By Steve Challis

The Snow Leopard
The Snow Leopard is not closely related to the Leopard. Scientists are still discussing the relationship of this animal to the other cats. It has been named Uncia uncia. However, recent DNA analysis suggests that the name Panthera uncia would be more appropriate.

If the inclusion of this species in the Panthera genus is accepted, this would make tit one of the Big Cats, also called the roaring cats. This species does not roar, and is not as big as any of the others in the genus.

The DNA analysis actually suggests that this animal's nearest relative is the mighty Tiger.

Size
An average full grown male Snow Leopard weighs about 45 Kg (100 pounds). Females are a little smaller than this. There is a big range in size within this species.

Man Eating
Although this is a reasonably big cat, they do not seem to attack Humans.

Diet
This predator will kill animals several times their own weight. The larger animals it eats include wild Goats and Sheep, wild Pigs, Deer and reasonable sized Monkeys. However, they also eat a lot of smaller animals like hares, rats and birds.

Carnivores?
All cats are generally considered to be carnivores. Of course, anyone who has kept a domestic pussy cat is likely to be aware that they will eat a bit of grass. This seems to be good for them, but is not a major item of their diet. The Snow Leopard is different and will eat quite a bit of vegetation.

Conflict with Humans
Humans keep domestic animals of suitable size for Snow leopards to eat. Naturally the predators will often be killed by people trying to protect their livestock.

Carrion
Unlike many cats, the Snow Leopard will eat dead animals it finds.

Fur Coats
In the past the coat of the Snow Leopard was a particularly sought after fur. Many were killed for this trade. More recently it is unfashionable to wear fur coats made from real animals and the trade has been reduced, but not completely stopped.

Range and Habitat
As might be expected, this animal comes from mountainous areas. They will live in the high Rhododendron forests of places like China. Although they are not usually thought of as a forest animal they sometimes also live in the high pine forests.

Critically Endangered
We do not really have accurate information of the numbers of Snow Leopard, but they have certainly been greatly reduced despite the efforts of several of the governments of the twelve different countries they come from, and it is considered to be critically endangered.

By Robert Benjamin

This voracious and carnivorous fish live in freshwaters on the Northern Hemisphere. Northern Pike (Esox lucius) is also known by its folk name of "Water Wolf". Pikes grow as large as 150 cm in size and 25 kg in weight (1' to over 4', and weigh 50 pounds), although larger sizes have been reported, particularly in the Great Lakes area, making people believe in a misidentification or folk tale.

The color of Northern Pikes is olive shading into whitish or yellowish on belly, with spots on their body and some dark ones on the fins. Pikes have large pores on their head and lower jaw. This characteristic make Northern Pike a close relative to Muskellunge, similar-looking, but Northern Pike have light markings on their dark body backgrounds and less than 6 sensory pores on the underside of their jaw.

Usually found in cold, clear, rocky waters, lakes and streams, Northern Pike are usually hidden waiting for their prey, which are caught sideways with their sharp teeth. Pikes eat mainly fish and ducklings, although they are also cannibals, part of their nature, which serves in maintaining the Northern Pike population.

Some anglers have photographed Northern Pikes eating other pikes of a similar size, but also leeches and insects, because they are well known for their tremendously voracious appetite. Northern Pikes are some of the biggest freshwater fish that anglers like to catch due to the challenge involved while facing their aerial acrobatics and explosive hits.

Fishing for pike is an exciting sport in North America, where anglers usually do not eat the catch, but northern pike is usually filleted for the purpose of European cuisine, particularly popular in many German dishes. There are references traced back as far as the Romans, depicting pikes served at festivities.

In America, Northern Pike lives in northern New England, Eastern New York, Minnesota and the Ohio Valley, the Great Lakes basin and also the surrounding states of Nebraska and Missouri. Toward the north, pikes are also found in Alaska and Canada, except, British Columbia, were they appear rarely.

Northern Pike breed with Muskie to produce the Muskellunge subspecies known as Tiger Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy immaculatus), and there is also a mutation of Northern pike known as the Silver Pike, silvery-blue or silver in color, often referred to as Silver Muskellunge, occurring in scattered populations, lacking the rows of spots.

The name of Northern Pike was given to this specie after its North American habitat resembling the pole-weapon known as pike. This fish is also known as Common Pike, Snake, Great Northern Pike, American Pike, Jackfish, Great Lakes Pike, Grass Pike, and Pickerel.

By Shikha Priyadarshini

A hidden wish of a nature lover, an adventure enthusiast, suddenly comes to the crust when one hears the deadly roar of a tiger in the Jim Corbett National Park. The attraction of a tiger pulls the wildlife enthusiasts close to the dark forests and the mere sight of the ruling creature makes the heart skip a beat. Humans are dominated by the wild in their territory and Jim Corbett National Park is the place to be if you prefer the thrill of this domination.

Corbett Tiger Reserve is situated in Uttaranchal, at a distance of around 290 km from Delhi. It is the oldest national park of India as it was opened in 1936, as Hailey National Park. The sole purpose was to preserve a variety of rare species of wildlife which were getting extinct due to reasons such as trade of animal skin. Today, the tigers count here has reached 150. Other animals that dwell here are Wild Boars, Barking Deer, Rhesus Macaques, Langurs, Wild Elephants, Indian Pangolin, Leopards, Muggars, Gharials and Spotted Deers.

The place is a bird watcher's paradise as there are around 580 species of birds that can be spotted including Green Heron, Pallas Fishing Eagle, Common Hawk, Indian Ring Dove, Turtle Dove, Black Partridge, Whitebreasted Kingfisher, Hoopoe, Pond Heron, Rosy Pastor, Common Grey Hornbill, etc. Many migratory birds visit the Ramganga river stretch to quench their thirst. During winter season, the rush of birds flocking in the area, seems to be a common sight. Most of these birds are high altitude birds. The best season for bird-watch is during the winter months of November to March.

The vegetation of the park mostly consists of Haldu, Pipal, Mango and Rohini trees. The forests are of moist deciduous type with dominance of Sal trees. The grasslands covering the valleys of the region offer an attractive sight, where animals can be spotted easily.

Fishing and angling in the rivers of the national park, at places like Binsar and Ramgarh, are a favorite among the visitors. Go around the dark forests to observe the wildlife, while you enjoy a good jeep or elephant safari. Many forest lodges are available where you can relax at night and wake up in the nature's lap with the twittering of birds. Even hotels and resorts, which are well-furnished and have comfy facilities are available in the national park. Other leisure activities that can be tried out here include cycling, jogging, swimming, rock climbing, rappling, trekking and river rafting.

The main places that you can visit in and around Jim Corbett include Dhikala, which is a popular tourist destination. River Ramganga flows through the Patli Dun valley near which Dhikala is situated. The Garija Devi Temple, near River Kosi, is the place where Kartik Purnima Fair takes place. It is located on the way to the hill station of Ranikhet. Also, you can visit the Corbett Museum in Kaladhungi, around 32 km from Jim Corbett, where you can have a look at the life history of Jim Corbett.

Jim Corbett National Park also organizes exciting camps for children, so that they get close to nature. They are accompanied by a team of naturalists and professionals. The park can be visited only from mid November to mid June. An overnight stay at the forest lodges would require permits from the headquarter office of the National Park,. It is advised to book the jeep and elephant rides in advance, so that they are available in time.

So, enjoy your stay in the thrilling habitat of the wild, and experience the fun of being their humble guests, not unwanted guests. The adventure begins right here...

By Neha Verma

The first wildlife reserve in India is Corbett National Park which extends with an area of 500 square kilometers in the foothills of Himalayas. It has been set up as Hailey National Park in the year 1936. Later the name has been change to Ramganga and finally it has been kept as Jim Corbett National Park. The Park is known in all round the country for the varied wildlife and is also popular for launching the Project Tiger.

It is one of the nine tiger reserve that was launched in the year 1973. The major animals that are found in the park is tiger, elephants, chital, sambar, nilgai, ghariyal, King Cobra, muntjac, wild boar, hedgehog, flying fox, Indian Pangolin, and around 600 species of birds. There are number of visitors who visits the thousands of visitors every year. There are number of facilities that are available for the tourists within and outside the park.

Wildlife:

As due to the variety in the climate and habitat, there is the diversity in the both flora and fauna in Park. There are more than the 575 species of birds, 25 species of the reptiles, 50 species of mammals and 7 species of amphibians who are having enough food sources that works as the shelter and also protects the animals for one half century. Some of the major mammals that are found in the National Park is the Chital, Elephant, Wild pig, Barking Deer, Sambar, Tiger, Common langur, Rhesus, Macaque, Jackal, Leopard, Panthar.

Adventure of Wildlife Safari at Corbett:

Wildlife Safari in Corbett is just like the other national parks in the country. The timing for the entry and exit into the park varies from season to season.

Winter Timings-

Morning Safari: 0730 hrs - 1030 hrs

Evening Safari: 1500 hrs - 1700 hrs

Summer Timings-

Morning Safari: 0630 hrs- 0930 hrs

Evening Safari: 1600 hrs- 1800 hrs

There are three main entry gates for the Jeep Safari in the Corbett National Park:

* Jirna Gate- Open all round the year
* Bijrani Gate- 1st October till 30th June
* Dhangari- 16th November- 15th June


Flora and Fauna of Corbett Wildlife Sanctuary:

The flora and fauna of the Corbett is very rich and green. There are in total 110 species of trees, 51 variety of shrubs, 27 species of climbers and 33 species of bamboo and grasses. Major flora of the Corbett includes Sal, Semal, Dhak, Kharpat, Sissoo, Khair, Khingan, Bakli, Bel, Ber, Bamboo, Rohini, Pula, Khutber.

Mammals in Corbett National Park:

Tiger leopard, elephants, chital, sambhar, hog dear, barking dear, wild boar, langur, wild pig, rhesus monkey, sambar, and jackal.

Reptiles:

Indian crocodile, ghariyal, King Cobra, common krait, cobra, viper, python, lizard.

Birds at Corbett National Park:

Peacock, Jungle Fowl, crow, vulture, dove, woodpecker, duck, teal, strok, seagull.

By John Carlisle

When you talk about exotic animals, you'd probably think of wild tigers or some unique lizard from a remote island. A few will consider hermit crabs as pets, but this handful of individuals have enjoyed the company of crabs as exotic pets. Being a creature of the wild, you would wonder what a hermit crab habitat should have when you begin to construct one for them. Hermit crabs information is not something that is readily available like kennels for your Labrador. It is only recent that people are getting them as pets - definitely hermit crab cage is far different from dog kennels.

When recreating their natural environment, you need to look into their habitat in order provide a healthy home. One element that stands out is the humidity level that they require. A high humidity level is essential since they need to keep their gills moist even when they are not in the water. Likewise, they are commonly found in areas near the ocean - usually tropical environment.

Creating a hermit crab habitat from scrap may seem daunting, but it can be easy. What is important is you know the requirements for their survival and you'll sure to make one suitable for your pet.

Another important clue in creating the best environment for crabs is looking into their behavior. They way they act in the wild provide a glimpse of the elements of their home. In the wild, burrowing is a past time. This means the hermit crab cage must have substrates that allow for this behavior. Look for the best material that will not harm your pet. Get more hermit crabs information from those already taking care of them as pets. Check websites and articles for more details.

Furthermore, these types of crabs are social animals - in spite of their name. It's a good idea to buy several to keep them company. When they mate, they go straight at it without any mating dance or ritual - expect no cuddling in the end as well. They are born in the ocean but will soon leave it for the land. But they do come back to the water from time to time. It's important to provide ample supply of water in your crab habitat.

Their diet is also important so find information what they eat in the wild. This way you can give them all the nutritional requirements that they need.

Crabs, hermits at that, are unique animals as pets. Don't be intimidated by their uniqueness as you can provide the best habitat for them - just know they needs and provide it.

By Robert M. Willis

If you have caught Rainbow, Brown, and Brook trout it may be time to try to catch some of the more exotic trout species. I had this revelation a few years ago after a trout fishing rip to Montana. We fly-fish for everything and caught a lot of fish but they were mostly Rainbow and Brown that are typical for the area around West Yellowstone, Montana. We also caught a few small Brook and a couple of Cut-bows (Rainbow/Cutthroat hybrid) in about a week of fishing. I had lived out west for many years and have seen many different rivers, lakes and trout. I decided to find out how many trout species there were in North America and see how difficult it would be to catch them all. The quest was on! It turns out that there are twenty trout species, but that number has been revised several times during the quest. The problem is that hybrids keep showing up, and a cross between a bull trout and brook trout turned up last month so the total number of species continues to climb and has reached twenty-one.

I have been able to catch 15 of the different species up to this point, and there have been many adventures and different places to fish. The quest has required fishing parts of North America that I would have otherwise never considered. Many of the unique species are native to the western United States. Golden Trout, Bull Trout, Gila Trout, and Apache Trout are good examples of what the west holds. Golden Trout are native to California but exist in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Bull Trout are found in Montana, Idaho, and Oregon while Gila are only found in New Mexico, and Apache only in Arizona. Some of the extreme part of this trout adventure is extreme travel. I have been fortunate in that regard and have lived in the western United States and Alaska, and this has made my trout quest a little easier. Two of the trout on the list are common in Alaska. Steelhead and Dolly Varden existed in many of the streams and rivers in the southeastern islands of Alaska that were not far from my Ketchikan home.

Some of the trout do not get particularly large, but are so unique and difficult to find and catch that it is a thrill to see one and get a picture. All of the fish have been released with a couple of exceptions. Read on about Aurora Trout. The three most rare trout are the Sunapee, Aurora and Gila. They are difficult to find and difficult to catch. Aurora exist in nine lakes in northern Ontario, Canada and are endangered. Limited fishing was opened for Aurora in 2006 and only three lakes are open to fishing each year. There is a one fish limit, you must keep anything that is caught, and you may only have one fish in your possession. Aurora are a true one and done scenario, and are difficult to catch. They tend to be a deep water fish when the season is open (the season opens August 1), require deep sinking fly line, a minnow imitation, and lots of patience. I caught one fish in three days of fishing. Gila Trout are also endangered and are native to New Mexico. Limited fishing was opened for Gila in 2007. They are a small stream fish that live in the deep mountains of western New Mexico. Small nymphs worked best, but several small Browns and Rainbows were also caught. Getting to them is difficult and fishing for them is small stream stalking with a stealthy presentation. Sunapee may be the most difficult of all of the North American trout to find. They were native to New Hampshire and Vermont but no longer exist in those States. Sunapee are Char and when Lake Trout were introduced into the native Sunapee lakes they hybridized with the Lakers and disappeared. Maine did save some of the Sunapee and does have a few lakes where they can be caught. I caught one Sunapee this year in a driving rain-storm with hail from Long Pond, Maine. Extreme fishing conditions for extreme fish!

There are many other different trout that are difficult to reach and catch. Golden Trout are one of the most beautiful fish in the world and exist only in the cleanest and clearest water high in the western mountains. They are native to California but were introduced years ago to several other western states. The largest fish today seem to be in Montana and Wyoming, but large is somewhat of a misnomer for Golden. The state record fish are in the 5-6 pound range, but most Goldens are less than 12-inches. The world record Golden was caught years ago. I am fishing Montana next year for Golden and hope to catch a fish in the 2-pound range. That is a monster Golden, but they do exist in some lakes. Bull Trout are also a western trout on the endangered species list. They are native to Montana, Idaho, and Oregon, and there is a limited season for these fish in Montana and Oregon. Bull trout are very similar to Dolly Varden and are sometimes difficult to tell apart. I have caught Bull trout in the Bitteroot Mountains of Montana. These trout can get large, but size is directly related to the size of the water being fished. This species is mostly found in rivers and streams, but Flathead Lake, Montana does have a population of Bull Trout.

Somewhere along the way I decided to add all of the hybrid trout species to the list of trout to be caught. I had caught Cut-bows, but had never given any of the other hybrids much thought. I jumped into hybrids last year with a trip to Utah to catch Tiger Trout and Splake. I had a ball and caught several of each species from Forsyth Reservoir located in the Fishlake National Forest. Tiger trout lived up to their name fought well, and are terrific looking fish while Splake are just really pretty. This introduction to hybrid trout led to additional species and more information. Hybrid trout are different in many ways. State Fish and Game Departments have created these fish for several different reasons, but there are also unwanted hybrids. Cut-bows and the Bull/Brook Trout cross are unintended hybrids that were created when Rainbows were introduced into Cutthroat areas and Brook Trout were introduced into Bull Trout habitat respectively. Both of these hybrids have reduced the populations of native trout and are one of the reasons that Bull Trout are endangered and some of the Cutthroat subspecies no longer exist. Most of the wildlife agencies are trying to remove the introduced fish, the hybrids, and restore the native trout.

All of the created hybrids seem to be exceptional fish. Tiger Trout, Splake, Golden Rainbow, and Albino Rainbow are beautiful fish the serve a purpose in the States were they are being stocked. Splake are the oldest hybrid in North America, and were created in the 1800s in several New England fish hatcheries. They are a cross between Lake Trout and Brook Trout (Speckled Trout), and hence the hybrid name Splake. They are beautiful fish that are stocked in many States and Canadian Provinces. Maine and Canada use Splake in areas where other trout species do not do well. This hybrid has exceptional characteristics. They have an exceptional growth rate, are hardy, can tolerated warmer water, are resistant to disease, and are not difficult to catch. That last statement is from a fish and wildlife department and I would question that a little bit. I have fished for Splake in several different parts of the United States and Canada and have not caught very many. They are out there, but require some work to catch. The western states use Splake because they are resistant to whirling disease that has taken a toll of many western trout species. Tiger Trout are also resistant to disease and are used in the west for the same reason as Splake. Tiger Trout are a cross between Brook Trout and Brown Trout, and have the fighting characteristics of the Browns. They are aggressive, make long deep runs, and are fun to catch. The other two hybrids have been created by selective breeding and are color forms of Rainbow Trout. Albino Rainbow are true albinos in that they do not have any color pigment. They are a white trout with red eyes, and are stocked only in Utah. This fish is used as part of the States urban fishing program and is stocked on a put and take basis. Golden Rainbow first showed up in a West Virginia Trout Hatchery in 1954 as an abnormality in a Rainbow Trout hatch. The fish was so beautiful that West Virginia decided to try to selective breed the fish. They were successful and introduced the fish with experimental stocking in the 1960s. The stockings were a hit with anglers in the State and have been stocked every since. Pennsylvania also stocks a color variation of the Golden Rainbow that is called a Palomino Trout and is a little lighter shade of yellow.

I have learned several things during my trout adventure. My favorite trout so far are Cutthroat, Tiger, and Apache. Cutthroat are the true North American trout. There are 12 subspecies of Cutthroat and you can spend a lifetime just catching all of the subspecies of this magnificent trout. I have caught eight of the subspecies and really enjoy fishing for Cutthroat. I think part of that enjoyment is that they live in some of the prettiest county in the world. Tiger and Apache Trout are similar in that they are aggressive and fight well. Both are uniquely marked and fun to have on the other end on you fly rod.

There are a variety of things to keep in mind if you want to begin this trout quest. You will be traveling throughout North America and much of that travel will be on unimproved roads. An SUV with four-wheel drive is needed for some of the travel. The species are different in likes and dislikes. Some prefer lakes while others are stream fish, and this requires both wading and tubing with a fly rod. With the exception of Steelhead and Dolly Varden, all of the largest trout I have caught have been out of a tube. So tubing is a good thing. Do your homework. Find out all you can about the area to be fished and what the best conditions are for success. Most of the trout species are aquatic insect eaters and nymph fishing often produces good results. Lake Trout, larger Splake, and Aurora are almost exclusively minnow and forage fish eaters, and to do well with those species some type of minnow imitation is required. In some cases it is important to know when to fish. Lake Trout and Splake fishing seems to be best early in the year shortly after ice-out. Both of those species are lake fish, prefer cold water, and will retreat to the depths as the water warms.

If you want to try some different fishing, search for the unknown trout and try extreme trout fishing!

By Prashant Jainengg

Bandhavgarh National Park was the former hunting preserve of the Maharaja of Rewa and at present is a famous natural hub for White Tigers. The main attraction in this park is white tigers, which were first spotted in Rewa.

Situated at 197 km away from Jabalpur, this National Park is one of the wild life sanctuaries in the Indian state Madhya Pradesh. The name of this wildlife is derived from an ancient fort in the area.

The density of the Tiger population at Bandhavgarh is the highest known in our country. It is known for the Royal Bengal Tigers.

Bandhavgarh National Park is nestled among the Vindhya mountain ranges of central India. It boasts to have the highest density of tiger population in the country. You can enjoy exploring the wildlife by two ways: - Jeep Safari and Elephant Safari. Jeep safaris are undertaken during the early morning hours till evening. The main wildlife is still done in the core of the park with its 32 picturesque and wooded hills. Stretches of bamboo and grasslands are covered till north.

In the Bandhavgarh National Park, you are welcomed by elephants; you can ride on elephant back apart from the four wheelers. A forest guide will always accompany you for the elephant safaris. While riding, you will enjoy rich flora and fauna of the park.

There are chances of seeing a tigers while wandering through the Bandhavgarh national park on an Elephant Back. Other wild attractions are Nilgai, Chausingha, Chital, Chinkara, Wild Boar and sometimes a Fox or Jackal.

The best time to visit the park is early in the morning or after 4 pm to spot the animals. In monsoon, the park is closed from 1st July to 31st October.

Bandhavgarh National Park is an un-spoiled habitat for a variety of wildlife peculiar to the area, which include gaur (Indian bison), sloth bear, leopard, porcupine, wild boar, sambhar and spotted deer, among others and of course, the tiger.

The terrain is broken, with rocky hill ranges, running roughly east west, interspersed with forested valleys. These valleys end in small, swampy meadows locally known as "Bohera".