New Hunk in Town

& he is ensuring he is "Smelt"

Hi All,

Thank you so much for the memorable thoughts and anecdotes about your “Role Models” during the week. I was really touched and humbled by your gesture. I urge all “InFocus” readers to pull out some time to read the comments (including those of the previous episodes) as they are highly enriching.

So here we are back again with “InFocus”.

With so much happening all around us and in the world, headline-grabbing news emerging every minute that can disturb even the most tranquil mind, I thought I must take you to the serene surroundings of namma Kabini (our Kabini).

May 2022, India was reeling under a heat wave like never before. Temperatures across large parts of India crossed 40 degrees celsius and stayed there for over a month, with no respite in sight. I had just returned weeks before from Bandhavgarh where it was at 44 degrees during my stay there when Anita pushed me to take a chance with Kabini again.

Kabini though was pleasantly different. Thanks to cyclonic conditions developing, there was rain all around and as the D day approached Anita and I wondered, whether it was wise to venture out to Kabini. The rain of the previous week had rendered the forest green and as we entered the park that afternoon on our first drive, we were greeted by a light drizzle. The safari track was slushy but there was greenery all around. Soon we spotted this peacock high up on the tree. His turquoise-blue neck and upper body stood out against a green backdrop. The peacock looked excitedly around & the tree leaves looked fresh and inviting.

As we moved ahead, taking in lungfuls of Oxygen, the drizzle got stiffer and the air a bit nippier. Not just us, but there were others enjoying this weather as well. Like the Indian Roller (also the state bird of Karnataka). It was all fluffed up, colorful, and had a twinkle in its eye. Amidst mid-air suspended raindrops it made a great click.

We moved on, coming across yet another peacock sitting atop a perch amidst light drizzle and green trees.

The sheer abundance of nature and its colors were too compelling to resist. Amidst these serene settings, you just lose yourselves. It was total bliss and the thought of a tiger or leopard soon disappeared from my mind.

I convinced myself, that today would not be a tiger day. With so much rain, there was no way a tiger would step out. Generally, in the jungle you catch a tiger stepping out for a drink at the watering hole, the rain had taken that need away, as the water was available in abundance everywhere.

Not having an expectation at times can be a boon. As we meandered ahead on the track, someone from the backseat, shouted, stop - stop - Tiger, he was pointing ahead. His seat was at an elevation and he had seen an orange form in between the trees and was almost apologetically pointing to the track ahead. He had great eyes, as soon the orangish form appeared at the bend, head first tail up.

It was a “TIGER”.

The sight of a tiger can send adrenaline rushing, it excites your senses as nothing else can. The appeal and draw of a tiger are unparalleled. Nothing can ever match its magnetic appeal. Add to that a lush green forest background, slushy safari track, tall trees all around, and a Male Tiger.

“InFocus” has been prominently covering the gorgeous tigresses of Indian forest, but am so excited to share a Male Tiger, for a change (males can be boring, but not this one).

We were the only safari vehicle around on that track and had no chance to alert any other vehicle as the tiger seemed in a mighty hurry.

Down the track, he hurtled towards us.

Tigers in general have a royal gait and are known to walk regally. This tiger though walked at a pace, I have never experienced before. His tail also was up and moving. (aggression is displayed by tigers by rapidly moving tails from side to side) .

Our tiger friend was in an aggressive mood that day. I enquired with Nagesh (our champion at the wheel), who could this be? He was not able to identify him. Was he a “New Hunk” in town?

Hunk he surely was and a pretty aggressive, good-looking one too.

Camera in hand, clicking pictures furiously, trying to keep him in the frame, which was getting difficult as he kept hurtling towards us at a furious pace, I asked Nagesh to reverse - reverse. I had a 400 prime lens in hand and he was getting too tight in the frame, also he was coming too close and we needed to give him the space to keep him on the track for as long as possible.

The track was meandering and the tiger had intent. He was clear he was going to check the trees for the sign of any other tiger (tigers scent mark trees by spraying urine on the tree trunk/bark to mark it as their territory to alert any other tiger).

He checked for it on the tree trunk, getting close and smelling it

& then scent marked the tree on the bend. A clear sign to any other tiger that this territory was his.

Down the track, he kept coming continuously. So fast was he that Nagesh was struggling to maintain a safe distance, as was I standing up in the moving jeep, keeping him in my frame and making the pics.

The tiger though, did not care a bit about us, his intent was clear, check and mark. At regular intervals, he checked tree trunks, then scent marked them by spraying his urine. He was clear, his scent should be smelt by all.

He was a handsome male. The tall trees and the surroundings added to his aura. His orange coat stood out against contrasting greens. We were the only ones experiencing this thrill in the park as such was his intensity & pace that we had to keep reversing and keep some distance between us at all times, there was no time to pause, relax or take a breath, he just did not allow us that luxury.

He was coming at us like a Bullet Train.

He was bold, aggressive, and extremely purposeful in marking his territory, making his presence smelt too.

Any thoughts on seeing this picture of his? He might have been about 6 feet from us at that moment. Remembers tigers can leap 18-20 feet long and about 11-12 feet high.

The only luxury he provided us was when he stepped aside to check the tree trunks, which he did rather regularly & intensely.

& kept marking them too. He was keen to send the message, hewas “in charge” of this territory. Tigers are extremely territorial and fiercely protect their territories. He was the new hunk in town and, wanted to send a message and express it clearly? as his aggression, pace, and intensity suggested.

We lost track of time and our senses as well. On a day as rainy as this, there was little chance to see a Big Cat, but here we were solo in this hunks company at close quarters, as he came like a Bullet Train at us.

I made images from my prime lens and wide angle as he came close as well as videos on my iPhone. I had my heart’s content, or can one ever have? with a tiger around. You always want more, don’t you?

As suddenly as it started, it ended as we reversed ourselves down the track and hit a junction, not knowing whether to go left or right. The tiger was clear, it had kept company with us for about 20 odd minutes and decided it was enough.

One last tree marked, he turned right, crossed the open patch, and into the woods he went as a safari vehicle came screeching behind us.

Maybe he had seen or heard the vehicle. Tigers’ sensory skills are supreme, maybe he was fine with one vehicle around and decided to disappear into the woods as soon as he saw another. Who knows? Or maybe his territory was clearly marked and ended there and he did not want to venture into another tiger’s territory.

We were able to keep him on the track fairly long, through simple means, staying at a distance, giving him that extra space to feel comfortable, allowing him to be himself, and letting him express himself, in short not getting greedy. It was not about us, but about him. In return, we had a great experience with a confident male tiger allowing us multiple photo opportunities, head-on, scent marking, tail up, and checking up on all trees. So a full-on delightful experience.

Life is all about providing space to others to live, express themselves, be comfortable, and allow everyone to bloom. Too often greed or our over-eagerness stifles others. So “live & let live”.

How was the New Hunk in Town? Has he excited you enough to step out and explore the wild? Does the thought of coming across a young handsome hunk of a tiger send your adrenaline rushing?

Then step into the wild, lose yourselves there, experience a new world, be less inhibited and when you do step, allow space for everyone and fundamentally “live & let live”.

So long then from “InFocus”.

Have a lovely weekend and as usual, do comment, share and subscribe. Love nature and help preserve nature.

Ciao.

gear used: camera: Nikon D 750, lens: Nikon 400 prime f 2.8

PS: With a new hunk in town, can the Queen be far off? certainly not. Half an hour later we had a terrific sighting of “magge the queen” of Kabini (on a rainy day?), coincidence? was it? or was it the new hunk in town? a teasing image of her is down. Will it be next week or later? time will tell, sorry “InFocus” will.

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