Huge Title
Indian Subcontinent
Bardia NP/ Nepal
Ranthambore NP/ India
Ranthambore NP
India
Ranthambore National Park in Rajastan/India is large (about 2000 m2 in total) and offers great wildlife photography possibilities. This scenic park is relatively dry with open areas, making wildlife viewing easier. Ten sectors are open to tourism and need to be individually booked. Only safari option are open vehicles (either jeep or less ideal large Canter trucks). Safaris are well organized and jeeps will pick all guests at their hotel. No elephants nor rhinos may be seen here, but large herds of spotted and sambar deer attract predators. In particular tigers are used to cars and can often be observed with the help of mandatory guides, which are mostly expert trackers. Sloth bears also may be seen and birdlife is prolific.
Ranthambore is a scenic park with lakes and open areas. It is these grassy plains, where large numbers of deer congregate, creating a somewhat african feel.
Langur monkeys are widespread. They can be found on the ground but prefer the safety of trees. These monkeys give a very reliable alarm call when spotting a predator like a leopard or tiger, which is a great help when looking for these cats.
Spotted deer or chital are restricted to the indian subcontinent. They are numerous and main prey animals for leopards and tigers.
Spotted and Sambar deer share a waterhole in Ranthambore.
Only male spotted deer possess antlers like this fully grown stag.
Sambar deer are distributed from India through South East Asia as far as Kalimantan. They are large and a stag may weigh more than 300 kg.
Sambar stags are territorial and fight for females.
A treepie chose the head of a female sambar to land on, looking for ticks and other parasites.
Nilgai or blue bull are the largest asian antelope, the bulls reaching 250 kg. They are abundant and easily seen in Ranthambore.
Indian wild boars are largely diurnal in Ranthambore and easily seen. In particular the males (they weigh up to 120 kg) are fierce fighters and tigers need all their strength to gain the upper hand.
An indian mongoose crosses a road in Ranthambore. These agile and fearless predators are well known to overpower poisonous snakes like cobras.
Sloth bear sightings are not uncommon in Ranthambore. Diet is varied and comprises of fruits and insects. A favourite are also termites, which are being sucked out of their burrows using the long lower lip and palate.
Sloth bears are powerful animals, their strong claws can inflict serious damage. There are numerous incidents of people being mauled and tigers are careful when attacking. On one occasion we came across a bear and only after some time noticed the head of a tiger behind a rock. The large male cat was stalking the bear before jumping towards it. The surprised bear gave a strange cry, rose on his hind legs and fought the tiger. After a few violent seconds a second bear ran to support his companion. This turned the tide, the tiger gave up and jumped away. Unfortunately all happened in thick bush preventing reasonable photographs.
Ranthambore may lack elephants and rhinos, but this is the place to see a tiger in the wild. After bad times with poaching and tiger numbers declining, today Ranthambore's tigers are well protected and thriving. Only option for visitors is to join an official tiger safari on an open jeep. It is necessary to book one of ten tourism zones in advance. Each trip is accompanied by a driver and a mostly knowledgeable guide. Ranthambore tigers are well used to cars and relatively open areas in this dry park increase chances for encounters with this iconic and threatened species.
More than almost all other cats tigers love water and especially during the hot months march - may they spend long hours sitting in one of the many water pools.
Still wet from a bath this tigress passed our jeep in just a few meters distance.
This tigress came for a drink late afternoon and took a cooling bath afterwards.
Tigers are solitary hunters, both genders patrol and scentmark a territory. Male territories are larger and overlap with that of several females.
Male bengal tigers weigh up to 250 kg and are powerful predators. This large male looked at us, when we got out of the car at a safe and high vantage point.
Often tigers use the park roads when patrolling their territory or looking for prey. This tigress initially mock charged our jeep, but later calmed down and we could observe her for almost one hour.
Arrowhead, as this tigress is called after an arrowlike marking over her left eye, is a granddaughter of the legendary Muchli, who dominated the park for almost a decade. Arrowhead drove away her own mother from the prime territory in the center of the park. During our visit she was raising two cups.
The huge paw looks rather misplaced on this young cat, but it suggests, that this playful cat will soon grow up into a powerful predator.
At about five months old the cubs grow fast and their play is becoming increasingly wild. Arrowhead proved to be a patient and affectionate mother.
The cubs may enjoy play and Arrowhead's protection for another two years, before they will have to leave their mother and start a solitary life.
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