Bengal Tigers, Leopards, Langur Monkeys and Wildlife of India in Ranthambhore National Park in India
Bengal Tiger and Leopard photographs from the Ranthambhore National Park and Tiger Reserve in Northeast India. This 400 square mile reserve was cleared of all people and villages in 1986 and now has very restricted entry based on a lottery each day. It is patrolled by armed guards. Guides say 34 tigers currently inhabit the reserve, including 14 cubs. There are large populations of Spotted Deer, Sambur Deer, and Nil Antelopes so the tigers have plenty to hunt and seem to stay on the Reserve. Tigers are very territorial, and at 120 degrees F in May, move to water after feeding to stay cool.
We spent 4 days here taking a very early morning and then late afternoon drive in an open jeep with an experienced guide to our assigned zone. The Reserve is divided into 5 zones and the number of vehicles for each zone is restricted to eight. No one is allowed out of the vehicles—for obvious reasons. The tigers have grown up with the vehicles and largely ignored us except for one large male who bared his fangs and growled as he walked by. They walked within a couple of feet of our jeep on occasion—a magical moment.
At the end of the first day we were very lucky to stumble on a Leopard drinking in a man-made pond right at the gate. Indian Leopards have amazing ice-blue eyes.
Read MoreWe spent 4 days here taking a very early morning and then late afternoon drive in an open jeep with an experienced guide to our assigned zone. The Reserve is divided into 5 zones and the number of vehicles for each zone is restricted to eight. No one is allowed out of the vehicles—for obvious reasons. The tigers have grown up with the vehicles and largely ignored us except for one large male who bared his fangs and growled as he walked by. They walked within a couple of feet of our jeep on occasion—a magical moment.
At the end of the first day we were very lucky to stumble on a Leopard drinking in a man-made pond right at the gate. Indian Leopards have amazing ice-blue eyes.
