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 India’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 — a tigress with three cubs — 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 didn’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: “Why are you spoiling my chances?”

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Another friend said, “Two tigers won’t cross each other’s paths.”

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 — I am in two minds now.