B2 and Other Great Tiger Pics from India

[Roflcopters]

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- Scion of Panderpauni -

An elemental part of the whole he is... the very whole that encompasses a large land-mass with life-giving water-bodies abound; the very land-mass where herds of spotted deer graze to the morning mist, when the first rays of the sun shine down on the meadows and light it up as if it were in conformation with almighty's ordained moment of peace with the nature he created; those very dirt tracks that raised the mighty cats of yore- Hill Top Male, W Male, Jabbar, Nira and many more; that very land that is the kingdom of Nira's power-daughter, Maya - a name that shall be immortal in Tadoba's history.

He is that intrinsic remembrance of an unsuccessful mother's labor to bring her young to life and beyond; of that very remembrance for her that she has to prove her ability to rule what is god's gift by not just begetting, but making them beasts of legendary proportions.

This young lone prince's innocence manifests in everything he is - that lone youth whose time started with two other siblings who were lost in time; whose only asylum is his enchantress mother, who time & again leaves him to remind him that someday each is to his own; whose joy knows no bounds when his mother, understanding his loneliness, stalks him playfully; who has understood that sometimes his protector needs her time and thus, learns to play with himself, even if it is with a fallen bark.

Some call him Romeo, but otherwise he is known as T12 or Maya's only cub. This scion of Panderpauni, with all his successes and tragedies, is a grim reminder of what our wild world has come to be - patches of forests with rich prey density that attracts equally powerful males who battle it out with no consequential result that shapes the destiny of that land. For this lad, however, that brings a degree of resilience with which he survives - each day as it comes; while older and more powerful males attempt their maneuver in their conquest of this tiger heaven. 

Will he return to his innocence; or rise above it to prove to be a true scion of Panderpauni, just like his mother did; ruling the meadows and lakes of Tadoba's forests? Time, Oh! Time - I await your verdict..

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The new kids on the block, the two cubs (one male and the other female, just like her last litter) born to T7 or Choti Tara is the ultimate price currently in the Tadoba range for photographers, given the mother's boldness to move these cubs around in the presence of gypsys. Although, we had seen the family early on in the trip, we were quite eager to have a solo sighting of this family, which eluded us the first time, where over fifteen vehicles had crowded when she stepped out to present her little ones to the shutter-bugs.

Planned to perfection was this sighting, executed to success was this last drive. Since I was keen to catch this family, we had to be first up at the gate to enter the park as soon as it opens. Another condition to success was no presence of vehicles from Khutvanda gate at Khatoda allowing us to be the first to enter her territory.

While all this worked to perfection, as we entered Kosekanar, a stream of pugmarks could have put us away from this target. However, we were quite keen to keep our focus on this family and that kept us from being distracted.

As we approached the area where we knew the family was seen last, the Wildlife Institute of India vehicle tracking this collared tigress swerved out of a thin road. We knew the action was on.

At the very next bend, there she lay on the road resting... waiting for her cubs to step out. And we didn't have to wait too long. Out came the little ones, with one crossing over mama and suddenly halting there watching us.

The mother chose to rise and that lifted the little body of this cub and it dropped itself quite skillfully on the ground. Now, as the mother walked, it chose to follow the mother - All in a file..

It was only later when we exited the park and discussed with the WII team that we were told jokingly that just before our gypsy came in, they had discussed the possibility of her stepping out as soon as tourist vehicles start coming in.

Nature has its way with surprises and rewards...

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Narasimha - November/2016

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Tadoba tigress from 1995 - unknown location

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Habitat shot of Tadoba - Jamni area (May/30/2014) Reply