About Kabini's Animals and Ecosystem
The majestic Kabini River, or Kapila or Kabani River, as it is famously called, is situated in southern India. Originating in Wayanad, Kerala, the Mananthavady and Panamaram Rivers merge together. After originating from here, it continues its journey and flows eastward, finally joining the Kaveri River in Karnataka.
In Sargur Town, the Kabani River is known for forming the massive Kabani Reservoir. It is a well-known sightseeing sight here. Also, the backwaters of the Kabani reservoir are rich in biodiversity and wildlife. The variety of flora and fauna is at its peak during the summer, when the water level is too high. The greenery and beauty here are unmatched. The length of this river is about 240 km and is spread across 7040 ss km.
One of the best things about the Kabini River is that it flows through Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary, Bandipur National Park, and Nagarhole. All of these are part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, you can witness animals like sloths, elephants, gaurs, bears, and tigers. Let’s learn more about the Kabini River in the guide below.
About Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary
Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary is a beautiful forest situated on Kabini Bank’s river in Karnataka. Spread over 55 acres, the Kabini forests are known for their diverse range of flora and fauna. Only 80 km from Mysore, Kabini Forests is known for its black panther and other leopard spotting. The perfect place for wildlife lovers, it was a private hunting ground for Mysore’s Maharaja. The government then developed this into Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary. Apart from the black panthers, tigers, elephants, and leopards, you can also find crocodiles, pythons, and cobras here.
Booking a resort near Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the best ways to experience this. You can book many experiences here, like a jungle or elephant safari to spot the animals. A unique experience is the river or boat safari (Book a River Safari) taking you through a different route to explore the vast variety of biodiversity here. The river safari is also a great way to enjoy a stunning sunset.
Big Cats in Kabini
Leopards of Kabini
Leopards are known for being opportunistic hunters adapting quickly to a variety of habitats. This can be a dry region or even rainforests. Since their fur helps them blend with the grassland or mountains, they are the perfect predator. One of the most sought after animals in Kabini, Leopard here is sighted on a tree, a beautiful image to capture in your camera and mind.
There is a beautiful pair of regular leopards known as ‘Saay and Cleapatra.’ They have been courting for four years and this is a sight to behold. Kabini is known for its amazing leopards.
Tigers in Kabini
Kabini is famous for its population of the apex predators- Tigers. They are thriving here as they are at the top of the food chain. They keep the ratio between predator-prey healthy. They are territorial animals and since the population of tigers is increasing, territorial fights aggressive in nature increase. Through jungle or boat safari, you can view tigers in their natural habitats and see them leaping and striding through the jungle. These big cats are the pride of Kabini and you will also see them striding here and there royally.
Saya: The Ghost of Kabini
Saya is the youngest black panther in Kabini, and he has fought a tough life. It is not just rainbows and sunshine for him. He had to fight the other male leopards in his area to secure his territory several times. Saya has a nemesis in Scarface—an alpha male known for his power.
Since Saya is black, he is not able to blend well like the other leopards. But his story is an inspiration to all, as he didn’t give up. Gradually, he became stronger as he kept thwarting older leopards and more. His partner’s name is Cleopatra, and she is golden in color. They make for a beautiful couple in the area.
Gaurs in Kabini
Kabini is the home to the wild gaurs who are the herculean species and can ward off any predator. The largest wild cattle on this planet. They prefer evergreen or semi-green habitats and deciduous forests. In Kabini, you will find a healthy population of gaurs. They are muscular and can weigh anywhere between 1000-1500 kgs for a male. The female weighs between 700-1000 kgs.
Mammals of Kabini
There are many mammals in Kabini wildlife sanctuary. As you take a safari ride here, you will see a herd of elephants lying or grazing the grass. Kabini is known for having the largest Asiatic elephant population in the world. Kabini wildlife is also known for being the home to a gigantic 70-year old tusker- Mr Kabini or Bhogeswara. In 2022, he passed away but his tusks are still on display here.
Elephants are an important part of the ecosystem here. They can dig a hole here which is used by other animals for drinking and more.
The other mammals here include wild boards, deer, dholes, Gaurs, monkeys, sloth bears and more.
Mr Kabini
Mr Kabini or Bhogeswara was part of Kabini wildlife sanctuary. He was a bull-elephant known for its tusks. He had the longest tusks in Asia. He was named Bhogeshwara as he was often seen lying around the Bhogeswara camp along the Kabini backwaters. His death was natural and he passed away peacefully in June 2020 at the age of 60. It is said that he died due to lack of greens and eating. He had a longest tusk around 2.5 m or 7.5 ft long. Many people who visited Nagrhole Tiger Reserve before 2022 in May-July did observe and met this gentle giant. He was the famous muse of any and all wildlife photographers here.
Wild Dogs (Dholes) in Kabini
The dholes are the Asiatic wild dogs or the Indian wild dogs as they are popularly known found in Kabini Wildlife. They are not friendly, do not let their small and petite appearance let you make this mistake. They are known for being the best hunters who can take down prey who are larger than them. They hunt in teams and live in clans of 12 which makes them super powerful. Their strategies and team effort when hunting are noteworthy. They usually chase their preys into the nearby water bodies.
Birds in Kabini
Peafowl
Peafowl is known for their charming feather display and is India’s national bird. These peafowls will feed on the small rodents, lizards and snakes. When an adult peafowl is attacked, they do escape into the wild. However, sometimes, the leopard or tigers can easily attack them. Numerous people come all over the world to see these beautiful creatures.
Indian roller
Kabini is also home to a stunning blue-feathered bird. It is something every bird watcher comes to see here. The Indian rollers are found in scrub forests, grasslands and branches. It is again the state bird of Odisha, Karnataka and telangana. It is a bird with various shades of bright blue colors. They are usually silent but during mating season, you can hear their harsh callings.
Woodpeckers of Kabini
Woodpeckers are best known for pecking on trees. They do communicate in two distinct ways- by drumming and vocalisation. There are many species of woodpeckers and you will find some in Kabini itself. Each species of woodpecker has a distinctive drumming pattern. They feed on invertebrates and insects like bird eggs, fruits, lizards, nuts and fruits etc. The Kabini wildlife is home to a few woodpecker species like the common flameback woodpecker, Indian pygmy woodpecker and streak-throated woodpecker. All of these have distinctive features, drumming habits but are all extremely beautiful.
Flycatchers of Kabini
Flycatchers, the passerine birds feed on multiple insects and they catch their prey in flight. Kabini has two flycatcher species of Kabini like the Tickell’s blue flycatcher and Indian paradise flycatcher. Kabini’s Indian paradise flycatcher is known for its beauty and spectacular flight. The males are known for their elongated tail feathers which is such a beautiful sight. The Tickell’s blue flycatchers have a soothing upper body in blue color. Their lower-body is reddish brown.
Wagtails of Kabini
Wagtails are colorful and lead feeding on insects which they find on the ground. They wag their tail round the clock due to which they are known as wagtails. In Kabini, you will find three types of wagtail. They are gray wagtail, white-browed wagtail and forest wagtail. The last one is a beautiful slender bird having a long tail and wags it sideways while the others do it up and down. It is also the only species of wagtail nesting on trees. The white-browed wagtail is the largest one and they have a patterned black upper body which makes them quite noticeable.
Malabar pied hornbill
A stunning bird found in the beautiful forests of Kabini is Malabar pied hornbill. It has a white belly and black plumage with its casque over the bill being its unique feature. They are omnivorous and feed on small birds, mammals, insects and reptiles. They also eat fruits, which is an integral part of their daily diet.
Frequenting the Kabini jungles, these are also known as ‘Farmers of the forests.’ They disperse the various tree seeds into the forests balancing the jungles. They are the most beautiful birds to be seen here.
Hoopoe
Hoopoe is Israel’s national bird and its unique feature is the feathers crown it has. This usually rises as Hoopoe lands anywhere. Its beautiful white and black wings along with reddish-brown plumage makes it a mesmerizing bird to watch out for. These incredible birds feed on frogs, reptiles, seeds, berries and insects. They also ear crop destroy pests, making them an essential part of the ecosystem.
Small minivet
The small minivet is a common bird found not just in Kabini but also all over India. Their natural habitat is grooves, forests, tree-dotted cultivations and gardens. They are only 15 cm long, so they are quite small. The males have gray upperparts and orange underparts eventually fading to yellow near the base. On the other hand, the female minivet has gray upperparts and yellow underparts. It eats small insects and flower nectar. They usually like to catch their prey as they are flying. Even in Kabini, though, you may find it hard to sight this bird.
Kingfishers of Kabini
Kingfishers are birds with bright colors and have lengthy and dagger-like bills. They have bright plumages which happen due to the scattered blue light which occurs due to their feather’s structure. They prey by catching and then eating their fist. Other animals they like to chew on include molluscs, insects, reptiles. Small mammals, frogs and worms. The two species of kingfishers found here include common and white-throated kingfishers. The former is sparrow-sized with bright blue plumage. The latter is white colored in its chest and throat areas. While its shoulder, head and lower belly are reddish-brown.
Parakeets of Kabini
A parrot species, Parakeets have long tails. The species you can find in Kabini include the Malabar parakeet and plum-headed parakeet. The latter’s color is green. The female plum-headed parakeet is blueish gray-headed and male’s head is red with a different shade in its back. They can even mimic human speech. The Malabar parakeets are endemic to Western Ghats and have long yellow tails. On their neck, they have black rings.
Ibises of Kabini
Ibises are water birds with long-legs with elongated beaks curving downwards. They are territorial birds with both feeding and nesting. In Kabini, you can find two Ibises species- red-naped ibis and the stunning black-headed ibis.
The former is a massive black bird, having blue-green luster on the tail, feathers and wings. It feeds on insects, frogs, decaying meats, grains and small vertebrates. On the other hand, the white plumage has a distinct appearance as it also has white plumage which is sandwiched between head, legs, ad pitch-black neck. You will find them near the water source in Kabini.
Ducks of Kabini
Do ducks intrigue you? Then, Kabini will too as you can find the lesser whistling and Indian spot-billed ducks here. They appear grayish-brown and have a yellow-tipped black beak. When they fly, you can see white-bordered patch of green on the wings. They eat snails but mainly feed on ducks.
Bar-headed goose
An interesting bird seen in Kabini wildlife sanctuary is the Bar-headed goose. A water bird, it is the highest flying bird in the world and can even fly over the majestic Himalayas. This is something even many other famous high-flying raptors cannot achieve.
The best way to identify the bar-headed goose is to see the black and white pattern on their head. They are pale gray in color with yellow legs and bills. They migrate to India from Russia, Mongolia, Tibet and Kazakhstan and are found in India from Assam to TN.
Painted Stork
Another beautiful bird found in Kabini is the painted stark. These wading birds with long necks and legs have large bills turned downwards. Belonginning to the stork family, it gets its name from the pink tinge you find in the tertial feathers of adult birds. They eat small fish catching them with their half-opened beaks submerged in water. They are one of the best birds to photograph.
Oriental Darter
A beautiful water-bird, oriental dater has a long and thin neck. Its lustrous black plumage and silvery-white streaks and wings makes it look mesmerizing. In Kabini, you will find it drying itself perched on the rocks. They prey on fishes by stabbing them with their sword like sharp bills. As they swim, they submerged their body in water and just their slender necks are visible. Thus, they are known as snakebirds too.
Eagles in Kabini
A fierce and large bird of pry. Eagles are known for their beautiful features. Their features are really unique. They have strong legs, talons and large beaks. The types of eagle species found here include booted eagle, osprey, changeable hawk-edge, grey-headed fish eagle and crested serpent eagle. Every eagle found here has distinctive features and even their praying habits vary. So, being in Kabini will expose you to all these beautiful birds.
Owls
Owls are stunning nocturnal birds. These prey birds have sharp talons with feathers designed in a way making their flight silent. This is the reason they can fly near their prey and the prey will not even notice. There are three species of owls found here. These include– scary spot-bellied eagle owl, mottled wood owl and brown fish-owl. All these owls have different features like spot-bellied eagle owls that have frightening appearances. It also has black eyes with silver-gray plumage and ear tufts appearing like horns. On the other hand, a mottled wood owl’s plumage looks like wavy lines of white and reddish-brown colors. They do not have ear tufts, making them easier to recognize.
Vultures
Vulture is a part of a species of raptor that is essential to the ecosystem. It feeds on the decaying flesh of animals who are dead. Raptors have high concentration of stomach acid, aiding in the safe digestion of the germs deadly to other scavengers. There are two vultures found in Kabini- white-backed vulture and the red-headed vulture. The former is a medium-sized one with a whitish back. The latter has a conspicuous red head with a gray band and black body. For a birdwatcher, coming across a vulture is a memorable experience.
Deers in Kabini
Spotted Deer
The spotted deer, popularly known as ‘Chital’, is native to India and is an herbivorous species found in Kabini Wildlife. They are a unique species and have glossy eyes with sharp ears. This makes them always on the lookout for nearby threats. Spotted deer are usually preyed upon by deer, crocodiles, leopards, and tigers. They are abundant, and you will find them at the park entrance too. To distinguish between males and females, look at their antlers. Males have one and they are also larger than males.
Sambar Deer
Another type of deer native to India and found in this park is the Sambar deer. They are known for their grayish or yellowish tinge and have light or dark brown skin. They are known to feed on fruits, shrubs, trees, and grass and weigh around 100-350 kg. These are robust creatures and make for a delicious meal for dholes, leopards, and tigers. To distinguish between young Sambhar and adults, check their throat. It will have a blood-red spot.
Piyush Nirban
Piyush Nirban is a dedicated wildlife enthusiast and the author of KabiniNationalPark.org, a premier resource for booking Kabini safaris and discovering the wonders of Kabini. With extensive experience exploring Kabini's rich biodiversity, Piyush combines a deep passion for nature with professional expertise to provide insightful and accurate information about the park's wildlife, rivers, and attractions. Piyush has spent countless hours in the Kabini region, gaining firsthand knowledge of its unique ecosystems. His commitment to wildlife conservation and sustainable tourism drives the content on this site, aimed at educating and inspiring visitors to appreciate and protect this remarkable destination.
Kabini Wildlife and Animals FAQs
Who is "saya" of Kabini?
Saya is the name of the majestic creature roaming the beauty of Kabini National Park. Saya is the black panther found in Kabini Park. He is muscular, has a shiny coat, and is jet black. It is rare to have such a beautiful and alert animal.
Who was Mr. Kabini?
Bhogeswara, known as Mr. Kabini, was a beautiful bull elephant. He was known for his tusk, as it has the longest trust in Asia. He got the name Bhogeswara because he was seen near this camp near the Kabini backwaters. At the age of 60, he died of natural causes.
What is Kabini famous for?
Kabini is known for its various exotic species of fauna. The wildlife sanctuary is home to over 250 bird species and 4-50 species of mammals. This place is also known as the ‘Tiger Land’, so you will obviously spot a few tigers here. Other animals you will see are wild boars, birds, elephants, and more.
What animals are in the Kabini?
There are many animals that you can find in Kabini Forest. These include wild boars, dholes, gaurs, sloth bears, mongoose pangolins, and deer. There are many bird species, like raptors, water birds, and more, found here too.
Are there crocodiles in Kabini backwaters?
Yes, you will find a few crocodiles in the Kabini River in the Nagarhole National Park. As you go for a jungle safari, you see them lying down on the reservoir bank. The backwaters of Kabini are also the ideal place for spotting some crocodiles lying around. You will find mugger crocodiles here. They eat otters, fish, and other small animals found in the water here.
How many black panthers are in Kabini?
The Kabini National Park, part of the south-eastern part of Nagarhole National Park, is known for being home to a famous black panther. His name is ‘Saya’ and he is a young leopard who fought bravely with other leopards here to get his territory.
Why is Kabini so expensive?
Kabini is one of the most beautiful wildlife sanctuaries situated near the Kabini River. People come here from all over the globe to see the exotic animals present here. The resorts here are near the backwaters, and you will often see a river view from your company. The vegetation and wooden surroundings make this place a bit expensive to win.
Are there bears in Kabini?
Yes, Kabini is home to sloth bears around 120 in numbers. The people here say that the best time to spot a sloth bear is the evening when they come out to have dinner or look for their prey.
Can we see black panthers in Kabini?
Yes, Kabini is known for hosting one of the most beautiful black panthers by the name of Saya.
Is Kabini better or Bandipur?
Kabini and Bandipur are popular wildlife destinations in Karnataka. They provide you the best opportunities to see leopards and tigers. They both are ideal for witnessing tigers or other exotic wildlife here. Choosing from either of the two will depend on your preferences. Kabini has many experiences which you can indulge in and is perfect for wildlife photography. On the other hand, Bandipur is best for anyone who wants to explore forests at higher altitudes.
Are there elephants in Kabini?
Yes, there are over 40 elephants here who are known for being majestic and brave. Kabini is also famous for being the home of Mr. Kabini or Bhogeswara, a mighty elephant with the largest tusks here. He passed away at the age of 60 but his tusks are still here on display.
Can we spot tigers in the Kabini?
Yes, there are over 90 tigers in Kabini National Park. So, it is easier to spot tigers here.
Which month is best to visit Kabini?
Kabini is a beautiful wildlife destination and is a year-round destination. However, the most ideal time to visit Kabini is between October and February. It is the peak season and is a bit crowded as well. You can also go between March and May, which experience moderate temperatures. So, it is also an ideal time to visit Kabini.
Is alcohol allowed in Kabini?
No, alcohol consumption is not allowed in Kabini’s public area.
What to buy in Kabini?
As you head to the town near Kabini, you can indulge in some good shopping. Here are a few things you can buy at Kabini. These include chocolates, coffee, spices, wooden cutlery, pouches, wall hangings, and more.
How many days are enough in Kabini?
Some say that you should plan to spend at least 2-3 days in Kabini, India, to fully explore the area and its attractions. This will give you enough time to enjoy wildlife safaris, nature walks, and other activities.
Which Indian forest has the most tigers?
There are a total of 50 Tiger reserves in India. Amongst them, Corbett Tiger Reserve tops the list with over 252 tigers inside the reserve and around 2266 using the reserve.
Which forest has the most tigers in Karnataka?
The highest tiger population in Karnataka is in the Nagarhole Tiger Reserve. There are over 149 tigers here as of 2022. In contrast, the tiger in Bandipur National Park is around 140. They both come under the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
Which black panther is spotted in Kabini?
Saya is the black panther spotted in Kabini. She is the youngest leopard here who fought for her territory. People and especially wildlife photographers come here to capture this beautiful and natural phenomenon.
Do black panthers live in India?
In India, black panthers or leopards are only spotted in a few destinations. These are Tadoba, Kabini, Nagarhole, Pench, Bhadra Tiger Reserve, and Kabini.