The multitude of streams flowing down from the Western Ridge of Tadoba Hills, bring in tons of sand each monsoon. To ensure that the sand does not clog up the aquifers, sand bars were created. Turns out sand Bars are perfect hosts to all kinds of  insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, as well as roots, bulbs and berries from the surrounding Riparian habitat. Rich feeding grounds to Spotted Deer, Wild Boars, Gaur, Peacocks, as well as a multitude of birds that survive on it.

Honey Badgers (Mellivora capensis)

 Perfect feeding grounds to Honey Badgers, and their pups who dig around till wee hours of the morning. The Honey Badger, also known as the Ratel, in a mammal widely distributed in the Indian subcontinent. Mostly nocturnal, it is incredibly rare to see one in the wild.

The Caracal (Caracal caracal)

Caracal, the covert cat of Central Indian forests.  Often seen but never recorded, after weeks of hit and miss sightings, this Caracal was finally  captured on camera.
Caracals are slender, medium-sized cats with long powerful legs and tufted ears. Often confused with its other popular cousin the Jungle Cat. The Caracal is an expert in catching birds by leaping high into the air which is possibly what he was wanting for at our waterhole. Listed as an endangered species, these secretive cats are rare and elusive. 

The denizens of the Imli Tree Sandbar
Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) 

A hustle of Peafowl is extremely territorial, pushing away, even the most ardent of predatory birds like this Crested Serpent Eagle. 
A pair of Grey Mongoose also have made their home in the Imli Tree at the edge of this sandbar, with plenty of food below, water and the safety of an arboreal retreat, its a perfect abode to raise a family.