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Harshad Barve
01-28-2010, 10:18 PM
Dear all
After visiting Bandhavgarh in Jan 2009 I was still thinking of Tigers only. One fine morning my driver from Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve ( TATR ) called me and said Sir , Wagh chan distao ahe ( Tiger sighting is too good ). I was sure my wife was going to kill me but I have to go there. After session of 2 hrs got the permission to go and I was on road to TATR for 3 days

After driving for eight hrs I was in park in the morning. Dumped luggage at gate and staright away we were in the park. My eyes were searching for stripes and I was too excited. After searching for nearly two hrs we could not see the Tiger but we had blast of time with wilddogs. Wild dogs in India is one species to look for. We have one nice session of photography with them. They were playing in group and were not bothered about us. So the first morning ended with one more species in my collction and I was quite happy with the proceedings.


In afternoon we set to enter the park and were keen to spot tigers. We eneterd the area called Katezhari and there were lot of langoor calls for tiger ( Langoors make different calls for Tigers , Leopards and wild dogs). we waited there for nearly one and half hr. The wait was like an era and we could literally see movement inside lantana bushes. King decided not to come out and we were running out of time. I guess thats the fun in sighting Tigers. We were so close and but those last ten meters were like thousand kms. we had last 45 mins and decided to head back. suddenly I saw some one walking ahead of us and I whispered Bibatya chaltoy re ( Leaorad is walking ahead of us ). We followed him for some time. It was huge male and he was least bothered about us. After walking for half a km is just sat on road and I was on seventh cloud. Few images were offered by Prince of Indian Jungles and show was over. My driver got nuts. No alarm calls whatsoever for this sighting. One new lesson I learned about Indian Jungles, expect the unexpected. Night was fun and I felt so sorry for one Amercian couple who missed leopard by few mins. They were happy go lucky folks and lady told me , I am not going back to US without Tiger image , it was there ninth day in park and no luck whatsoever with stripes or spots. I wished them best of luck and retired the day


http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/7299/lep.jpg (http://img84.imageshack.us/i/lep.jpg/)


http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/1866/leopardfinal.jpg (http://img253.imageshack.us/i/leopardfinal.jpg/)



Morning was glorious one. Sun was shining and light was pure gold. Still I have not seen tiger and I was eager to see them. We seached & searched for tigers and we had no luck. My driver was quite upset and he was about to go mad. We were out by 10.30 and I found BIG smile of Lady's face. She had sighted her first tiger in wild with her husband and both of them were so excited. They were in tears of joy and I was so happy for them. We raised toast in the name of Tiger in the morning only:eek:


We set for final ride of trip in afternoon and I was hoping for stripes. Lady luck smiled and we could see tigers chasing one deer fawn which I photographed early in morning. My heart was crying for fawn but I was eager to see tiger hunting. Fawn was brave one and gave some tough fight for his life.That was one of the finest tiger sightings. This tigress and male tiger were chasing and were unable to make kill. We were on road with another gypsy watching the drama unfold infront of us. This pair chased that fawn several times and they crossed road for seven times. Amazing sighting but no luck with images. For a moment tigress stopped and I was lucky to shoot few images, She had a eye on fawn and me ( What if she thought of chasing me :D:eek: ).
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/553/tadoba1.jpg (http://img156.imageshack.us/i/tadoba1.jpg/)



http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/5435/tiggu11.jpg (http://img301.imageshack.us/i/tiggu11.jpg/)


Next morning we saw caracas of fawn while going back home. Its law of nature, Tough and RAW.


Another trip ended and I was quite happy.



All comments & suggations are most welcome
Harshad

Alfred Forns
01-30-2010, 02:03 PM
Hi Harshad Great report I'm enjoying this a lot !!

Got to say that big cats are my favorite of all animals, they just look majestic and special ... looking forward to the next one !!!

Phil Ertel
01-30-2010, 02:16 PM
Hi Harshad, Thanks very much for sharing your adventures with us. I found your narrative and pictures very interesting. I wish you many more successful outing.

Gus Cobos
01-30-2010, 08:21 PM
Harshadbhai,
This is simply spectacular. A wonderful story and the images are first class...congratulations...:cool:

Dave Leroy
01-30-2010, 08:45 PM
Wow! What an adventure. I am sure your heart was beating fast several times. Very nice photos and lovely colours. Dave

Myer Bornstein
01-30-2010, 08:52 PM
Great trip and report It sound and looks interesting

Jackie Schuknecht
01-30-2010, 09:42 PM
Another great series. These tigers are beautiful.

Kerry Perkins
02-05-2010, 10:22 PM
Harshad, thanks so much for sharing your beautiful images and fascinating narratives! What wonderful opportunities you have to see and photograph these magnificent animals.

Kaustubh Deshpande
02-16-2010, 05:09 PM
Harshad, thx for sharing. Tadoba is one of my favourite places. All my tiger watching has happened there. three trips in early 90s....when walking was permitted there. I have fond memories of Katejhari area as I had spent a night on the watchtower there with a tiger family 50feet away. The best experience of my life hands down. Maan....that first leopard shot is a killer one.

Harshad Barve
02-16-2010, 09:13 PM
I have fond memories of Katejhari area as I had spent a night on the watchtower there with a tiger family 50feet away.

This year you can get 5 tigers in one frame in Katejhari , Katejhari female has 4 cubs of 12-14 months
Time to buy tickets for Mumbai :)