Tiger in The Rain

Guests Nick, Aaron & Becky UK 

Courtyard House Kanha 

Tigers Enchant! 

These mysterious creatures have lately given us the impression that we have come to know everything about them. Do we?

There is an aura around them and a mystery that deepens more whence you get to know them on your search in the reserve. I have come across the tigress subject of this entry earlier along with her three siblings time and again during their growing up period at Kanha National Park in Central India or the State of Madhya Pradesh.      

Unfortunately of the four siblings, two have been able to survive? Tigress cubs are often killed by rival males that have not sired them. Death can be a brutal mauling at the hand of the intruder. Hence until unless a surviving cub does not carve-outs in its own territory with dominance, its survival is under question. A relief discovery is that rival makes would more likely kill male cubs than females. But all younger cubs are killed if the rival wants to induce estrous in the mother. 

Tiger Cub

So we set out with Aaron and his parents in search of tigers and other animals whence they arrived at Courtyard House as guests on safaris. We did come across a tiger hidden amongst the bush and we could see its back, head, limbs, and body all disjointed by the bush. It was on a kill and we could hear the breaking of the bones as well. Well, that's that!   

Our search for tigers was disrupted by rains now and then and we had given up all hope of seeing another.  We did manage to see lovely creatures of the reserve and photograph them much to our joy!

Aaron had a wish on his birthday to see a tiger on the road. Well, it rained and rained. Huddled under the tarpaulin on the gypsy we had given up all hope for sighting a big cat on the road.   

"Tigers like us are irritated by droplets falling on them." Perhaps their metabolism slows down due to drop in temperature." This was my explanation to rather disappointed Aaron. I had seen a few big cats enjoying the rain during my work as a naturalist. 

While returning back to the camp, I decided to take the route where we had found tiger droppings and heard calls some distance away. "There is a thin chance.......".    "And the road is devoid of traffic that will increase our chance." A path less traversed.  

It was drizzling whence we were surprised by a young tigress peering at us from the bush beside the road.

"Tiger Loooooooooooooook!"

The rain-drenched creature was simply staring at us for a long time awestruck perhaps. Ha!

It then came on the road at a distance crossed over and was gone.

"Aaron Your Birthday Wish, I announced gleefully!"  

Tiger in Rain

Tigers are creatures of purpose and the rain does not hamper them. I made another discovery that day.