When you visit a Tiger Reserve, you either see a tiger or you do not. We were at the Bhadra Tiger Reserve and when you are at a place that prides in being home to a score of tigers, you go on a safari hoping to see the elusive cat.
That November day when JLR’s* Jeeps drove us into the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, we sighted the common monkey, Spotted Deer, Sambar Deer, Barking Deer, Indian Gaurs, an eagle and a few Malabar Pied Hornbills to name a few animals (and birds). What we weren’t lucky enough to spot, was the ‘big cat.’
The naturalist who led the safari told us that the Bhadra Tiger Reserve had 18 to 22 tigers within its wilderness. I guess that wasn’t our lucky day.
A few pictures from the Bhadra wildlife safari:
(Sorry about the quality; I couldn’t help the shakes because strapped to me, was a 10-month old 🙂 )
Other sights from Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary:
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| A camera to watch the tigers. They even help identify the tigers in the Reserve because apparently, no two tigers are alike if you look at their stripes. |
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| The ‘British Bungalow’ at Bhadra Tiger Reserve. The colonisers used to use this building as a rest house on their way to Chickmagalur, they say. |
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| The forest guards’ shelter right in the middle of the Bhadra wilderness. |
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| Solar-powered fences marking the boundaries of Bhadra Tiger Reserve and keeping the animals and locals safe. |
Beautiful photos
So this set is not as bad as I thought?
Thank you, Rupam. 🙂
nice pictures Divya, seems like you had a lot of fun 🙂
Thank you Archana.
Sort of.
We didn't get to see the big cat. 🙁
Nice adventerous trip Divya!
🙂
Nice sightings, Divya. Elusiveness is the biggest attraction of a wild cat. 🙂
And I think — You are right!
Nice adventurous trip Divya ji , but where is Tiger ?
I guess they were hiding from me, Yogi. 🙂
Nice shots. I never have seen any tiger even in forests like Sundarbans, Bandhavgarh, Pench… :-((( Such a bad luck for me… 🙁
Thank you, Maniparna.
Nice to see you here.
And me. You have company. I never get to see them too. 🙂
I can imagine your disappointment. I also have not spotted a tiger in the tiger reserve near to the place I work nor whenever I've traveled to other reserves. Read http://jeevankuruvilla.blogspot.in/2012/07/corbett-assorted-snaps.html, http://jeevankuruvilla.blogspot.in/2013/04/tiger-spotted.html, http://jeevankuruvilla.blogspot.in/2011/08/tyger-tyger-burning-bright.html
They really are elusive, eh! 🙂
Thank you for the links, Jeevan. I'll come by, soon.
It is a matter of luck to have the darshan! 🙂
Never mind you got other good captures.
So right, Indrani.
Haha! thank you. That's the bright side, huh?!
I spotted a tigress after five years of doing safaris on and often! As they say, even if you did not see the tiger, the tiger would have seen you!
Seriously, spotting a tiger seems to be a rare thing. But then again have you noticed how some people get to see them on every safari, they go on?
Ooh! yeah! And that's a great line, actually. (y)
We saw a tiger here at a zoo in Cape May…he was so so big. Hope you see 'big cat' sometime soon.
😀
I only get to see them in the zoos. Not on the safaris 🙁
But is isn't it thrilling to see a tiger in the wild?
Thank you for stopping by, Alok.
Great shots Dee !Loved the one with the blue bird ..was it kingfisher ?
I have seen families (seemingly) of Tigers in the Bannerghatta National park in Bangalore .. but have not noticed the difference of stripes that you have mentioned. Have you visited Bannerghatta N P ?
Yup! That is a Kingfisher, Kokila. That's supposed to be the White-throated/ White breasted Kingfisher. Let that not fool you into believing that I am a bird enthusiast. The Naturalist gave me that info. 😀
Yes, I have. A few years back. I remember walking through the zoo and then going on a JLR safari beyond the zoo area. I think I saw a few that time.
Thank you so much, Kokila. 🙂
Did they not show you paw marks of the tiger? 🙂
Not this time. 🙁
There seemed to be no signs of our national animal. Like Mridula says, maybe the tigers spotted us and just decided to ignore us. 😉
You have spotted quite a few wild critters. Nice pictures ! Better luck next time hopefully before tigers become extinct !
Yeah, quite a few.
I don't think I am lucky enough to see tigers on safaris. 🙁 I'll have to go to the zoo to see them. 🙂
Those trees at the sanctuary were very interesting.