Page 73 - World of Animals - Issue #29

Indian leopard Birds of Bollywood

If you find yourself in an Indian forest, there’s a decent chance
there’s a leopard lurking above you; these agile cats spend most
of their time resting in the treetops. They also often bring kills
up with them so they can feed undisturbed. Nagarhole National
Park, Karnataka is a leopard hotspot; both jeep and boat safaris
are available, and trained guides can help you to spot these
beautiful creatures.

Indian peafowl
The male’s audacious courtship display has made this
flightless bird one of the world’s most recognisable

animals. It is o en found foraging in open forests.

Indian roller
The rollers, who are most closely related to the
kingfisher family, are so named for their acrobatic mid-

air courtship displays, which culminate with a series of
impressive somersaults.

Snow leopard Ring-necked parakeet
This bold and resilient bird thrives in any environment
This stocky cat is specially adapted for life the leopard is at rest. The big cats are rare ABOVE India can throw at it, from desert to woodland to inner
in the Himalayas, with its fur-covered feet across their range, but Hemis National Snow leopards cities. Highly adaptable, escaped pets have even formed
colonies in London.
acting like snow shoes. Its long tail gives Park in Ladakh, accessible by air, has the are usually
it the balance needed to navigate steep highest density of snow leopards of any solitary, only
pairing for the
rocks and is also used as a blanket when protected area in the world. breeding season
Clouded leopard

Only distantly related to other leopards, the
clouded leopard is considered the evolutionary
missing link between big cats and wild cats. These Great hornbill
elusive tree-dwellers are incredible climbers, with Native to the forests of Kerala, the great hornbill is
strong legs and ankles that enable them to scale distinguished by the yellow helmet or casque on top
down trees head first. The leopards are seen so of the bird’s beak, which is believed to play a role in

rarely in the wild that much of their behaviour attracting mates.
remains a mystery – this is certainly one for the
ambitious cat-spotter. Namdapha National Park, in
the remote state of Arunachal Pradesh, is a good
place to start.
“Clouded leopards are

incredible climbers,
allows the clouded able to scale down Common myna
Sharp eyesight
leopard to accurately Famous in birdkeeper circles for its incredible ability

judge distances trees head first” to mimic human speech, this starling thrives in urban
environments and is a common sight in Indian cities.
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