Fresh Water Turtles, Golden Jackals, and Spotted Deer at the Keoladeo National Park

Keoladeo National Park

One of my favourite one-day trips to a National Park, apart from those in the Delhi NCR, is obviously the Keoladeo National Park. The distance from Gurgaon to Keoladeo National Park is about 180-186 kilometers, and the average time taken during non-rush hours is 3.5 hours. I generally leave at 4:00 a.m.. However, since the park opens at 6:30 a.m., it is advisable to leave for the destination earlier. When I visited the National Park on the 10th of October, it was almost deserted since the resident birds had yet to arrive. There were hardly any visitors and we had the entire park to ourselves! Generally, it is a good idea to take an electric rickshaw that seats four, and you could also hire an electric bicycle. the e-rikshaw cost costs Rs. 800/- for two hours and Rs.1200/- for three hours. The electric bicycle costs you Rs. 150/- for 3-4 hours. There are also horse-drawn carriages or tongas to opt for. These cost Rs. 1200/- for four hours.

There is, however, a lot to do at the National Park, even if you don't spot resident birds. The best part, perhaps, is the ride down the allocated paths. Besides the ride, you can visit the temple, where the priest looks after spotted deer, huge turtles, and the assorted monkeys that hang around. The spotted deer are not domesticated. They are free to go anywhere they want. What I experienced at this temple is an example of the coexistence of human beings with wild animals. Rajasthan is a unique state where people really appreciate wildlife. They live in close proximity to wild animals, in peaceful harmony, something I have rarely seen in NCR, where wildlife seems to be driven away, and wetlands are drained out in order to make space for residential buildings.

Interestingly, the pujari or the temple priest, was also the guardian of the spotted deer, giant turtles, and the assorted monkeys present. When we reached the temple premises, it was feeding time, and so the pujari called out to the turtles, and they came rushing to the steps by the edge of the huge pond. It was a surreal experience to see these turtles rush to the steps en masse, huge, alien-looking creatures, eager to feed on bits and pieces of wheat dough that the priest flung for them. Looking at their size, I would claim that they were probably very old turtles, perhaps forty years old or so! A few of them even climbed up a few steps to feed on the dough.

Perhaps the most amazing experience for me was to pat a spotted deer. I have never been so close to a spotted deer, and it was a special moment for me. The pujari, or the temple priest, called out to the deer with a pan of wheat grains, and they flocked towards him.

Some of the most amazing photographs that I took on this visit were those of the pair of Asian Jackals that I was able to photograph. These Canines look quite like domesticated dogs, but they are not! Jackals are amongst the most graceful animals I have spotted! They are an important part of the ecosystem and they are both omnivores and scavengers. Asian Jackals are very protective towards their offspring, and they seem to be dedicated pairs. While I have spotted packs of Jackals in the Sultanpur National Park in Gurgaon, the ones I keep spotting at the Keoladeo National Park seem to be better fed and in better health.

Unfortunately, I was not able to spot any migratory birds in the National Park apart from the resident Painted Storks and Oriental Darter birds. The owls were hiding, and the Sarus Cranes had yet to be spotted. The common Kingfishers were missing in action, and all was quiet and peaceful without the ruckus of a thousand migratory birds flocking to the park. Oriental Darters are also called Snake Birds because of their long legs, which can be contorted on demand, making them look like snakes. The last photograph pasted below is a favourite of mine.

A short trip to Keoladeo can be a great way to connect with one another. While photographing migratory birds might not always provide expected results, one should visit the park for a change from the hectic city life.