The Sultanpur National Park Comes Up With Surprises

I did not know Lotus Blossoms looked so beautiful until I saw them at the Sultanpur National Park, and then I saw them again in the photographs I had taken of them! There is more to nature than just birds and animals, though,  perhaps they all matter to the viewer. On the first day that the National Park opened after a hiatus of four months, the first thing that struck my eyes was a pond with a 'flock' of pink lotus blossoms, tall and proud, waiting to be acknowledged.

Lotus blossoms are a complete ecosystem. They support a large number of insects, thereby playing a crucial role in the ecosystem. Lotus stems and seeds are also consumed by people. Lotus seeds are widely consumed as a nutritious ingredient and for their curative properties in various  Asian cuisines. The photograph pasted below is of a seed pod with seeds nestled inside.

The Sultanpur National Park is a prime example of a conflict between wildlife and cattle fighting for space. Unfortunately, bovine animals and dogs are creating havoc in the National Park. The Sultanpur National Park is full of cattle, some of which might be aggressive, as one of the bulls tried to attack my brother. I hope the authorities ensure that the visitors are protected from attacks from some of the rogue bulls that wander in the park. A National Park should ensure that the safety of wildlife is not affected by the presence of domestic cattle!

The National Park is an amazing repository of some of the wild animals rarely seen. The Asian Golden Jackals can be spotted, though they are often so elusive in nature.

The human-wildlife conflict is a serious issue in all of the National Parks in India.  The fact of the matter is that spaces for wildlife are at a premium as developmental activities take precedence over considerations of real estate opportunities. I am sharing a couple of photographs showing how the Asian Antelopes have become accustomed to the presence of workers in the park. I tried to photograph an example of the human-wildlife conflict in the National Park.

The Sultanpur National Park is also a treasure trove of Dragonflies and partridges, although the partridges are hard to photograph because they are never still. I was lucky enough to photograph a few of them when I visited the park later on the 12th of October. They were quite far away, and so the images might not be that clear.

I was also able to capture some dragonflies with amazing bokeh, which I have attached below. It was indeed amazing to capture the bokeh.