Begum of Palamau Part 2

 

Encounter with the Pack

The rivalry of wild dogs i.e. Dholes and Tigers has been epics of legendary dimensions. Indian jungles of North and South equally have witnessed tales of valor from both the clans. While old folks talk of enraged tigers decimating whole packs of these whistling hunters; also tales exist where the well coordinated red packs have torn apart the might tigers to pieces. None the less it's a rare event. Once Begum found herself at the heart of such a battle. 

Encounter with the wild dogs- Dholes

One dry evening when the sun was going down the western horizon, Begum emerged from the lantana bushes at the edge of Rifle jhoth. The name of the place being so as elites of Daltonganj once used this area for sharpening their rifle skills. But now it had been offered the wilderness. One of Begum's usual refuge. Not long before she was out in the open, a pack of nine dholes confronted her on the road to Bawharia village. The sudden encounter took both the predators by surprise. The tigress having cubs wanted to retreat to the lantana bushes near by but the pack gave chase. Whistling and yelping they slowly cornered Begum in the bush. Strategically they kept prodding at her, taking bites whenever she let down her guard. Begum snarled and growled in defense. Her white fangs glared as rage permeated her feline face. Initially, she just wanted to slip away into the nala near by, but the prodding of the dholes made her loose her forbearance. And she lunged at them like a cannon ball. One unlucky chap came straight in line of her charge. She got hold of one of his hindleg and in a jerk tore it clean off his body. Within seconds the body of the red hunter was shreded to pieces by her claws and teeth. The pack continued their attack but now they kept a safe distance. She lunged again and again swaying her paws... some hit their marks as the fur of the dogs flew wild in the evening dust. She too took a few bites, a few scratches on the rear and flanks. Eventually, she evaded the dogs and moved away into the nala. The jungle fell silent. Begum followed her cubs to safety towards the village and the beaten dogs took retreat into the thickets... merging into the shadows.

She lives through 

Begum reigned Palamau as queen for almost a decade, during which she produced four litters with ten cubs. Nawab sired all the cubs. After her first litter moved on to their own territories she had her second litter of two cubs with Nawab. One of cub didn't survive, while the other female cub named Babli  grew up to establish her territory in Latehar division. Early in 1987 she dropped her third litter of two cubs - one male cub - Sheroo and a female cub Anne. Sheroo ruled Betla in 1989 as the prime male, driving away his father Nawab and his brother Shera(Begum's 1st litter cub). Anne made away to Champidabar area of Kundri Range with her two cubs. Begum's offspring ruled different parts of Betla in the subsequent years. Her lineage came to an end in 2020 when the last member of her dynasty "Rani"- a female from her last litter lineage died. She was on a cattle kill that the villagers poisoned. 

Sunset of Begum's Reign

 When a tigress grows old, her daughters claim her territory forcing her to trudge away to other areas. None from Begum's brood dared to do so. She swayed her territory with pride till one day an iniquitous predator claimed her life. 

Begum died of poisoning near the Baigapani waterhole

That was a fateful September day in 1991. Clouds loomed over Betla sky that afternoon when Begum made another cattle kill at the edge of the forest. Her few month old cubs hid in the bamboo thicket as she dragged her kill to the shade. Next two days she would be feasting on it. After making a good meal of the rump Begum laid on her flanks taking a afternoon nap. Her ears twitched as her two cubs played over her heaving body. The evening grew gloomy with the retreating monsoon clouds skimming across the purple sky. She knew it was time to ebb into the safety of the forest. Begum took a muddy pugdundee, defaced by cattle hooves. Her two cubs followed. Little did she knew that a fiend had approached her kill after she left and had poisoned it. Her next meal would be her last. Unaware of the previous night's affair of the devil she approached the cattle kill next morning and appeased her hunger till her belly could take no more. The poison spread in her veins like a murderous mist as the hours passed. Her body quivered, shooting out sharp jolts of pain. Muscles became stiff and she began spurting saliva from her mouth. Her organs failed to keep going while she made her way towards the Baigapani waterhole to quench her dying thirst. She could not make it to the waterhole. That beautiful frame of the tigress collapsed, her lungs giving away and her heart beats fading into an eternal silence. Begum had moved on into the happy hunting grounds, leaving her young litter to defend for themselves in this cruel world. 

The two cubs were later rescued by the forest department officials. One of the cub died a few days later and the last surviving cub was named "Baby". Baby grew up to become a lusty tigress  like her mother. She reigned a part of her mother's territory in years to come. In February 1994, she dropped her first litter of two cubs fathered by Raja, the male tiger who found home in the same area. 

Begum - The Tigress Queen of Palamau

  

While tales of tigers are more of a folklore in India, yet they never fail the strike that inner cord of human emotions. The tigers - antagonist of these folklores have gone by but their chronicle has been passed down though the ages augmenting itself into the canvas of Indian wildlife. Palamau's history will remain flawed without Begum's pugmarks on it. And today after decades of Begum's passing Palamau has been robbed of all its stripped golden glory. No more tigers roam in Palamau now except for some occasional vagabonds. 

DISLCLAIMER

Begum's Story has been written in accord to the narration of the events by Mr. Sangam Lahiry in his book "Pugmarks in Palamau". The pictures in the article have been taken from different media sources and I DO NOT LAY CLAIM TO ANY OF IT. THEY BELONG TO THEIR RIGHTFUL OWNERS. I REQUEST THEIR COOPERATION. 

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.