Sighting one of the majestic beasts makes the day for any wildlife lover who visits the reserve but spotting five healthy young Royal Bengal tigers at one go is rare and makes for an extremely special day, said a forest official. The tigers were basking in the morning sun,amidst tall dried hay-coloured grass in a sprawling open area devoid of trees. The spot they chose to enjoy their meal was close to a water body at Raj Behara in the Tala area.
The tourists, lined up in about ten jeeps almost rubbed their eyes in disbelief as they first spotted two tigers, one sitting contentedly and the other tearing into the still red meat of a Cheetal (spotted dear). He continued eating, chewing in slow languid movements, unmindful of the stares and unstoppable smiles from afar. The two legged visitors suppressed their squeals of joy as powerful binoculors brought the beauty closer. But soon they gasped, as a mighty head emerged form behind the tiger who was sitting. They both looked on in opposite directions, taking in the huge sprawl that was their home. The tiger reserve spread aross 437 square kilometers in Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh is among the smallest in the country but one with the densest tiger population. There are more than 22 tigers at present, said an official. Sambars, spotted deer and wild boars are in abundance. The forest officials implement rules strictly and do not allow more than the number of vehicles stipulated by the Supreme Court. More than 120 cameras from atop scan every inch of the park.
As the tourists watched on, along came one more, a young male less than two years old according to a tour guide. He greeted the others with an affectionate head rub, then rolled over on to his back exposing an immensely huggable white-furred belly and flopped down for a snooze. ''It appears to be a mother tigress and her brood of four,'' said Raj Kishore, an experienced staff at the forest who has driven and served as a guide to a former prime minister among other top dignitaries who have visited. The fourth ''child'' sat at a distance, almost camouflaged by the tall yellowed grass. But he decided to give the transfixed tourists a treat. He bounded down to the one who was eating, grabbed the carcass and fled to a distance, making growling sounds. It was a family life on display.
The visitors--wildlife enthusiasts from Kolkata, Mumbai, UK, Europe, far East--felt privileged.They stood mesmerized in the jeeps--no one is allowed to step down. Some left for their hotels reluctantly two hours later. "It seemed like mere minutes,'' said one of them. ''Magnificent,'' said a family of three from UK, on a month-long Tiger tour across three national parks in MP. The others who overheard, couldn't agree more.
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve
Location :Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh.
Declared a national park in 1968.
Tiger density: One of the highest known in India.
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