Introduction
All animals have unique personalities, in some species this is easier to see than in others. With wild tigers being generally shy and elusive, it takes time to get to know the individuals, and this is what this new blog series will focus on. To capture great images of tigers, we need to understand them beyond basic biology and behaviours, but try to understand them as individuals….
The Junabai Tigress
The name Junabai consists of two words, Juna, meaning old and Bai meaning lady, and is additionally a region in Tadoba tiger reserve. The tigress is actually only 5 years old herself, and was initially a very shy and elusive tigress, but has now grown very bold and beautiful. We first came across her in 2018, when she had a litter of 3 beautiful cubs. Today, she has a new litter of 4, and it is these I hope to view on my next excursion.
Tracking the tigress involves understanding her movements, territory, listening for prey alarm calls and reading the signs printed on the roads…
Sometimes we find her deep in bamboo thickets, but more often than not she prefers the path of least resistance when patrolling her territory and comes out into the open.
Her territory in October can be very beautiful and lush. It is primarily bamboo forest in the north of the park.
Here she was seen resting in a nice shady spot as the temperature started to rise to a mild 35 degrees.
One of my most memorable encounters was the morning she led her 3 cubs across her territory. She was very relaxed in our presence and allowed for not only great photographs, but a truly memorable experience.
Bold and beautiful.
I’m not obsessed with always trying to get images with eye contact, I allow these moments to occur naturally, so when they do it is more worthwhile.
Last but not least, here is one of her cubs from 2018. I hope her new litter is just as bold and photogenic for us.