ROBBERS' CAVE, Mahableshwar 2

(Jaoli - IN)
17.884200,73.666900
Grottocenter / carte

Description

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 14/05/2016

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.«

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 14/05/2016

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).

Documents

Bibliography 14/05/2016

Histoire

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. Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 14/05/2016

Cavités proche

Distance (km)NomLongueur (m)Profondeur (m)
0.0ROBBERS' CAVE, Mahableshwar
7.3SHIVA, Mahabaleshwar (Cave of)
7.5PANCHGANGA MANDIR SPRING
8.9MAHABALESHWAR MANDIR
14.5MEHERBABA CAVES, Panchgani
15.1BHIM CHULA
15.3DEN DINE RESTAURANT
15.4Panchgani Plinth and Tobacco Cave
19.0RAJPURI CAVES, Panchgani