Deer

The name 'Deer' is given to the ruminant mammals belonging to the family Cervidae. They are one of the most beautiful creatures on this earth and extend to approximately 34 species. Male deer, in India as well as the world, are known as stags, harts, bucks or bulls, depending upon the species to which they belong. While, the females are known as hinds, does or cows. One can find deers widely distributed throughout the world, including the Indian subcontinent. The only continents where deer are not found are those of Antarctica and Australia.The 34 species of deer can be divided broadly into two categories, known as the old world group and the new world group. The former comprises of the subfamilies Muntiacinae and Cervinae, while the latter includes the subfamilies Hydropotinae and Odocoileinae. Read on to get more information about the Indian deer.

Nanda Devi

Elevation (feet):25645
Elevation (meters):7817
Range:himalaya

SubRange:Garhwal Himalaya

Country:India
Continent:Asia
Latitude:30.3833000
Longitude:79.9667000
Difficulty:Major Mountain Expedition
Best months for climbing:July, August, September
Year first climbed:1936
Convenient Center:Hardwar, India
Nearest major airport:Delhi, India
Description
Nanda Devi, whose name means Blessed Goddess, is the highest mountain in India. It is a great white double pyramid overlooking the sacred Garhwal region. Nanda Devi rises from a vast ring of high mountains that form the Nanda Devi Sanctuary, an amphitheater seventy miles in circumference and 6000m high, surrounding the Rishiganga valley. Only once in this giant cirque does the elevation drop below 5200 m. Repeated early efforts to reach the inner sanctuary failed. Bill Tilman finally reached the sanctuary in 1934 with Eric Shipton, then Tilman climbed to the summit in 1936 with Noel Odell. With this ascent, Nanda Devi became the highest peak attained by man, a record which remained until the 1950 ascent of Annapurna.

"BrahmaKamal"

Himalayan Monal

Distribution & Habiat;
they are endemic to the Himalayas, eastern Afghanistan to western China. They can be found in Bhutan and countries of Pakistan, India (states of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh), Nepal, and Southern Tibet. There is also a report of its occurrence in Myanmar.
These pheasants prefer cool upper temperate oak-conifer forests interspersed with open grassy slopes, cliffs and alpine meadows mostly at 9,000 to 10,000 ft elevations. They seem to exhibit clear and fluctuating altitudinal migration moving down as low as 6,500 feet in winter and up to 16,000 feet in the summer.
These pheasants exhibit great tolerance to snow and are often seen digging in it foraging for food
They are usually seen in pairs during the breeding season, which is from April to August. Outside that season, they tend to form large coveys and involve in communal roosting.
This species is considered stable throughout much of its range, but may have been eliminated in Afghanistan. The status of this pheasant is still fairly secure, although its cousin the Chinese Monal is classified as threatened due to poaching and other anthropogenic factors. Males had been under heavy hunting pressure for its crest feather, which was used to ornament hats of Himachal men, until 1982 when legal hunting was banned in the state.
A recent survey carried out in Arunachal Pradesh discovered a new type of Lophophorus species and its identity, though believed to be a subspecies of Sclater’s monal or a potential new species, is yet to be confirmed.
Description:
These pheasants are amongst the most beautiful pheasants due to their striking metallic-colored plumage. It is a relatively large sized bird averaging 2.3 feet (~70 cm) in length, the weight of males and females range between 4.4 and 5.2 lbs (1980 gram - 2 380 gram respectively). Females tend to be slightly smaller and lighter.
Male Plumage:
The male’s impressive display features bowing and vigorous waving of the rufous tail, but it is the iridescent plumage on the wings and neck that give the bird its reputation as the "nine-colored bird" consisting of interspersing mix of metallic colors of green, purple, red and blue.
The adult male has a long, metallic-green crest, much like a peacock, changeable reddish copper on the back and sides of the neck and a prominent white back and rump while in flight. The tail feathers are uniformly rufous being darker towards the tips.
The males also have a large white patch on the rump. The breast and underparts are black and the tail is copper. The male also has a bare patch of turquoise blue skin around the eye.
First year males resemble the hens, but are larger
First year males and immatures resemble females, except for males being larger and they have black feathers on the neck and breast.
Female Plumage:
Females, while considerably duller than the males, are still quite attractive. Their upper parts are covered with mottled brownish-black feathers. Her throat is white and she has a short crest. The lower tail coverts of females are white, barred with black and rufous. Hens also have the blue patch around the eyes.

Python

Python snake, also known as Ajgar, is one of the most massively built snakes of the Indian subcontinent. It belongs to the Boidae Family and is dependent on water to quite an extent. One of the unique features of the Rock pythons of India is that they can raise their body temperature above the ambient level, through muscular contractions.Physical TraitsPython snake grows to an average length of somewhere around 4 m, with the longest python measuring 5.85 m. Its weight varies from 70 to 129 pounds. The entire body is covered with scales, which are usually smooth and glossy. The head is flat, with small eyes and large nostrils. On either side of the anal vent are vestigial or rudimentary limbs, known as spurs. An adult python is white or yellow in color, depending upon its habitat. The pythons of the hill forests of Western Ghats and Assam are darker in color, while those of the Deccan Plateau and East Coast are lighter. Sensory pits on the rostral (snout shield) and first two labials distinguish a Rock python from other types of snakes. BehaviorRock python of India is a lethargic creature, moving only while hunting a prey or when threatened. It shows great swimming ability and is quite at ease in water. DietThe diet of Pythons consists of mammals, birds and reptiles. After eating a huge meal, they may go without food for many days. There is also an incidence of an Indian python not eating for 2 years at a stretch. Natural Habitat Python snakes can be found in dense as well as open Indian forests, mostly estuarine mangrove forest, arid scrub jungle and rain forest. They may live in abandoned mammal burrows, hollow trees, dense water reeds and mangrove thickets. However, pythons prefer to live near a permanent source of water, like rivers and lakes.Status and ThreatsRock python of India is an endangered species, now partly protected by the Tamil Nadu Government. The reason for this is that it is killed for its fine skin, meat and even for medicinal purposes. Facts about Indian Python
Kingdom : Animalia

Scentific Name : Python molurus molurus
Class : Reptilia
Order : Squamata

Suborder : Serpentes
Family : Boidae
Genus : Python
Species : Python molurus
Subspecies : P.M. molurus
Length : Around 4 m
Weight : 70 pounds to 129 pounds

History of Himalayas

The Himalayas are not merely a geographical feature, a range of mountains; they epitomise a people’s civilisational identity that goes back to the dawn of history. If these majestic mountains were not there, the rain clouds sweeping up from the Indian Ocean would have passed over the Indian subcontinent into central Asia leaving it a burning desert. Archaeological evidence reveals that urban civilisation first emerged in the valleys of the rivers coursing down from the Himalayan mountains. When man elsewhere was cautiously emerging from his cave shelters, spectacular cities flourished at Mohenjodaro and Harappa in the Indus valley

India Himalaya

Himalayan range covers the entire northern part of India, nestling five major states of the country within it. The ancient Indian pilgrims who have travelled in these mountains since time immemorial coined a Sanskrit word for the Himalayas meaning “Abode of Snow”.Some of the reasons why people have been so fascinated by the Indian Himalayas is because of the Hindu pilgrim routes, the low valleys that abruptly rise up in high mountain ranges, the lovely trekking hikes, densely forested areas lying just a mountain range away from barren cold deserts, and the lovely people of the mountains with their unique hospitable lifestyles.

Cobra in India

Facts
Class:
Reptiles
Diet:
Small mammals, reptiles, amphibians
Size:
Body:1.8 - 2.2 m (6 - 7 1/4 ft)
Scientific Name:
Naja naja
Habitat:
Rainforest, Rice fields, Cultivated land
Range:
India, Central Asia, Southeast Asia
About Cobra in IndiaThe Indian Cobra is known around the world as highly venomous snake that feeds on rodents, lizards, and frogs. As well as biting, the Indian cobra can attack or defend itself from a distance by "spitting" venom, which, if it enters the opponent's eyes, causes severe pain and damage. The snake actually forces the venom through its fangs, by exerting muscular pressure on the venom glands, so that it sprays out in twin jets for 2 m (6 1/2 ft) or more. Behaviour of Indian CobraWhen threatened, the Indian Cobra will assume its characteristic posture. It will raise the front one-third of its body and elongate its long, flexible neck ribs and loose skin to form its distinctive hood, on which are resembled eyes. .Status of Cobra in IndiaAlthough the Indian Cobra is not an endangered species, it has recently been hunted for its distinctive hood markings in the production of handbags. It is listed under the treaty because it closely resembles other species that are threatened and in need of protection. Physical Characteristics of Indian CobraThe Indian Cobra's most known characteristic features are the wide black band on the underside of the neck, and the hood marking design which shows half-rings on either side of the hood. It is a smooth-scaled snake with black eyes, a wide neck and head, and a medium-sized body. Its colouring varies from black, to dark brown, to a creamy white. The body is usually covered with a spectacled white or yellow pattern, which sometimes forms ragged bands. The Indian cobra may grow from 1.8m to 2.2m. Those Cobras which have the single ring on the hood are found in Assam and Eastern India and spit venom like the Ringhals Cobra of South Africa which can eject a spray for a distance of more than two meters and cause severe eye pain, sometimes blindness. Keepers who attend this particular variety of Cobra sensibly wear goggles.Most Poisonous - The King Cobra or HamadryadThe King Cobra or Hamadryad, is the largest of all poisonous snakes. This sometimes 5 meter long, lethal creature is entirely a snake eater. It enjoys Pythons, other Cobras, and even its own species. The King is aggressive, unpredictable, and can strike without provocation. It is most intelligent. When erect it can stand up to 2 meters in height. In certain fertility rites in Burma, a woman desirous of offspring is required not only to approach the King Cobra but to plant a kiss on its mouth. If she is successful in doing so she will bear many children; if she fails, obviously none.Natural HistoryThe Indian cobra feeds on rodents, lizards and frogs. It bites quickly, and then waits while its venom damages the nervous system of the prey, paralyzing and often killing it. Like all snakes, N. naja swallows its prey whole. This species sometimes enters buildings in search of rodent prey. In its characteristic threat posture, the Indian cobra raises the front one-third of its body and spreads out its long, flexible neck ribs and loose skin to form a disklike hood, on the back of which there are markings resembling eyes.Indian cobras pay more attention to their eggs than is usual in snakes. The 8 to 45 eggs (usually 12 to 20) are laid in a hollow tree, a termite mound or earth into which the snakes tunnel. The female guards the clutch throughout the incubation period, leaving them only for a short time each day to feed.
Economic Importance for HumansPositiveThe Indian Cobra eats rats and mice that carry disease and eat human food. Also, cobra venom is a potential source of medicines, including anti-cancer drugs and pain-killers. NegativeThis species is highly venomous, and its bite can be lethal. Because it hunts rodents that live around people, it is often encountered by accident, and many people die each year from N. naja bites.
The Festival of the SerpentsNagapanchami or the Serpent Festival occurs in India generally in August after the monsoon rains. It is then that the full impact of Cobra power is manifest. Throughout the country Cobras are either brought into the villages and fed, or effigies of the snake are anointed and worshipped. Rarely has it ever been recorded that a fatality has occurred from snakebite during this occasion; the Cobras appear to sense they are being revered.Although there may be variations in the date and in the local traditions and modes of observance, Nagapanchami is celebrated according to ancient rites. The festival continues to testify to the feelings of awe and veneration which the Cobra evokes in the minds of the population since the earliest times remembered. The Cobra is a graceful animal and appears always to carry an air of dignity and nobility. The physical charisma with which it is endowed is without doubt also one of the reasons why it, among all snakes, was chosen by the Nagas to be their totem.

Birds of India

Introduction
Over 1200 of the world’s 8650 bird species are found in India, of which over 300 are winter visitors. The winter visitors are chiefly from Arctic region to the North. The country’s bird checklist is twice that of Europe and North America. It is the amazing variety of habitat, climate, and altitude in India that has led to such abundance.
The two largest birds of India are the Sarus Crane (stands the height of a man) and the Himalayan Bearded Vulture (wingspan of more than 8 feet). Amongst the small birds, the Tickell's Flowerpecker is just a little bigger than a normal Thumb. Peacock, the National Bird of India, is the most colorful bird with its elegant vibrant wings. The most accomplished songsters are the Grey-winged Blackbird, Malabar Whistling Thrush and Shama. The Hill Myna is certainly the best talker whose articulation of the human voice and speech is clear. Four rarest birds in India are the Mountain (Himalayan) Quail, Jerdon's Courser, Pink-headed Duck and Forest Owlet.
Birds in various wildlife sanctuaries in India
The tiger reserve in the Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is home to about 450 species of birds such as the great pied hornbill, wreathed hornbill, different species of waterfowls and Bengal florican.
At the Kaziranga National Park, some of the species of birds that may be sighted are Pallas's fishing eagle, white-tailed eagle, oriental honey buzzard, Black Kite, Brahminy kite, Blue-breasted Quail, Himalayan Griffon, Grey Peacock Pheasant, Rose-breasted Parakeet, Red Jungle Fowl, Swamp Partridge, black-shouldered kite and grey-headed fishing eagle. During winter, migratory birds like Graylag Geese, Bar-Headed Geese, Ruddy Shelduck, Gadwall, Falcated Duck, Red-Crested Pochard and Northern Shoveller flock the sanctuary.
At the Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur, in Rajasthan, a World Heritage bird sanctuary, 17 species of birds, namely, Grey heron, purple heron, night heron, large egret, median egret, little egret, cattle egret, large cormorant, Indian shag, little cormorant, darter, painted stork, open-billed stork, black-necked stork, white-necked stork, white ibis and spoonbill are known to breed.
Species recorded at the Ranthambore National Park include the crested serpent eagle, Bonelli's eagle, great Indian horned owl, grey partridge, common sandgrouse, red spur fowl, common pea fowl, tree pie, paradise fly catcher, pheasant tailed jacana, painted stork, white necked stork, spoonbill, green pigeon, white-backed vulture, king vulture, white breasted kingfisher, spotted dove, ring dove, couca and the golden Wood pecker.
Birders can spot the rare Ibisbill, the Greylag, Barheaded goose, Great Crested Grebe, Snipe, Sandpiper, Gull and the Wagtail in the Kosi River bed in winter at the Corbett National Park in Uttaranchal.

Indian Elephant

One of the best loved animals in the world, the elephant is today divided into two sub-species. These consist of the African Elephant and the Indian Elephant. Elephants are recognized by the sheer grandeur of their size possessing a brain that is the largest amongst all land mammals, going up to almost 5 kgs. Besides their size, the other most defining feature of elephants is their tusks. Tusks, which are basically long incisor teeth, are a characteristic feature of male elephants. However, all Indian Elephants do not possess tusks. One of the grandest animals of the jungle, the Indian Elephant is to a large extent different from its African counterpart. Smaller in size, the Indian elephant can be recognized by their long trunks and less defined ears. Herbivores by habit, elephants feed on barks, roots, fruits and grass. Socially, elephants are extremely friendly by nature, living in a matriarchal society and generally assembling in herds of 3 to 10. Though, the females remain with their mothers, adult male elephants are removed from the herd in order to prevent inbreeding. With an average life span of around 70 to 80 years, the Indian elephant has a number of inherent traits that allow them to adapt to changing environmental conditions and thereby sustain themselves in adverse conditions.
Found in the densely populated tropical forests of the southern, northern, eastern as well as sub-Himalayan India, the Indian Elephant is regarded in most parts of the country as not just an animal but also as an extension of the Indian culture. An immensely important part of Hinduism, India’s dominant religion, the Indian Elephant is worshipped in many parts of the country, as an incarnation of Ganesha, The Elephant God. Historically too, Elephants have played a very important role in the country, often being regarded as an important indicator of an individual’s social and economic status. Today, however these majestic creatures face a serious threat to their existence, being easy target for poachers who, influenced by the greed of ivory in the form of the tusks of elephants indulge in inhuman mutilation of these innocent beings. The government of India has to a large extent curbed the threat of extinction that these creatures faced by establishing a number of legal acts by which the life of these creatures have been made secure. These also include the establishment of a number of conservation centers and sanctuaries in places like Periyar National Park in Kerala in South India and Corbett National Park in Uttaranchal in North India. The project elephant, one of the country’s most important projects in terms of wildlife conservation is also a laudable achievement of the Government of India. Some of the best places where one can view elephants in the comfort of their natural habitat are:
Manas
Corbett
Dalma and Palamu
Bandipur and Nagarhole
Periyar and Madumalai

Bengal Tiger

One of the most majestic creatures of the wild, the tiger is the largest living member of the cat member. Found all around the world in regions like Siberia, Manchuria, India and Malaysia, tigers are divided into a number of sub-species. Prominent among these is the Indian variety of tigers, also known as the Royal Bengal Tiger.
Gracefully built with a reddish yellow coat which is liberally striped in black, the Tiger or Panthera tigris as it is scientifically called originated in Siberia. It was from this land of snow, that the tigers migrated southwards led by their intrinsic instincts of finding a warmer habitat. One of these is a sub-species known as the Bengal Tiger or Panthera tigris tigris. Found mainly in areas like Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Western Myanmar, the Bengal tiger or the Royal Bengal tiger as it popularly called is truly an animal lover’s delight. With a population that is approximated to be around 3,250-4,700, Royal Bengal Tigers are under a grave threat of extinction, a threat that has to be combated effectively in order to save these beautiful beings.
In India, during the beginning of the 20th century, the population of tigers was around 40,000, a number that has come down drastically today, ringing warning bells amongst all animal lovers as well as the government of India. Besides natural causes, a very important role in this process of extinction has been played by man himself, being one of the principle assassins of these majestic creatures. Lured by the greed for the claws, skin and other organs of tigers, human beings have indulged in inhuman killing of tigers for years through almost all lands. It is in an effort to stop this inhuman poaching that a number of steps have been taken by the government of India. These include steps like establishing anti-poaching acts as well as a number of sanctuaries which can provide a safe haven for the Bengal tigers and allow them to breed in their natural habitat. Some of these sanctuaries include:
Corbet National Park
Kanha National Park
Indravati National Park
Sarinka National Park
Melghat Sanctuary
Palamou Tiger Reserve
North Simlipal National Park
Buxa Sanctuary
Sunderbans National Park
Manas Sanctuary
Namdapha National Park
Nagarjun Sagar Shvishailam Sanctuary
Bandipur National Park

Lotus Flower

The lotus flower appeared in legends originating from ancient Egypt. It played an important part in ancient Egyptian religion. The pure white lotus flower, the only plant to fruit and flower simultaneously, emerges from the depths of the muddy swamp. Growing from the mud at the bottom of ponds and streams, the exquisite Lotus flower rises above the water and is usually white or pink with 15 or more oval, spreading petals, and a peculiar, flat seedcase at its center.
Sesen A Lotus Flower. This is a symbol of the sun, of creation and rebirth. Because at night the flower closes and sinks underwater, at dawn it rises and opens again. According to one creation myth it was a giant lotus which first rose out of the watery chaos at the beginning of time. From this giant lotus the sun itself rose on the first day. A symbol of Upper Egypt .The lotus flower played a prominent role in the version of the creation story that originated in Heliopolis. Before the universe came into being, there was an infinite ocean of inert water which constituted the primeval being named Nun. Out of Nun emerged a lotus flower, together with a single mound of dry land. The lotus blossoms opened, and out stepped the self-created sun god, Atum, as a child. A slightly different version of the creation story originated in Hermopolis. In that version, the sun god who formed himself from the chaos of Nun emerged from the lotus petals as Ra. The lotus is a flower which opens and closes each day. His history went on to say that the petals of the lotus blossom enfolded him when he returned to it each night.
The lotus flower has been featured extensively throughout the art of ancient Egypt. In various works of art, you may see it held in the hand of a god or human, serving as a border to outline a section of the artwork, unfolding to reveal various gods or humans, and many other depictions. The ancient Egyptians from the 4th dynasty greatly valued the sacred lotus, in religious ceremonies and funerals. The ancient Egyptians developed the art of counting to a high degree, but their system of numeration was very crude. For example, the number 1,000 was symbolized by a picture of a lotus flower, and the number 2,000 was symbolized by a picture of two lotus flowers growing out of a bush.

Meaning of Rose Flower Colors

Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
Division:
Magnoliophyta
Class:
Magnoliopsida
Order:
Rosales
Family:
Rosaceae
Subfamily:
Rosoideae
Genus:
Rosa

The rose flowers represent love and romance as it meanings. However, all rose flowers have its own attributed meanings depending on the color it possesses. The meaning of rose flower colors used to deliver various messages to people either between friends or lovers. This tradition had originated during the strict era of Victorian age where passionate and romantic messages between lovers are interchanged through the forms of innocent looking bouquet of rose flowers with different colors
As the years passed by, the meaning of rose flower colors have evolved throughout the time. It had turned to into some advanced languages and intricate messages that are shaped into different floral arrangements. Other factors are also modified and enhanced giving deeper interpretations of the message to be passed on. One of these factors is the number of rose flowers either fully bloomed or rose buds that are included in every floral arrangement. For a single rose that is red combined with some white rose buds, the message would be "I love you but you are too young". For a dozen of red roses, the message would represent an ultimate sign of love to the recipient.
The rose flower colors include white, red, purple, pink, yellow, orange, peach, deep burgundy, green, black and blue. However, not all of these colors are naturally grown. Some of these are artificially made color for the rose flowers to give more enhancements and modernizations for the meaning of rose flower colors. Pale rose colors no matter what shades may represent friendship. The white roses represent bright and pure affection, which literally means that "you are heavenly", and the suitor respects and looks upon to you. The red roses in bouquet arrangement or combined with white roses give the meaning and symbol of love and unity. It also represents kinship and loyalty. The purple roses symbolize love and enchantment at first sight. Pink roses are generally concluded to represent elegance and refinement.
It may come in different shades such as cerise tone or deep pink, which means appreciation and gratitude, and very light pink signifies sympathy. Yellow roses that come in bouquet arrangement mean "trying to care". For a new beginning, eagerness and enthusiasm, orange roses are the best epitome. Peach roses epitomized that something had been reached or achieved. A deep burgundy color of rose flowers represents the message of "you are so beautiful without even knowing it" or literally means unconscious beauty. Green roses have been into existence since 1856 as it symbolizes fruitfulness and fertility. Black roses represent death while the blue roses signify mystery.
The meaning of rose flower colors can be interpreted in many ways. Rose flowers have always been very attractive and historical to many people. It even symbolizes virtue, optimism and hope to some people. More importantly, rose flowers will always play a significant role in our lives as humans in whatever time.