Missing tiger found
There are reports in the local and national newspaper that a male tiger – officially known as T 3 (picture below – taken before he was radio collared) – has been reported missing from the Ranthambhore national park for over two months. This tiger (we call him Bahadur or Bunty) is the male cub of Machali (Ranthambhore’s best known tigress) from her previous litter. He is about 4 years old and use to be found in the heart of the park between the lakes and a place called Lakkarda (with in the bigger circle in the map below).
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| From Ranthambhore |
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| From Ranthambhore |
T 3 was one of the first tigers of Ranthambhore to be radio collared by the Wildlife Institute of India. However, there was some defect in the transmitter in his radio collar and it never really worked properly.
Somewhere in the second half of October he moved of this area and was not seen since then. The Forest guards did try for many days to track him down but had little success. Recently it came out in the newspapers that this tiger is missing. We have no idea why he decided to change his territory.
In the middle of November we had Daniel and Daniella Free (our regular guests from UK) staying with us. On the 17th of November 2008 they had gone for a safari on zone number 5 that goes right across the park. In the early afternoon they spotted a male tiger (without a radio collar) near the Thumka chowki (smaller circle in the map above). Their guide (Vijay Singh) told me that they had seen a young and confident male crossing the forest track and that the male had blood marks on his chest, probably from eating a kill. At that time we were sure that it was not T 3 that they saw because they had seen a tiger without a radio collar.
Daniella was generous enough to give me two pictures of this male (pictures below) and just yesterday I got down to match those two images with the other pictures that I have. And guess what it turned out to be T 3 without the collar. I immediately called up the forest authorities and informed them. The Deputy Field Director came over to the shack that we call our office and took a copy of the images. Even he took a long time to believe that this male had somehow managed to get rid of the ugly collar around his neck.
Three cheers for T 3 without the collar.
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| From Ranthambhore |
I am indeed delighted to know ,Dicky ,that T3 ,one of the most confident male tiger, who possibly strayed into some nearby forest,has reappeared in good health in its own territory.With 37 years’experience roaming in Indian jungles whenever I could take leave from office,I could, with near certainty tell that this male is psychologically averse to ‘ collar ‘and my request to Govt./Forest officials is that it should not be collared again.Neither it should be translocated to Sariska.LONG LIVE ‘ROYAL T3′ IN ITS ANCESTRAL HOUSE IN RANTHAMBHORE. Shri Saktipada Panigrahi ,DL 47, Salt Lake, Kolkata- 700091
Hi Aditya,
I had been reading reports about the missing tiger in the papers of late. I am glad to know that he is safe and sound.
I had been a guest at your resort 2 years back, on my first trip to Ranthambhore. I don’t know if you remember, but we went up to a perch on a hill with a few other people including one South Indian Film-maker (I think his name was Ashok), and had a few drinks while looking at trains go by in the valley.
I had an awesome time at Ranthambhore when I was there in 2006, especially because of the hospitality at Ranthambhore Bagh.I did come back to Ranthambhore recently, and due to unavailability at the Bagh had to stay elsewhere, which was not a patch on the experience I had at your resort.
This has turned out to be a long post. But now that I have stumbled upon your blog, I will keep coming back. Cheers…and here’s wishing you and Poonam a Happy New Year!
That’s great to know. I was really concerned about this tiger too and was afraid that he might’ve been killed by poachers!
You’ve got a fascinating blog. I’ve subscribed to it and will definitely be back to read more. Keep up with the good work for conservation and wildlife
dear sir,
first thank u. for this information by blog.in presant time the single-2 tiger very important for increage tiger population on every forest.specially my hearty &glorious ranthambhore tiger reserve.
hi aditya,
it,s very good news for all tiger lover person,s. pls tell me when this tiger was missing.where was it. before some days i watch news paper & tv news (male)tiger his name(mohan) is this. if it is not mohan .i think these both tiger,s no tarottry in ranthambhore. because they always walk in ranthambhore national park buffer area like kala devi wildlife senctuary&i see in tv news agra in uttar pradesh field officer v.k bhatiya say mohan divert again u.p to rajasthan but it is near kaoladeo national park in bharatpur dist.pls inform me about male tiger mohan………………………………
hameer singh