The Sal Magic at Tala

The Sal Magic at Tala

The Sal tree, scientifically known as Shorea Robusta, occurs from the south of Himalayas and ranges till the central Indian forests flanked by the Vindhya and Satpura mountains. While the tree is generally deciduous, in dry forests, the tree is dry-deciduous which means, it sheds its leaves between February and April.

Most central Indian forests are dry and they hardly receive any rain during the non-rainy season. The trees here are dry deciduous. Sal is generally the dominant tree where it occurs and the Tala zone of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve is a blatant example.

Owing to the dense canopy and deciduous nature of the Sal trees, there is generally a very sparse underbrush (or understory) providing fantastic opportunities for photographing the animals. Also owing to the shade, the forest floor remains relatively cooler and provides an evasion from heat for mega fauna, at least. Ironically, the adjoining zone of Magadhi doesn’t have a thick Sal cover, and has, at most places, a bamboo, or other underbrush dominance.

Sal is interspersed with Saja (Terminalia elliptica), Salai (Boswellia serrata), Dhobin (Dalbergia paniculate) and other trees. The open meadows are generally covered in Grader Grass (Themeda quadrivalvis) which grow to over 2 meters tall and provide the perfect cover for the ambushing tigers and other predators.

Owing to the dry nature of the grader grass, the forest department engages in grass cutting operation to contain an uneventful forest fire (It is hypothesized that forest fires in India are a result of arson or by accidental human causes).

With the onset of February month, the Sal trees shed the leaves. After the leaves dry, the forest floor is painted in hues of oranges and reds, enhancing the beauty of the habitat. As the new leaves sprout, the greenery swells. Watching the striped cat in its golden hues with the green backdrop is always a grand sight to behold.