Chasing tail

Tigers are elusive, they say. And I am perhaps the unluckiest of those to have experienced it. Actually, as a reporter chasing tiger stories from Vidarbha, one of India8217;s last hopes for tigers, for me it should have been exactly the other way round. But His Majesty of the Jungle has steadfastly avoided me, not caring that I have written profusely in his interest, and despite my privileged access to places where tourists are not allowed. The only time I have sighted the wild cat 8212; a tigress with three cubs 8212; was about five years ago in Tadoba-Andhari tiger reserve. Since then, however, the tiger of Tadoba has been turning either right or left the moment I am hot on the trail.

For the past two years, I have been reporting from the most dangerous tiger dens in Chandrapur district about how and why starved and cornered tigers have killed 34 people and injured more than 25. Often, I have seen fresh pugmarks at the spots, indicating the animal was lurking near by. Once, I reached a spot in less that 30 minutes of a tiger attacking two individuals in quick succession, but the tiger was nowhere in sight. I travelled hours on foot with sharp shooters to locate a problem tiger in the Talodhi area, but the animal didn8217;t show up. The shooters later spotted and killed it. I get many calls about sightings of problem tigers, but before I reach, they disappear into the wild. Three years ago, there was a tigress with four cubs staying put at a natural waterhole in Wardha district. But they left the place precisely on the day I reached it.

I tried many tricks to break the jinx. I often took along tiger veterans, but my bad luck invariably proved stronger than their luck. Now, they are reluctant to go with me, with one of them actually joking: 8220;Why are you spoiling my chances?8221;

Another friend said, 8220;Two tigers won8217;t cross each other8217;s paths.8221;

With monsoons round the corner, the annual tiger season is now nearing its end. I just got news that a tigress with two cubs is camping near Chandrapur city. To go or not to go 8212; I am in two minds now.