Munna Returns! A Tiger in The Pool!

A Survival Saga in The Wild

After missing for some time we came across this magnificent beast who is a legend of Kanha National Park in India. We were actually searching for M1 the new male who is often seen in the area.

Is he a living fossil? Well No?

But his survival is miraculous and mysterious. Normally tiger's life span in the wild is 14 to 16 years. Perhaps he is the oldest living tiger in the wild. No big cat in Kanha has been able to command such a large area as a dominant male. He has virtually ruled all over the park both in the core and buffer.      

A look down below the steep precipice resulted in a tiger being sighted in a pool. We did not know who it was but the subsequent roaring definitely suggested Munna. We could see him well from all angles, a tiny diminutive figure hardly suggested a big cat but it was. I could then see it moving and as per our judgment, we too moved a small distance forward and came to stop in front of the dry stream.

In summers in Kanha, most of the sources of water come to an end but this rivulet contained a pool some distance away from where we were stationed. And it was at this pool that we saw the tiger. Expecting it to emerge at the dry portion of the stream we waited patiently. Since it was time for the Sun to set the likelihood was great.      

The beast did emerge roaring as he used to do in his heydays. He came close on to the dry stream and began scent marking before he sat down near the tree to eat sand. Tigers do this to make up for lack of minerals. 

Munna had a habit of repeating his moves and so we reached the same spot the other evening. We were not disappointed Munna tiger emerged from a pathway and came to a halt near our jeep. He looked much feebler than before and could walk a few steps and rest. He looked terribly sad and forlorn as old age overtook him and he was no longer capable of warding off dominant males.

He was not active as usual and appeared hungry unable to make a kill perhaps. He moved some distance away roaring profusely and came to rest again. The male tiger continued to roar as he sat resting under the shade of a tree. 

We watched the magnificent creature emphatically perhaps saddened by his plight and aware that his time has come. Will we see him next season? Well, you never know ageing Munna is capable of springing surprises thanks to his indomitable survival instinct.

Presumed dead being over eighteen years of age and feeble he surprised everyone by appearing near the same spot in June 2019. Long Live Munna I Hope To See You in October Again.