We all are traveller on this planet earth, we are here to experience the God's creation, let's travel around the world to enjoy nature and all its fascinating elements. Travelling to see and photograph wildlife fascinates me the most. I present before my readers my experience as a traveller and natural history destinations on mother earth.
Kanha national park is one of the best place to spot tigers and other wildlife. Floras and fauna of Kanha is second to none. Most tourists visit Kanha to spot tigers and one of the rarest deer species - Hard ground Swamp deer, commonly known as Barasingha, which is endemic to these forests.
Certainly spotting a tiger in the wild is an experience in itself but think how it would be when you get to spot tigress with small, cuddly cubs. Yes, that is the most memorable, lifetime experience. Here are a few photographs of one of the most beautiful tigress of Kanha - Naina also known as Link 8 female and T 76. Here T 76 is the name given by forest department for her identification and Link 8 is the area she normally frequents.
Naina - also known as T 76 and Link 8 Female
Naina is a very bold tigress and can be spotted lazing around in grass or walking on the road. We had been fortunate enough to have seen her a few times. Once she gave a sudden appearance and came on road, calling her cubs. We were with her for almost 1.5 Km's.
Naina - on a walk
Naina is a first time mother and a very careful one. Although her cubs are around 4 - 5 months now but she rarely comes out with them. In last few months she has given an appearance with her cubs only a couple of times and we were fortunate enough to have seen her with all 4 cubs on one such occasion.
One of Naina's cub
She has Neelam on one side and Mindidadar female on other and both of them have cubs. A few male tigers also roam and overlap her territory. Keeping this in mind she keeps her cubs in safe place and she will have to continue this for another 2 years and wait till her cubs are grown up and ready to face the world.
Portrait shot of Naina - T 76.
Naina or T 76 it seems will be able to raise her cubs well if she remains careful and we hope we will be able to see the young once getting bigger and crafting out their own territory in some time. Photo credit: All photographs have been clicked by Navneet Maheshwari, Owner Kanha Village Eco Resort.
At times nature amazes us, we still need to learn a lot about nature and wildlife. In a rare and spectacular sighting in April 2018 we were amazed to spot a tigress with small cubs.
Yes spotting tigress with cubs is not rare but what made this one of the rarest sighting is that here cubs are very small, may be around 5 - 6 weeks old. Normally we get to spot tigress with cubs when the young once are 3 - 6 months old.
It was almost 9 AM and we were not sure of what to do since safari excursion time was coming to an end as we have to reach exit by 11 AM. From the point where we were waiting to hear any sign of predator movement it would have taken us an hour to exit well within the permissible time limit. Another safari vehicle crossed us and told that one tigress had crossed the road with small cubs from a place near Minkur nallah area.
We discussed and decided to try to spot her although chances were not very good. Choti Maada or T31 has very small cubs. We were not expecting her to bring the cubs out again since tigers and very protective of young once. But, with the jungle very silent and no other option as well as time restraint we decided to give it a chance.
When we reached there were a few other vehicles also waiting and trying to understand where the tigress is. It was all of sudden and things unfolded in a manner we never expected. As we approached the area and were just parking our vehicle that suddenly the tigress was seen coming towards one other vehicle. She was coming out of very dense foliage and we could spot her only when she was almost on us.
This vehicle was in line of her movement so the only option was to ask them to move but there was no space. Our driver had presence of mind, he removed his vehicle from the road and asked the other driver to back his vehicle. He immediately took our place and we gave enough space to the tigress. And, within next few seconds she was out on road, alone though. She came out and just sat on road.
With tiger so near and knowing that she is a mother of small cubs we had to restrain ourselves from moving the vehicle least it disturbs her. And, that was a very good decision, within a few seconds one cub came out. He went on to his mother who was sitting on road. All the tourists were asked to sit down and watch as cubs were near by and any movement could have been taken as a threat making the things ugly.
Rest, what happened can be seen in the video attached herewith for all to see one of the rarest sighting at Kanha National Park. We thank Mr Indranil Bhattacharya ji who was staying with us at Kanha Village Eco Resort for giving us this video to share.
That's Kanha where we respect our wildlife and nature.
M1 - The New King in Making
Kanha tiger reserve has almost 90+ Tigers with Munna (CAT) at the forefront being the most famous tiger of all in present times. Tigers come and go, some are able to craft their territory within the forests of Kanha and some have to look for safe home elsewhere.
Cubs of T8 - Mundidadar female, Jan 2017
T 8 also known as Mundidadar female had 4 cubs, all male who have spread over different areas of Kanha after leaving their mother. Of these 2 are often sighted in tourism area and 2 rarely. I had seen them with their mother last season on 5th of January 2017. It was one of the best sighting for me that season. This year T8 (Mundidadar) has rarely been sighted and we are expecting she has given another litter.
Cubs of T 8, playing, Jan 2018
This season I could spot M1, one of the 4 cubs of T8 on couple of occasions and here are a couple of photographs for all to see and enjoy. He is a bold but elusive male, remains around when seen, but is rarely spotted.
M1, the bold one
We are expecting him to settle down somewhere within the core area itself but he has severe competition. Only time will tell if he is strong enough to carve out a territory for himself or is thrown out by other more experienced tigers.
M1, cub of T8, is trying to carve his territory
Hopefully we will continue seeing him in Kanha for long time to come.
