Breaking my tiger jinx…and HOW!
From zero sightings in over twenty five years of forest visits (including several with a forest officer father-in-law) to five in under 48 hours last weekend!
All thanks to the stellar tracking skills of our young naturalist, Mithun Hunugund, who seemed to be able to preempt the movements of every one of those tigers! Mithun, also the son of a forest officer and currently working part time at the Bison Kabini Wildlife Resort, is due to appear for his IAS (Indian Administrative Service) exams shortly. I wish him all success, and hope that his passion and commitment will see him rise high in the ministry of environment & forests.
A rickety government safari vehicle with eleven excited first time tiger spotters, demanded far more experience and camera skills – and lenses – than I possess. I was hoping to use Mithun’s professional images for this post, but I couldn’t wait to share the joy.
Definitely jealous! In all my years in Africa I never saw a leopard in the wild! (And you see one if I recall?) Now a tiger! Hmmmm!
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5 Tigers Brian!!!! 😀
Don’t rub it in Madhu!
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(Hope life is ok with you. Would Namaste apply?)
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🙂 It does… Namaste Brian.
Namaste it is then and a great week-end. (No more tigers please!) 🙂
An excellent photo, Madhu, of the tiger lapping up the water. You are right to be excited. Wow! I know what you mean, though, about having an experienced person show you around the wilds. When I went to a nature shoot with a photographer, locally, and when we were in Costa Rica with a guide, our experience and sightings of birds were enhanced by these very alert folks. They directed our cameras aim toward shots that we would have missed otherwise. 😉
True, our sightings would have been fleeting glimpses without Mithun’s tracking skills. Thanks Judy.
Goodness Madhu you really did deserve to see them – but I’m still jealous 🙂 We can see ‘professional’ photos anywhere but yours are the real thing, thanks so much for sharing your amazing experience!
Ha, our daughter and several friends are very jealous too 🙂 I doubt this is a one off though. I think the chances of sightings have increased several fold.
I feel as though we were all rewarded by your patience, Madhu. Your photographs confirm that the tiger is a magnificent creature!
It truly is Elisa. I cannot imagine how our species could have driven such magnificence to the brink of extinction.
This is where we should be seeing them. Free, wild, masters of their own lives…not locked away in a cage [for any zoo is a cage no matter how good it looks] that we may look at them at our leisure.
So true. The so called ‘sanctuaries’ that lure unsuspecting people, who ought to know better, are probably far worse!
So true. For me, there is only one place for wild animals…the wild.
Fantastic that you were finally able to see tigers. I am especially in love with that second photo of the cat leaning over to drink water. The color and its huge paws, and the reflection you captured are magnificent.
Thank you Angeline. We were fortunate to have been able to position ourselves just right!
Wow Madhu, way to go! Fantastic photographs to show for your efforts – 25 years is a very long time, but when you celebrate you really go all out! Five sightings in a day, very cool.
Yes, it kind of pored tigers!! 🙂 Thanks Mary.
Wow! Congrats!
Thanks! I had almost given up hope of seeing one in the wild 🙂
Fright is…..seeing those big cats up close! Stunning! Next holiday = Kabini. Thanks.
Good idea Veena. The forest drive itself is beautiful, even without the big cats.
How much better can photos be? The long-awaited tiger sightings is the epitome of joy. Thank you for letting me join you.
Ah, I guess I am my own worst critic 🙂 I was upset that theses didn’t turn out half as sharp as my mango tree series for example. But the joy is plain to see. Pleasure to have you on board Meg 🙂