yet again ... getting lost ... then enjoying self-discovery ...

On a lovely late winter morning four of us were moving within the Dampa Tiger Reserve when we stopped to observe the possible contours of a proposed ‘development’ action. This was between Phaileng and Phuldungsui ( appx 250 mtrs before the Varihaw anti poaching camp ) near Keipuizel ( place where - years ago - tiger has been sighted crossing the road ). As I enjoy - doing in Mizoram - I took one kuwa ( betel-net ) and began loitering up and down the winding road. All of a sudden my eyes fell on a carcass. I excitedly requested others to join. We clicked images ( with the photographer and carcass in varying positions ), tried to measure the carcass, made attempts to put the ‘mammal book’ and note-pad to good use yet were not sure on exact species. But, like the proverbial four wise men who had come across the elephant, we had observations and questions on the carcass. First the questions: Was it a road kill? Can this have been eaten by a Clouded Leopard ( Kelral )...

This happened one February 2013 day near the Bansbari gate :  Manas National Park (Assam) ~ Civet ~ In the evening as we ( Yaranajit, Kamal and I ) sat discussing in the hotel lawns one of the hotel staff came to ask if we had a camera – there was a kind of wild cat around the place where fire-wood was stored. As we walked in the direction we saw one of the staff tap the firewood stock with a bamboo taller than the tallest amongst us. This could have scared the mammal, encouraging it to hide. Couple of minutes later a domestic dog sensed something ‘wrong’ and arrived at the scene to announce his loud presence. This could have resulted in the fear of the hiding personality crossing its tipping point and we saw a scared Large Indian Civet ( Viverra zibetha ) take tentative steps from behind the firewood. Before we could see it for a brief while and admire its beauty the blessed dog got into action and started chasing it. Startled, not knowing what else to do, I ran after ...