Angels at Play…
The autumn leaves of many colors...
Trees on fire, as time changes!
A little tiger sits on the barren ground
Watching, Waiting,
For the leaves to come down...
One leaf falls and the tiger jumps, catching with ease
Another falls, landing softly on the ground!
Little tiger pounces, and squeals with glee...
Mama, not far off,
Watches her little child, as happy as can be
The little tiger watches as more leaves come,
And cover her from all around...
Mama comes, and little tiger jumps,
Scaring mama, making little tiger smile, happily...
- "The Autumn Tiger" by Natalie Aden -
Finding a tiger family that abhors human-kind is test of one’s patience, skill and luck - all bundled with the ultimate factor of timing. The Chakradhara family of Bandhavgarh’s famed meadows was one such and hence, the Chakadhara grasslands hadn't rang aloud for sometime, owing to dominant female’s slippery ways. While her first litter went undocumented, we were keen to see the second, after we had a fleeting glimpse of them crossing the road. Hence, we focused an expedition entirely on this one family.
When the moment came, it was a moment of surprise to see him with the family, the dominant male from the earlier litter. Never, until this moment, had human-kind managed to frame him due to the mother's nature...
From then to now, he has moved on from the family, unleashing a reign of terror in the deeper parts. The pretty & sophisticated family of Spotty was taken out by him, very clinically, once he set his eyes on the glorious lady of Tala. It is spoken of that he meticulously followed her, until he found the safe zone of the cubs and then took them out to make the female his own...
Brutal are the ways of the tiger. But being not so old then, driving Mangu, the dominant male out and establishing his territory there in a menacing manner, is certainly a mark a brutal king leaves. And the now anointed Chakradhara male proved, there is no other way...
We always believe experience and age are two edges to the sword, one over-ruling the other from time to time. Hence, at the time, it was left to see if this fine specimen of a male - not so huge… but powerful, nimble and muscular, will stand the test of time - of other intruding males seeking a part or whole of his territory won through ruthlessness. However, this wonderful male has proven himself well by keeping other adults males at bay. With the exception of his brother, who he has tolerated for whatever unexplainable reasons, all intruders have been dealt with an iron hand.
His lands are known to be among prime tiger country, and hence the intrusion will never cease. Whether this lord of conquest will continue to rule his lands, only time and the glorious forest that stands know the future...
For now, Hail to the King, may he live long...
09 Jan 2019, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Umaria, Madhya Pradesh