Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve - March 2009 - sachinayak's Photos

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sachinayak > Looking up in search of the leopard it had killed a while back, this is T2.
Zone 5 Ranthambhore.

sachinayak > A rather common sighting in Ranthambhore, these at time mob tourists courtesy the biscuits available on offer. A ground level shot to get some DOF.

sachinayak > Chinkara (Gazella bennettii) was one of the mammals I wanted to photograph at Ranthambhore, since we do not get them around here in the south. Rather skittish, as gazelles typically would be, this one gave a single shot before it gallopped out of the frame :(

sachinayak > The last look - This was the sub-adult leopard, that eventually fell prey to the mighty tiger T2. With a ferocious tiger below, it was safely positioned in a tree above, but with panic setting in, it tried to scamper to safety (from an already safe position) and in the process slipped from its perch, right into the lap of death. In midst of this chaos, it paused momentarily to look around and its final look was captured in this frame.

sachinayak > Possibly an Indian Flapshell Turtle (Lissemys punctata). A rather shy individual settled down when the gypsys approached it carefully without making any noise. And then posed for all cameras by offering a huge hug :). It's own way of welcoming us to its home - Ranthambhore.

sachinayak > T17 - The collared princess. She looks back at the score of tourists in her kingdom.

sachinayak > Decision Time - This is machli's daughter T17, contemplating to go for a kill or not. You can see the prey in the top left corner (hence my decision to process this image). Eventually she did not go for a kill, instead she just smelt the air and crossed over the lake bed to her fortress, where she "ascended" her throne.

sachinayak > T17 - The new Queen of the Lakes

This was on the last day, last safari, last few minutes. We had no predator sightings in this safari and almost 10 gypsys had scanned the entire zone to no avail. While we were not desperate for a final glimpse of a tiger it would have been a good way to sign off our trip. When almost everyone had given up and were killing time watching two male sambhar deers sparring for mating rights, someone sighted Machli’s daughter on the other side of the lake. What ensued was an incredible melee, with 9 gypsys and 3 canters trying to outpace each other to the other end to get a good glimpse of the tigress. We waited for the dust to settle and hoped that she would cross over to the other side. When she did not, we too approached albeit keeping some distance from the crowd. And there she was, she emerged from the bushes, behind all gypsys right in front of us. She crossed our gypsy, paused momentarily, contemplating to go for a kill or not (I missed a golden opportunity to click her and a spotted deer fawn in a single frame, with my numb fingers failing to click). She then ambled across and climbed on to the remains of this old fortress and settled down like a Queen in her Throne. She rolled over and then gave this regal look as innumerable clicks could be heard attempting to capture her glory.

sachinayak > This is T2, back in search of the leopard he had killed earlier in the day. In the afternoon safari, we waited at the same spot hoping that the tiger would return, but with very faint hopes coz the FD had scanned the entire area some time earlier to no avail. After almost an hour passed by and when there was no sign of any tiger, we decided to move on. Just as we were about to leave, the majestic tiger - T2 appeared. Our guide shouted - "look tiger". There was a lot of excitement in his voice (understandably so, after the drama that unfolded earlier in the day). The tiger scanned the area searching for his kill but with no success (the leopard's body was taken for a post mortem by the FD). We got to spend almost 45 minutes with this tiger at really close quarters. Finally it climbed the rocky terrain (of the Bakola area) wherein it chanced upon the mother Leopard (that had escaped from it earlier in the day). The drama was still not over we realized. The leopard climbed up the tree and stayed put until the tiger left the scene. One of the images from this episode

sachinayak > The settings at Ranthambhore - Zone 3 were perfect to shoot these beautiful animals. It was nature's studio. The subject too did not mind posing patiently to give a good shot !

sachinayak > Collared Scops Owl - Contrary to my expectation, this is a rather small owl. This was sighted on our last day at Ranthambhore incredibly out of no where by our driver (possibly he knew of its roosting sight). As we began to click, other guests in our gypsy were wondering what were we taking images of. They had not sighted this. As all realized, and the noise levels increased (due to everyone's excitement), the sleeping owl woke up, and quietly slid into its hole in a smooth slider fashion. Was quite a treat to watch this beauty.

sachinayak > This is possible only in Rathambhore. They were all around, mobbing tourists who would happily feed them biscuits and chips to get some shots. We did NOT resort to such feeding (which is strictly prohibited). Nevertheless, this individual dropped by to confirm if we had something to offer. Since this was perched too close (on the gypsy), did not include the complete bird in the frame

sachinayak > Backlit Sambhar Deer in golden evening light towards end of Day 1. This too was taken in Zone 3 - the magical zone with the lakes. In 2008 this was one heck of a zone with incredible sightings and photographic opportunities due to Machli and her 3 cubs. Unfortunately with one of the cubs having been shifted to Sariska and Machli not being in her prime any more, this year the zone is not quite like what it used to be. Hopefully sometime in the future, Machli's daughter will take over as the new queen of the lakes and start her own litter.

sachinayak > Sambhar Deer in golden evening light. This is so typical of Ranthambhore (specially in Zone 3). Amazing light, vast open grasslands and lot of Sambhar Deers. This was on Day 1 towards the end of our evening safari..

Looking up in search of the leopard it had killed a while back, this is T2.
Zone 5 Ranthambhore.

sachinayak > Looking up in search of the leopard it had killed a while back, this is T2.
Zone 5 Ranthambhore.

Looking up in search of the leopard it had killed a while back, this is T2.
Zone 5 Ranthambhore.

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filename: D2S4_Z5_TigerT2_LookingUp |

Keywords: lookingup tigert

Gallery pages: 1

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