forest. The prey species of tigers and panthers overlap, and because of
possible conflicts between them, the latter are found more often on the
periphery of the park. Kachida valley accounts for the highest number of
sightings of these cats. They do not appear to be as fearlessly diurnal as
tigers have become and therefore their sightings are not as frequent. Another
interesting feature of the park is the visibility of marsh crocodiles in and
around the lakes. Over the years, their number has increased and these
reptiles, eight to 10 feet (2Y2-three meters) in length, are not uncommon.
They are easily seen in the water or basking on the shores of the lakes. Often
they are seen crossing from one lake to another. Interestingly, they eat dead
sam bar on land and try to drag the carcass into the water, even during
daylight hours. Other predators in Ranthambore are hyenas, jackals and
jungle cats. Caracal too have been recorded. The last sighting of wild dogs
was way back in 1954; it is not known why they have disappeared from these
forests completely. Ranthambore has sloth bears which one may encounter
while driving through the park. Lakarda and Anantpura are the areas where
they are seen most often. Sambar are seen everywhere and in large herds
around the lakes. They are in hard horn and at their best during the rutting
period in the winter months, though their antlers tend to be smaller than those
of their, counterparts in Central India. Sam bar are known to wallow in and
like water, but here they can be observed in water for hours, eating and
swimming in the lakes. Actually, one would expect such behavior from
barasingha rather than sam bar.Chital are extremely common through–out the
park and they come to water in their hundreds particularly in the warmer
months. Nilgai too are found all over the park with the greatest concentration
around the lakes; they roam in smaller herds than those of sambar and
chi tal .Post Lunch you may once again take the Safar i into the
forests.Overnight stay at hotel .
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