Andrew & Rebecca
Courtyard House Kanha
We had missed the tigress having seen the cubs along with the mother we were seeking other wilderness experiences. As it was bound to be the guide was a bit overzealous and took the wrong turn in spite of my instructions. We did not venture into the road of the last day's sightings. But then as always happens a tiger sighting missed is not a good experience.
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But I did not insist instead I decided to venture into a less-traveled path, and rewarded we were. One benefit of a slow drive in the forests is that you come across more, you would otherwise miss if you shoot through. Anyway rules and regulations do not allow speed beyond 20km/hour, and I am a stickler.
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But I did not insist instead I decided to venture into a less-traveled path, and rewarded we were. One benefit of a slow drive in the forests is that you come across more, you would otherwise miss if you shoot through. Anyway rules and regulations do not allow speed beyond 20km/hour, and I am a stickler.
I could make out that the route we had taken was devoid of safari vehicles as most of them had already scoured the area and were on the way for breakfast. Silence, no traffic and slow speed besides alert senses fetch the unthinkable in the Indian forests.
The leopard was actually turning back for as we realized later, the cub hearing the jeep sound was not willing to cross the road. We were at a distance from the predator as he crossed over and from an angle, we could see her sitting peacefully well lit by strands of morning sun sneaking through the canopy.
Sometimes it is difficult to decide which animal is striking the tiger or the leopard. Well, that's an individual judgment. I was awe-struck as the light fell on the graceful creature looking inquisitively at us from between the thickets.
"There is a cub with her!" I whispered upon seeing the young one in the thickets. We stayed put at a distance. The mother came out once again picked up a fallen log and stood looking at us expecting the cub to cross the road and be on the way. For a long time, the female stood content looking at us surprised but not completely in that serene ambiance. This was a unique sight and we were placed quite close to the leopard cub while the mother was at the other end. They were separated by a twenty feet jungle road.
