Encounter with T39 (Noor) at Zone 1, Ranthambore Tiger Reserve on 15th May 2014

Day 1 session 2 at Ranthambore was all action.
After a dull morning session with no tiger sighting at Zone 1 , although we had a good bird sightings of Paradise flycather, golden oriole , straiated heron , sambars, deers , spotted owlets , the big cat was elusive.We came to our hotel and heard that one brazilian tourists had sighted big cat in zone1 in the early part of morning, luckily we were given a repeat in the afternoon session at zone 1.
Exactly at 3 pm we entered the gates of zone 1 , right from the start our guide was very co-operative.
At the pond we quickly took some snaps of striated heron and also saw a baby alligator.
We passed the entry point of zone1 and saw baby scops owl , again had some sightings of male & female paradise flycatcher, golden oriole , black drongo , and then adult collared scoops owl.Till 5.30 pm there was no sight of the big cat anywhere. Unexpectedly somebody sighted a tiger it was indeed T39, sleeping under the tree far off inside the deep woods.

T39, sleeping under the tree far off inside the deep woods.

 After about 10mins there was some movement seen after hearing some noise of jeeps and human voice, it got up and started walking further inside the woods. 

Walking further inside the deep woods.

By the time our guide asked driver to take the position ahead of her (T39) on the pathway. All at once Noor came out in the open from the woods crossed the pathway from right flank to the left where I was standing in the gypsy and completely caught me unaware, walking pass by my side at hand shaking distance.

All at once Noor came out in the open from the woods crossed the pathway from right flank to the left where I was standing in the gypsy.

This happened so quickly all in a matter of less than a minute and in the excitement I could not change the focal length of my lens and hence could only capture her front part of the body. It was analogous to a Royal walk of a queen at Buckingham Palace oblivious of the surrounding.I think it looked hungry and when I leaned to take this shot I was at closest possible focus distance allowable for my tele lens ie abt 6 feet. I was also watching her closely with another eye. 
 TOTAL AWESOME GRACE.


Article and Images by
Shekhar Bopardikar