Tiger in The Brook

Mr. Sivaraman & Family USA + TN 

Guests Courtyard House Kanha

The move belied all logic. The stream was full of deer and langur. There was no sign of the magnificent tiger all was magical, serene, and fairytale-like. After taking the morning round of safari at Sarhi Zone of Kanha National Park we were returned disappointed that the big cat had eluded us. 

I looked at my watch there was more than an hour to go. Nobody was expecting a tiger now since the sun had risen the animal does not like heat as we all know. It arrived in India from somewhere in Siberia or China about ten thousand years ago. The animal could not reach Sri Lanka as the Island had distanced itself from the mainland and was too far for the tiger to swim.  

We were returning via Karai Ghati Road famous haunt of magnificent male tigers, Munna, Dabang, Dhamangaon male, Saunder male, and new arrivals. The Budbudi female has been irrevocably etched in our minds by its presence at Budbudi Nala or the stream where we had come to a halt. 

We stood there admiring our surroundings, the enchanting stream full of life and the beautiful birds hidden in the shadowy crevices of dense leaves and twigs. That was all. 

Some jeeps arrived and looked at us with question marks. They did not bother to stop. Why should they with a bunch of deer and troops of langur all around the tranquil stream?

At Kanha, the mornings are chilly even in summer but the heat of the noon makes all run to the cozy comfort of climate-controlled environs of the wildlife resorts.  

There was an air of complete despondency with no expectations. But we waited. Since the time was with us the guide did not force us to move.  We spent time watching the antics of langur babies and the deer enjoying blissful cool environs of life-sustaining water in the stream.   

We at Courtyard House utilize full-time in the park during the safari. This is an unwritten rule. Hence we waited. I was expecting some thirsty tiger, leopard, or sloth bear to arrive and quench.  Well if wishes were tigers I would jump with joy!

Well, nothing happened for a long time till the silence was disrupted by two-alarm cries of the spotted deer. In my mind, hell broke loose. "Where exactly? I asked the guide. We drove right to the spot a few yards ahead to the spot from where the cries had erupted.  Frantically I began peering into the bush containing bamboo, shrubs interspersed with rock, and yes puddle of water. Still, there was no expectancy. This could be a call of the deer spooked.     

Well, it was not to be. I was searching for a predator in the shade with a puddle. Tiger! Tiger! I whispered with confidence which usually belies my circumspect nature.  Right in front of us, I could see the yellow and black stripes. Heart thumping with excitement, I pointed to the guest who was amazed as well as bewildered. Of Yes! The guide said.  

"It is a young tigress!"

When the animal raised its head to look at us we were all thrilled. It went back to quench in the brook in the cool shade. I could make out that the big cat was shy. It stared at us thrice but was so thirsty, it went back to gulp loads of the life-sustaining liquid. It was an enchanting moment as we witnessed through the thick canopy of bamboo, vines, shrubs, and trees, we were witnessing a spectacle most astounding.     

Our guest tried to photograph the moment but could achieve little in the shady brook. "Well this is how the tigers are always hidden and well camouflaged, and we were witnessing an activity in its natural surroundings."

"Not a cardboard cut out this," I appraised the guests in absolute wonder. The wild cat took a long time to quench and then it moved uphill and was seen no more.  A sighting had been made for visitors who had never seen a tiger in the wild.  

Image By Blissons - France