ROBBERS' CAVE, Mahableshwar 2
17.884200,73.666900
Description
An unspecified cave entrance (unidentified shape, unidentified dimensions, unidentified orientation, unidentified characteristics) is said to give access to a relic bedding plane cave passage in an interstratal laterite bed, which was (1960) abandoned by flowing water. ETYMOLOGY: No autochthonous, indigenous or locally known cave name has been identified for what has been recorded not only as »une autre cavité [an other cave]« and »la caverne voisine [the nearby cave]« (BROSSET 1961: 429) but also as »cave near Mahableshwar [note 1]« (BROSSET 1962c: 596). Since there are several caves in the vicinity of Mahableshwar and this cave is said to lie 200 m from the –>Robbers' Cave, the made-up cave name "Robbers' Cave 2" seems to be more distinctive. SITUATION: The cave entrance to »une autre cavité« (BROSSET 1961: 429) is said to lie at a relatively small distance (note 2) or »about 200 m« in an unidentified direction »from the preceeding cave« (BROSSET 1962c: 596) which is the –>Robbers' Cave, Mahableshwar. CAVE DESCRIPTION 1962.1: A »natural cave, low, with ramifications [note 3]« (BROSSET 1962c: 596 table). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1962.2: A »natural cave, relatively dry, with low ceiling and ramifications« (BROSSET1962c: 602). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1962.2: A »natural cave with low ceiling and several ramifications« (BROSSET 1962c: 616). CAVE LIFE - bats (Chiroptera): BROSSET (1961: 429, 1962c: 596 table) reports to have collected in »April, May, August« (1960?) a number 17 male Rhinolophus rouxi Temminck 1835 out of a colony of 150 in »Cave near Mahableshwar.« BROSSET (1962c: 602 table) observed Rhinolophus lepidus Blyth 1844 at Mahableshwar not only in »a natural cave of small size« (Cave at –>Mahableshwar Brosset 1962c: 602) but also an estimated number of 50 »Near Robber's Cave, Mahableshwar … a natural cave, relatively dry, with low ceiling and ramifications« (about 50 in April, May, August). BROSSET (1962c: 616 table) observed in April, May and August (1960?) at Mahableshwar a day roost with 100 to 150 (in April) and 30 or 40 (in August) individuals of Hipposideros bicolor fulvus Gary 1838 / Hipposideros bicolor pallidus Anderson 1918 in one »natural cave with low ceiling and several ramifications.«
NOTE 1: The anonymous »cave near Mahableshwar« (Brosset 1962c: 596) is not to be confused with the likewise anonymous »cave at –> Mahableshwar« (Brosset 1962c: 602). NOTE 2: »A peu de distance, se trouve une autre cavité …« (BROSSET 1961: 429). NOTE 3: Ramifications are subdivisions of a complex structure or process perceived as comparable to a tree's branches but the native French speaker BROSSET (1962c: 596, 602) applied the word »ramifications« to the bat-sized holes in the ceiling of the Barapede Cave (N15°33'30”: E074°19'30” in Karnataka, Belgaum district, Khanapur taluk).
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1960.05.06: André BROSSET (1961: 429) visited »Robbes Cave« (sic) and (on the same day?) another cave at a small distance away: »Au peu de distance, se trouve une autre cavité peuplée par les mâles [Rhinolophus rouxi] …« 1960.08.07: André BROSSET (1962c: 599) returned with Humayun Abdulali at the height of the monsoon to observe »… in August 1960, in a cave near Mahableshwar many indivicuals [of Rhinolophus rouxi Temminck 1835] in a state of complete hibernation. Cooling experiments were also made with several individuals of this species. The tested individuals fell into deep topor after a few hours at 8°C. They do not suffer from these experiments and recover the normal state at the end of the artificial cooling.« 2007.02.11: H. D. Gebauer and Andre Abele failed to trace this item down on their own.to be checked: 1960.04.09: André Brosset paid a visit to the cave to investigate for bats.
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | ROBBERS' CAVE, Mahableshwar | ||
| 7.3 | SHIVA, Mahabaleshwar (Cave of) | ||
| 7.5 | PANCHGANGA MANDIR SPRING | ||
| 8.9 | MAHABALESHWAR MANDIR | ||
| 14.5 | MEHERBABA CAVES, Panchgani | ||
| 15.1 | BHIM CHULA | ||
| 15.3 | DEN DINE RESTAURANT | ||
| 15.4 | Panchgani Plinth and Tobacco Cave | ||
| 19.0 | RAJPURI CAVES, Panchgani |