Other States - Rajasthan   

The star stripes of Ranthambhore

By Sunny Sebastian

JAIPUR, DEC. 11. The tiger chroniclers have arrived. From now on it is going to be a step-by-step, blow-by-blow account of the wild tigers those stalk the woods of Ranthambhore. Over a period, the wild life enthusiasts and photographers have discovered that Ranthambhore National Park in Rajasthan's Sawai Madhopur district is the best place on earth to watch wild tigers and the result: numerous accounts of the tiger, both in print and in electronic media.

In the process, the tigers get personified. They get a name - and, of course, fame that they themselves will never know about--and visitors go looking for a particular tiger.

The last of the big names which blazed across the Ranthambhore forests was that of Bambu Ram, a male tiger, who made a majestic appearance before the then visiting President of the United States, Bill Clinton. Those who visited the Park, first among the nine sanctuaries established as Project Tiger sanctuaries in the 1970s, thereafter continued to ask for Bambu Ram. Even Mr.Clinton asked about his favourite tiger on his later visit to Rajasthan.

Bambu Ram is (perhaps) an old story as the tiger is no more seen in Ranthambhore forest.

But then there are others who are given a name and a new identity like Machali and Nick by the tiger chroniclers.

"A new book, "Tiger Forest'', termed as a "visual study of Ranthambhore National Park'' by its photographer-author, Chris Brunskill, tells the story of Machali, a female tigress. It was perhaps love at the first sight for the then 21 years old Chris, who lives in Lancashire, England, as when he saw it in December 1998, it was the first wild tiger he ever saw. The imperious feline he spotted at Malik Talao, later grew on Chris.

"Machali is my favourite tigress. I saw her in the forest yesterday also. She has young cubs,'' Chris, who has been in Ranthambhore for a fortnight, called up from there to report the "reunion''.

Chris has been visiting the park ever since 1998, "as often as possible, documenting the lives of several tigers and photographing the forest and all of its inhabitants'', as he put it.

There is a full chapter on Machali and dozens of photographs of hers and of her lover, Nick, a male tiger. "It is very difficult to sight male tigers. They are very shy. Spotting the tigresses, especially with cubs, is easier as they are more visible in groups,'' said Chris, who has by now mastered in the behaviour and appearance of males and females of the big cat family.

"Tiger Forest'', which is scheduled for release in Delhi this week-end, carries about 120 exclusive photographs of the tiger as well as its environs and denizens in Ranthambhore which Chris describe as a "veritable fantasy forest'' as well as "one of the world's greatest National Parks''.

The detailed captions to the photographs are valuable observations from Chris on tiger behaviour.

"There is a new awakening in Europe and America on tigers and on the urgent need to protect them,'' Tim Scollary, a neo-convert -- into what one could call "tigermania'' -- and publisher of the book, said. The book has been received well in the US, Britain and West Asia after its release outside India some time back.

"The returns from the book would go into conservation, especially for the rehabilitation of the villages still located within the Ranthambhore National Park,'' Tim pointed out.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

Policy to encourage lignite-based power projects
The star stripes of Ranthambhore

Copyright © 2004, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu