Sultan (T 72) - The Wandering Prince

Ranthambore National Park

Ranthambore has played host to some of the legendary tales of tigers in India. Time and time again this land has been in the news for it's majestic tigers and their extra ordinary stories. Generation after generation the legacy has continued. The anecdote I am about to share with you is of one such young tiger, hailing from one of the royal tiger lineage of Ranthambore. A prince who ventured away into unknown worlds, beyond familiar territories while doing so brought about new faces of tiger behavior  that we know as.

Let me introduce to you Sultan (T-72)... the wandering prince.

Birth of a Prince

T 24 - Ustad, the crowned king of Ranthambore rode high on his domain during his reign in the Sultanpur area. His queen T 39 - Noor always close by. He had been with Noor for just a few months and words were that may be Noor was carrying his heir marked by her absence in the tourist area late in 2011. Forest officials were in dilemma as of Noor's avoiding public appearance, as Noor was one those tigress who never shied away from her audience. In fact she would proudly and boldly roam free in her territory, human presence hardly making any difference. In the early months of  2012 some forest guards reported her of being sighted with a cub. But these distant reports could not confirm any thing. 

Sultan as a cub stalking around his mother, Noor

Ranthambore's summers are as hot as it gets in the north western part of Indian. The mercury in the thermometer can sometimes kiss 45 degrees. April and May gets the hottest and is an ideal time for tourist and tiger lovers. Tigers usually spend most of the day in and around water holes giving the visitors a higher chance of sighting them. It was on one such late May afternoon that Mr. Pankaj Jain, a nature guide had the pleasure to see the young prince of Ranthambore for the first time. As he observed a young tiger by Noor's side while she was resting on a bed of dead leaves. His tender frame suggested that he might be a couple of months old. But his actual date of birth is still unknown. 

One of those mother son moments

The little cub though still young was full of confidence. He was later named "Sultan" by Mrs. Bina Kak on the name of the area he inhabited i.e. Sultanpur. Even in his fragile age he was full of vigor. Curious and playful he would leap at every opportunity to explore. Being the only cub and no siblings to play around, he would hang out with his mother. Noor was quite tolerant to her cub's kid like naughty acts. 

Noor affectionately licking Sultan's face 

On occasions Mother-Son duo would be seen cuddling around middle of the dusty road, while on other occasions they would be seen splashing water in small water holes. Sultan would climb on top of his mother and bite her ears playfully, and to it  Noor would respond with only a low grunt. Noor was all aware that she was all that Sultan had. She played the role of a dedicated mother as well the role of co-aged sibling. The fact that made this family more unique was "Ustad". A general notion is that tiger fathers play very little role in the upbringing of the cubs, but Ustad stood out. He was seen spending a lot of time with his family, Sultan and Noor. In fact later he shared his territory with his male cub Sultan, which was unheard of in this land till date.

A curious Sultan looks on while Noor and Ustad relax in the water hole 

This cub had something in him that made him stand apart from other tigers. A juvenile Sultan would follow tourist vehicles, sometimes chase them. Behind those eyes of this tiger was a soul  that loved to explore... to wander. When he was just fifteen months old he was found stalking Nilgais, which were almost thrice his size. Shades of Ustad were quite evidently reflected in Sultan's behavior. His fame preceded him and very soon he became one of the most sort out tigers of Ranthambore. Almost two years old, he once chased away one of the "Sher bagh's" safari jeep very aggressively, leaving it's occupants scared to life. Sultan by 2014 was an adult. During this time period he had a few snappy quarrels with his father Ustad. This left him with a few bruises on the body and some on his ego. But he was never driven out by Ustad. Time passed by and the family lived happily.

Young Sultan overlooking his father's territory

Sultan co-occupied his father territory, which included ares of zone 1, zone 2 and zone 6 of Ranthambore National Park. He dominated different areas of the park which included Singh dwar, Kala peela pani, Kharia, Sultanput, Khemcha kund, Soleshwar, Chuli Deh and Amareshwar Dang.

The Prince Exiled

Life had been going good for the family but one single turn of event swiveled the life of the tiger family. Ustad's aggression, which had been his unmissable attribute got the good of him... On 8th of May, 2015 In a feat of anger, he attacked and killed a forest guard by the name of "Rampal Saini".  Saini's death brought about an uproar from the locals and villagers to capture Ustad or they threatened to kill him if no actions were taken by the authorities. Forest department officials were in great dilemma, but the necessity for an instant action was the requirement of the hour. And actions were taken. Ustad was captured and relocated to Sajjangarh Biological park on 16th May. 

The upcoming days proved difficult for both Noor and Sultan. Noor alone would have been unable to defend the territory and Sultan at just 3 years old was no match for the dominant full grown males that were likely to invade. To make the conditions worst Sultan had been staying away from his mother since January 2015 and occasionally visited his mother. Ustad's absence was the final nail into the turn of events. The balance of power was about to shift in Sultanpur area. 

Late in May 2015, Sultan left Ranthambore and went missing. 

Seeking Sultan

Forest officials launched a full fetched search operation for the missing Sultan. All the possible destinations and areas of the park were combed intensively. No sign of him. It was speculated that he might have been killed by any other male tiger. While some experts were of the opinion that he might have skirted out to the peripheral buffer zone of the park. Tigers of Ranthambore have on previous occasions proved that the can journey away to long distances. 

T7 had traversed a distance of 280 kms to the Mathura refinery

T62 to Talwar (76 kms) 

T56 till Datia (308 kms)

T35 to Sultanpura (133 kms)

T38 to Kuno (140 kms)

and Broken-tail had traveled across valleys and villages 165 kms to Mukunda hills, where he was run over by a train.

Was it possible that Sultan had dared such a journey!!!

Sighting of tiger flowed in from surround areas of the park. Some sightings reported by Mohigya people (Gatherer-hunter tribes), seemed to fit in the description of a young male tiger like Sultan. But no confirmations. Weeks passed by and hopes of finding him faded. The only relief that came was from the fact that reports of tigers resembling Sultan kept pouring in. 

Sultan with a Sambar kill

After long six months, one early morning in January 2106 one tiger was found to have mad a kill just a little away from Ghinoriya gaon, more than 100 kms from Ranthambore. Later that day it was confirmed to be Sultan. He was found rolling playfully near the kill as he had been doing as a cub. His tail swaggered gleefully in the air and his low grunts echoed through the tall green grass where he laid. Finally Sultan was found. He was alive and doing well.

But what happened during his missing days remained a mystery. And officials investigated his activities and movements during this time period. What they reveled was not short of any extraordinary tale.

Sultan's Occult Journey

Sultan had been thriving on his own since a few months and the relocation of his father made it difficult to hold on to the territory. For a few days Sultan initially strolled around the peripheral regions. As his instincts kicked in, he left away in search of a new territory. He migrated from Amareshwar area towards northern terrains, into ravines of Tadla khet. He was trading in dangerous waters here as this area is often termed as the Graveyard of tigers. The Gujjar communities thrive here. Their lives revolve around their most prized assets i.e. their goats. The loss of a single animals cost them their earning of few months. Thus, it's no wonder they treat predators as the biggest threat and don't hesitate to poison them if necessary. Many tigers in previous years have fallen victim to these tribes. 

Ravines of Tadla Khet that Sultan might have during his journey crossed 

Luckily for Sultan, he kept away from the Gujjars and lying low crossed the area strolling through the deep rocky ravines of Tadla khet. These ravines stretch across between the Banas river and Kaila devi plateau. 

He continued farther north crossing Amli village out skirts he reached the Nidar dam. He killed and fed on a cow close to Amli village. The villagers were a little upset yet again Sultan's stars were shinning bright and he escaped without any conflict.

Finally after a couple of months he stepped foot into Kaila devi. Being a protected area, it was a safe abode for him. With not much competition around Sultan made it his new home. A few days in and he was already hunting. Seemed like Sultan had left behind his glitz and glamour, and was enjoying a peaceful secluded life.

Sultan's admirers are happy now that he still lives...but will the prince come back to reclaim his father's kingdom remains to be seen. The chances seem very bleak as the territory of Sultanpur is dominated by bold young blood now.

Sultan, once a cub playing around his mother, dancing in the dust and stalking sambars around the lakes of Ranthambore. A tiger who lost is path in the journey of life... turn of time that changed him forever. This tale was not just a peep into the life of a naughty cub that turned into a self dependant and exploring wild hearted Tiger. Infact it's a mirror of every being who has soul that loves to wonder away into the unexplored...
In every such being lives a SULTAN - The wandering prince