The number of wild Bengal Tigers in India have dwindled from about 3,600 in 2002 to 1,400 in 2008 making it one of the most endangered species in the world. Today about 250-300 of these wild cats live in the wildlife sanctuaries of Karnataka. Tigers live in a wide range of habitat, including the high-altitude, cold, coniferous Himalayan forests, the steaming mangroves of the Sunderbans, the swampy reedlands, the scorched hills of the Indian peninsula, the lush wet forests of Northern India, and the arid forests of Rajasthan. Bengal Tigers prey of choice in Southern India are Chital, Sambar, Gaur and Wild Pigs.
We photographed our first wild Bengal Tiger on 31st Dec 2008. You can read about that encounter here. We spent the May 1st weekend at Tusker Trails situated on the outskirts of Bandipur national park in Karnataka, India along with one of our blogger friends Vam & Saru. This was Saru's first safari in a Wildlife Sanctuary in India. His beginner's luck rubbed off on all of us bestowing us with some astonishing moments that will remain etched in our memories for a long long time! Thank you Vam & Saru for your wonderful company.
We photographed our first wild Bengal Tiger on 31st Dec 2008. You can read about that encounter here. We spent the May 1st weekend at Tusker Trails situated on the outskirts of Bandipur national park in Karnataka, India along with one of our blogger friends Vam & Saru. This was Saru's first safari in a Wildlife Sanctuary in India. His beginner's luck rubbed off on all of us bestowing us with some astonishing moments that will remain etched in our memories for a long long time! Thank you Vam & Saru for your wonderful company.
About an hour into our 3rd safari of the trip, Vamsee spotted a Bengal Tiger, about 50 feet away, at a small waterhole right next to the game tracks. The majestic male was cooling off in the waterhole when we spotted him. Unfortunately, we could not see the Tiger clearly since the waterhole was at a turn on the tracks. We were left with two options - either we wait for the Tiger to get up on its own or try to get closer to it. We opted for the second option since Bengal Tigers are known to sleep at a waterhole for hours together. As we got within 20 feet, the Tiger spotted us and immediately got up and bolted right across into the nearby Lantana , giving us just 9 seconds to get our photographs. Once inside the Lantana, the handsome male went to sleep for about two hours. We could see parts of him through the Lantana but attempts to get a clear shot were futile - thanks to the thick undergrowth!
Here are a few images that we managed to get from this exciting encounter with the elusive cat. All images were taken handheld with the D300 and Nikon 300mm f2.8 lens. The images have been slightly cropped for composition.
In this image, you can see this majestic Bengal Tiger directly looking at us. If you look closely, you will see that he has a deep gash near his left eye. EXIF details - 300mm focal length, f2.8, 1/320s, ISO 200, 0EV.
This image was taken at 300mm, f2.8, 1/800s, ISO 200, 0EV. You can see the water dripping off from him as he breaks into a canter.
This image was taken when he broke his canter before looking at us directly. Image was taken at 300mm, f2.8, 1/400s, ISO 200, 0EV
This is our first shot of him as he bolted away from us. It was taken at 300mm focal length, f2.8, 1/800s, ISO 200, 0EV
142 comments:
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Always a great moment when you meet their eyes...
Isn't it?
Good grief these are amazing shots.
fantastic shots of stunning subjects
you really got lucky there! Majestic shots of what must have been a majestic moment.
Yay, I'm not sure I could that close. You did another excellent photo. Thanks for sharing on the info. So sad.
perhaps it was feeling hungry?
BTW: why has its population decreased that much? Not enough food? Why. I thought they are protected.
Uau, fantastic, it's very good.
Bravo, bravo Thomas! This majestic tiger and must be protected, is a jewel on your journey, thank you for sharing !
Just a word, continues !
Fantastic as always Thomas. It make me extremely sad to here of dwindling populations like this. Will it never end until there is nothing left for the next generations to see?
Thomas,
As usual your photographs are fantastic. Unbelievable that you took so many sharp images hand holding the camera and in 9 seconds!!
I was so freaking scared that my first picture shook. Rest are OK. I will post them in a week.
Wow, talk about being in the right place at the right time! Great shots!
I could stare at these so long( I have). I have a few books on tigers of India. I've seen some great shots from the Chakradhara meadow in Bandhavgarh . ~Mary
Magnificent! The arrested water drops really help capture the moment.
The muscle definition along with the movement of the stripes in the third image is so powerful! Knowing that conditions and the brief amount of time you had to take these photos is impressive. I will be happy to vote for you for the photoblog award!
stunning I must say and so majestic..would like to tag along with you guys next time ..had just returned from a conference on the tigers and now, what a post :)
Beautiful images! Voting now..
What a gorgeous animal!
Beautiful, the eye contact is spectular.
It is a very sad state of affairs. Next generation of people will see them only through pictures if we do not get our act immediately.
As usual the snaps are excellent.
The first one is excellent.
Bravo.
Have a nice week.
Yvon.
It just doesn't seem real to see one of these fellows and get a picture where he is looking straight at you! Kind of scary! I wonder what happened to his face - a fight - I suspect? Your photography is so interesting - takes me places I shall never be - thanks!
Fantastic shots Thomas
a gorgeous animal!
Thanks for this beautiful pictures..
Grz Sien
Very nice series, thanks for sharing this beautiful images!
A photo of a lifetime I would consider it to be :-) WOW is all I can say!
Another awesome series... the first one is just perfect... very cool
Your photographs match perfectly the mood you depict with your words. Fascinating captures, superb work!
I don't imagine I'll ever see a Bengal tiger in the wild; these wonderful images bring me as close as I'll get - thanks for sharing them with us.
great moment!!
A beautiful animal and one that needs our help to survive. I really like the first photo, he seems to be saying, "What are you people looking at?"
Wonderful photos, Thomas, of my favourite of the big cats. Their fur appears like velvet with those interesting stripes. They are such beautiful animals.
What incredibly muscular creatures they are. So beautiful. This is a new favourite of your posts.
Wow! Awesome images!
Looks a bit scary to me... don't think I would have the guts to take that kind of pictures !
Absolutely superb, a magnificent creature beautifully captured. We have followed your blog now for quite some time and what draws us back time after time is your passion for what you are documenting. Your passion shines through the pictures and the commentary.
Wow!! Fantastic......crazy cool. Also, thanks for the narration. I knew they were in decline, but did not know the numbers. So few...it breaks my heart. I can't imagine not having tigers in the wild.
awesome shots of the tiger. have to agree its hard to get close to them, wild animals are dangerous! great details on these shots thomas!
My favourite of the wild animals, Thomas! To see them in their natural habitat is my dream. I hold my breath looking at this series - especially the one where he turns to look directly at you. Oh wow! Thank you for sharing this!
terrific shots!
Wonderful series of pictures! Awesome shots; I especially love the first photo. I love the bokeh on them.
what a handsome animal!!! majestic shots :)
you are one lucky guy. i can only see these animals at the zoo.
but i think watching them at their natural habitat is completely different experience.
and those are very nice shots.
Tiger is weak. It seems so. But great daring clicks.
Cool :))He saw you, really nice shots
The first one is mighty. Big free cats are so great.
I have seen the eyes of the tiger from 1 meter distance...but there was a thick glass between us. Still it was something.
Great wildlife encountered!. I have seen this species only at our national zoo.
Beautiful Thomas. This one looks like it was a old guy, resting around! Was it? Very nice shot of wildlife again.
Oooh, THIS stops you in your walk ! One of the most majestuous beast on Earth - thanks for sharing these numerous great angles ~
I don't know how you get so close to these animals without scaring them away. I can do it with birds but not with cats. Except the house cat.
My Birds Blog
Wow..great and awesome shots of wild tigers! Beautiful colors!
Well done, Thomas. You did amazingly well to capture these images in the blink of an eye that you had to do it. Perhaps you will stumble upon additional opportunities in the future (one can only hope).
Really impressive,thank you for sharing. But I prefer you being there, I would be scared to death !
Amazing shots of the most wonderful animal on the earth
Now that's a big cat! Nice to see it in it's natural habitat.
Bonjour,
It is majestic but somewhat dismissive ..Vanitas vanitatis.!.:-)..Nice serie..Bravo!
Oh my ! what a pussy cat ! and you took the pictures so close !
Now this is how I want to see these magnificent animals, not in the zoo!
Recently step nephew of ours went on safari and killed 3 animals.. I was not to happy about it! I say buy a camera, go on safari and shoot photos of them like you do.
wow, fantastic!
love the top one when he exactly looks in the lens
WOW ! Gorgeous animal ! Impressive ! You are in India ---> What a chance for us !!!!
Wow, you have seen a tiger in real. Awesome! And again great shots
Very nice.
Thank you for your passage home. Tomorrow, I publish an "exotic" style Brazil, good afternoon...
Stunning and majestic! Great catch. Although I appreciate the difficulty of getting pictures under the circumstances, you really did a fantastic job of taking advantage of the nine seconds you had. Kudos!
Excellent series! Sorry to hear they're not protected, though...
Wonderful shots. How exciting that must have been. I think the tiger is my favorite animal. It's simply beautiful!
I always enjoy and admire your work - excellent again
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Wow, i bet this was your best experience.
A magnificent animal and fantastic photos!
The tiger doesn't look very healthy. Maybe tigers don't like water more than cats?
Anyway, it's amazing to have the chance shoot such pictures.
And thanks for keeping on visiting my blog.
A beautiful series. Congratulations
Impressive view of a mythic animal! Bonus, you also catch flyers and droplet by this range. You are an exceptional photographer... Thanks to share uncommon shot.
Thomas! I can not represent oneself doing this kind of the picture... You should be to look in eyes the Bengal tiger the really brave man...:) I admire You !!!
Amazing shots ! Wow!!!!
really a nice work!
Thomas: That was nine seconds of bliss for a photographer of your expertise. I probably would have froze in amazement. You capture some neat shots as it left.
It's a pleasure in every visit to you! Your images are magnificent and very strong! Bravo!
Wow what an incredible animal! Love these shots.
Incredible images. To see these noble animals in their own habitat must be magical. I do hope they can be saved.
Here kitty kitty. Great shots of a beautiful big cat. I like the fact that it is muddy and a bit rugged.
Cheers
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the first pic is great !all of them are but that's the one I prefer ! you say no tripod !!! I can imagine you calmly taking those pics with a tripod ... very handy !!;-)
What amazing shots Thomas! What abundant opportunities!
Too bad to hear about their numbers, hopefully the conservation efforts will help to revive their numbers somewhat, or at least not have them decrease even further.
very big and nice capture
This is really a majestic animal. Impressive photos !
AWESOME PHOTOS.
goodness, what pictures! They are great really
Fantatic shots! It would be such a terrible shame if this magnificent creature was no more.
Thomas beautiful images as always. You know you are one of the best nature photographers. Anna :)
These are very well shot images, You are very lucky to be able to shoot them in the wild.
Beautiful shots of this powerful an majestic cat!
Majestic shots.
A dream for anyone of us I supoose!
Well done Thomas.
Great shots of this magnificent animal!
An amazing tiger! Beautiful images and great close up shots of this animal!
Great series as always with the top photo the absolute best with the eye contact. Blue Skies.
Fantastic shot dear Thomas
I'd like Tiger, a majestic animal...
Great shots, I like the first one.
I am admiring of your photo reports on the wild fauna, still all my congratulations!
Bonjour Thomas,
The famous Bengal tiger! majestic and wild it is a mythical beast! Gorgeous photographs! I admire!
Amazing pictures. I love the captures. congratulations!!
You made the most of your nine seconds..wonderful images, the Bengal in his mighty stride, his muscles flexing as he walks, the waterdrops jumping off his body...wow! You're good!
Congratulations, indeed, Thomas. What I love most about the last images is the clear movement of his his walking away. I'm not sure I've ever seen that in a still image!
Magnificent! What a wonderful set of photos! And what a list of comments you get now. I am impressed. Your photos are marvelous.
Wonderful article & great photos!
AWESOME images!!
Amazing pictures!!
amazing shots.........too good!!!!
A fantastic series of this beautiful cat.
Nice. Beautiful animal living a hard life. I've never had the chance to photograph the big cats.
Beautiful pictures! I hope his eye wound heals, and he is able to hunt for his food ok. I hope he stays safe. I feel so terrible when I see how we in India have let this beautiful animal down.
Wow, there's not a lot of movement in the tiger but you really get a sense of it's power.
Stunning shots! That tiger is simply gorgeous!
A majestuous animal. Splendid images as tour habits.
As usual your photographs are fantastic, Thomas.
Psssst..Re. The four pictures are HDR.
The first shot with eye contact is excellent.
Thomas I envy you ... to see/photograph a wild living tiger would be an honour to me. I hope I will have sometime such a chance.
Thomas .. what a wonderfull animal .. i love tigers .. great serie as always
i really enjoy reading your adventures and encounters of the wild there.. being unable to do it myself, i'm happy enough to tag along by browsing your blog! great stuff, thomas.. :)
waw, what a gracious animal is this tiger ! And I do love to read the story about the picture too, it surely is an added value. A tiger surely is an animal that I would love to see in the wildlife. Guess I'll have to hop over to India. Thank you for sharing pictures AND story with us!
Such fantastic images of an amazing creature! As always, thank you for sharing.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOW!! i almost cant belie your stunning photos. I really love them...and for me....that live in could, Northern Norway...it is very exotic and beautifully!!
Amazing-Tigers are the most enchanting of the big cats- bravo- I've got to go on Safari in India.
Magnificent animal. Magnificent photos.
What makes us sad is the fact wonders of nature are in danger of extinction.
My heart would have been pounding so fast. Great pictures.
Una grandiosa coleccion de fotografias, de este grandioso animal...enhorabuena por tu trabajo!!!
Saludos.
I like how these feel like "candids" and not all national geographic. Big cats are my favorite and the little details--splashes of water and messy paws are great.
Oh, but what a series you magically captured in those 9 seconds! The muscularity of this tiger is amazing.
stunning shot of this beautifull animal. congratulations.
Amazing!! Just amazing!
Breath-taking!
Well done Thomas...I would have definitely spent those 9 seconds in a complete stare..as I would have been dumb-founded to believe I was actually seeing a real live bengal tiger in the wild!!
Great pictures. As always when I see these guys (but always in captivity) I am in awe!!
You were close enough to only need 300mm? I'm not half that brave! Maybe if I put the doubler on and made it 600mm...
That's one.big.kitty. Undeniably beautiful, but I'll keep my distance thank you.
A beautiful animal!
I love it"
What an amazing experience that must have been and great, full-frame photos, including action/movement shots.
It`s always a great time when I visit your pictures and storys, Thomas. Wonderful to see one of the few Bengal Tigers so near. I hope he disappeared not from our earth.
I AM SIMPLY
A W E S T R U C K...
How did you do it!?
Wasn't this scary? My god, I try to imagine myself there and I know I'll need a new pair of pants!
Absolutely amazing. Like seeing NG channel :)
Magnificent, mate! What an incredible animal.
Thanks for bringing us so close to this great cat! Very muscular and apparently very wet...
it might just be me but 300mm is awfully close to an animal that big :) great, gorgeous shots. really awesome.
so you saw a tiger again! what i would give to see one in the wild too...
lucky guys both of you.
Whaouuuuuu! This eyes...
Wow!
Great Shots. My brother does research on tigers at Kanha national park. If you ever go up there let me know and I`ll put you in touch with him for some good photo ops with tigers.
Overwhelming pictures! So great! Thank you for sharing! And thanks for stopping by my blog!
Seeing a tiger in reality must be such an electrifying experience..
Nice pics
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