A Naturalist's Diary: 15

6th July, 2010


Fought with the macaques today. When I returned to the room in the afternoon the Alpha Male was on the roof, just above my door. He threatened me and almost came for me, but I was able to shoo him off with my umbrella.


When I wanted to leave the room, he was there again, and this time the standoff was longer, with him charging down the branch towards me, at least three times. I finally shooed him away, but now have ordered the branches overhanging my door to be cut. The last think I want is to get bitten. The anti-rabies treatments in town are long and expensive. Later, the Maintenance Manager told me that this particular individual does charge.


The large male Hanuman Langur, on the other hand, is a model of calm and good behaviour. I do make eye-contact and tell him that I am merely going to my room and he seems all right with that. On the other hand, making eye-contact with the male macaque seems to have triggered the stand-off.

A Naturalist's Diary: 14

5th July, 2010


A curious phenomenon yesterday. I was walking back to my quarters in the afternoon when I heard a loud splash at our waterbody. I investigated as I assumed a Rhesus Macaque had fallen from one of the overhanging branches of a mango tree, into the water. Sure enough I spotted a young macaque swimming strongly and confidently. It reached one of the islands and clambered out, bedraggled, but otherwise unscathed.


But when I was returning from my quarters it happened again! And I could hear several splashes. The macaques were deliberately jumping into the water.


I watched them for about a half-hour today and there were three young macaques who kept repeating this! At one point I thought that one came up with something and ate it, but I am not certain. Yesterday was a warm day, today completely sodden and wet. I just spoke to the Resort Manager and he says that this is a regular phenomenon.


It rained the entire day today. By 10 am the river had risen by about four feet and the waters were fast and turbulent. I found three river crabs on the steps leading down to the spa, a good fifteen feet above the river.


To Ramnagar in the evening. A tree had fallen towards Mohan and blocked the road. So hundreds of people walking through the forest towards town. When the boundaries of the park were drawn up, how did they not extend it to the river?


B. striatus fished avidly all through the rain, but moved to the resort bank. By six-ish the rain had let up and the waters had already receded by a foot. When I checked the spa steps I could not find any of the crabs. Jolly Uncle tells me that that today’s rain is not a ‘real’ rain since it is not raining in the hills.

A Naturalist's Dairy: 13

30th June, 2010


Quite a dull day. I did go to the river in the morning but the mahseer activity was limited. I did, however, get a zoomed-in video of B. striatus fishing. Tomorrow I shall go to the river armed with my camera.


No rain but lowering clouds in the evening. c. 20 persons bathing in the river this evening, two even armed with spool and line!


Avifauna very dull as well. After the waters had receded from the banks I would have expected to see egrets and herons feast on stranded creatures, but no such activity. I suppose there is plenty of water everywhere and even the sots are showing signs of life.