Keoladeo Ghana Sanctuary

The marshlands of Koladeo
          Ghana bird sanctuary

Just outside of Bharatapur lies the Keoladeo Ghana Sanctuary, one of the world's outstanding bird sanctuaries. Located on a major migratory pathway, this relatively small area (12 square miles) is home to an astounding variety of species. Interestingly, the swamps that make up a large portion of the sanctuary are man-made. It was A python lounges in the
                February sunA Nilgai (Blue Bull),
                the largest of all Asian antelopeconstructed by the maharaja of Bharatapur by diverting water from a nearby canal and creating a series of dykes and dams. The result is a soupy marshland that now serves as a stopping point to over 370 species of birds, of which more than 115 are from Central Asia. The stew-thick marshlands (the "Ghana" in the name means dense) take their primary name from the Keoladeo Temple of Lord Shiva, located within the grounds. It is a complex ecosystem, with grassy savannah intermixed with swamp. The grasslands are home not only to birds, but also to a variety of wildlife. Just past the entrance to the sanctuary lies Python Hill (photo to the left) where the reptiles may be seen sunning themselves, even on temperate January afternoons. Lurking in the same underbrush are mammals such as the Nilgai (Blue Bull) antelope, the largest of all Asian antelope, shown hiding in the trees in the photo to the right. Ironically, the creation of this wonderful ecosystem arose for a reason antithetical to conservation--to provide the maharaja a local spot for duck-shoots, a major event in the Indian sporting regimen. This activity reached its Transiting the sanctuary
                on a cycle-rickshawpeak in November 1938, when British Viceroy Lord Linlithgow and his party downed 4,237 ducks in a day, an act thatPainted storks
                near the water's edge required assistants to cool his gun barrels with water between reloadings. Maharajas used Rolls Royces with the roofs removed for their shoots.  Nowadays tourists transit a small causeway between the marshlands on foot or via small cycle-rickshaws. (photo to the left). The highlight of the park is perhaps the yearly migrations of the storks and cranes. The most famous of all is the Siberian crane that flies in from that region every year. It stands up to  4 1/2 feet tall and has a wing span of over 6 feet. Unfortunately, we were there too late in the year to see the Siberian Cranes, but storks abounded. In the photo to the right, painted storks rest near the water's edge. Among the other types of birds who stop at Keoladeo are ibis, kingfishers, herons, peregrine falcons, geese, ducks, pelicans, and many more. It was a bit difficult to photograph many of the birds using a digital camera with limited zoom. However, below is a video from City Explorio that offers a slideshow of the birds found here, as well as a tour of the park

 

 

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