Printed guide to India wildlife???
Nov 8th, 2007 | 12:53 PM
#1
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Printed guide to India wildlife???
We will be at Ranthambhore early next year and would be interested in a (preferably paperback) guide to the wildlife and birds. We'd like to be able to reference pictures/sketches, descriptions, where the animals are found, etc.
Can anyone make any recommendations? There are a few listed on amazon and ebay but there is very little info about them. Pics/sketches are essential.
Can anyone make any recommendations? There are a few listed on amazon and ebay but there is very little info about them. Pics/sketches are essential.
Nov 8th, 2007 | 01:48 PM
#2
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Good luck...We tried to ifnd something like this and never did. It would have been really nice at Ranthambore.
On one of our trips into the park, we had a guide who knew a lot about the wildlife. On the next two runs, we saw a lot more animals and birds, but the guide was fairly clueless.
On one of our trips into the park, we had a guide who knew a lot about the wildlife. On the next two runs, we saw a lot more animals and birds, but the guide was fairly clueless.
Nov 9th, 2007 | 04:35 AM
#4
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So I'm continuing my research...
There does not appear to be any one guide that covers both animals and birds. But the Birds of India book by Richard Grimmett is supposed to be quite good (for birds).
There are other mammal guides I have found but the reviews aren't great. I'll report back if we buy anything.
It was so nice to have this kind of thing when we were in Africa. Many times, our guide would mention what animal we were seeing and we could go back to the camp to read more about it, learn how to spell it correctly, etc.
In India, I think it would also keep us better "engaged" for the times when we are not seeing tigers (which will be A LOT).
There does not appear to be any one guide that covers both animals and birds. But the Birds of India book by Richard Grimmett is supposed to be quite good (for birds).
There are other mammal guides I have found but the reviews aren't great. I'll report back if we buy anything.
It was so nice to have this kind of thing when we were in Africa. Many times, our guide would mention what animal we were seeing and we could go back to the camp to read more about it, learn how to spell it correctly, etc.
In India, I think it would also keep us better "engaged" for the times when we are not seeing tigers (which will be A LOT).
Nov 11th, 2007 | 06:41 PM
#5
Joined: Feb 2003
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Well, the Audubon Society books are wonderful, but most of them are for North America; however the David Sibely book on birds is very good and I have used that at Ranthambore, so you might try that. (He also has a book on birding basics which I find very helpful as I myself am not a birder.) I would also try the Knopf nature series and see if they have anything on India. What you may end up with is excerpts from various books because there may not be anything India-specific, but there may be bits on Asian tigers, etc.
Beyond birds (and possibly tiger), you will see crocodiles, civet cats, and deer, so basic details on those animals will be helpful. I would not bring entire books, I would photocopy out parts for the climate/region/geography of Ranthambore and take only those parts.
I would also suggest that you go to a bookstore in India and look for books, as you may find titles that you can't in US bookshops. Indian bookstores have a huge selection at great prices. Many hotels have good bookshops, there is also the Oxford Bookshop chain which has outlets throughout India, including New Dehli, take a look at http://www.oxfordbookstore.com (also search under their subject index and you may find books). If you will be in Delhi prior to the trip, please go to the Khan Market in South Delhi and try the following bookshops: Bahri Sons right at the entrance and Faqir Chand & Sons at #15 A.
Oxford Booshop
Statesman House, First Floor
148, Barakhamba Road
New Delhi - 110 001
Phone - +91.11.2376 6080/83
Fax - +91.11.2376 6082
E-mail – [email protected]
I did a quick Google search, and came up with the following books, and their ISBN numbers. You may be able to order them from your local bookshop or Amazon, or wait until you get to India and buy them. My guess is that if you contact Oxford books, they could order them and have them ready for you to collect when you arrive in India:
Waterbirds of Northern India/J.R.B. Alfred, Arun Kumar, P.C. Tak & J.P. Sati. Kolkata, Zoological Survey of India, 2001, xxiv, 227 p.,. ISBN 81-85874-50-6. [Occasional Paper No. 190].
A-Z Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Wild Life/edited and compiled by Narendra Kumar. New Delhi, KSK Pub., 2004, iv, 412 p.,. ISBN 81-7524-184-5.
Battling for Survival : India’s Wilderness Over Two Centuries/edited by Valmik Thapar. New Delhi, Oxford University Press, 2003, xii, 444 p., ills.,. ISBN 0-19-566293-8.
Biodiversity of Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan/V. Singh and A.K. Shrivastava. Jodhpur, Scientific Pub., 2007, xii, 416 p., tables, figs., map, diagrams, plates,. ISBN 81-7233-492-3.
Birds of India/Jagjit Singh. New Delhi, Books Today, 2001, 196 p., ISBN 81-87478-15-2.
Encyclopaedia of Indian Wild Life Sanctuaries and National Parks/S.K. Tiwari. 1997, xv, 255 p., colour plates, maps, tables,
Field Days : A Naturalist's Journey through South and Southeast Asia/AJT. Johnsingh. Hyderabad, Universities Press, 2006, xx, 340 p., (pbk). ISBN 81-7371-552-1.
A Field Guide to Animal Signs/E.A. Jayson and P.S. Easa. Reprint. Peechi, Kerala Forest Research Institute, 2004, v, 56 p., figs., 15 plates, (pbk). ISBN 81-85041-17-2.
A Field Guide to Indian Mammals/Vivek Menon. Delhi, Dorling Kindersley for Penguin Books, 2003, maps, photographs, (pbk). ISBN 0-14-302998-3.
The Great National Parks of the World/edited by Angela S. Ildos and Giorgio G. Bardelli. New Delhi, Om Book, 2001, 318 p., . ISBN 81-87107-06-5.
Indian National Parks and Sanctuaries : A Living Portrait of Wild India/Anand S. Khati. Reprint. New Delhi, Pelican Creations International, 2004, 516 p., plates, . ISBN 81-86738-12-6.
Ranthambhore Sanctuary : Dilemma of Eco-Development/H.S. Sharma. Delhi, Concept, 2000, xiii, 164 p., plates, figs., . ISBN 81-7022-817-4.
Thirteen Years Among the Wild Beasts of India : Their Haunts and Habits from Personal Observation; With an Account of the Modes of Capturing and Taming Elephants/G.P. Sanderson. Reprint. First Published: London, 1882. New Delhi, Asian Educational Services, 2000, xviii, 382 p., plates, ISBN 81-206-1464-X. (My personal favourite – look at the original publishing date!)
Wild Tigers of Ranthambhore/Valmik Thapar. Photographs by Fateh Singh Rathore. Reprint. New Delhi, Oxford University Press, 2005, 172 p., photos, . ISBN 019567793-5.
Beyond birds (and possibly tiger), you will see crocodiles, civet cats, and deer, so basic details on those animals will be helpful. I would not bring entire books, I would photocopy out parts for the climate/region/geography of Ranthambore and take only those parts.
I would also suggest that you go to a bookstore in India and look for books, as you may find titles that you can't in US bookshops. Indian bookstores have a huge selection at great prices. Many hotels have good bookshops, there is also the Oxford Bookshop chain which has outlets throughout India, including New Dehli, take a look at http://www.oxfordbookstore.com (also search under their subject index and you may find books). If you will be in Delhi prior to the trip, please go to the Khan Market in South Delhi and try the following bookshops: Bahri Sons right at the entrance and Faqir Chand & Sons at #15 A.
Oxford Booshop
Statesman House, First Floor
148, Barakhamba Road
New Delhi - 110 001
Phone - +91.11.2376 6080/83
Fax - +91.11.2376 6082
E-mail – [email protected]
I did a quick Google search, and came up with the following books, and their ISBN numbers. You may be able to order them from your local bookshop or Amazon, or wait until you get to India and buy them. My guess is that if you contact Oxford books, they could order them and have them ready for you to collect when you arrive in India:
Waterbirds of Northern India/J.R.B. Alfred, Arun Kumar, P.C. Tak & J.P. Sati. Kolkata, Zoological Survey of India, 2001, xxiv, 227 p.,. ISBN 81-85874-50-6. [Occasional Paper No. 190].
A-Z Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Wild Life/edited and compiled by Narendra Kumar. New Delhi, KSK Pub., 2004, iv, 412 p.,. ISBN 81-7524-184-5.
Battling for Survival : India’s Wilderness Over Two Centuries/edited by Valmik Thapar. New Delhi, Oxford University Press, 2003, xii, 444 p., ills.,. ISBN 0-19-566293-8.
Biodiversity of Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan/V. Singh and A.K. Shrivastava. Jodhpur, Scientific Pub., 2007, xii, 416 p., tables, figs., map, diagrams, plates,. ISBN 81-7233-492-3.
Birds of India/Jagjit Singh. New Delhi, Books Today, 2001, 196 p., ISBN 81-87478-15-2.
Encyclopaedia of Indian Wild Life Sanctuaries and National Parks/S.K. Tiwari. 1997, xv, 255 p., colour plates, maps, tables,
Field Days : A Naturalist's Journey through South and Southeast Asia/AJT. Johnsingh. Hyderabad, Universities Press, 2006, xx, 340 p., (pbk). ISBN 81-7371-552-1.
A Field Guide to Animal Signs/E.A. Jayson and P.S. Easa. Reprint. Peechi, Kerala Forest Research Institute, 2004, v, 56 p., figs., 15 plates, (pbk). ISBN 81-85041-17-2.
A Field Guide to Indian Mammals/Vivek Menon. Delhi, Dorling Kindersley for Penguin Books, 2003, maps, photographs, (pbk). ISBN 0-14-302998-3.
The Great National Parks of the World/edited by Angela S. Ildos and Giorgio G. Bardelli. New Delhi, Om Book, 2001, 318 p., . ISBN 81-87107-06-5.
Indian National Parks and Sanctuaries : A Living Portrait of Wild India/Anand S. Khati. Reprint. New Delhi, Pelican Creations International, 2004, 516 p., plates, . ISBN 81-86738-12-6.
Ranthambhore Sanctuary : Dilemma of Eco-Development/H.S. Sharma. Delhi, Concept, 2000, xiii, 164 p., plates, figs., . ISBN 81-7022-817-4.
Thirteen Years Among the Wild Beasts of India : Their Haunts and Habits from Personal Observation; With an Account of the Modes of Capturing and Taming Elephants/G.P. Sanderson. Reprint. First Published: London, 1882. New Delhi, Asian Educational Services, 2000, xviii, 382 p., plates, ISBN 81-206-1464-X. (My personal favourite – look at the original publishing date!)
Wild Tigers of Ranthambhore/Valmik Thapar. Photographs by Fateh Singh Rathore. Reprint. New Delhi, Oxford University Press, 2005, 172 p., photos, . ISBN 019567793-5.
Nov 11th, 2007 | 07:19 PM
#6
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,689
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I just noticed that the editor of one of the books above, A Field Guide to Indian Mammals, is the same as for the Eyewitness Guides (great guidebooks generally, sorry Fodors), and found that book on Amazon along with several other books on Indian wildlife, see the links at http://www.amazon.com/Field-Guide-Ma.../dp/0123093503
Nov 12th, 2007 | 03:55 AM
#7
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Thanks, Cicerone. This is great info.
Regarding Amazon, I've been using that method (mostly) to look for the books but was a little dissapointed that the mammal books either do not have any reviews or they have been reviewed at only one star. But I guess a poorly written/organized book is better than no book.
Regarding Amazon, I've been using that method (mostly) to look for the books but was a little dissapointed that the mammal books either do not have any reviews or they have been reviewed at only one star. But I guess a poorly written/organized book is better than no book.
