India 2012

Thursday15November

A must-do if you want to explore the park: booking at the Forest Office. Only a few jeeps and trucks are authorized, in which you can approach wild animals. So here we are before 6 AM, waiting for the office to open. There isn't room for everyone, so the atmosphere is slightly tense, but in the end, everything goes well and we get our famous passes to go face the tigers!

Here we are, starting in an open truck to best enjoy the landscape... Counterpart: tigers will only have to help themselves if they're a little hungry...  

It must be said, everyone hopes for one thing: to cross paths with a tiger, but apparently, you have to be lucky for that to happen. Well, that was the case! Around a bend in the track, it made itself comfortable in the middle of the path. Here is the largest of the felines, hopefully in a good mood this early morning!!!  

It approaches a few meters from the truck. It barely glances at the pantry on wheels available... Impressive, we take what photos we can while holding our breath between doubt and admiration for the beauty of the gigantic cat...

This is the Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), also called the royal tiger; it is one of the endangered species (fewer than 2000 on the planet).

We continue the excursion in this wild area and come across a few other animals.

No spider on this web, unless it fell into my hair...  

After seeing it countless times, whether in painting, wood, stone, or ceramic, here at last is the symbol of India in flesh and blood, and what's more, in the wild! This is the blue peacock, the pavo cristatus.

The peacocks won't fan their tails for us, and the wild boar (sus scrofa cristatus) won't even do a somersault.

A woolly-necked stork (ciconia episcopus).

The reflections of dead wood on Padma Talao lake.

Whoa! A marsh crocodile (crocodylus palustris)!!!

Axis deer (Axis axis), also called chital.

The still fresh footprint of a tiger!

A greater spotted eagle? (aquila clanga)

A rufous treepie (dendrocitta vagabunda temia). Very unafraid, they approach humans without issue.

A large-billed crow (no offense, that's its real name ). (corvus macrorhynchos).

On the left, a nilgai antelope (boselaphus tragocamelus). On the right, a great egret (ardea alba casmerodius albus) perched on its deer...

And to finish the expedition, a young axis deer! (Axis axis)

Back in the city of Sawai Madhopur, where typically decorated trucks cross the city.

Tractors are not to be outdone and largely compete with heavy goods vehicles!

Ceremonial necklace and light orange spots to be sure to catch the eye of the curious photographer...

Ankur Resort hotel where we spend our second night. Tomorrow we head slightly north, about a hundred kilometers, destination Jaipur!