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Hey All,

Meet Mr. Mohan Singh, one of the most dedicated and experienced forest guards of Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, a real life Hero, an unsung one at that.

Forest guards accept situations like animal attacks, accidents, and poacher attacks as occupational hazards and Mohan Singh is no exception. Originally from the Lahpur guard post (outside tourism zone), his extraordinary skills of tracking Tigers on foot is a stuff of legend and he remains the go-to man for the Forest department when it comes to keeping a close watch or tracking Tigers who need to be tranquilized (for medical treatment). Mohan Singh has been entrusted with the job of monitoring the legendary Tigress Machhli (T-16)every single day since Mid-March 2014. Our constant interaction with him reiterates the fact that Machhli still manages to kill on her own, albeit infrequently, at the ripe old age of 18 !

Equipped with a bottle of water, a point & shoot camera and a modest lunch comprising of Rotis (Indian pancake) with raw onions & chilli, his day begins at 5.30 in the mornings when he walks all the way from his home to the entrance gate to the Park. He gratefully accepts to hitch a ride on safari vehicles to Machhli’s current area of residence. He then begins patrolling on foot, meticulously looking for fresh pugmarks, scat etc. Once he manages to sight Machhli, he chooses a safe vantage position to sit down and make notes of her well-being, at times even handling her scat to ascertain contents of Machhli’s previous meal. Machhli acknowledges his presence and doesn’t shy away from him. Needless to mention, he skilfully avoids direct confrontation with any other Tiger in the vicinity. His day ends at 6.00 in the evening when he begins his trek back to the exit gate, appreciating any safari vehicle willing to drop him.

Mohan Singh is symbolic of those hundreds of unknown and unheard of protectors of our forests and the wildlife in them. It’s not just a job for them but a lifetime commitment to protect our jungles; they risk their lives every single day for the cause. It’s not an easy life, patrolling for kilometres on end, living in minimalist field camps to survive, braving the harsh varying Indian weather all year round, battling against all odds to act as the first line of defence for our Tigers. He probably might never get a lifetime achievement award or actually be recognised as a conservationist by the modern world. People visiting Ranthambhore to see Tigers might perhaps never know or realize the sacrifices made, the lives spent and the blood and the sweat shed by the likes of Mohan Singh to save our Tigers.

Almost on a daily basis, India's forest guards face harsh realities while safeguarding the country's wildlife. In addition to adverse field conditions and chance encounters with animals, they also often find themselves in combat situations with much better-armed criminals. More often than not, the sole breadwinners in their families, their difficulties aggravate in case of permanent injuries or even death during these encounters, affecting their morale while carrying out their duties.

Here’s hoping that Mohan Singh’s story and his contributions towards protecting our Tigers are now known to the world and inspires many more people to join forces to save the Tiger and thereby, wildlife.— with Minh Ha and 28 others.

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