Audacity of a Tiger: My spectacular 4 days at Bandhavgar

Life goes on!! The name Charger, B2, Sita, Mohini, Jhurjhura hit the world fame, and now their descendants showing the sign of inheriting the charm from their parents to keep the hope alive.

1st week of June, I have had the fortune to witness some of the rare sight of the Big-Cats in its natural habitat, and this eventually turned out to be the best moments of my life in the wild to witness such actions. Photographing a mating pair and witnessing them courting for two consecutive days was my seer luck and beyoned imaginations. If thats not all, hide & seek with sub adults cubs perched inside bamboo shurbs, road block by a male cub and then following day a face to face eye contact with a mom of two cubs from 3-4 meters away interfacing us left my heart incessantly pounding. But still manage to get a shaky image as my hand throbbed with that questionable eye contact as to why I am there. Following this encounter unfolded another thrill, when mom lost interest on us, and minutes later pulled out the remains of a sambar deer in the firm clasp of her teeth and crosses the road with the kill to feed her cubs waiting other side of the road. Yes – these are the next generation tigers at Bandhavgarh, and no wonder why this place host so many as all of them displayed inheriting the grace from their renowned predecessors.


From here I’ll make it more of a photologue to blend the report with visuals. I’ll deliberately not explain much on travel and accommodation etc as this is a place anyone can have plethora of info on net. Bandhavgarh has facilities to suit everyone’s budget and need. I’ll primarily focus on what to expect from this place through the pictures and intend to give a visual treat to Big-cat and wildlife chasers :-)

Mukunda male cub (18 months), taking rest on the shade

Morning time seems best to rest in a cool dusty track

Dont disturb me! He was getting annyoed by the shutterbugs and the camera pointed towards him

Mukundam female (mom of the two cubs, one in earlier slide) coming out in the evening time and heading stright towards our vehicle!

Face to face from 3-4 meters. She stopped, and as if asking why are you here?? It was difficult to sustain the eye contact, image shaken as I couldn’t hold my hand firm, most importantly knowing that she is the mother of two cubs

 



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Got it!! Remain of a Sambar deer which she kept it hidden



 Crossing the road. Mission: Get the kill to her cubs. Tiger hates to display their kill and always eats in private, secluded spot. She was moving fast to get away from us. I have heard the cubs growling soon after she inch a bit inside the bamboo shurbs and could see mom training the cub over the kill by not easily giving the remains of the kill to the cubs



A female cub was waiting in the other side, and she was desperate to take the kill before the cub comes out on the road – Tigers are extra sensitive toward their cubs, will never brings them to broad day light unless a situation warranted




Another Day 

Evening time we sighted Kanketi resting on a water stream



Suddently she made her mind to move out



 Acrobatics: Jumping over the reclining tree to move towards the road

 This female was identified as Kanketi who recently in news of tiger cannibalism of killing and eating a portion of Chorbehera female in a territorial fight. She now took over this territory

 Twist: A huge fella appear behind the Jamun tree and started following Kankatis move - our guide screemed..Bamera..Bamera (dominant male). It was peak of mating season and the presence of Bamera presented a rare sight to be unfolded next

 Bamera following Kanketi who've already crossed and reached a shade near a water stream..

 Chasing this drama, with a nasty turn of the vehical I fell down flat on the middle seat...nobody helped :-) somehow got my balane, and what I saw after that was lifes best in the wild. Mating brins in new hope for the next generation after the 3 months gastation. A rare sight and my luck at its best this time....

The present king and the queen of Bandhavgarh and the new celibrity couple in making 

Bamera, he is huge and looks promising for B'garh


Another Day: Afternoon

This was the dominant male (Bamera) of Tala zone resting on a hillock in AC environment

 Twist: suddently emerged a female out of nowhere and she was none other then Kankati. Again, this presented the scope of sighting another mating episode..

Before I could blink my eyes, they went for mating - a pin drop silence and then large growls of Bamera flew all birds around..
 

 Light was tricky and my positin didn't alow a clear picture..still a record shot I guess..


Another Day: Early Morning

Perched and roaring inside a bamboo shurbs. These shurbs are best camouflage habitat for tiger, it also helps them to get to their preys easily hiding behind it..


 

 King appearing from his hideout in the golden light of the dawn, ensuring that I am not his prey to kill , before crossing the road

Crossed the road and disapper through the foliage, it was too hot and need some rest.

Kankati resting below a Jamun tree...flies dont disturb!!






I am sick of you guys, again here!! She'll most likely bring in good news after 3 months. I presume she had to make a kill that night or next becuase during mating period, 3-4 days, pair dont make any kill. This picture was after Bamera left for another zone..my abmitious wish is to bring Kanketi with her cubs from my next visit right in this blog..stay tune.