I broke my jinx after all and sighted a tiger! And what a sighting it was! She is known as the collared tigress of Pench. The trick is the collar no longer emits a signal. So it is a double whammy in a sense. You see a collared tigress where the collar provides no help in tracing her. But then I am in no mood to complain! She passed so close by that I could capture a video on my cell phone! So here I go.
Her Royal Highness the Collared Tigress of Pench
Actually I saw just a vanishing tail to begin with. A jeep full of school children were in front of us. After I had looked at the vanishing tail they told us the tigress passed by them just a while ago, waving their cell phones! I was sure they had their cell phones full with the tigress pictures. I was happy with that fleeting glimpse as even this was a first. I could get nothing on the camera as she was in thick bushes. But then our ace trackers (and other ace trackers in other jeeps) decided to pursue it. We had Motiram ji from the park. And we of course had a naturalist from Taj Safaris as well, Ramesh. I did all my rides with Ramesh and he is an excellent naturalist. I am always going to remember both of them as this has been my first sighting after I do not even know how many safaris and national parks!
And if you are on a slow internet connection here is a photo for you, otherwise do watch the video. I actually had to zoom out to click this picture, the tigress was so close. More when I reach home.
I am still dazed. I was of course excited to death. But what really amazes me is the excitement and enthusiasm of the naturalist show even though they see so many big cats. They take trouble to track it down, drive far away and show amazing patience both with the animal and the human beings! Thank you Motiram ji and Ramesh for breaking my jinx. I also had lovely companions from Maharashtra who were in a group of three. But they included me so well that it never felt like I was an unknown outsider.
never lucky to see a tigeress in their natural environment 🙂 now i feel like i should experience it myself one day 😀
Amar I hope you soon do!
It takes a lot of guts to see a tiger and to shoot a video at a considerably short distance. Nice video.
Thank you Mahend, I guess I was so excited that I forgot to get scared 😀
So Finally You were able to see the Tiger..I mean Tigress.. 😀
I am so happy for you.. 😀
Thank you Harsha 😀
Wow, she walked right by as if you weren’t there. Beautiful animal, good for you.
Thank you so much indeed she walked past us without even giving us a glance!
Wow, Finally you saw and captured Tigress 🙂 It must be an amazing experience. Very nice video. Thanks for sharing 🙂
It was an amazing experience Deepa 😀
I hope it was WORTH THE WAIT !!
If you really want to take the year of the tiger forward, I highly recommend the book “TIGER FIRE” by VALMIK THAPAR published by ALEPH book company!
Hope future brings many more such worth encounters with tigers !!
Thanks for the book recommendation Aneesh saw a review of it in The Hindu too. Will pick it up one of these days.
Very nice video. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you Sunil.
The queen of the jungle passed the commoners without as much as a glance … What grace ! 🙂
I entirely agree with you Puru 😀
Wow! the Tigress was really close!!! Phew! Nice Pics! 🙂
Thank you Anita.
Great sighting! That feeling is something!
It was a first and wonderful sighting 😀
Awesome!! wow….happy for you!
Thank you Rajesh.
Wow! Lucky you!
Thank you Shaivi.
i am surprised to see the picture in which two guys are apparently transparent. I wonder how was hat clicked.
I have seen white tiger in Delhi National Zoo but it was slothful. It is scary to see a tiger in agency. It is worthwhile to experience. Madhya pradesh; pench national park on my list.
Pankaj that is an edit in Picasa while making the collage. 😀 Pankaj Bandhavgarh is considered to be better for tiger sightings.
Amazing! My husband had a sighting and it has been one of his best memories… can imagine how good an experience it must have been 🙂
Seeta this is going to be one of my best memories. 😀
Truly Awesome , Great
Thank you Rupam.
Yay! Finally! Congratulations, and hope the breaking of the jinx leads to more sightings in the future 🙂
I too hope so A.H. 😀
Hurray – what a great sighting!
Thank you Lady Fi.
Outstanding clicks! I am so happy that you spotted a tigress finally! Awaiting more photos….
Thank you Sindhu.