Tadoba, Pench forests, wildlife and 4 tigers!

fazalaliadil · 14th February 2010, 08:02

Thank you all for your appreciation.
The out of focus one was just one of the many good ones that focused on the tiger, but then it was not easy to stabilize ourselves and taking such a long shot in the failing light as you are not allowed to get off the vehicle inside the park which made the gypsy more shaky with all aboard.
The tiger yawning shot was a good stretch of mouth nearly 180 degrees,
BUT it blurred as the light was low and I did not expect any action for the moment the shutter was set at 1/60.... then came this yawn.

Spotted deer stag, no animal can afford to drop its guard for a moment, in the darkness behind him lurks danger, a tiger or leopard waiting for just one momentary slip of guard.
Just one evening back Mr. Ali from Hyderabad photographed a family of 4 tigers at the very place where stands the stag. Tadoba.

Tadoba, Pench forests, wildlife and 4 tigers!-pt50.jpg

A Barking Deer, Tadoba.

Tadoba, Pench forests, wildlife and 4 tigers!-img_5274.jpg

A Wild boar in his prime, Tadoba.

Tadoba, Pench forests, wildlife and 4 tigers!-pt40.jpg

Marsh crocodile through dense foliage, Tadoba.

Tadoba, Pench forests, wildlife and 4 tigers!-pt49.jpg

Langur's sun bathing on a fallen log, Pench.

Tadoba, Pench forests, wildlife and 4 tigers!-pt13.jpg

Spot the owls contests, Pench.

Tadoba, Pench forests, wildlife and 4 tigers!-pt14.jpg

Dangerous darkness right behind a shrinking water hole, Tadoba.

Tadoba, Pench forests, wildlife and 4 tigers!-pt39.jpg

The yawn that blurred.

Tadoba, Pench forests, wildlife and 4 tigers!-img_5554.jpg

Tracks inside the park, Pench.

Tadoba, Pench forests, wildlife and 4 tigers!-img_5303.jpg

Devidas, Dr. Ghosh and me. behind us on the right is the teak forest where the mother has kept her four grown up cubs for now, this place has the advantage of thick bush cover, vantage high point to spot prey or danger and most important,,,the water body very close to home (seen in rear center behind us).

Tadoba, Pench forests, wildlife and 4 tigers!-dsc_0042.jpg

srimath · 14th February 2010, 08:25

Excellent stuff as usual Fazal saab. Wish the tiger population will increase. Who will monitor the tigers with radio collars?

fazalaliadil · 14th February 2010, 08:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by srimath

Excellent stuff as usual Fazal saab. Wish the tiger population will increase. Who will monitor the tigers with radio collars?

Srimath,
Thanks. Tadoba and Pench are presently declared as healthy tiger parks with a very good upward trend and are receiving more funds for their performance.
The forest dept. can track and locate this tigress by radio transmitter when required.
Regards,

Shantanu Sarkar · 14th February 2010, 09:13

Excellent photographs, just excellent and equally good narration. I'll be glued to this post.

fazalaliadil · 14th February 2010, 09:24

The gregarious Sardar, who cheered all waiting for about 3 hours for the tigress to come into action, Pench.

Tadoba, Pench forests, wildlife and 4 tigers!-img_5599.jpg

Her 8" wide paws are capable of collateral damage unlimited.

Tadoba, Pench forests, wildlife and 4 tigers!-img_5595.jpg

Wide angle shot by Dr. Ghosh with his zoom as a pointer.

Tadoba, Pench forests, wildlife and 4 tigers!-dsc_0107.jpg

Elsewhere in Tadoba, they were up to something.

Tadoba, Pench forests, wildlife and 4 tigers!-img_5178.jpg

Teaching the 'Art of Living' (survival).

Tadoba, Pench forests, wildlife and 4 tigers!-img_5352.jpg

Another lazy yawn.

Tadoba, Pench forests, wildlife and 4 tigers!-img_5601.jpg

Some individuals are natural posers when a camera is pointed at them, this jackal was definitely one, Pench.

Tadoba, Pench forests, wildlife and 4 tigers!-pt17.jpg

Track through the forest, Pench.

Tadoba, Pench forests, wildlife and 4 tigers!-pt24.jpg

Sloth bear at te waterhole, Tadoba.

Tadoba, Pench forests, wildlife and 4 tigers!-pt36.jpg

After photographing the three cubs.

Tadoba, Pench forests, wildlife and 4 tigers!-dsc_0065.jpg

//M · 14th February 2010, 09:54

Incredible pics.
Love the snaps

alter.e.go · 14th February 2010, 12:01

What a superb junglelogue ( don't search for that word in the dictionary), the best one for me at least.

I was planning a trip to Tadoba and you brought Tadoba to me - with those awesome pics.

What would cost of accommodation / gypsy be ? could you give me some details.

MileCruncher · 14th February 2010, 13:57

Fazal Saab, only one word comes to mind, Awesome!!!

The big cat amidst the foliage setting is simply superb!

And the details about stay and other logistics as well please

vinay.pillai · 14th February 2010, 16:09

Sir,
I would say you are very lucky, our sea of tiger (total number of tiger) is just 1411 and you have seen atleast 4 of them together. Its like you have seen a big pool of tiger from whatever is left in India.
And as always nice shots....I really admire your pictures. Keep enjoying our wildlife treasures and keep posting your great shots.

viv1984 · 14th February 2010, 18:08

Awesome Pics... 5 star for the same!!

fazalaliadil · 14th February 2010, 18:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinay.pillai

Sir,
I would say you are very lucky, our sea of tiger (total number of tiger) is just 1411 and you have seen atleast 4 of them together. Its like you have seen a big pool of tiger from whatever is left in India.
And as always nice shots....I really admire your pictures. Keep enjoying our wildlife treasures and keep posting your great shots.

Vinay,
Yes it is a privilege to sight tigers in their natural habitat.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MileCruncher

Fazal Saab, only one word comes to mind, Awesome!!!
The big cat amidst the foliage setting is simply superb!
And the details about stay and other logistics as well please

MC,
Thank you.
I have given details of stay, but it was by arrangement of the Maharashtra forest dept. If you should want to stay in a resort at Tadoba which is economic go for MTDC at Tadoba, link:
MTDC-Tadoba, Tadoba
or better still book at Saras, a small resort just outside the gate of Tadoba reserve.
The Gypsy will cost you 1300+250 for a guide that you have to take along as per the dept. rules.
The above charges are for one trip into the reserve, you have to make two.
Park opens at 6:00-12:00 then again from 3:00-6:00. TUESDAY park is closed.
Get hold of Bandu Mankar.. he is the best Tadoba has, a tracker and gypsy owner give him my ref. his number: 0 99219 80564.
Park is closed on MONDAY.

Pench,
Kipling's Court is good, in MP Pench, very close to the park gate. Link:

Kipling's Court Pench, Kipling's Court Pench National Park, Kipling's Court India, Kipling's Court & Resort Pench, Kipling's Court Reservation, Kipling's Court Online Booking Pench, Kipling's Court Booking India.

Do not go in the park without Lallan, his dhaba is located just outside the park gate of MP Pench. Give him reference of Dr. Ghosh from Nagpur.

Quote:

Originally Posted by alter.e.go

What a superb junglelogue ( don't search for that word in the dictionary), the best one for me at least.
I was planning a trip to Tadoba and you brought Tadoba to me - with those awesome pics.
What would cost of accommodation / gypsy be ? could you give me some details.

Alter,
Thank you for your kind comments.
The above info should be sufficient for you as I have researched everything for future travel.

Viv1984,
Thank you!

Regards,

ishotmydog · 14th February 2010, 19:37

wow! mesmerizing pictures, you are an amazing photographer.

catching the animals in their natural habitats has a certain kind of thrill, fantastic.

pypkmsrikanth · 14th February 2010, 19:51

Fazal saab I remember mentioning you would have more than your share of sightings at TATR in one of the travelogues. Except for the Leopard & wild dogs you seem to have sighted almost all of the inhabitants. Lovely shots of the Big cats out there.

Though am sure the numbers of free roaming tigers are not as high as the numbers claimed in the NP's my feeling is there are some decent numbers of tigers outside the tiger reserves so the numbers should be somewhere between the officially claimed 1411 to about 900 of them. Just to confirm my view is the photo of the radio collared tigress which you had photographed at Pench which moved all the way from Kanha through fractured forests.

Thanks for sharing. You have more than made up for your lack of sightings in the southern forests.

Captdey · 14th February 2010, 20:55

Amazing Pictures !
Last week only somebody was narrating about this place
on " Radio Mirchi , Kolkata " , I was not sure that this place
is so beautiful.

If you could give us some information about Booking of
FRH at Tadoba / Pench.

Cheers

ASHISHPALLOD · 15th February 2010, 12:30

simply WOW!!

Need to go to the forest at Koyna or Dajipur.
Hope, my little group of 4-5 will be there in summer.

14th February 2010, 08:02	#16
fazalaliadil Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 2,022 Thanked: 672 Times View My Garage	Thank you all for your appreciation. The out of focus one was just one of the many good ones that focused on the tiger, but then it was not easy to stabilize ourselves and taking such a long shot in the failing light as you are not allowed to get off the vehicle inside the park which made the gypsy more shaky with all aboard. The tiger yawning shot was a good stretch of mouth nearly 180 degrees, BUT it blurred as the light was low and I did not expect any action for the moment the shutter was set at 1/60.... then came this yawn. Spotted deer stag, no animal can afford to drop its guard for a moment, in the darkness behind him lurks danger, a tiger or leopard waiting for just one momentary slip of guard. Just one evening back Mr. Ali from Hyderabad photographed a family of 4 tigers at the very place where stands the stag. Tadoba. A Barking Deer, Tadoba. A Wild boar in his prime, Tadoba. Marsh crocodile through dense foliage, Tadoba. Langur's sun bathing on a fallen log, Pench. Spot the owls contests, Pench. Dangerous darkness right behind a shrinking water hole, Tadoba. The yawn that blurred. Tracks inside the park, Pench. Devidas, Dr. Ghosh and me. behind us on the right is the teak forest where the mother has kept her four grown up cubs for now, this place has the advantage of thick bush cover, vantage high point to spot prey or danger and most important,,,the water body very close to home (seen in rear center behind us).
	() Thanks

14th February 2010, 08:25	#17
srimath BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 152 Thanked: 80 Times	Excellent stuff as usual Fazal saab. Wish the tiger population will increase. Who will monitor the tigers with radio collars?
	() Thanks

14th February 2010, 09:13	#19
Shantanu Sarkar BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Kolkata Posts: 80 Thanked: 7 Times	Excellent photographs, just excellent and equally good narration. I'll be glued to this post.
	() Thanks

14th February 2010, 09:24	#20
fazalaliadil Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 2,022 Thanked: 672 Times View My Garage	The gregarious Sardar, who cheered all waiting for about 3 hours for the tigress to come into action, Pench. Her 8" wide paws are capable of collateral damage unlimited. Wide angle shot by Dr. Ghosh with his zoom as a pointer. Elsewhere in Tadoba, they were up to something. Teaching the 'Art of Living' (survival). Another lazy yawn. Some individuals are natural posers when a camera is pointed at them, this jackal was definitely one, Pench. Track through the forest, Pench. Sloth bear at te waterhole, Tadoba. After photographing the three cubs. Last edited by fazalaliadil : 14th February 2010 at 09:27.
	() Thanks

14th February 2010, 09:54	#21
//M Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: New Delhi Posts: 6,201 Thanked: 22,920 Times	Incredible pics. Love the snaps
	() Thanks

14th February 2010, 12:01	#22
alter.e.go BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 137 Thanked: 55 Times	What a superb junglelogue ( don't search for that word in the dictionary), the best one for me at least. I was planning a trip to Tadoba and you brought Tadoba to me - with those awesome pics. What would cost of accommodation / gypsy be ? could you give me some details.
	() Thanks

14th February 2010, 13:57	#23
MileCruncher Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: MH01 Posts: 4,235 Thanked: 592 Times View My Garage	Fazal Saab, only one word comes to mind, Awesome!!! The big cat amidst the foliage setting is simply superb! And the details about stay and other logistics as well please
	() Thanks

14th February 2010, 16:09	#24
vinay.pillai BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Little Rock, US Posts: 229 Thanked: 15 Times View My Garage	Sir, I would say you are very lucky, our sea of tiger (total number of tiger) is just 1411 and you have seen atleast 4 of them together. Its like you have seen a big pool of tiger from whatever is left in India. And as always nice shots....I really admire your pictures. Keep enjoying our wildlife treasures and keep posting your great shots.
	() Thanks

14th February 2010, 18:08	#25
viv1984 BHPian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Thane Posts: 64 Thanked: 6 Times	Awesome Pics... 5 star for the same!!
	() Thanks

14th February 2010, 19:37	#27
ishotmydog BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pune Posts: 593 Thanked: 18 Times	wow! mesmerizing pictures, you are an amazing photographer. catching the animals in their natural habitats has a certain kind of thrill, fantastic.
	() Thanks

14th February 2010, 19:51	#28
pypkmsrikanth Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,124 Thanked: 283 Times View My Garage	Fazal saab I remember mentioning you would have more than your share of sightings at TATR in one of the travelogues. Except for the Leopard & wild dogs you seem to have sighted almost all of the inhabitants. Lovely shots of the Big cats out there. Though am sure the numbers of free roaming tigers are not as high as the numbers claimed in the NP's my feeling is there are some decent numbers of tigers outside the tiger reserves so the numbers should be somewhere between the officially claimed 1411 to about 900 of them. Just to confirm my view is the photo of the radio collared tigress which you had photographed at Pench which moved all the way from Kanha through fractured forests. Thanks for sharing. You have more than made up for your lack of sightings in the southern forests.
	() Thanks

14th February 2010, 20:55	#29
Captdey BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Kolkata Posts: 160 Thanked: 15 Times	Amazing Pictures ! Last week only somebody was narrating about this place on " Radio Mirchi , Kolkata " , I was not sure that this place is so beautiful. If you could give us some information about Booking of FRH at Tadoba / Pench. Cheers
	() Thanks

15th February 2010, 12:30	#30
ASHISHPALLOD Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: MH42 Posts: 2,005 Thanked: 334 Times	simply WOW!! Need to go to the forest at Koyna or Dajipur. Hope, my little group of 4-5 will be there in summer.
	() Thanks