans any disturbance to them.

The elephants are on an eternal quest for fresh grass, and make their way to the ‘submerged island’ (forest areas inundated after the dam came into existence). At Kabini, you can spot these gentle giants feeding on grass, half their bodies submerged in water.

As the crocs are harmless as far as larger animals go, the elephants cross over to the submerged island nonchalantly.

The Carefree Pachyderm!

The Big Bull!

Hence he turned, giving a ‘melodious’ rutting call, waking up the forest that misty morn. Much to our amazement, this call was answered when the cows began moving in his direction.

The winter is the peak season of rut for gaurs.

As the cows got closer to the gaur, he lifted his head, sniffing the air for cues of a cow, ready to mate.

Waiting for its Mate?

Together, the herd walked towards the bushes, giving a finishing touch to our sighting.

The Langur Troop!

However, the highlight of the evening was a Langur. Perhaps the leader of the pack, he was guarding his troop, perched comfortably on an uneven stump, surveying all directions possible for the presence of a predator.

He observed the bushes, once in a while throwing a glance at the Kabini waters, being on the lookout for his enemies – a leopard, tiger or crocodile.

The Primate Watchman!

I referred to the Langur troop as ‘the watchers’ as they spot the maximum predators, and ‘ring the warning bell’.

A Smooth-coated Otter

Serving as effective symbols of environment quality, otters are endorsed as Wetland Ambassadors to promote the conservation of freshwater biomes (ecological community types).

Smooth-coated Otters are the largest otter species in Southeast Asia. The species is named after its short, smooth ‘coat’ which shines, appearing like velvet. Like other otters, they have short, ‘tightly packed’ fur and longer guard hair that is water repellent.

Like other otters, Smooth-coated Otters have webbed toes and strong paws with sharp claws.

Each otter also has a pair of scent glands at the base of its tail which mark land or objects, such as rocks or vegetation, near feeding areas.

Unlike seals though, which are ‘insulated’ by thick layers of fat, otters are very lean, their fur keeping them warm, and providing a streamlined appearance. Smooth-coated Otters are distinguished from other otter species by their rounder heads with prominent noses, and more flattened tails.

'Dynamically' Designed?

Frequently hunting in packs, they drive schools of fish together for easy capture. A pack has a feeding territory ranging between 7-12 square kilometers. Kabini is one place where you get to sight these otters.

A Leopard Sighted During a Boat Safari

I was told by friends that elephant herds have begun making an appearance on the Kabini banks, and I was hoping to spot one.

We commenced our journey at 6:35 am, and were welcomed by a large herd of Spotted Deer. I had a couple of zealous guests who constantly scanned the bushes, and spotted a Monitor Lizard – a fantastic sighting and a rarity during a Boat Safari.

Recharged by the sighting, we were hoping to spot more wildlife. I think luck was on our side as suddenly, a male leopard emerged from the bushes and began walking in the direction of the water, leaving us shocked at the sight. He then perched on the rocks gazing at the boat.

Suddenly, he began walking towards the boat. He was a very good-looking chap, with sunlight on his face giving him a majestic look.

He was not shy or nervous, the reason I call him Mr. Gorgeous!

His 'Majesty', Kabini

The Sambar!

The majestic Sambar can grow as tall as 150 cm at the shoulders and live as long as 20 years! Some males are also known to weigh up to 300 kg, and possess 90-95 cm long antlers that are shed once each year.

This deer is among the most preferred of the tiger’s prey, due to its sheer size! However, the deer possesses highly developed sense organs that also help it detect predators!

It was during a morning safari from Orange County, Kabini that we got to sight a Sambar stag with velvet on its antlers. As I explained to guests the role of the leathery ‘velvet’ that assists blood circulation in the antlers, we spotted another stag with fully grown antlers. It was a sheer spectacle watching the flamboyant stag slushing around and ‘posing’ for us in the process!

A Stag Displaying its Antlers!

Speaking their Own Language!

The bulls were within the bushes when we sighted them. However, our wait paid off, as after a couple of minutes, they came out to the view line. We moved our vehicle slightly forward, creating some space for the elephants to cross, imagining that they came for water.

We then witnessed the two bulls pushing each other using their bodies. Later, the one that seemed older chased the other. However, the latter was not in a mood to give up that easily.

Fighting Each Other?

Male elephants fight each other in search of a female partner. We also observed the older bull raise his head high and place it over the other – a show of dominance. These bulls, almost of the same size, were pushing each other with their trunks as if wrestling.

At one point of time, we also watched them use their feet to kick each other. This was the first time I saw something like this, while I have heard of such behaviour. However, while it lasted for about 20 minutes, it never resulted in a serious fight as the younger bull adopted a submissive posture by digging his tusks into the mud, and later moving away from the dominant one.

We continued on our safari looking for more wildlife.

The Lurking Big Cat

I then sighted a Wild Boar sitting still close to the bamboo thickets.

The question in my mind was whether the Leopard was attempting to kill the Wild Boar. However, I then noticed that it didn’t make that serious an attempt at the same. It was merely attempting to scare the Wild Boar away as the carcass of a Spotted Deer lay on the bank close to the water. This was a wonderful sighting, and we didn’t want to leave the place.

Usually, leopards have a difficult time guarding their food, as they have a host of competitors like tigers, Wild Dogs, Wild Boars, crows and others. The leopard was hence attempting to safeguard the kill from ‘pests’.

Watching Over Its Prey?

At Close Quarters: An Asiatic Elephant

As we continued to watch the young tusker, we sensed some movement in the bushes. A huge tusker emerged on the scene out of nowhere. He stopped and smelled the air in the direction of the young tusker. Subsequently, he began slowly and gently moving towards it.

As he approached the same, the latter stopped feeding for a while, and stood still, except for its trunk which he twisted. The large tusker moved gently in the shallow waters to get closer to the young tusker.

Soon, they were seen standing together, smelling and feeling each other. There was no resistance or sign of aggression from either side. Rather, there were a few ‘gentle communications’.

Enjoying Each Other's Company!

Finally, the big bull took over the feeding area, as we watched the other tusker slowly move to a different feeding spot.