Tips, photos and travel plans you can join, all as per your interests
Bush frog eggs -
Instead of tadpoles, miniature versions of adult frogs directly hatch out from bush frog eggs. The tadpole stage is in fact completed inside the egg itself, with the help of some nutritious yolk. This strategy in fact helps bush frog young ones be better prepared for dry spells they might encounter during the monsoon, and reduces the loss to predators (among other benefits).
These are probably eggs of Bombay Bush Frog (Raorchestes bombayensis).
Travelling to
Hemis National Park
Start Date
17 Feb 2018
End Date
28 Feb 2018
Travelling from
Leh
Currently
1 traveler
Required
3 travelers
I am planning to visit Leh-Ladakh with clear objective to sight Snow Leopard and other mammals. Various birds prevalent in the area. Since the cost of travelling to Hemis National Park will be high alternatively the Rigzong wildlife sanctuary, lesser known place which is located in western Ladakh is ideal habitat for Snow leopard, Tibetan wolf, Brown bear, Ibex, Red fox and varieties of birds.
However it is important for the serious co travelers to respond within 7 days with all possible queries. The temperature will be minus 12 degree on an average in the night. We will be provided with all electric blankets. The team under the able leadership of Tashi Tundup will be able to achieve our mission 'Snow Leopard'. Vehicle will be there from Leh to Leh and will carry all necessary food stuff. Team will have experienced Guide, Driver, Cook, Helper besides 4 persons. Any one who is interested may send me mail so that I can share all details of the trip.
Sanket may i know what TT stands for ?
Rajan R D Sanket: I think TT may stand for the name of the person leading the expedition
Rajan R D Good luck Mr. Paul! This sounds very exciting
Sanket Rajan: ok Sir ! i just wanna know the name.
D P Paul Thank you all for best wishes
Somnath Goswami Please let me know the details via email. Regards
Somnath Goswami My mail ID is iamsomnath at the rate gmail dot com
D P Paul Will certainly send you the details.
D P Paul I have sent mails to all concerned with details. Thanx for queries
Sharatchandra Hc Hi,
Sharatchandra Hc I am interested. Can you please send me more details? has the dates been firmed up so that one can book cheap air tickets. where does the trip start? Leh?
Ranjith Kumar 2.5L will be shared by 4 person or each 2.5L ?]
Tanmay Keshav Says for 4 people.. so I would say shared
D P Paul Total cost approximately for the group will be Rs 2.5 L which means per head Rs 62.5 k from Leh to Leh
Rajesh Krishnan I am interested -can this be confirmed by first week Sept.
D P Paul Have replied to all concerned
Surendra Athnikar I am interested do send me the details..
Aditya Vaidya Hello Mr. Paul. Is this plan still open?
D P Paul The group is full. Myself, Arvind, Pratik, Surendra and Shivkumar will be travelling together. Thanks a lot to 'Safarist' for providing a professional non profiteering platform for all enthusiast travelers.
Mohit Srinivasan Awesome. Hope you all have a successful one! Good luck
D P Paul Mohit,Thanks a ton
Sharatchandra Hc Hi, I am intereste in shooting Snow Leopard (off course with Camera). Kindly share the details of the trip including cost and what kind of climb is involved.
Sharatchandra Hc Sharatchandrahc@gmail.com +919448056248
supermom malaika with her two sub-adult males looking out for some breakfast
Rajan R D Absolutely fantastic shot
Arjun Dhanraj Lovely
Arun Ahuja thanks guys
Benjamin Thomas Superb!
Arun Ahuja thanks benjamin
Gulnar Vij Awesome!!
Arun Ahuja thanks gulnar
Gaurav Sinha Lovely
Arun Ahuja thanks gaurav
The famous ruins of Basgo!
The ruins are the outcome of aggressive attacks by States of Central Asia. In the 15th century, Basgo used to be the centre of culture & politics. Back then, Ladakh was split into upper & lower ladakh until Baghan, a former king of Basgo brought back together Ladakh by defeating Leh's king.
Considering the history and landscape this place has, it's a surprise that you hardly find any tourists! Although visiting monasteries aren't number 1 on my list, the road to Basgo Monastery isn't one to miss out on. The entire stretch is a photographer's paradise!
July, 2017.
Nishant Parekh Nice
The park is most easily accessible from Munnar by road (only 15-20 kms). Although it's an uphill drive and vehicles will move slowly. Munnar is about 130 kms away from Cochin, part of it is an uphill drive too. The drive can take longer than the maps show and it is best to keep adequate buffers.
Travelling to
Bandhavgarh National Park
Start Date
01 Nov 2017
End Date
06 Nov 2017
Travelling from
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
Currently
1 traveler
Required
1 traveler
Looking for another person to join me for a 8 / 9 safari trip to Bandhavgarh. Will be staying in a star category accommodation. Main interest is photography.
The antlers
I had been curious to understand more about the shedding of antlers. Had asked my naturalist and also looked into it more. Here is a broad level understanding.
Antlers are bones composed of calcium and phosphorus which are grown and shed each year. The antlers grow onward from the skull through attachment points which are known as 'pedicles'. These pedicles are formed a couple of months from birth and provide the base for the antlers to grow. Velvet covers a growing antler, which supplies oxygen and nutrients to the growing bone. Once the antler achieves its full size, the velvet is lost and the antler's bone dies. These are the antlers at the mature stage, as seen in the picture. This coincides with increasing testosterone levels during rutting season. Once the rutting season is over, in response to decreasing testosterone, 'osteoclasts' erode the base of the antlers at their junction with the pedicle, eventually causing the antlers to simply fall off. Each year a larger and more branched set of antlers will develop. The entire process of growth and regrowth of antlers is quite demanding in terms of nutrition and hence is considered to be an indicator of good health.
Hope that helps.. do look into it more if interested and add if i missed anything!
Raghav Verma Excellent read.. thanks for sharing
Charushil Ganar Fantastic
Pranad Patil Amazing piece of information. Thank for sharing. But would like to just point out one thing, when you say antler bone, it is not true bone. Calcium does make up a majority of the antler's composition, but unlike our bones in the body, they do not help in supporting the body and as you have mentioned, are replaceable.
Vineet Kurien Thanks for that
Gaurav Sinha Not that I am sure about it myself, but I have read multiple accounts - some which refer to antlers as true bone and others which say that it is not true bone. http://www.iwla-rh.org/html/DGIF_articles/deer_antlers.html
Arun James Good shot
Arijit Kanani Wow..amazing
Rajan R D Fascinating
Gulnar Vij Superb post
Arun Ahuja super!
Gaurav Sinha Amazing documentation
Santosh Verma Incredible stuff.. i wonder how these would remain safe from predators?
Pranad Patil @Santosh, tadpoles are restricted to water for locomotion, while froglets are better equipped for locomotion. As a result, it is easy to catch tadpoles but not young frogs, and hence young frogs have a better chance of survival than tadpoles.
Harshil D Wow..great work
Mohit Srinivasan Super