Life of a Tiger Mother
Published on: 04/11/2019
Photo Credits: Bhargava Srivari
I was on safari with family friends from the other side of the world, and on that chilly morning, we had already seen a Tiger tread the beautiful forest in lovely winter light. Seeing ‘success’ in the first few minutes of the jungle drive brought contentment to my safari inmates, and emboldened me to ask our driver to head on a route none had taken that morning, as the other vehicles had gone in search of the famed Black Panther to the area of the park where he was last seen. We drove along familiar forest roads for most of the morning, halting every once in a while, to observe bird life and listen to the sounds of the forest.
On one such pit stop where I was photographing the Indian Pitta on the forest track, where the track plunged into a seasonal nallah, hiding everything beneath while you looked at it from afar, I noticed a yellow dot walk into the camera viewfinder from behind the tiny bird. I lowered the lens and looked at the road, only to find a magnificent Tigress heading towards us. I noticed something unusual about the way the tigress sashayed down the forest track and reached for my binoculars to observe her more clearly, and what I saw blew my mind.
The bold big cat had a fully-grown dead Deer hanging by its mouth! I asked everyone in our safari vehicle to stay low and calm, allowing the Tigress to come closer and remain comfortable in our presence. The tiger was clearly surprised to find us when she finally made her way up the depression on the road and sensing that she might wander off into the thick bush on the sides, I asked our driver to back off and give the animal some space. As we reversed and amplified the distance between us, the Tiger relaxed and continued on its path towards us, all the while dragging along the carcass.
Photo Credits: Bhargava Srivari
We realized that this was a new mother and had perhaps made a kill far away from where she hid her cubs. To feed her cubs, she had two options – to hide the kill and then come fetch her cubs to walk the distance to the kill or bring the kill to the secret place where she hid her cubs. It was apparent that she chose the latter as she would have found it difficult to hide the carcass from scavengers.
What followed was an exciting half hour of natural history, when we were fortunate to observe how much of a struggle it is for a tiger mom to keep her cubs well fed. The tigress dragged the heavy carcass over a long distance, but every few hundred meters it was apparent that she got tired and then would drop the carcass and rest herself for a few minutes before setting off on her mission again. It was a joy to see that when she eventually reached her cubs with the kill, the cubs were elated and fed to their heart’s content.
Bhargava Srivari
Bhargava Srivari is a management consultant by profession and a wildlife photographer by passion. His work has been published in national and international magazines and newspapers, and he was recently awarded the distinction of Associate of the Royal Photographic Society Great Britain which is the oldest photography society in the world. he can be contacted at srivarib@gmail.com
The Tiger of the Skies: An encounter with the Peregrine Falcon
Butterfly Safari in the Western Ghats: a possibility? - Part 2
A Photographer’s Guide to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve - Light, dust, dramatic skies and the art of capturing desert wildlife
Butterfly Safari in the Western Ghats: a possibility?
Desert Bones and Dust Trails: Reading the Kalahari’s Ancient Ground
Life in the Sands: The Surprising Riches of the Kalahari
Peek into Coorg’s Culture at Madikeri’s Government Museum
The Kalahari in Miniature: What You Miss When You Only Look for Big Game
Anegundi’s quiet empire of women: the banana-fibre story
Little Feet, Ancient Rhythms: Young Keepers of the Kodava Culture
Water, Wildlife, and the Art of Waiting in the Kalahari
Tracking Wildlife: What the Sand Tells You in the Kalahari
Singing of confluences, tangible and intangible
Strange Encounters: What We See and What We Miss
Water, Stone, and Empire: Reading Vijayanagara in the Evolve Back Kamalapura Palace
The Unusual Suspects: Creatures You Didn’t Expect in the Kalahari
The Ultimate Family Safari: Multigenerational Travel in Africa Creates Unforgettable Bonds
Locking Horns: An Afternoon with the Other King
The Arboreal By-lanes of Coorg: A Street Photographer's Foray into Bird Photography
Lone Warrior: An Encounter with the Grey-headed Fish Eagle
Under the Kalahari Sky: A Journey Through Africa’s Night Sky
Reptilian Sibilances, Mollusc Stillnesses, Fern Rustlings
Sri Purandara Mantapa: A hall that echoes the raagas of devotion
Cultural Extravaganza: Kodava Music & Dance Forms
The Kalahari Skies: An Everchanging Canvas of Colour
The San People of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve: Guardians of an Ancient Culture
Anegundi: ‘Monkey Business’ in the ‘Elephant Pit’
African Wild Dogs - one of Africa's most captivating carnivores and most endangered species
Discovering the Brown Hyenas of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve
An Aural Journey through Nagarahole: The Sound of Life
Five Wildlife Sightings You Can Expect Without Going on Safari
Into the Valley of Deception: The Central Kalahari Game Reserve
The Cup That Cheers: The Changing Taste of Coffee
Craft Calling: Traditional Lambani Arts and Crafts and the Sandur Kushala Kala Kendra
An Aural Journey through Nagarahole: The Language of Deception
An Aural Journey through Nagarahole: The Sound of Tardiness
Taking Terrific Photos on Safari: Getting the Trophy Shot
Adapt and Survive: Reaching the Pinnacle of Specialisation
Into the night – nocturnal life in the Kalahari
An Aural Journey through Nagarahole: The Seen and the Sawing
Hampi Ruins in the 1900s: Stellar Photographs From A Forgotten Historical Text
Touring Kabini with Your Eyes Closed: An Aural Journey through Nagarahole: Alarms True and False
North Karnataka’s Threesome — Badami, Aihole, & Pattadakallu
Hampi Ruins in the 1900s — The Gateways into the City
A Lone Porcupine fights off an entire pride of Lions!
The cute little denizens of the Kamalapura Palace, Hampi
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Jallad Roti | Akki Roti
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Qubani ka Meetha and Shahjahani ka Meetha
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Murgh-e-Lazeez
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Nizami Machali ka Salan
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Dum ki Nalli
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Anapa Ginjala Pulusu
An Aural Journey through Kabini: Pre-Dawn Critters and Jitters
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Raan-e-Kamalapura
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Baghara Baingan
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Natukodi Pulusu
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Tondekai Palya
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Royala Igaru
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Koli Chuttada
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Karibelle Cutlet
The Battle of Talikota and the Sacking of Hampi
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Kori Ghee Roast
Ten Interesting Facts About the Kalahari Desert
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Vazhachundum Thoran
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Mezze Platter
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Grilled Pork Ribs
An Aural Journey through Kabini: The Beginnings
Harihara & Bukka: founders of the Vijayanagara Empire
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Pazham Puzhungiyathu
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Peppercorn chocolate mousse
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Kabsah Laham Bis
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Vazhakanda Thoran
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Banana Bajji
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Pazham pori
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Joojeh – e – Koobideh
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Vegetable Kurma
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Pandi Curry
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Kerala Fish Curry
Nalknad Palace – off the beaten track in Coorg
Designing the Sidapur Coffee and Culture Museum
Why you should put a backwater boat safari at the forefront of your Kabini visit – 2
Why you should put a backwater boat safari at the forefront of your Kabini visit – 1
Chikka Veerarajendra of Coorg and his Thirteen Wives
The Architecture of Ainmanes: Form follows Function
Kodava Ainmanes – the heart of the Kodava Clan
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Sutta Sigadi Mathu Hannugalu
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Masala Raagi Cheela
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Tandoori Zaffrani Paneer & Tandoori Phool
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Tumbida Ginnu
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Raagi Mudde Bassaru
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Hurida Meke Mamsa
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Masala Hoo Kosu
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Kuruba Adina Saru
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Sutta Naati Koli
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Savatekayi Suttadu
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Kendadali urida sigadi mathu meenu
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Bidirinalli Beyisida Koli
From the Kitchens of Evolve Back – Hurida Koli
First glimpse of god – the Black Panther of Kabini
The Battle of Raichur: The Beginning of the End