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GENERAL
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WILD ANIMALS AND BIRDS
The forests of Buldhana district extend over Mehkar, Chikhli, Jalgaon (Jamod), Khamgaon and Malkapur tahsils. They are scattered in small blocks where they extend to sizeable areas. Some wild animals and birds of the following categories are found. In most of the areas hardly any game is noticed except rabbit or
fox.
Tiger or Sher.—It is usually confined to remote hilly areas and dense forests. In the summer the tiger takes refuge in cool and secluded places in the vicinity of stagnant pools of water which are not generally haunted by human beings. The most favourable habitat of the tigers is Ambabarwa reserved forest area and Matargaon reserved forest area, respectively.
The tigers found in the district are of medium size measuring up to 8'. They help to keep down the bursting population of deers and wild pigs under biotic control. A stray village cattle is frequently a victim of these tigers. Man-caters are practically nil.
Panther: (Panthera pardus).—These are found in similar localities as that of tigers and frequently in the forests adjoining the villages. They are large in number as compared to tigers. Lifting of young ones of cattle by panthers is very common throughout the Division. The size of a panther is from small to fairly big.
The sloth bear—Bhalu or Aswval (Melursus Ursinus).—It is rare in this district and is confined to cut up valleys with cool hiding places in the Ambabarwa reserved forest area in Jalgaon range.
Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus).—It is common all dVer the district and found in open forests.
Sambar (Cervus unicolor).—It is found in small numbers in the denser parts of the district e.g., Ambabarwa and Matargaon blocks. The sambars generally damage the crops near the forests and plantation areas.
Chital (Cervus axis).—These are found in the forests all over the district, particularly, in the larger blocks of Ambabarwa.
Wild boar.—They are found all over the forest blocks of fairly big size in herds and do a lot of damage to the crops in adjoining forests.
Hare are commonly noticed throughout the district. Other small game consists of Peafowl (Pavo cristatus linnaeus), Kabutar (columba interwedia), Teetar (Pterockes), Black Partridge or (Kala Teetar) (Francolinus Linnaeus), Painted Partridge (Fran-colinus pictus Jardine and Salby), Grey Partridge or Safed teetar (Francolinus Pondicerianna Gmelin) common or Grey quail (co-turnix contunix Linnaeus) and the Black breasted or rain quail (coturnix coromandelica Gmelin), Batar (contanise communis).
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