We entered the Junona buffer gate for safari on November 2, 2021. It was a pleasant morning, and we were hoping to see a tiger. Previous night we had heard deer calling-alarm calls- behind our home-stay. The tourists on night safari had sighted a tigress, popularly called ‘Madhu’ Right now we were scanning the same area. At one place, we experienced a strong smell of territory marking.
Then there were fresh pugmarks! That means she was somewhere nearby. We cautiously and slowly moved ahead and there she was! Madhu, mother of three cubs was taking a morning stroll.
She kept on walking, and we drove behind her for almost 10 minutes. She stopped at a turn. We also stopped. She was looking alert. All of a sudden, she jumped to her right and entered the jungle. We immediately understood that she had done a kill. We moved a bit and saw her at the roadside with the kill in her mouth. It was a sambar fawn.
Expecting her to come on the road, we moved back again. And she obliged! She not only came onto the road but also started walking towards us. Head on with the kill in her mouth! The fawn seemed to be still alive. She might be taking it to her cubs to train them to make kill themselves. She kept on walking towards us for 17 to 18 minutes, and then she got off the road. We waited patiently and she again came on the road for 7 to 8 minutes. I kept on clicking her. Ours was the only gypsy to witness this dramatic moment. When the other tourists came to know about it, their envious looks made us feel like celebrities!
Deep Kathikar
Tourist, Nagpur
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