Reminiscences of Indian Wildlife

A scion of the princely family of Bhavnagar, Dharmakumarsinhji’s interest in wildlife began when, as a young prince, he accompanied the royal entourage on hunts. His interest in birds and animals was further kindled during his schooling at Harrow in England. The accounts in this collection are narrated from both the shikari’s and the naturalist’s point of view. There are accounts of shikar as it was practised in Indian princely states such as the stalking of blackbuck with cheetah and falconry–royal hunting pastimes which have now vanished. Other shikar anecdotes include the author’s experiences while hunting crocodile, chinkara (Indian Gazelle), elephant and wild boar and the account of the man-eater which got away. Among the numerous first-hand accounts of sights seldom seen by humans in the Indian jungles are the ones of the mating of Gir lions, a fight between two adult Nilgai, and the stalking and killing of a blackbuck by a wolf. The book also gives details of a now rare bird, the Great Indian Bustard, and other fauna and avifauna which Dharmakumarsinhji was particularly interested in. The Indian subcontinent has witnessed drastic changes in its environment, its flora and fauna in this century. These fascinating ‘reminiscences’ written in the late 1970s, provide a glimpse into Indian wildlife of the not-so-distant past. Containing a lifesketch of the author and a select bibliography by Divyabhanusinh, this edition is essential reading for all those interested in wildlife and conservation.