Read on Twitter
Think y'all must have seen that latest *scary* video from #Corbett by now!
Not the first time it has happened - this is quite common in that specific area of Corbett and for good reason.
Not the first time it has happened - this is quite common in that specific area of Corbett and for good reason.
This specific place in #Corbett is an area of ~8 football fields with Gypsy tracks running through it.
From above, place looks like a City Block divided into 8 perfectly rectangular sections.
It is full of elephant grass making it a perfect hiding place for resting Tigers.
From above, place looks like a City Block divided into 8 perfectly rectangular sections.
It is full of elephant grass making it a perfect hiding place for resting Tigers.
This small area is PACKED with Tigers!
One afternoon during a pre-Census recce in offseason, we counted 5 adult tigers and 4 cubs inside this tiny area.
The area is quite close to a popular (govt) resort and there lies the problem.
One afternoon during a pre-Census recce in offseason, we counted 5 adult tigers and 4 cubs inside this tiny area.
The area is quite close to a popular (govt) resort and there lies the problem.
When safari season is on, all Gypsies head to THIS tiny area.
Imagine 40 gypsies, all going this small section of the forest for 4 hours while Tigers are trying to get some rest in between.
Imagine 40 gypsies, all going this small section of the forest for 4 hours while Tigers are trying to get some rest in between.
To make matters worse, while Gypsies are restricted to the Tracks, Elephant safaris go inside the grasslands! Many tourists in the Gypsies bribe the Mahouts to drive the Tigers out so they also can get a sighting!
If you were a Tiger in #Corbett, Would it not drive you crazy?
If you were a Tiger in #Corbett, Would it not drive you crazy?
Problem again comes down to this Desi obsession with getting "Tiger sighting"!
When I go to a Forest, I go to enjoy the Jungle ambience. Infact I am mostly focussed on Birding. Tiger sighting is like winning the lottery!
But I don't base my Jungle ghooming around that!
When I go to a Forest, I go to enjoy the Jungle ambience. Infact I am mostly focussed on Birding. Tiger sighting is like winning the lottery!
But I don't base my Jungle ghooming around that!
An incident like the one we see in that Scary video happened on my birthday in 2012 in the same area.
My best friend, his wife and me were in one Gypsy. There were 3 dozen other Gypsies zooming about in that area at the time.
A noisy Bengali family was in 2 of these gypsies.
My best friend, his wife and me were in one Gypsy. There were 3 dozen other Gypsies zooming about in that area at the time.
A noisy Bengali family was in 2 of these gypsies.
Our jungle ghooming experience told us that a particular Tigress and her one surviving cub would soon cross at one point. We parked at the side of the road waiting.
Unfortunately, these 2 Gypsy guys sensed that we were onto something and elected to park behind us.
Unfortunately, these 2 Gypsy guys sensed that we were onto something and elected to park behind us.
Jungle ghooming requires patience. And common sense! You need to sit quietly sometimes for hours! We also wear neutral shades and avoid perfumes of any kind.
These guys OTOH broke evey single rule! LOUDLY Discussing their Train journey from Bengal and food quality at resort! 🙄
These guys OTOH broke evey single rule! LOUDLY Discussing their Train journey from Bengal and food quality at resort! 🙄
At one point they were opening Namkeen packets LOUDLY and passing it between their Gypsies! 🙄
Believe me when i tell you that The sound of even Namkeen packets opening gets amplified 1000 fold in the silence of the jungle!
Believe me when i tell you that The sound of even Namkeen packets opening gets amplified 1000 fold in the silence of the jungle!
We were waiting for a Tigress and her cub to emerge from one side and our eyes were peeled there. None of us in the 3 gypsies noticed that a very annoyed sub-adult Male tiger was in the grass on the other side and had creeped out to investigate the noisy Chatterjee-Addams Family!
What followed happened in <30 seconds!
Shikha noticed the Tiger and tapped our hand and we saw it too, instinctively pointing our Cameras there.
The Bengali family looked too!
One 8 yr old kid picked that moment to throw a packet of Namkeen to his cousin in the other Gypsy!
Shikha noticed the Tiger and tapped our hand and we saw it too, instinctively pointing our Cameras there.
The Bengali family looked too!
One 8 yr old kid picked that moment to throw a packet of Namkeen to his cousin in the other Gypsy!
THAT was the moment the Tiger charged! With a Tremendous roar, he jumped on the Gypsy.
While the family in the 2 gypsies screamed, the Tiger sailed over one Gypsy, landed on the other side and took off into the safety of the Grasslands on that side!
While the family in the 2 gypsies screamed, the Tiger sailed over one Gypsy, landed on the other side and took off into the safety of the Grasslands on that side!
It could have ended very differently!
Their driver was claiming credit for saving their lives by "Jumping" The Gypsy!
Boss! If the tiger wanted, he would have landed on the Gypsy!
You should be whacked for leeching off our Jungle knowledge and getting that noisy family there!
Their driver was claiming credit for saving their lives by "Jumping" The Gypsy!
Boss! If the tiger wanted, he would have landed on the Gypsy!
You should be whacked for leeching off our Jungle knowledge and getting that noisy family there!
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
