Harsha (![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} kaadupapa) wrote,@ 2005-11-21 00:06:00 |
|
Knowing animal language
Today in the evening safari, we happened to see two striped-necked mongooses about 60ft away from the jeep. As soon as it saw us, it turned and started going back towards the bush. Through my little experience with animals, I made a sort of squeaking noise, hearing which, one of the mongoose immediately turned back and started coming towards the jeep. It stopped, so I repeated the call again, and it came a little closer. Mr.Vikram, our resort manager, started recording everything on his handy cam. This happened until it came as close as 40ft from us. The other mongoose came back, which probably dint hear I guess, and both took off on the road which led into the thicket.
I have called mongoose quite a few times and most of the time its responded well. The last time was at Bandipur withkalyan but it was a common grey mongoose. It was on the roadside and as soon as we got close, it fled inside, I tried my luck with the call and it came back to such close proximity that we managed to get a good picture of it and I hope Kalyan still has it!
After calling mongoose in the evening, we went further where we could see an elephant going into the bush making some noise, I knew it got scared and there are other elephants of that herd too. We were 30ft from the elephant, which we could not see properly but could hear the twigs breaking. So I thought I'll call…… this time its like dog yelping and rumbling! If you have ever encountered a scared elephant, you would know. As soon as I called, one of the adult cow elephant came out of the bush half, started to smell, and followed by two more with two young calves!
We were there for another five mins, drove 50ft ahead, and stopped. Totally five adult and two calves came to the road where we were earlier and peacefully started grazing!
But sometimes they do charge !!!
Today in the evening safari, we happened to see two striped-necked mongooses about 60ft away from the jeep. As soon as it saw us, it turned and started going back towards the bush. Through my little experience with animals, I made a sort of squeaking noise, hearing which, one of the mongoose immediately turned back and started coming towards the jeep. It stopped, so I repeated the call again, and it came a little closer. Mr.Vikram, our resort manager, started recording everything on his handy cam. This happened until it came as close as 40ft from us. The other mongoose came back, which probably dint hear I guess, and both took off on the road which led into the thicket.
I have called mongoose quite a few times and most of the time its responded well. The last time was at Bandipur with
kalyan but it was a common grey mongoose. It was on the roadside and as soon as we got close, it fled inside, I tried my luck with the call and it came back to such close proximity that we managed to get a good picture of it and I hope Kalyan still has it! After calling mongoose in the evening, we went further where we could see an elephant going into the bush making some noise, I knew it got scared and there are other elephants of that herd too. We were 30ft from the elephant, which we could not see properly but could hear the twigs breaking. So I thought I'll call…… this time its like dog yelping and rumbling! If you have ever encountered a scared elephant, you would know. As soon as I called, one of the adult cow elephant came out of the bush half, started to smell, and followed by two more with two young calves!
We were there for another five mins, drove 50ft ahead, and stopped. Totally five adult and two calves came to the road where we were earlier and peacefully started grazing!
But sometimes they do charge !!!
