Wildlife

 Tadoba is known to be a treasure for tiger sightings in the recent time, the forest is spread over 1,325 sq km, it is tropical dry deciduous forest with dense woodland comprising about 87% of the protected area.

It was my first day and first safari in the forest. So we decided to head towards the main lake in Tadoba which is known as Tadoba lake, it is in the core area of the forest. I visit Tadoba during pre monsoon showers or during early monsoon as its greenery surrounds the forest, but unfortunately that year it didnt even started showering during mid of June. 

While strolling through the forest we got a glimpse of beautiful Tigress with her two sub-adult cubs but due to the heat the family was resting under shadows of the trees. It was a good day but not with any photographic opportunity.

So on the second day we decided to take a round around the Telia lake which is one of the biggest territory of a tigress with her 4 cubs. We were fortunate enough that the male tiger of that territory made a move and it was chasing a few Dholes around, Dholes are the wild dogs found in India but due to the number of jeeps the tiger decided to move into the canopy. Few meters away the tigress made a move and we were able to sight the female but not fortunate enough to sight the cubs. Tigresses usually hide their cubs so that other tigers or tigresses passing through the territory can't find the cubs.

It was afternoon time we got a tiger cub near a wild boar kill made by the tigress, this is a different tigress we didn't get a sighted of her, it went into the woods before we arrived there, we waited at the spot but out luck and patience didn't pay off.

Next morning we decided to go to the same spot where we found the cub sitting inside the canopy in the hope that we will get the tigress because she made the kill and was most likely to return to the same place. Out luck and planning did pay off the tigress was walking in front of us headon and we were forced to take the jeep at reserse gear to make the way for the Queen and we got some great photos and our morning was successful.

As it was our last safari, we decided to freeze some action shots, the tour and the sightings were going great along with some crazy photographic opportunities, the only thing we missed out was some action sequence.

We were on our way to Jamni Meadows as Choti Tara killed a wild Boar & the previous day there was sighting of Choti Tara along with her two cubs, so we decided to take a chance for the same. Unfortunately we were unable to find her so our driver & guide took a call to head towards the Pandher Pauni water hole.

I had a desire to capture some action photographs & I was discussing the same thing with the driver and guide.

We reached there and there were continuous alarm calls of Sambar deer. We parked our vehicle near a water hole within a minute the Queen of Tadoba emerged in front of us along with playful cubs.

Written by:-

Ankur Moitra