Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2012/05/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Thank you so much, Jayanand. Thanks for share these moments face to such a wonderful creature. You're a lucky man to may see her along the years. Cheers, Marc > Machali is India's best known tigress, and at around 15 years she is > very old. She has raised 5 litters of cubs, and a large proportion of > the tigers at Ranthambhore and Sariska are her descendants, one way or > the other. A few years ago it was estimated that she has directly or > indirectly been responsible in bringing in around USD10-15mm per year > into the local economy for the last 15 years, which is probably an > underestimate. Anyway, every year I see her I presume it is the last > time, and I bid her adieu, but she is not dead yet, and there we have > a story with ethical and cautionary overtones. Machali has lost most > of her canines and cannot hunt normal prey. When I saw her last year > she looked to be on her last legs, she could hardly lift her head, and > I really thought I would never see her again, as you can read: > > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Ranthambhore_001/2011/Rantha > mbhore_20110305_1450-Edit.jpg.html > > At this time (last year), because of her general fame, the Wildlife > Department decided to start feeding her, which they have continued to > do to this day. Her territory, though shrinking is good, with plenty > of prey, water and cover. If she had been allowed "to pass gentle into > the good night", another tigress capable of bearing young would have > moved in, for the ultimate good of a highly endangered species. This > episode also raises another couple of ethical questions - having > started to feed her, do they stop? If they do stop, do they also euthanize her? > > Anyway, we did see her this year, hale and hearty, looking well fed > (of course!), in the heart of her territory at a water hole called > Lakarda. She came out of the grass behind our jeep: > > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Ranthambhore_001/2012/Rantha > mbhore_20120402_0152.jpg.html > > She warily kept an eye on us as she started moving towards the water: > > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Ranthambhore_001/2012/Rantha > mbhore_20120402_0154.jpg.html > > At one point, she stopped - but without taking her eyes off us: > > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Ranthambhore_001/2012/Rantha > mbhore_20120402_0166.jpg.html > > She came close and stopped again - this is uncropped: > > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Ranthambhore_001/2012/Rantha > mbhore_20120402_0181.jpg.html > > She then stopped on the rock next to the water and looked around with > a regal bearing, fit for the queen she is: > > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Ranthambhore_001/2012/Rantha > mbhore_20120402_0195.jpg.html > > Finally, she turned around for a last look, and then disappeared into > the > vegetation: > > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Ranthambhore_001/2012/Rantha > mbhore_20120402_0204.jpg.html > > Please see LARGE. > > Comments and Criticism, as ever, welcome. > > Cheers > Jayanand > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > -- Bob Adler Redwood City, CA http://www.rgaphoto.com _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information