The reason people come here is to see the bengal tigers in the Ranthambore National Park which is also a game preserve and one of the few remaining places on the planet where there are active efforts to protect, preserve and increase the number of bengal tigers in the wild. At one time it is estimated that there was a population of over 3000 of these creatures in an area of only 300 sq km. Until relatively recently it served as a hunting preserve for the princely majarajas and other dignitaries. Even after official hunting was outlawed, poachers ran rampant eventually almost decimating the tiger population in order to serve the chinese market for tigers paws and other declicacies which were reputed to have a salutory effect on the male libido. So the bottom line is that which nature created and nurtured was almost eliminated in man’s search of better se
What you see above is an actual adult female bengal tiger that we saw on our first trip into the game preserve. Given that there is a population of only 36 tigers in the preserve, including at least 8 cubs. The sightings have become increasingly rare, and only about 10% of visitors to the park make a sighting. We made ours in the first 15 minutes we were in the park just after sun up. Our guide said that this female had 3 cubs which she had hidden away while she went on her daily search for food, of which there is plenty in the park……deer, indian peafowl, and other small critters. She ambled regally by, paying little or no attention to our efforts to maneuver ourselves into position to observe her and get pics.
We followed her for about 10 minutes over several hundred yards until she disappeared into the thick forest not to be seen by us or anyone else as far as I know for the next two days. Coming into contact with such a creature in nature tends to reorder things in ones perspective. To jump ahead, this afternoon, S. stayed in camp to rest, and I and the hotel manager, Johnathon, went out with a guide and driver for some serious birding, and in the process came across a large and very playful colony of langur monkeys who were cavorting and chattering with the same innocent abandon that one would see on a kindergarten playground. I’m not sure of the meaning of this, except that for a small slice of time I felt myself a part of the natural forces that have been unfolding over the millenia…..I also found it impossible to worry about the “war on terror” or short term interest rate moves.
And yes, I saw a lot of other stuff too. You’ll be relieved to know that I’m not going to send you a picture of every animal and bird with commentary that I saw, but I thought you should see the Indian Peafowl (we would say Peacock) which is the national bird of India.
One last thought about game viewing in India. As we left the property in an open jeep on our way to the park about 6:30 am with the temperature about 38 degrees and with hot water bottles in our laps and wrapped in heavy robes, we passed through a small road side village, really a gathering of a few mud and straw huts, we saw small groups of people squatting around a tiny fire of cow dung cakes hand made by the women of the village and a few thin branches boiling a pot of water for their morning chai. I’m not sure I understand how all this works.
