B2 - Bandhavgarh's Regal Tyger

Bandhavgarh National Park

The fort of Bandhavgarh still stands tall, towering over the plateau and plains below. The plains plentiful of prey that flourish along side majestic big cats. Tigers, the dominant predator species has ruled these lands for ages. Once in a while a tiger appears in this landscape, that digs deep into the heart of many who admire these creatures. I came across one such tiger, talked and acclaimed by so many that getting into the pages of it's life was irresistible. As I unveil his chronicled life, I find myself not as a  narrator but an encomium. And then his name strikes back in the tympanum of my consciousness again and again...B2. B2. B2.

  Birth of the King

Summers are hot in this part of the world. Early in April even the sun rises in all it's glory and the denizens of the forest start feeling the heat. In these times, the golden rays bouncing back off a tiger's skin is as golden it can get. One such morning the royalty queen Mohini was seen carrying tiny cubs in her mouth to a safe location. Loving warmth and wrath of a tigress' jaws is unrivalled. Surprising as it is as how can those jaws of death be so kind and loving.  She gently strode through  the grass the tiny tot dangling down his mother's mouth. Mohini was introducing the prince to the jungle it seemed. But the fifteen day old cub was all unaware of this worldly affairs. A couple of weeks back in 1997 Mohini had delivered 3 cubs, later fondly named B1, B2 and B3. Though the fact that who fathered the cubs was not really clear as Mohini had been seen mating Charger as well Mamu some months back. As per people of Bandhavgarh, it was Charger. So, the future king had arrived in the land of forgotten forts... a tiger who would bring Bandhavgarh into limelight of the world and claimed to be the most photographed tiger in the wild. He was B2, Sundar.

B2 Walking proudly in his kingdom

Very little is known of his early years as he stayed away from the tourism area. It is believed he remained in his mother's territory growing up strong with his brothers. He was bonded strongly with his mother. Something in him was different from his siblings, B3 being the most shy stayed away from curious eyes and B1 though a spent time in limelight but faded away. Youth makes you do reckless things and B2 was no exception. He strayed away into human territories after he left his mother at around two years of age. He spent most of his young years in the buffer zone, thriving on cattle kills. This concerned the park authorities as he always risked the wrath of villagers and being targeted by poachers. But he survived somehow. Villagers were quite tolerant to this young tiger, conflict never ensued. By the year 2000, B2 had grown up to be a handsome tiger and his confidence boosted him to invade the core zone now. True to his lineage he was a fighter and what a splendid way to commence his ascendance he choose... going for his father's throne, the mighty "Charger". Winters of 2000 witnessed the coronation of new king of the Tala zone. Charger was old now, he had lost a few canines and his eyesight was giving way. But he never intended to give away his kingdom without a fight. Initially B2 just kept picking at him time and again. And one fateful day his instincts rendered him that he could overpower his father. The forest woke up to deafening roars and growls of Charger and B2 on a cold winter night. Forest dweller knew a royal battle was eventuating as the prince was attempting for his rightful throne. With the first light dawn Tala had a new king... B2 stood proud and Charger had retreated carting his injured body and ego.

B2's Regnant

B2 standing tall over another tiger

Winds of change, dry and hoarse but change is the only constant in nature. The initial days of B2's reign were testing times. Though the king he still roamed around his mother's territory. Somehow he still clinged on emotionally to his mother. After her death he stayed from her territory for a long time as if he missed her and he was mourning. A behavior never before documented with tigers. A tiger is a solitary animal...and a tiger gets in term with it one day or the other. He moved on, he had to. 

Years came and went by, he fought battles, won the heart of many tigress. Turn of events mettled him into a "Regal Tiger". He retarded many attempts at his throne, fiercely defending his kingdom. Marks of battles ornately adorned his body. He had a long term feud with  "Bokha" male who ruled the areas of Sakhipathia, Rajbehra and Sehra. Some battles he won and some he stepped down. His experience had edified him when to stand ground and when to just move aside. He ruled the Tala zone from 2000-2009 and mostly roamed the areas around "Badi gunfa" and eastern region of "Banbehi" near the Bandhavgarh fort.

B2 on a prowl in his kingdom

B2 in his bosom moments

He mated with many tigresses during his reign that includes Chakradhar female, Mirchani female, Banbehi female and Langdi. The park in the upcoming years was ruled by his bloodline. Some of them became very famous tigers of the park, like "Bamera" and "Jhujhura". B2 was not only august among the ladies but also the park authorities and tourists. Photographs of him spread world wide, so did his fame. B2 was first photographed when he was 15 days old and his last photograph was of a few days prior to his death. He sired many cubs over the years from different females and was known to spent a lot of time with his family.

In a strange occurrence of events in 2009, following the death of Banbehi female he raised the three

B2 meeting up with Mirchani male cub

cubs whom he had fathered the previous year. Banbehi is a mountainous terrain, a difficult hunting ground but against all odds he was seen hunting for the cubs. He would make sporadic appearances with the cubs, mostly with Mirchani male cub (of whom he was found of it seemed). He had also fathered "Jhujhura" female, who was considered to a be promising tigress to the park as she was expected to litter many cubs in the years ahead. Fate had different plans though, Jhurjhura met an untimely death when she was run down by a speeding vehicle on May 2011 while she was raising a litter of two cubs.

The Twilight days of the king

B2 bearing injuries after a battle with Bamera

The year on the calendar bore 2010 and B2 body bore wrinkles with shaggy fading skin. As a tiger grows old his bright orange skin coat decolours. He was constantly confronted by his son "Bamera" for a claim at kingship. He might have smiled to himself then saying... "Ahhhh, like father like son." In tiger's tradition every prince one day will lay claim to his father's kingdom. For Bamera the time had come and for B2 time had gone.

Father son skirmish

Last two years of his life B2 faced many challenges mostly from his sons. In April 2010, B2 was badly injured during a feud with Bamera and he was seen being chased off by him. He bore some serious injuries to his face and flanks. Days were dusking now for B2 as he had lost a part of his territory to his worthy son.
One such attempt was made by "Kallu" his son in February 2011. May be Kallu misconstrued his father. When the sun was blistering it's rays on the small plateau overlooking "Ghoda damon", barely a kilometer away from "Badi gunfa"... Father and son locked paws. An event witnessed by some tourists and guides. They narrated the skirmish being a
brief one. "Kallu" within moments realizing his mistake rolled down accepting defeat. B2's roar itself was enough to bring him to his knees. Humiliated by the trounce, he left Bandhavgarh all together and fled 70 kilometers away to the forest stretches of Shahdol.

B2 being chased off by Bamera

 Age drained the remaining strength, spirit disbanded B2 as he fell victim to the ultimate fate everyone destined for. The grim reaper stood on the hillock staring deep into his eyes. By June 2011, it was evident the king had days in counting. He lay lifelessly in a dried up stream, when he was spotted by the forest department.  Heavy gasp with chest heaving up and down, his life kept slipping away breath by breath. He was monitored till the onset of monsoon. As the first rains swept through Bandhavgarh, B2 became untraceable. Everyone feared B2 would not appear on the other side of Monsoon's horizon.

B2 did not survive the journey

At the season's start in October 2011, every eyes in look for the old Emperor. The first month's pursuit went in vain, no sighting. On 16th November he was briefly sighted by a safari gypsy, while he was crossing the road in the periphery of Tala zone. But his fate was already sealed, this sighting proved to be one of fleeting joy. Three days later, on 19th he was found laying in defunct condition in a small stream at Chorbrehra forest range, 80 kilometers from Bandhavgarh. A rescue team lead by Mr. Mridul Pathak rushed to the spot on receiving information. They administered him with life saving drugs, then tranquilized him and decided to transfer him to Bandhavgarh for treatment. B2 had already left his land for a different world now and may be returning back ever was not what he had intended to. He did not survive his last journey. B2 was now on the way to the happy hunting grounds... a place where his majesty will still prevail. Bandhavgarh fort longed for his king, paying tribute through silence that was immutable with it.

He was cremated with utmost respect, a deserving adieu to the king. His ashes flying high with the flames resonating his roar. Cheerios echoed in all of Bandhavgarh as B2, their beloved Tiger bade his farewell. People who admired and loved B2 still cherish in his memory. B2 - The Regal Tyger. 

With the departure of B2, an era came to an end I believe. During my journey of exploring this Tiger, I fell into an abyss of emotions where I was enlightened by the knowledge of Tiger's life. For days I kept picturing him, moving through the thickets and hillocks of Bandhavgarh. And when I wrote it felt somewhere that I was in his head now - seeing and acknowledging things as he would. I never got the privilege to see him in person. But in my inner consciousness he lives strong in flesh and bone... In growls and roars. B2 - My Regal Tyger.

DISCLAIMER: 

I DO NOT LAY CLAIM TO ANY OF THE PICTURES IN THIS ARTICLE, THEY RIGHTFULLY BELONG TO THE RESPECTIVE OWNERS. THEY HAVE BEEN COLLECTED FROM ONLINE PLATFORMS. IT IS ONLY FOR EDUCATIONAL AND AWARENESS PURPOSE. YOUR SUPPORT IS APPRECIATED. 

Genghis ... The Lakeside Predator

Ranthambore National Park

Tigers have been a part of folklore and legends of this country for ages unknown. They are revered, feared and almost have attained the throne like a god in our culture. Time also stands unstirred to it's possie. When one thinks that we have known every thing that is there to know of this legendary animal, it pops out surprises from it's quiver of enigmatic nature. The story I am about to tell you is of one such extra-ordinary tiger, who defied natural laws in it's attempt to adaptation and left behind a patrimony that became a trademark of tigers of the lakes of Ranthambore. Let me introduce you to the first master lake predator ... "GENGHIS".

The lakes of Rathambore have always been the pivoting point of it's tigers history. While many fabled tigers that ruled this area have attained stardom, some have been lost in the sands of time. The world is well acquainted with names like "Machali", Sundari, Krishna, Arrowhead... but it was Genghis who invented the art of hunting in and around the lakes and his mate "Noon" followed suit. Generation after generation this trend became a defining feature of lake tigers.

Early life 

Genghis snarling at his visitors

Very little is known of his origin. It was during an evening of November 1983 that he was first sighted near Jogi Mahal. The area was unclamied by a male tiger then and Genghis reigned over it. While the sun was taking a dip beyond the western horizon on 15 January, 1984 Genghis presence was again felt around Jogi Mahal and Padam talao with reverberating vociferous roars. The next morning he was seen feasting on a boar piglet near the lake.Genghis was a massive tiger weighing around 230 kilograms. Contrast to his highly muscular and powerful built he walked with unhurried and hushed steps making him a perfect feline predator.
He established his dominance by occasional roaring and charging. Twitching tail was a mark of his manifested aggression. Gallantly he would make away with crocodile kills sometimes, dragging the sambar carcass through the lotus vines and weeds effortlessly... growling, snarling and splashing water all along to keep the massive reptiles at bay. He charged at everything that invaded his zone of comfort especially during feasting, snarls and growls were common warning and if one was lucky enough would also be  greeted with a mock charge. Sloth bears are considered one of the most unpredictable beasts of the forest and tigers even keep their distance but Genghis would not hesitate to chase them off when encountered. True to his name he was the fearless warrior ... Genghis.

   The art of hunting in the waters

Chasing a sambar by the Padam talao

Tigers are one of the two large cats (other being the Jaguar) in the world who are comfortable in waters. Though hunting in the waters is seen in some tigers generally of the swamplands of Sundarbans, but the mainland tigers do not venture much into waters for hunting. It was surprising to see what Genghis was doing around the Padam talao. He had mastered the art of bringing down sambar deer near the lakes who ventured into the shallow waters lured by the tender foliage. The dry grass providing an excellent cover on the water's edge and his patient stalking skills ensured his highest chance of success. And what better time than summers to witness this specialist at work. He had developed two different strategies...

Stratergy 1:-  He would stalk the sambar in the tall grass facing the lake near Jogi Mahal, and waited patiently until the sambar were bust high in the waters. Then so as to shock and scatter them he would jolt out of the grass with a roar. Panicked and disoriented the sambar would flee in mindless manner. At this opportune moment he would take advantage cut off either of their exist on the right or left and strike down one.    

 
Stratergy 2:- Genghis was well aware of his speed and strength, to which the sambar were no match, not even an adult stag. He would on occasions chase the whole herd into the lake head on. Then swim off to one lagging member and drag it down. He enjoyed his meal in private often in hiding, in the grass by the lake side.  

Gone with the Monsoon

Genghis dominated the area around Jogi Mahal during the summers of 1984. He did find a partner and possibly mated as well. The advent of monsoon is the beginning of a period of  uncertainty for the wildlife. Many perish and many flourish as well. Genghis was last seen during early monsoon in 1984 near Rajbagh Palace, where he lay enjoying the noon sun rays by the lake. His orange skin glittered golden in the sun, twisting and turning as he rolled in the grass. He was at peace with his kingdom. A sight that every tiger lover would rejoice... but unfortunately it was his last audience. 

That monsoon he disappeared without a trace. In the beginning of the new season in October he was gone and never seen again. The sambar grazed fearlessly near the lakes with no one to charge at them from the bushes. The eerie silence by the lakes with no cacophony of alarm calls felt a little weird. It was like the king had left for a new abode abandoning his throne at the palace. Genghis appeared in the canvas of Ranthambore for brief span of time but the legacy he left behind immortalised him. Noon, his partner was seen following his traits in the years to come. 

*The sad part is that the most prevalent theory of his disappearance is that he was poached during the monsoon season.*

This article is based on the narration of events by Mr. Valmik Thapar in his book entitled "Living with Tigers".

DISCLAIMER 

I DO NOT CLAIM OWNERSHIP OF ANY OF THE PHOTOS IN THIS ARTICLE. THEY BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS. IT IS ONLY MEANT FOR EDUCATIONAL AND AWARENESS PURPOSE. I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.