Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2019/04/05
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I thought for this post I would just detail a typical day after locating a tigress - this whole runaround would have taken around 4-5 hours. Typically, the tigress, in this case T107 is flopped out, resting. She is the daughter of one of the matriarchs of the park, Noor (T39, whom we will meet later), and had pushed Mummy out and taken over a part of her territory, her sister had taken over the other part. As we approach she first gives a cursory look, and then a closer look: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Ranthambhore_001/2019/Ranthambhore/Ranthambhore-20190318-674.jpg.html http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Ranthambhore_001/2019/Ranthambhore/Ranthambhore-20190318-2172.jpg.html When she decides to get up, an hour or two later, she first starts with a good yawn: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Ranthambhore_001/2019/Ranthambhore/Ranthambhore-20190318-2234.jpg.html Then has a good long stretch: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Ranthambhore_001/2019/Ranthambhore/Ranthambhore-20190318-753.jpg.html Then she goes to a neighbouring tree and marks her territory: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Ranthambhore_001/2019/Ranthambhore/Ranthambhore-20190319-974.jpg.html Finally, she is ready to get going! http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Ranthambhore_001/2019/Ranthambhore/Ranthambhore-20190319-982.jpg.html At the next marking tree, she inhales the scents lefty by other animals (pheromones) into the Jacobson's Organ on the back roof of the mouth for decoding. After thoroughly satisfying herself, she will mark again, refreshing her own unique calling card! http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Ranthambhore_001/2019/Ranthambhore/Ranthambhore-20190319-1120.jpg.html The walk takes her through typical Ranthambhore terrain of Dhok or Dhonk forests, the dry twisted leafless trees that always remind me of William Blake's description of the tigers habitat as "Forests of the Night". http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Ranthambhore_001/2019/Ranthambhore/Ranthambhore-20190319-997.jpg.html Finally she disappears to a roadside waterhole for a refreshing drink, and then disappears: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Ranthambhore_001/2019/Ranthambhore/Ranthambhore-20190319-2772.jpg.html In the meantime, a little further on, we run into Noor, her mother, who soon disappears into a river bed. Our guide and driver, though, know exactly where she would pop out, close to an anicut (check dam), and position us on higher ground. Suddenly, she is there, still walking on the river bed: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Ranthambhore_001/2019/Ranthambhore/Ranthambhore-20190319-1218.jpg.html She then approaches the anicut, in the low rays of the setting sun: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Ranthambhore_001/2019/Ranthambhore/Ranthambhore-20190319-1212.jpg.html Soon, she goes over the anicut, and as we cannot follow, the game is over for the day! http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Ranthambhore_001/2019/Ranthambhore/Ranthambhore-20190319-2892.jpg.html Noor is taking a risk coming here, because if her daughter catches sight or smell of her, she would be chased out! Please see LARGE Comments and criticism, as ever, welcome Cheers Jayanand