When the Forest Drew Its Curtain - Patdev tigress with her cubs
It was the last safari of our trip. As we entered the forest early that morning, our guide was confident that we would spot the Patdev Tigress (T-4) with her cubs, as she had not been seen for the past few days. The Patdev Tigress (T-4) is one of the most celebrated tigers of the Turia Zone in Pench Tiger Reserve. A daughter of the legendary Collarwali, she has earned a remarkable reputation as an exceptional mother, having raised more than twenty cubs over multiple litters. Observing a tiger in its natural habitat is always exhilarating. Solitary by nature, tigers are rarely seen together except when a mother is raising her cubs or when subadults are yet to establish their own territories. I was especially excited because, if luck were on our side, this would be my very first sighting of a tigress with her cubs. Keeping our fingers crossed, we ventured deeper into the forest. And soon, luck smiled on us. Within 10–15 minutes of entering the forest, she appeared, calmly cross...