Reflections

  This is a continuation of the last post on the leopards that have taken to killing humans in the Nagrakata area of the Dooars . That post can be read here.   One of the tea gardens in the area where parts appear to be not maintained. According to locals, this sort of landscape harbours leopards Some sort of change took place in 2019. That year, in this Nagrakata region, there were six major attacks by leopards, three of them led to deaths. The deaths were mainly of children; leopards are leery of attacking adults except when startled. There was a scare at this unnatural increase, but the Covid epidemic intervened, human movement ceased over large parts of the landscape and the scare died away. But since October 2025, there has been a recurrence of deaths. Four deaths over a period of about twelve months have occurred and these deaths have some features that do not fit into the ‘normal’ encounters which as I said earlier mainly occur because of unexpected encounters. The...

The Indian Leopard (from www.greenverz.com ) The Dooars , derived from the word "duar," meaning doorway, serves as the gateway to Bhutan and the northeastern Himalayas , stretching across the foothills of the eastern Himalayas in North Bengal . This enchanting region spans from the Teesta River in the west to the Sankosh River in the east, encompassing parts of Jalpaiguri , Alipurduar , and Cooch Behar districts . Characterized by gently undulating terrain, rich alluvial soil, and a network of rivers and streams, the Dooars is a fertile floodplain that supports lush vegetation and vibrant biodiversity. Geographically, the region lies between the Himalayan foothills and the Brahmaputra basin , creating a transitional zone that blends montane and tropical ecosystems. The climate is humid and subtropical, with heavy monsoon rainfall nurturing dense forests and verdant tea gardens . These forests are part of the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot and include protected ar...

    MarionBarrie Tea Estate If you take the Mirik Road from Siliguri, you can go via Khaprail or take the route via the Hill cart Road and then turn right across the Sukna Army Camp to the Mirik Road. The road to Rohini branches off to the left as you continue towards the looming hills. The Mirik Road passes through the village of Garidhura, which has a fairly busy market and a pitstop for cars that are either descending or ascending to the hills.   The road runs parallel though at a fair distance from the Balason River.   The Marion Barie Tea Garden occupies the space between the road and the Balason River, but not quite. Adjacent to the River there is a dense patch of forest the so called Balason Forest. This forest is home to myriad birds, hares, mongoose , the occasional leopard and, very importantly, it is a thoroughfare for elephants who intend to cross the Mechi river into Nepal. The afternoon was warm, unseasonably so, considering that it is just the thir...

  North Bengal is full of unexpected corners, partly forested, partly scrub, partly riverine which are rich in birdlife. They are mostly overlooked by serious birdwatchers who tend to converge in the major bird watching spots. However, some of these neglected areas can be excellent places to spend some profitable hours of birdwatching. One such area is the village of Mongpong. The Teesta as it enters the plains at Sevoke makes a sharp left turn towards Gazaldoba. The road link to the Dooars crosses the river at Coronation Bridge and hugs close to the hills of what is now the Kalimpong District. Between the road and the Teesta is Mongpong. A kutcha road leads down from the Sevok Road and ends near the railway bridge. There are several large trees, including some marvelous simuls. There is a grassland and the Teesta is, of course, close by. The Teesta River Bridge  Further east is the Montong forest proper. To enter this we must have permission, so it is best to stay confine...