Huge Dominant Male Tiger on Live Safari

On the crossroad much before the camp, we spotted some suspicious activity among the bison. Alert and quiet they carried an inspecting look towards the direction we had come from. The snort gives the game away in case the bison or gaur as the animal is called in Hindi. The huge male began to snort fervently and we stopped completely. 

Before I could utter Tiger! The predator came into the view. Huge as it was T 67 or Dhamangaon was making his presence in this zone in Kanha. Our guide upon spotting the tiger heading towards the camp knew the movement well and we moved forward a short distance and waited. As the guide had predicted the tiger came down from the elevated ground unto the road some distance before us. 

Then the chase began actually as soon as the tiger landed on the jungle road he became busy marking the nearby trees pacing right in front oblivious of our presence. This continued for at least 15 to 20 minutes and I could film the huge beast in our pursuit literarily speaking. Even though the big cats act oblivious of the safari jeep's presence they are quite alert and keep gauging the distance we were at.  

Anyway, who would dare to come to a halt as the dominant tiger continued to walk on the road marking his territory here and there on the trees and the bush? Eventually, another jeep arrived before the camp and they could see the huge tiger walking behind us but not for long as the best entered a nearby bush not to come out again.  

I was using the camera for the first time and was in movie mode. I could capture the safari live but with a lot of shakes since trepidation had set in a long time before. To this date, I have not edited the video in order to keep the live tiger safari alive in my memory bank.  

We encountered T 67 many times as he was the dominant tiger of the zone in Kanha National Park. Once again we experienced a live tiger safari but in another area. By this time he was stressed out by the presence of another rival Sangam Tiger. Nevertheless, he was as aggressive and confident as ever.  

Tracking tigers is a tough but interesting job and a naturalist should remain confident in case of failure. The big cats of Kanha National park though acclimatized to humans are by all means as wild and as shy as anywhere. We keep silent and always maintain a distance in order to make the animal feel safe.  

The tigers are not maneaters by instinct but can charge when feeling threatened. And you better not experience the charge. Maintain a distance and be safe. 

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Uday Freelances as Naturalist in Central India. He is an avid birder and tiger enthusiast. He blogs on tigers, wildlife and birds. He also writes on the environment and conservation.

Uday also provides SEO Services and Website Content in English. He teaches Digital Marketing in Jabalpur during Summer Holidays.
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Contact: pateluday90@hotmail.com
09755089323 

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Video Male Tiger in Pursuit

Kanha National Park

Guests Roger & Key Topping UK 

Courtyard House Kanha 

Sr. Naturalist Uday Patel

It was a fine morning whence we located tiger prints on the hill while on safari. We tracked the tiger down after a lot of driving and reaching the right spot from where he usually emerges. We had to wait not for long for the trepidation among the heads of the gaur family to inform us of what to expect. 

Rightly so he emerged from the bushes silently like a ghost and then came into the open at the fire line. We rolled down the hill a bit and waited. The big male tiger emerged behind us in what looked like a pre-programmed move. Unmindful of us he began scent marking and walked down towards us. It was a shaky safari as we reversed to maintain a safe distance the video here tells all.  

No Parochialism This! - Tiger Translocation

Perhaps for the first time, a tiger from Madhya Pradesh has been trans-located to another state. MB 2 male tiger has been tranquilized and is being shifted out of the state to Satkosia Gorge Tiger Reserve in the State of Orissa. He is a big male seen often in the Mukki Zone of Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.

Since the last couple of years, Mukki Zone had become a battleground for males seeking dominance. Internecine battles as can be described took place between Kingfisher, Uma and Bhima, and perhaps Chotta Munna. The scuffle for dominance resulted in the death of two male tigers Bhima and Kingfisher. The battles that took place were territorial as well as for procreation. 

       

Video Uploaded By Sharad Vats shows MB2 and Uma male in a scuffle.

MB2 was born from mating between a female of Mukki and a Uma male which is why in the scuffle here he was just pushed off and not killed. But the battle would rage on hence it is a good decision by the Kanha Management to trans-locate him to another tiger reserve.   

MB2 is no match for his father and in the ensuing battle, there was a chance he could have been killed as has happened to the two males. 

With most of the tiger habitats destroyed in India territorial battles between males have become a regular affair with damaging consequences. Since the males cannot spread out trans-locating them is a means to mitigate vicious territorial fights which could lead to the death of the tigers.  

Satkosia Gorge Tiger Reserve has two females once this male tiger from Kanha settles down tiger breeding will begin. Few more tigers are being sent to this reserve as per reports. 

This interstate tiger translocation is a heartening event and speaks much about the sagacity of Kanha management and the MP Government. Practice like this one is carried out in good faith and for the good of the feline species which is in deep trouble.

If only the Gujarat Government takes heed and makes translocation of Asiatic Lion possible to Kuno Palpur in MP it will augur well for the species as well fetch the State out of parochialism. Well, who knows this event will be an eye-opener.  

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.  

Tiger Safari Videos - India

Tiger safari video - Tigress at Link 8 Kanha National Park

Massive Male Tiger at Waterhole - Kanha National Park - Kisli Zone

 Legendary Munna Male Tiger at Kanha National Park in India

Early Morning Encounter Tigeress at Kanha National Park

Big Brute Dabang on Full Charge

Courtyard House Kanha

Guests: Suresh Sinhji Patdi Darbar & Friends 

"One of our guests has not seen a tiger ever in his life," said Abhijeet Munshaw a wildlife enthusiast and photographer. This was our first conversation as soon as the check-in formalities had been done.  

"Well hope for the best," I said confidently. "Tigers being elusive is hard to come by."

Our first two safaris were good but no tigers. Then while traversing through Kisli Zone we decided to head straight for Karai Ghati. A day before, a tiger was seen on this road and heard roaring incessantly.     

Searching for tigers is at times frustrating. We went right up to the junction which leads to Sarhi Zone. Nothing. Well, there were pug marks of another male but they usually do not result in sighting often. We waited for the animal to emerge. But after some time we decided to move ahead and look for the tiger seen yesterday. The distance was not much and we could quickly bounce back if needed. There was no tiger there hence we moved on to score other areas. 

There is a female with cubs often seen near the Kisli Tank on the way to Karai Ghati. She deserted the water body whence one of the cubs was killed by a vagrant male. 

"Let's look for the tigress," I told the guide."She may have returned." There were many jeeps waiting with the same objective. We waited for some time, then I said to the guide. "Let's visit the place where the big male was seen yesterday rather than wait here." The guide was thinking the same hence we drove on. It was about a ten-minute ride straight on.        

The tiger was lying in shade covering almost three fourth of the jungle road. "Massive." I stopped as soon as the beast looked at us. There was a deafening silence as the beats thundered. "Keep at a safe distance," I told the driver.

"This is Dabang."    

The last time I had encountered this beast on the kill and he was very aggressive almost threatening to charge. Even the distance of twenty meters seemed uncomfortable. The guests were busy with their cameras while we were having a nervous look at the tiger. 

There was another jeep ahead much ahead. We were wondering if they were aware of the predator. Well, you remain silent on such occasions. 

The tiger kept looking at us, occasionally turning to look at the other jeep. He was not very comfortable but then lay quiet without any show of aggression. Well did he? 

In one instant the beast arose from his slumber and took a step towards us or rather charged. Frightening...is all I can say. We were at a safe distance but it seemed that he would be on the jeep in seconds. He did not, for he veered to right after a massive roar and vanished into the thickets.        

The tiger sighting was over and we turned back to look for the tigress. She was not there hence we moved on. The beautiful Kanha landscape enchants me every time and it did that to the guests as well.  

"Let's visit the male tiger again," the guest requested the guide. Well, that would have meant going in for the tigress as well hence we proceeded.  

"Turn back," the guide of the approaching jeep requested us fervently. "He is charging too often." Then another jeep approached us with the same request.  

"We should not agitate the big cat further," I explained to the guests. "He is not used to the jeeps, hence he gets aggressive and charges."      

The charge is not at all a pleasant experience. In fact, it could be nerve-wracking. 

We turned back. 

Strange Tiger Encounter

In spite of their endangered status tigers pop out from anywhere, I mean any forest. Unlike panthers, they do not pop out in the cities albeit some cases have taken place near Dudhwa National Park

I used to visit a village for some purpose near my home town Jabalpur. On the way to the village, there is a steep climb or ghat as we call it in Hindi. There is a left turn off the Kundam Shahpura Highway that reaches Baghraji. From the main road after a few km of driving in the plain, you reach the ghat which twists and turns upwards on the rise. As you make a descent you reach Kundwara which has a quaint little rest house and is a favorite picnic place for nature lovers and families from Jabalpur.    

I used to visit this village called Baghraji (Tiger place) often crossing through the good patch of forest on the way. One day while returning back from the village we reached the ghat around 7 pm. It was a busy day since the weekly bazaar was in full swing. I would often come across spotted deer in this patch of Kundwara forest range, but I was sure due to the regular movement of villagers I won't see them today.

We began to climb up on my open jeep, me and my salesman beside. At a point on the rising hill, there is a sharp S-turn and you can see what lies far ahead but not immediately ahead. It was here that my salesman pointed out some animals in dim light.

"It certainly does not look like a spotted deer", I said. "Well let's see", I continued to drive. We were about to reach the spot when I saw one animal climb down the mountain slope and vanish. The other one moved uphill and we could see it climbing slowly as we reached the spot. 

I turned the jeep and threw the headlight upon him. I sat stunned for a moment and then in a shaky voice whispered, "It's a tiger".    

It was a tiger in fact two of them, the other one a female was sitting down on the slope of the hills perhaps very close to me. I could see the male tiger climbing uphill about ten feet from me. He was hesitant to climb since the female was down there. I had a good look at him before he vanished into the dense canopy.

Not used to big cats my salesman sat petrified frozen to death. I straightened the vehicle and drove off, I could have peeked down the slope but did not. The tigress could have been too close for comfort...her comfort. These animals charge at you in defense if you venture too close.  

We heaved a sigh of relief especially my companion as we reached the main highway. For me, it was exciting and encouraging to see tigers outside the protected areas. For my salesman, it was a sacred moment as he had come across the vehicle of the Goddess. How ironic, people would kill these magnificent creatures in spite of such regard.

I heard the mating cries a couple of days later whence I stayed overnight at Kundwara Rest House. This was around three am. The male was seen regularly by the forest ranger near the nursery tank where it came to quench its thirst. The female was never seen...probably breeding in some secluded patch of forest. 

After a year nothing was heard about tigers in Kundwara Forest Range as I did not happen to go there. But certainly, the animals might have moved far across the long corridor.  Their cubs may be surviving now hope they are for a few tigers more. This patch of forest perhaps connects to Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in MP.