I saw my first Greater Kiskadee on a birding trip to the famous King Ranch in the Coastal Bend of Texas. We left early in the morning from Kingsville, Texas and found many varieties of birds in the live oak sand habitat in the Rio Grande River area of Texas. This was a great birding outing, however, when I saw my first Kiskadee I knew this was going to be a special trip. I spent many hours in my woodcarving studio where I carve primarily birds. I knew that I would not rest until I had carved this bird. It took a long time, since I had to study the bird, collect reference material and then design a carving pattern before I was able to cut out the bird from a piece of aged tupelo wood. As far as I know, there is no other detailed Kiskadee carving that has been handcrafted in the state of Texas. I have done all I possibly could to duplicate this wonderful bird in a wood sculpture.

The Greater Kiskadee is a fascinating bird in many ways. First from a pictorial perspective it is simply a gorgeous looking bird. The breast and belly is a deep yellow that blends to white at the throat. The back is a rich sienna color. Each feather is edged with a lighter sienna tone. The darker brown and black head has a crest of canary yellow that is hidden for the most part, but provides a bright yellow flash when the bird is aggravated or excited.

It feeds similar to most flycatchers and king birds. It perches on a high branch or power line and spots flying insects with its extremely good vision and then swoops down scooping up the insect to eat it on its perch. The Greater Kiskadee has also learned to fish. It mimicks a kingfisher by perching on a suitable branch over a lake or stream from where it crash dives into the water after fish, frogs and other aquatic critters.

Are they the hunters, or the ones being hunted? Few people realise that well over 100 million sharks die every year at the hands of humanity. This is largely as a result of the market for shark’s fins. Millions of others die as by-catch in nets intended for other species. These sharks are often tossed overboard as trash.

By comparison, there are usually fewer than 10 fatal shark attacks on humans recorded in an average year.

Surprised? Don’t be. Sharks are widely misrepresented, and misunderstood. Read on. We have 10 shark facts that we’re willing to bet you didn’t know. Let’s separate some of the fiction from the facts…

1. She’s Older Than You Think…

Over 400 million years of evolution has refined shark species to be perfectly suited to the various aquatic environments in which they are found. Compare that to human history. The cave dwellers from which we descended only got up on two legs around 6 million years ago.

2. The Mighty Megalodon

Compared to the now extinct Megalodon, the Great White is a pussy cat. The largest shark that ever existed, they could grow up to 30 metres in length. A grown man could easily have stood up inside the open mouth of an adult Megalodon.

3. Jaws Spits, She Doesn’t Swallow

Sadly, the majestic Great White shark is still consider a mindless, murderous, killing machine by many people. There was a time not so long ago when humanity also feared predators at the top of the food chain that walked on land. Tigers, lions, polar bears were all slaughtered without a thought as to the effect that this would have on the ecosystems of which they were (and are) an important part. Slowly, they are becoming protected, instead of executed.

When a Great White takes a bite out of a swimmer, surfer, or his board, it is often a case of mistaken identity. Seen from below, a surfer on a board can look an awful lot like a big, fat, tasty seal. Great Whites are so highly evolved that when they bite into their prey, they get a sense for how much body fat the creature is carrying.

When they take a bite out of human, they often don’t bother to “finish the job”. We’re rather bony, not fat-filled and juicy like the seals. So they spit us out. Unfortunately, we are left with a rather nasty wound, often miles from shore…

4. You Can’t See Me…

Even when sharks cannot see you… they can still sense you. As sharks evolved they developed a “sixth sense”. Ampullae of Lorenzi may sound like an exotic Italian dish. It’s not. They are the receptors which sharks use to sense electromagnetic signals that go unnoticed by humans and other species.

It is said that sharks can “feel” how fast your heart is beating as they swim past you. Hammerheads have been observed hunting rays buried beneath the sand, using their ability to sense where their next potential meal hides. Once they have pinpointed the location, they (literally) nail down the ray beneath the sand using the two pronged hammer that is their head. Incapacitated, the unfortunate ray becomes lunch.

As they say, you can run, but you can’t hide… at least not from a hungry hammerhead!

5. Sharks Don’t Get Cancer

OK, not 100% true, but almost. Scientists have forced sharks to ingest known carcinogens and injected them with deadly toxins. Yet still there are fewer than 10 verified reports of sharks that developed malignant tumours. Humanity has much to gain by studying these fascinating fish, as opposed to slaughtering them.

6. Bad Tooth? Grow Some More!

If you have a cat you know how much hair they can shed. A similar phenomenon can be observed in many shark species. It is not surprising that they lose teeth while feeding or as they age. What is unusual is that they have the ability to grow more.

7. Is That a Shark in the Lake?

Bull sharks are one species of shark that has developed the ability to regulate the amount of water in their bodies, regardless of how much, or little, salt is in their aquatic environment. That means they can enter rivers, and even swim upstream into lakes in the search for food. Lake Nicaragua, and the Zambezi River in Africa are two spots where sharks are frequently reported quite comfortably cruising by.

8. You Stink. And You’re Noisy.

A shark’s sense of smell goes beyond anything we humans can imagine. Some species can sense blood in the water at a concentration of one part per 10 billion. That means a person with even an open scratch would be detected by any shark within a very wide radius, very quickly. Sharks can be found in pretty much every oceanic environment on earth. So can people. Swimming, fishing or diving. Yet there are relatively very few attacks on people.

Mindless, indiscriminate killers? I think not.

While a diver using a re-breather unit is relatively silent, conventional scuba gear is loud and noisy to those who live in the underwater world. This is part of the reason why it can be so difficult to spot and photograph sharks. To them, we sound like a truck roaring by, with our bubbles and noisy breathing.

9. We’ll Eat Anything

That depends. Tiger Sharks have earned themselves an especially infamous reputation as “opportunistic” feeders. Tires, baby whales, shoes and sailors. You name it, chances are it’s been found in the tummy of a Tiger.

That said, the gentle giants of the sea, and the biggest fish on earth are the Whale Sharks. They have no teeth. Being filter feeders, they strain plankton from the sea as they swim. They are gorgeous creatures who will tolerate snorkelers and (sometimes) divers swimming alongside them. Sadly, they are now endangered in many places where they once swam in healthy numbers.

10. Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid. No, Wait. Don’t Be…

Large sharks, like any wild animal that is a top predator and a carnivore, should be shown a healthy degree of respect. Especially when we divers suit up, take the leap into the sea, and essentially drop in (uninvited) to their homes. If a group of tigers fell through my roof unannounced, and proceeded to follow me around my house, it would make me a little nervous too.

Essentially, this is what we do when we enter the ocean. Sharks, like the earth’s other creatures, are not looking for a fight. They will obviously defend themselves if they are cornered or feel threatened. Show sharks the respect they deserve, and it is very likely that they will return the favour.

**BONUS FACT**

In 2014, 33,000 Americans were injured in some way due to their use of toilets. Sharks were responsible for a whopping 13 injuries. Just putting it out there…

At first glance, it becomes clear that the African lion has some similarities with the cheetah. They both kill prey in the same manner – strangling the animal by the throat, stalking separated prey, and using a burst of acceleration to mow down the target.

Of course, in an assessment of lions vs cheetah, the size of the lion and the speed of the cheetah are the two most pertinent facts. If the cheetah cannot run away from the lion, then it simply has no chance whatsoever against the brute strength and ferocity of the King of Beasts.

The Nature of the Lion Cheetah Conflict

In general, the cheetah and the African lion shouldn’t have much to ever fight over, because the cheetah’s choice prey is too fleet of foot for the biggest cats on the Serengeti.

However, it is the cheetah’s misfortune that its natural size and visage bears a close resemblance to leopards, which lions hunt mercilessly whenever the opportunity presents itself; not to eat, but to eliminate competition.

Furthermore, leopards return the favor by uprooting lion dens and killing the cubs whenever they encounter them, which fosters and undying hatred between the two members of the family Felidae.

Faster Than the Lion, But…

Many Big Cat enthusiasts are surprised to learn that the cheetah isn’t at all the clear winner when it comes to gauging its acceleration vs the lion. The fact is, the cheetah is built much more for pure, unadulterated speed, than it is for the power that drives bursts of acceleration.

Certainly, it accelerates quickly, but the lion – even the massive, 500 lb. male – accelerates almost as quickly, launching those muscles into a terrifying forward drive, after stalking its prey to within the optimal distance ingrained into its hunting psyche.

As such, it turns out that lion vs cheetah isn’t much of a matchup. If the cheetah is even slightly injured, enough to slow it down just a bit, it is in great danger from a lion bearing down on it explosively over a short distance. Over less than perhaps fifty yards, the outcome of the chase does not bode well for the cheetah if the lion has been able to surprise it.

Afterwards, the swift cat is probably out of danger. There’s a video from National Geographic that shows a deadly attack on an injured male cheetah, who was mercilessly mauled to death by a male African lion. The sheer unfairness of the matchup is on full display in that video, as the lion’s much more powerful physique imposes itself on a cheetah much the same way it might on a domestic house-cat.

The cheetah was too preoccupied with a female cheetah to acknowledge the nearby presence of the top predator, who bull-rushed and injured him with a brutal swipe of his battering-ram paw. It’s important to note that a cheetah isn’t actually a Big Cat – the tiger, lion, jaguar and leopard make up the official group.

Anyone who has ever been on Safari and seen the size of a lion’s foreleg would understand just how brutal a hit it can lay down. Indeed; simply watching a lion grab and pull down a 1500 pound water buffalo should tell you all you need to know about its decidedly superhuman strength.

Conclusion

In sum, then, the lion and cheetah don’t compete for the same prey, so there’s little reason that lions vs cheetah should ever be a matchup – on paper, that is. The reality, however, is that cheetahs remind lions of the leopards that kill African lion cubs, and so force the big cat to hunt them down as ferociously as it would a hyena or a leopard.

Choosing the set of bowls of the most important issue to face most bowlers when they begin to play the sport.

Yet, judging by the number of people I see whilst coaching and also on my travels, I would estimate that between thirty and forty per cent of them are using the wrong-sized bowls.

The popular method of determining bowls size has been to have the bowler span around the bowl with the middle fingers and the thumb of each hand. If the fingers and thumbs just meet around the running surface the bowl is supposed to be the right size. This theory may work in some cases, but it misleads many people.

I believe the only way to find the correct size is to swing a number of various sized bowls in the hand. With a new player, I would place a bowl in the hand and adjust the fingers to the correct grip that felt comfortable to the player.

Then I would ask the player to swing the hand back to the furthest point on the backswing. If the player feels the bowl may drop, then it is obviously too big. If the bowl can be handled with ease, than a larger size could be tried. Using this method, the player would be able to determine the largest bowl that could be comfortably and effectively used.

The next decision would be whether to use a heavy weight or a medium weight bowl. In the UK, a great number of bowlers actually own two sets of bowls. They may use a heavy weight one on the faster indoor surfaces and then change to a medium weight on the slower outdoor surfaces.

Many other players, including myself, use a heavy weight bowl on both indoor and outdoor surfaces. The heavy weight bowl certainly has advantages on a fast outdoor green on a windy day as they are less liable to be affected by a gusty crosswind. Also the heavy bowl can displace a lighter bowl more easily in the head.

The final decision whether you play with a heavy weight or a medium weight bowl will probably depend on comfort in the hand and whether your wallet can stretch to the purchase of two sets.

Often in the clubs players will argue the merits of one bowls manufacturer against another. The bowls companies all produce a variety of models and all manufactured to a high standard. Choosing any particular model will depend on what suits you best – whether you intend to play indoors and outdoors or you want a bowl specifically for faster indoor greens.

Though many club bowlers do watch the star players perform well on television and often purchase the same models as their favourite players.

These are some of the bowls available from the different companies:

HENSELITE has a wide variety of models, which include the CLASSIC – traditionally the choice for outdoor bowlers in the UK. The bowl has a wide arc and ‘hockey stick’ finish and though good outdoors, may prove a disadvantage on faster indoor surfaces.

The CLASSIC II is regarded by many as the best performing modern bowl. Designed to run straighter, with a less pronounced swing, it is ideal for UK indoor carpets. Many players do use these bowls both indoors and out.

The TIGER is the ‘New Kid on the Block’ and used by many Henselite sponsored players in television events. Greg Harlow and Ian Bond both won World Bowls Tour ranking tournaments last season using this model of bowl. Designed for both indoor and outdoor use, this model has a slightly wider bias than the Classic II and is only available in heavyweight.

The DREAMLINE is fairly new to these shores and is a narrow running bowl suitable fr very fast surfaces, and would certainly not be suitable outdoors in early May!

In the ALMARK range, Henselite has three models – the STERLING GOLD for outdoor use with a wide bias; STERLING KING, a narrow running bowl ideal for faster greens, and the STERLING SLIMLINE, a bowl with a narrower profile to fit the hand, but suitable for both codes.

DRAKES PRIDE provides the PROFESSIONAL, which has proved to be a very popular bowl in the UK. This bowl is used by many bowlers, both indoors and outdoors, and is ideal for those players not wishing to purchase two sets. Many top players would agree that this bowl has proved versatile in all conditions and on many different surfaces.

The ADVANTAGE is a tight running bowl and would only prove suitable on faster greens, preferably for front-end players.

The PROFESSIONAL PLUS is an outdoor bowl and would be similar to the Henselite Classic, therefore probably suited to slower outdoor conditions.

THOMAS TAYLOR also provided a wide selection to include its traditional outdoor bowl – the LIGNOID.

The ACE is probably its most popular bowl with many indoor bowlers and is used successfully by twice World indoor champion Andy Thomson. This is another bowl that can also be used successfully outdoors.

The VECTOR has a narrower line and would be popular on fast surfaces, especially for front end players, while the LAZER is a slim profile bowl with a narrow bias similar to the Vector. The advantage of this bowl is that it has been developed for comfort in the hand for those with smaller hands.

THE LEGACY also has a slimmer profile, but unlike the Laser has a wider arc and is considered a mid-bias bowl that could also be used outdoors. Taylor also produced the SPECTRUM and INTERNATIONAL, which are stronger in bias than the Ace.

Many of these bowls are now available in many colours, as well as traditional black, and it would be best to check availability with your local bowls retailer, though always remember that at present coloured bowls are only available in heavy weights and that relevant weight and sizes are published in most bowls catalogues.

This way you can check the relevant weight difference between heavy weight and medium weight bowls. My personal advice to any new bowler would be to select a mid bias bowl that will prove useful on most surfaces, for example Drakes Pride Professional, Henselite Classic II and Tiger and Taylor Ace would fall into this category.

As you gain experience, you may decide to try a narrower running bowl if you have a very fast indoor carpet. One word of warning – many bowlers believe the tight running bowls make the game easier and believe they can virtually bowl straight. That is not the case as in many instances weight control will need to be much better with a narrow running bowl as there is little margin for error and the tight running bowl will not bend with excessive weight.

With so many bowls on the market, always seek advice from a specialist bowls retailer and if possible inquire whether you might be able to try the model you wish to purchase. Sometimes bowls shops based inside indoor stadiums hold sample bowls that can be tried.

Finally, always remember no matter what set of bowls you purchase, you still have to bowl them – sometimes it is easier to blame the bowls when we play a bad game rather than our own poor play.

The night vigil prolonged almost into the wee hours. We were perched on the wooden balcony of the forest bungalow hoping against hope to have a view or darshan of the uncrowned king of the jungle. The darkness was impenetrable and the air was still. Except for the night forest sounds and the thin cackle of the river flowing behind the bungalow there was absolute silence. We were asked to look for a pair of luminous glows coming out of the thick forest beyond into the open courtyard in front of the bungalow. We were told that the animal’s eyes burn at night and that they normally prowl around the bungalow-not for hunting, only for maybe an evening stroll. We were a little scared too if the animal tried to jump into the balcony. However, we were given assurance that the height was good enough, and the animal never becomes aggressive unless provoked dearly. Finally, we had to give up and agree with the general opinion that the animal is rarely sighted there since years.

That was a long time ago at the Mathanguri Forest Bungalow, most sought-after even now, of the Manas National Park of Assam-better known that time as Manas Tiger Reserve. It is a sad commentary that the numbers of the majestic Royal Bengal Tigers are dwindling fast in India. That time the tiger population at Manas was about 125 which decreased to around 60 at present. No doubt, the National Tiger Conservation Authority recently disapproved plans of tiger preservation in 16 states of India including Assam some time back. This puts the onus on the Assam government to thrash out more practical ways to preserve the beautiful species.

The Manas National Park consists of the core area of the sprawling Manas Project Tiger Reserve, which encompasses an area of 2,837 sq. km running into five districts of Assam. The Park has several dense reserve tropical forests and vast stretches of grasslands. The significance of Manas lies on many counts. Considered among the best national parks in the world, Manas is also a Biosphere Reserve, an Elephant Reserve, an Important Bird Area (IBA), and a World Heritage Site. It is a prime tiger habitat that had the country’s second highest concentration of the great cat till the late 1980s and is one of the earliest Tiger Reserves of the country, formed in 1973. In view of its pristine natural Eco-system representing the overall biota of the region, it was elevated to a Biosphere Reserve in 1989 under the UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Programme. It was recognised as a World Heritage Site in 1985 as a site of outstanding universal value.

The Mathanguri forest bungalow is situated just by the side of the Manas River, named after the serpent Goddess Manasa of Assam. Water of the river is crystal clear and you can see the river bed littered with stones of various sizes, shapes and colours. Sitting down on the rocky shore you can look beyond to the blue hills of Bhutan on the other side. A view of such natural purity and beauty that it leaves you glued to the spot never wanting to go back to the mundane concrete jungles ever. This nature’s paradise does not offer you much in terms of amenities in the guest houses, but it is more than compensated by the ecstasy you feel looking around and imbibing the spirit of pristine nature.

Manas National Park lies on the gentle slopes of the Himalayan foothills and is located on the north bank of River Brahmaputra. It is bounded on the north by the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan, on the south by the populous North Kamrup district of Assam and on both east and west by buffer forest reserves which are part of the Manas Tiger Reserve. Among the 22 endangered mammal species found in Manas are the pigmy hog, the hispid hare and the golden langur. In fact, Manas boasts of the only viable population of the pigmy hog, the smallest and rarest wild boar, anywhere in the world. It is also the only place where you can see the big five of the Indian jungles – the tiger, the elephant, the rhino, the buffalo, and the gaur. The avian population is impressive too with nearly 500 species of birds of which ten are listed in the Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act. For the tourists the Park provides excitements like white water rafting on the Manas river, trekking, elephant rides and arranged trips into Bhutan on the other side.

This nature’s paradise was in dire straits due to social unrest and insurgency for a decade from the late eighties. However, the vibrant and immensely diverse biosphere emerged successfully again attracting lots of tourists in the last few years. The World Heritage Site was also restored.

Manas National Park is connected by air, rail and road. The nearest airport is Guwahati and it is about 4 hour’s journey by road. By rail, Barpeta Road is the nearest railway station from where you can travel 40 km to the Park by car or bus. The best season is from October to March. If you love nature and want to be in her lap then Manas National Park is the ideal destination for you.

Foods for male sex drive have been around for thousands of years. Countless civilizations have come up with their ideas of which foods will spice up not only their dinner but also their relationships.

Contemporary foods include oysters because they happen to resemble a certain part of the female anatomy. Plus, they’re a bit expensive and being rich is probably the best aphrodisiac of all.

People have also looked to asparagus because it also resembles the male anatomy. Ancient Aztecs like the Montezuma, drank gallons of hot chocolate in order to get in the mood. It might also have helped that he was the king of the known world at that time. Again, that is a way more powerful aphrodisiac than any drink.

In Asia, people have been eating the penises of tigers to absorb the strength of the giant cat. Unfortunately, this type of thinking has made the Bengal tiger almost extinct. Again it may come down to the fact that a guy went out into the jungle and tracked and killed a tiger just to enhance love making with his mate.

If you aren’t a king or a hunter you can also look into other regular foods for male sex drive. Yogurt is a good one. It contains vitamins that will keep you up all night. Actually any fruit can do the same thing.

Cinnamon and vanilla are two other classically recognized foods for male sex drive. They increase blood flow and that also helps with sex drive. That, and the fact that both of these foods for male sex drive help to freshen up your breath, is enough to get things going.

Eating foods for male sex drive is only one thing that gets things happening the right way with your mate. The other part is making the atmosphere right. If you’re into it, foods for male sex drive can also mean putting foods on top of your mate. After all, aphrodisiacs don’t always go on the plate.

Whipped cream can be as much of a turn on as any amount of oysters. So be creative and have an open mind. From contemporary ideas of foods for male sex drive to ancient ideas, aphrodisiacs are a great idea late at night.

Sunderban National Park is situated in the extremes of West Bengal. The Sunderbans are also known for its freshwater humid forests, which provide the best climatic conditions for the growth of mangroves, thus it is known as one of the biggest mangrove forests as well.

Apart from the magnificent variety of flora, the park offers world’s best window to sneak peak the Royal Bengal Tigers. According to the officials, the park consists of largest endangered species of tigers, dears and many other plenty of animals which makes it the most attractive and alluring place on the earth.

There are various magnificent tourist attractions in Sunderban National Park that include the most pivotal Indian wildlife variety that gives a scintillating and adventurous experience to its tourists.

The main attractions of Sunderban National Park are as follows:

Flora: The fascinating variety of floral group and natural green vegetation in Sunderban is the largest delta in the world that provides natural habitat to the variety of plant species, tall grasses and thick mangrove forests.

As you enter deep into the forests of Sunderban, the floral reserve unfolds its mystic charm and unmatched beauty. The various floral kinds which can be found in Sunderban Park, in its most abundance are:

1. Flaming red leaves of the Genwa
2. Crab like red flowers of the Kankara
3. Yellow blooms of Khalis
4. The mangrove forest(Sundari trees)

Tiger Reserve: The most famous attraction of Sunderban National Park is the royal Bengal Tigers. The park mainly consists of more than 400 species of tigers that are reserved in the Sunderban National Park which is the largest tiger reserve in India.

Fauna: Sunderban National Park is a natural hub of the numerous varieties of wild animals such as wild cheetah, deer and rhesus monkeys. These wild animals are found in abundance in the Sunderban Park. Sunderban is also famous for its rich aqua fauna like fishes, red fiddler, crabs and hermit crabs.

Large number of crocodile and Ridley sea turtle also inhabits this area. They are often seen lazing in the mud banks of Sunderban delta. Varied types of dangerous reptiles like king cobra, rock python and water monitor are found in the marshy land of Sunderban.

Bird Activities: Sunderban is the most sort out area to watch the enormous twittering birds all around the park. Various magnificent birds which add to the beauty of Sunderban’s are:

1. Kingfisher
2. White-bellied Sea eagle
3. Plovers
4. Lap-Wings
5. Curfews
6. Whimbrels

“You will find something far greater in the woods than you will find in books. Stones and trees will teach you that which you will never learn from masters…”

My trip to Ranthambore national park in Rajasthan, India (IUCN Category ll) was an experience which confirmed the above. Ranthambore National Park is one of the oldest and most renowned national parks in Northern India. The park is located in the Sawai Madhopur district of the state of Rajasthan. Being considered as a former hunting ground of the Kings of Jaipur, today the Park is a major wildlife tourist attraction spot, though plagued by ailments like poaching and habitat destruction.

Ranthambore National park is spread over an area of 1,334 sq km, along with its nearby sanctuaries – the Mansingh Sanctuary and the Kaila Devi Sanctuary which serve as vital buffer areas and provide corridors for animal movement. The park lies at the edge of a plateau, and is bound by the Banas and the Chambal Rivers. It is named after the historic Ranthambore fortress, which lies within the park. The core park covers an area of about 400 km². The park is famous for its tigers and is one of the best locations in India to see the majestic cat in its natural open habitat. Other wild animals include the leopard, blue bull, Indian wild dog, wild boar, sambar deer, hyena, sloth bear and spotted deer. It is also home to a wide variety of flora, birds and reptilian species. A good time to visit Ranthambore National park is in November and May. The nature of the dry deciduous forests makes sightings more common during this period.

A major attraction in the park is tracking the tiger on safari rides. Rides are carried out at two different times of the day. Each ride lasts about three hours. The core park area has been divided into several zones and the safari vehicles go on one of these zones. Other sites of interest include the majestic fort, built in the 10th-century, towering the park area. It stands at a height of 700 feet above the surrounding plain. Inside the fort, there are three red Karauli stone temples devoted to Hindu Gods – Ganesh, Shiva and Ramlalaji. Padam Talao is the largest of the all the lakes located inside the park, and the beautiful red sandstone Jogi Mahal is located at the very edge of this lake. A gigantic banyan tree, considered to be India’s second largest, is in the garden of the Jogi Mahal.

A visit to Ranthambore National Park is a delight for every wildlife and nature enthusiast. The time spent watching tigers walk around in utter fearlessness, down the golden meadows and thick bushes is priceless, and worthy of being explored at least once in a life. You can spend as many days tracking and feasting your eyes on the beautiful tigers and become completely absorbed in the tiger’s habitat, but time constraints enabled us to take only four game drives over three days. Each game drive to the park began with high expectations and ended, almost always, in unexpected encounters and stories for the travel diary. In the forest, as in life, when you want it most nothing shows up and when you least expect it, a surprise awaits you at the next turn…

The tranquil peace which encompasses you as soon as you enter the Park is enough reason for any wildlife adventure lover to keep coming back. And then when you hear stories of poaching, habitat destruction of cattle grazing and human-animal conflict it leaves you disturbed.

It disturbed me enough to visit Mr. Fateh Singh Rathore, former Field Director of the Park, a famous Tiger Conservationist, but foremost a wildlife lover. He runs an NGO- Tiger Watch in Sawai Madhopur located just five miles away from the Park entrance. He works with the government and local community to preserve the tiger habitat and save the cat from being poached. He explained that “Saving the tiger is of utmost importance as the tiger is an apex species. This means that if you save a predator species like the tiger who is on the top of a very large ecosystem you automatically save the entire eco system which supports the tiger. You are saving the land, water, flora, fauna and the delicate balance which naturally exists in nature.” Tiger Watch has played a key role in providing alternative means of livelihood to local hunting tribes. The organization takes responsibility for educating children by setting up free schools and medical care for them so that they are dissuaded from hunting for easy money. Some are being trained as tour guides in the park and others support and participate in the growing tourist industry of the region. They are made aware that the tiger, due to its innate charisma, draws people from all over the world to their region and the protection of the forest is only going to enhance their own quality of life and that of their future generations. As Mr. Rathore puts it, “In wilderness lies preservation of the world…”

The Pocket Parent Coach: Your Two-Week Guide to a Dramatically Improved Life with Your Intense Child [Soft Cover]

by Tina Feigal

112 pages, $19.95

ISBN-13: 978-1592982370

Nonfiction

Maybe your experience becoming a parent is like that shared by many others-it is a festive occasion where you contemplated the joyful experiences that were sure to come. Not too long into your development as a parent, perhaps, you wished that children came with an instruction manual. As our children grow and develop, sometimes we feel as if we are losing our minds trying to make children comply with our desire for peace and obedience in the home. Today’s media enhanced culture only seems to exacerbate the problem.

Tina Feigal, a licensed school psychologist, has written an intriguing work in The Pocket Parent Coach that addresses dealing with intense children. By definition, intense children are not only those with certain maladies, such as: ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and the like. The author has developed what she calls “present moment parenting” and it would work for children of all types between 3-18 years of age.

According to the author, children with intense behaviors have overly active brains that seek to match energy levels with what they’re experiencing internally. So much of this quest causes children to “act out” in inappropriate ways. The informed parent will militate against negative energy matching and will instead seek to “download” positive energy into the children to validate their self-worth while simultaneously diffusing negativity. The method: revise current parenting strategies by attempting to “parent in the present.”

This brilliant book presents a two-week program to help parents deal with an intense child by actually eliminating power struggles or even directly focusing on maladaptive behavior. Instead of punishing the wrongdoing, you have had a family meeting beforehand where you inform the child that all you’ll say in the future is, “Broke a rule. Take a break.” The child has rehearsed this method previously and is empowered to partner with you as you attempt to redirect them toward more positive behavior.

This book is highly recommended for parents struggling with intense children. The examples presented seem to lend themselves more readily to parents of younger intense children. All parents can benefit from the ample resource section filled with log sheets to personalize; daily reminder slips to be used around the home to encourage “present moment parenting;” and even a 60-minute audio CD where the author presents a fitting summary as a Q&A for parents.

Spread over an area of 1330.10 sq km, Sunderban national park is an important part of the Project Tiger initiated by the government of India in the 70s. Located in 24 Paraganas district of West Bengal this park was declared as world heritage site in the year 1985. There are three wild life sanctuaries situated in the Sunderban area namely Sajnekhali, Lothian Island and Haliday Island. Major part of the Sunderban forest lies in Bangladesh area. This park was established in the year 1978.

Situated along the delta of two famous river Ganga and Brahmaputra, Sunderbans has estuarine mangrove eco-system. This area has the largest mangrove forest in the world and is home to world famous Royal Bengal Tiger. This park has large number of tiger population among all the tiger reserves of India. There are good number of man eater tigers as well who often attack local population. Besides tiger, other fauna found here are fishing cat, water monitor, wild boar, different species of deer, rhesus monkeys, large number of crocodiles and Gangetic dolphins and varied types of fish, olive Ridley sea turtles etc.

Main Attractions

Flora: Sunderban forest area is famous for the rich flora and fauna. There are around 64 different species of plant which are surviving estuarine conditions and saline inundation caused by the tidal effects from Bay of Bengal. Some plants found in the forest of Sunderbans are xcaecaria agallocha, Heritiera fomes, Ceriops decandra, Ceriops tagal, Phoenix paludosa, Sonneratia alba, Sonneratia apetala, Avicennia spp., Rhizophora apiculata, Rhizophora mucronata, Xylocarpus granatum, Bruguiera spp. etc.

Fauna: The most famous attraction of Sunderbans is the majestic Royal Bengal tiger. This park is home to around 400 tigers. Bengal Tigers have brilliantly adapted to the life of aquatic environment and have become very good swimmers. Apart from tiger, Sunderbans has large population of Chital deer and rhesus monkey.

Sunderbans is also rich in aqua fauna like fishes, red fiddler, crabs and hermit crabs. Large number of crocodile populations also inhabit this area. They are often seen lazing in the mud banks of Sunderban delta. This national park is also popular for the conservation of Ridley Sea Turtle. Varied types of dangerous reptiles like king cobra, rock python and water monitor are found in the marshy land of Sunderbans.

Avi Fauna & Other Attractions: Within Sunderbans National park, there are some beautiful tourist attractions like Sajnakhali sanctuary, Haliday island, Netidhopani, Kanak etc. Sajnakhali sanctuary is popular for the variety of avian population. It is the most sought after bird watching area and various colourful birds like Kingfisher, White-bellied Sea eagle, Plovers, Lap-Wings, Curfews, Whimbrels, Sandpipers and Pelican are seen here. Kanak is another place famous for the nesting of Olive Ridley Turtles.