have Genes will Swagger

the atmosphere got electric by her mere presence

Hi friends,

Busy week? Busy days? Tired? here is InFocus again to lift those drooping spirits.

Caught in the quandary of To Kill or Not(o) Kill? here is something which will make you feel, gosh this life is so enriching and a gift to be valued and lived every minute, that I don’t want a moment to pass by w/o enjoying it. Just as our chief protagonist of this episode of InFocus does.

Welcome to have Genes will Swagger.

We have seen the swagger of Viv Richards, Muhammad Ali, Shane Warne et al as they stepped onto the hallowed turf or the ring. Their mere presence electrified the atmosphere.

Welcome to Kabini once again and enjoy the swagger of a 3rd time mother the backwater female. She has had a 3rd litter in just about 18 months and this time it is 4 cubs. She and the Temple Tank Male, make quite a couple. The star couple of Kabini.

Below is a pic of the Temple Tank male, an alpha male.

& down below the Bold & Beautiful, Back water female

But just a few months back, March 2022 to be precise, she was hurt and had gone weak. Had sighted her twice in that trip, she looked a pale shadow of her gorgeous self then, possibly injured in a fight or while making a kill. I wondered then, how would she manage? The wild is cruel & unforgiving and there is no place for someone weak and half-fit. My heart ached at seeing her then, but her fierce pride at being the diva of Kabini was still visible on her face. (notice the wound on her back, just behind her left ear/ear to our right).

Nature is a big healer and she healed and healed fast.

We were on our 3rd safari ride with the first 2 going dry as rains have been heavy and the jungle was green but with grass, shrubs, bushes, trees and any form of undergrowth full, to cancel even elephant visibility even if just a few feet from us. Big cat sightings are hard to come by, visiting the forest is another experience to be had though as the green cover, the rains, the slushy ground beneath the rubber, and that slithering and sliding as one tries to manoeuver adds to the excitement and adventure.

So we drove that evening towards the Kabini, backwaters. The river was full and raging and had made inroads into the forest, it was some sight to witness, the swollen river. There was a safari vehicle ahead of us and a few behind. Within the forest, you come across many crossroads as we did we. The decision has to be made based on intuition, insights from previous safaris, sound or lack of sound and one’s own experience. Sadiq was at the wheel. Sadiq is among Kabini’s most experienced drivers. He knew that the Backwater female with her 4 cubs is a strong possibility at the backwaters, so as Anil the other safari driver drove ahead, Sadiq at the crossroads decided to take the same path (most times, the drivers split and take another path, much time because you do not want to follow someone or you want to be the first to spot, which you can if you are on a track where you are the leading vehicle. Egos can at times, make you lose a golden opportunity, but Sadiq is mature and followed the vehicle ahead, instead of branching out and taking another route, & boy were we in luck?

We saw Anil's hand waving furiously to his right and signalling us to slow down as we headed towards the backwaters. As we pierced through the green cover, we saw her, just behind the large tree trunk. Her eyelashes and the pupil caught my eye.

We halted and switched the engine off. She stepped forward, checking the scent (by now InFocus readers are aware of how and why tigers scent mark and review for the scent of other tigers). There was no wound on her back, and she looked hale and hearty. Thank God, I said. More than me, I could see the delight on Anita’s face, her favourite tigress was alive and kicking. She sent a silent prayer up as thanks.

This gorgeous Empress of Kabini (Magge is the Queen but she is the Empress), was in her element that day. She was back to her best. That neck up, the light in her eyes, that fresh face, tale up, tight back, she was Bold and Beautiful.

Bold & Beautiful she was as she came within a few arm’s lengths of us and sized us up in one look. She is among the boldest around. By now there must have assembled a good 7-8 safari cars on the track, but it did not bother her.

One tree checked, and she checked on another. Those tiny flowers at her feet enhanced her femininity and allure. She was nimble and conscious of not stepping on to those flowers.

She smelt, nuzzled, rubbed her neck and I pictured furiously. This was one sighting in open space with little distraction around and green tapestry at her feet, that I was not going to miss out on.

she was enjoying it, the weather, the attention, and the aroma as she closed her eyes and let herself pictured.

very gently she opened her eyes. They say your eyes tell more about your physical and mental status than your body and it was extremely heartening to see her status. Those eyes revealed it all. A Happy Mother of 4.

She soon took a trajectory towards us, by now she knew I enjoy shooting her Head On and she did not want me to miss out on that.

1-2-3 .. she helped me make multiple images

She had the aura of an Empress. Royalty in her demeanour was unmistakable.

There was also a spring in her step as she growled and roared, calling her cubs out (have an excellent video but am unable to upload it here, those interested I can share over Whatsapp)

She cut from right in front of us, I struggled between multiple cameras & my i phone to record everything and not miss anything.

The cubs stayed inside. Maybe she was signalling them to stay inside as too many cars had gathered by then.

She too stepped into the forest and was out of our sight. Warning calls of deer & langur alarm calls kind of gave us her position and movement inside as one vehicle after another reversed in anticipation and moved to catch her as she stepped out of the woods again. But alas that was not to be. She the master predator the native of this jungle was far sharper than us and had anticipated our moves and stayed inside the woods or possibly used the cover to shift her position. We would never know.

The tryst with this high on Swagger, Empress was over for this time.

She has the Genes and She has the Swagger.

I am sure you enjoyed it.

How did you find this Empress of Kabini?

What shots delighted you the most?

Nature is the Best Healer, am sure you would agree. How do you find the contrast from just a few months back to now?

What do you feel for the Royal Couple? The TT male and the BW Female.

Do read, comment and share.

Thanks again for your time.

So long then till next Saturday

Gears used: Camera: Nikon D 750, Lens: Nikon 400 prime and Nikon 24-120

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