On my recent tour to Bandhavgarh on birding and photography trip I was delighted to see young tiger cubs.
We first toured Kanha National Park where we found evidence of mating much to our delight. We could see about five tigers on jeep safari om many excursions inside the preserve. We also came across two half grown cubs near a rivulet but failed to see their mother.
We than moved to Bandhavgarh National Park going through Mandla, Shahpura, Umaria then reaching Tala for accommodation. We stayed here to about seven safaris in premium Tala Zone and one excursion in Maghdhi Zone. Bandhavgarh has been divided into four zones for tourism purpose. Tala is premium because tiger sightings is high and the habitat is also much verdant. Tala has dense forests swampy grasslands and tall flat topped mountains which offer a spectacular view of the park's landscape which by all means is astounding.
Hence tiger safari in zone is much in demand but I think this is a myopic approach. All the zones in this wildlife refuge are charming and offer good wildlife sightings and tigers too are in plenty.
On our first evening ride at Magdhi Zone we did not see a tiger but came close to newly born cubs hidden in dense canopy near the road. In order minimize disturbance we moved away to other areas. We received another good news a tigress with cubs is seen in this area and they are big enough to accompany their mother. We did not see them either we came back not at all disappointed.
From days onward we regularly saw tigers in Tala Zone including a tigress with three cubs. We also came across tigress with cubs hidden behind shrubs and bamboo clumps. We waited for a long tine to see the family but could as they were busy on a kill. We could hear the squeals of the cubs. That was enough.
We stayed at a luxury accommodation in Bandhavgarh near the Tala Gate. It was a good place and the manager informed me about more tiger cubs in the preserve.
I have been visiting Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve since years but have never come across signs of so many cubs. There were sixteen cubs present in the park during my visit. This means the conservation measures are effective and so breeding has become prolific. Tiger mate throughout the year but are supposed to mate more in winters. Who knows the more the tigers the better.
