It is 6 Am. You enter Zone3 of this gigantic ‘Ranthambore National Park’, in pursuit to find a few more Bengal Tigers. This is third day in succession. And as usual, Firoz is on the wheels and Sunil continues to perform his role as guide.
Padam Talao, Zone 1
Immediately, on reaching Padam Talao, voila, to your left you are delighted to see a Giant Osprey Eagle. With an unmistakable hunch, this species is reputed to be a fish-hawk. Perched on a deciduous (leafless) tree outside the ruins of an ancient structure located within the talao, she’s probably scouting for some nice fleshy fish breakfast.
After taking a few good pictures of her, you then proceed. Soon you come across – an impressive ‘Oriental Honey Buzzard’ followed by ‘Alexander Parakeet’. A little ahead, pair of ‘Spotted Baby Owlets’ peeping out from tree holes call for your attention. Their enchanting eyes compel you to watch them in admiration.
Subsequently, a ‘Wild Boar’ and a ‘Wild Bear’ move around to make you aware of their presence. Obviously, they too are part of this incredible forest fauna.
Zone 6
Slightly disappointing with no sign of the Big Striped Cat, you decide to try your luck in a different zone.
As you enter Zone 6, acute ‘Golden Oriole’ waits to welcome you. Then this beautiful ‘Common Kingfisher’ with bright blue/green color plumage takes off no sooner you get close to her.
1st Encounter
As you drive further, you are lucky to have the 1st encounter with the Bengal Tiger for the day. Over there a young Male Tiger, age around 2 ½ years, is seen sleeping at some distance.
There is no way you can get close to him. However you take some pictures and wait patiently expecting him to get up and walk towards you. Incidentally, there are other visitors too, in their respective vehicles, waiting in similar anticipation.
No sooner you begin to open your breakfast packet, this male suddenly gets up and quickly walks across. Everyone is taken by surprise. Once on the other side of the forest, he seemingly smirks at all. Undoubtedly, he has succeeded in disallowing everyone to get few clean pictures of him.
To beat him in his game, Sunil advises to go towards the water-body expecting him to come there to quench his thirst. Once there you wait patiently. However this Cat proves smarter than you. He ducks all and does not show up. Disappointed, you then proceed towards Zone 2.
Zone 2 – T-57
No sooner you enter Zone 2, Tiger (T 57) is seen resting under a tree. Sunil informs that this is one of the shyest Tiger in Ranthambore. He usually prefers to stay away from public glare and that you are lucky to have spotted him. Naturally, you are happy.
So T-57 happens to be the 2nd Tiger sighting of the day and 11th of the tour.
After a while you move away to explore something more of this area. And by the time you return, T-57 has vanished.
Sunil, recounting from his experienced, suggests that he could have walked down the valley. So on his advice you reach to the edge of the plateau. There you see this Big Cat actually lying down coolly with his eyes shut, presumably in deep slumber. You quickly click few pictures and return. Experience counts you tell to yourself.
Moving ahead, a beautiful nocturnal ‘Owl’ with its signature collar like ears comes your way. Sitting camouflaged in a tree hole with its eyes shut, as if in meditation, this is the “Indian Collared Scops Owl”.
Click- Click-Click before you progress forward to find a colorful Woodpecker and a Blue Throated Barbet.
Then this ‘Indian Gazelle’ or ‘Chinkara’ with two distinct horns and dark stripes descending from the corner of his eyes up to his muzzle now stands watching you as you cross by.
Post Lunch – Zone 4.
After finishing your lunch you now move into Zone 4. It is autumn. Hence the forest full of Dhok and Anogeissus Pendula trees presently are bereft of greenery. Thankfully the Tendu trees have still retained their green leaves. This presumably is since their roots dig themselves deep into the ground to get the water. Dhok leaves incidentally are savored by herbivorous animals like Deer, Nilgai and Antelope.
Tigress Krishna
As you move into the area called ‘Jamudin’, luck strikes again. Serendipitously Tigress ‘Krishna’ (T-19) is seen lying close by under a large tree. She seems to have just awakened from her siesta.
Taking a few wide yawns, exposing her entire mouth up to the beginning of the alimentary canal, she now stands up. After a few stretches, she begins to stroll. You follow her assiduously. Soon her majesty crosses over and decides to take a little more rest. Consequently, she settles under another tree incidentally in the vicinity of a tiny water body.
Few minutes later, she once again gets up and now walks slowly towards the water body. On reaching there, she casually licks in some water and then sits in the same water. Plausibly to cool herself.
Minutes later she is out of the water and begins moving towards the forest to go beyond your visibility.
No doubt, this exceptionally enthralling, an hour ‘One-o-One’ encounter with Krishna shall stay in your memory for time to come. By the way, Krishna is the mother of the same three cubs (T11, T12 and T13) that were seen yesterday as described in Part 2 of series of Ranthambore blogs.
4th sighting of the Day
Then as you continue to wander, Firoz drives you to a place to check if he can find something more for you. Few minutes later as you return, you find a Gypsy standing with its occupants taking pictures with their cameras.
There, to your pleasant surprise is the 4th Tiger of the Day. This one is sitting curled at the bottom trunk of large tree hole. No doubt you couldn’t notice him while passing the same way moments earlier.
However you too join to click his pictures.
He now gets up from his comfort from within the tree and mercifully comes out and settles a few meters away in the open.
The crowd of gypsies is now gathered to watch him and therefore it was prudent to leave.
Zone 3
A Tigress with its 3 new born cubs is presumed to be living in Zone 3. However she has mysteriously disappeared from past one week.
Firoz feels that there is probability that she may come out with her cubs today. Finding merit in his advise, you speed off to Zone 3. Despite waiting for over an hour, she remains elusive. However a cute baby crocodile on the ground and a jungle mongoose over a branch nearby keeps you occupied.
It is 6.15 pm now and the time to leave the forest.
Finally, on the way back to the Gate, a bunch of attractive ‘Hanuman Langurs‘ try to compensate for the intriguingly obscure Stripped Mom.
In the end, just as you reach the gate there is this dancing Peacock to add to your delight.
You thus end your day on a happy note for having sighted 13 different Tigers in the past 3 days. So with one more day to go, you keep your fingers crossed in hope of catching up with a few more of these fascinating cats before you leave these incredible woods.
Like they say : Ye Dil Mange More”
Anonymous
5
Anonymous
Extremely well written, kudos to the way you explain everything it’s a delightful experience every time I read your blog . You take me through as if I m traveling with you. Pictures of Krishna are outstanding. All the best 👍🏻Keep writing and sharing more such experiences 😃
Mahit GaurGour
Fantastic trip fantastic wildlife photography -genius
Narinder Singh
Beautiful nature captured nicely . Simply great!
Anonymous
Superb photography and very well written as always
Anonymous
4.5
Subhash
Very scholarly articles with rich blend of quality photographs..
Enjoyed reading the blog… Rewarding experience. Best wishes.
Kanchan Vipat
Wow..auparb write up. Lovely clicks
Anonymous
A travelogue in its true sense. You travel alomg with the writer and get yourself deported to the spots where he takes the pictures. Lovels pics of the birds and ofcourse the tiger. But is it a name t-57? Had you explained it would have been wonderful.
Anonymous
Yes. T 57 is the identification number given to each tiger by the forest officials. Later on they are sometimes given a proper name too.
Anonymous
Awesome photography. Peacock photo is the best among the best. A lot of patience paid the price.
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