Another ranthambhore update

[bushbaby]

Was back at Ranthambhore last month 0- things going great for the park.

For people who are interested in individual tigers -

 

Machli (t16) - the grand old lady is no longer freely hunting - pretty much done with her amazing life seemingly. Forest department giving her live baits so that she survives her last months - did not photograph her this time though I've shot her multiple times before

 

Her daughters - t17,18,19 : 17 and 19 doing pretty well ; 17 is mating with T28 in lakes area and T19 have 3 cubs all of whom are doing well.

T39 and T41 and T 22 were the other tigresses that I saw ; from males only T 24 - he has grown into a huge handsome fellow. And my heart always skips a beat when I see him.

 

Sharing some pics (T24, 39 hunting spotted deer and T 17 giving flehmen response)

 

Good day - more latter

 

Cheers

Suhas

[egilio]

Forest department giving her live baits so that she survives her last months

 

What exactly do they try to achieve with this? If it's natural I don't think they should interfere in any way.

[bushbaby]

I tend to agree with you egilio - i didnt go questioning them and all since everyone seems to have a logic for doing what ever they are doing !.from a conservation pov it makes no sense at all since it's natural cycle of life and death !

[kittykat23uk]

Lovely sightings Bushbay. How long did you stay at Ranthambhore?

[Guest nappa]

Forest department giving her live baits so that she survives her last months

 

What exactly do they try to achieve with this? If it's natural I don't think they should interfere in any way.

 

Who runs the parks these days? Dept of Tourism or Forestry department?

 

The only benefit sic I can see is that it keeps another habituated Tiger for tourists to sight!

If that is the case then I suspect it is the Dept of tourism managing Ranthambore & not the Parks Department.

I actually felt that the Forestry Dept cared for the area & the controls in place were very stringent & strictly adhered to!

 

My last visit to Ranthambore the control of visitors in the park had just been handed over to the Department of Tourism & I noted a major decline in the whole experience, more Cantors, more Jeeps & Jeeps had to be full. you could turn up at the gate with out permits & get a space on a Jeep.

We hired a couple of villagers to fill our Gypsy!

I now believe the control has been handed back to the forestry Department, But there was a hell of a lot of hotel & Lodge building going on while the Dept of Tourism held the control!

Edited February 5, 2012 by nappa

[Sangeeta]

Thanks for the pointer, Lynn!

 

Fantastic photos, Suhas, these were taken in January?

 

Tell me, was one loop or another better for you in terms of sightings, or are they all pretty much the same?

 

If they're keeping Machli alive with baits, she must be quite easy to spot? While I agree with the concept of natural life cycles, so many of these tigers have been subject to unnatural deaths that I find I'm not so averse to a little bit of unnatural life myself. She has been quite the institution in Ranthambhore so I can sort of understand the hesitancy in letting her go.

 

All these questions because I'll be there early March. Very excited.

[Super LEEDS]

Thanks for sharing, bushbaby. Some great pics!

 

I agree in that they should not interfere.

 

I believe Machli is the somewhat (very) famous tigress of Ranthambore, if not India, so maybe some kind of emotional attachment has taken place with this particular tiger. On the other hand, as nappa says, if the tourism people are in charge then Machli is a big draw for tourists.....

 

Either way, I'm not sure how kind it really is.

[bushbaby]

Thanks for the pointer, Lynn!

 

Fantastic photos, Suhas, these were taken in January?

 

Tell me, was one loop or another better for you in terms of sightings, or are they all pretty much the same?

 

If they're keeping Machli alive with baits, she must be quite easy to spot? While I agree with the concept of natural life cycles, so many of these tigers have been subject to unnatural deaths that I find I'm not so averse to a little bit of unnatural life myself. She has been quite the institution in Ranthambhore so I can sort of understand the hesitancy in letting her go.

 

All these questions because I'll be there early March. Very excited.

 

:-)..ill try best to answer them

 

all zones are nice...sightings vary by movement of tigers - territories typicall cut across zones - 2,3,4 typically preferred - but seeing sloth bear, jungle cat, leopard etc more in 1

 

Machli pretty much confined to a small territory in zone 4 - dont think she is good enough to now independently hunt- i love her -so kind of torn between what is right versus what is practically ok.(Love of an individual versus larger conservation ethics!!)

 

And yes, these were in Jan - march, april would be much better for sightings due to shrinking waterholes - enjoy your trip !

 

PS: I was there for a week, stayed with Aditya (Dicky) who is in ST too and one of the foremost tiger photographers esp on Ranthambhore since he lives there !! What luck !

Edited February 6, 2012 by bushbaby

[Sangeeta]

Thanks, Suhas. Much appreciated. I too am staying at Aditya's place, but will miss seeing him because he will be off on a photography trip at that time. But looking forward to meeting Poonam and the rest of the Bagh team. Have booked Salim for my short (3 day) stay there, so crossing my fingers and hoping for the best

 

Have you ever visited Bera in your travels to Rajasthan? Going there too in the hope of leopard sightings.

[Guest nappa]

Not sure if this is relevant but here goes.

 

8 or 9 years ago we travelled into South Rajasthan in search of Leopards, we stayed at a hotel in Sheoganj which was in the process of starting Leopard safaris, we were the very first clients of this new venture!

now I'm not sure if this is the same place you ask for Sangeeta but I believe it is the same area.

 

If it is so prepare to change your sleeping habits as our safari's started at 0330 till what ever time, normally about 1100 then again at 1630 till about midnight!.... But what an experience!

 

These few days would fill a book on the eccentricities of India & why I love the country so much.

[Sangeeta]

Ooooh, do tell, nappa! I was somewhat sceptical about the whole experience, but you've got me super- excited now about my little detour there. I will be staying at Castle Bera, not Sheoganj, but the owner of the castle seems to be a genuine wildlife lover from what I can read, so perhaps I can ask him to organize some hard core drives for me as opposed to the usual tourist ones. In fact, I'll direct them to ST - a good place to get more nutty guests

[Guest nappa]

I don't think you'll need to worry about the "usual tourist trip", this is everything else except usual.!

 

 

I'll write a report with a link if I get chance & post it tomorrow.

 

With some pictures!!!

Edited February 6, 2012 by nappa

[Super LEEDS]

Yes please, nappa! Sounds like one of those hidden gems of places you encounter or hear about sometimes.

[Guest nappa]

Yes please, nappa! Sounds like one of those hidden gems of places you encounter or hear about sometimes.

I'd better set to it then!

 

How do you write trip reports? .........

 

Once upon a time in a land far far away there lived a Leopard called Brian.

Now Brian was a very spotted Leopard, I mean he was spotted, not spotted spotted but spotted spotted but to be honest he was spotted spotted as well as spotted............... !

[Super LEEDS]

You've got it! Now just keep going

[Sangeeta]

Yup! I am leaving on the 19th so will take any version of your spotted spotted before I leave...

[Dkay]

Had gone to Ranthambhore on 24/03/12. My first trip after 21 years to Ranthambhore. Things have definitely changed and the park has got much more commercialised.

 

But one thing that does not and will not change ever is the beauty, the grace, the poise and the aura that these big cats offer.

 

Simply amazing

 

This picture is of T-39 stalking. Actually I think we spoilt her chase as we did not realize she was sitting around the corner and as we turned we met her at a distance of about 20 feet. Just about one leap away from her

 

 

She seemed hungry with her tummy tucked in. Also we feel she has delivered cubs about 10 days back and hence wanted to hunt deperately

 

Later she got up, marked her territory and left

 

[bushbaby]

is that a confirmed report about T-39 ?...Im a bit surprised !

[Dkay]

is that a confirmed report about T-39 ?...Im a bit surprised !

 

Nothing is confirmed till you actually sight the cubs. But her tucked in tummy, swollen mammary glands and erect teats all pointed towards her being a mother

 

Regards