There is vibrant energy now coupled with caution. Thanks to his tall, lanky frame Eric spotted movement in the grasses and sees the very tip of a tail. While on the rollbars, he points this out to Massan. Massan gives him a big smile and from that moment on-- it is ready, set, go time!
We all want to see the tiger yet there is no guarantee. She can evade us easily by walking farther into the tall grasses and distant trees -- losing us completely. In my mind I hear myself saying.. Please Kali. Please tigress. Let us see you. We are not here to hurt you. We are here to honor you. The only "shot" we'll take is with our camera.
The other jeeps in the park are full of tourists, mostly Indians. They observe us respectfully. Once they see our jeep speed off it isn't long before there is a convoy. We slow down. All is quiet except for the soft rumble of the engine. Eric motions for me to stand on my seat and I do. He hands me the binoculars and points to the grasses nearby in the trees about 60 feet away..
At first I don't see anything. I lower the binoculars. Eric points again. Then I see the movement. I raise the binoculars again and this time I see a tail and the back bone area. She is beautiful. I don't want this moment to end. In another second or two she is gone.
My brain memorizes this moment. I say a silent prayer to Kali and thank her. I have no idea there is more to come. The tigress keeps walking along her path away from us. Massan, being the tiger whisperer that he is, knows a different jeep trail that will hopefully get us closer to her.
More rapping on the jeep, signaling silently to the driver and we are off yet again. Our convoy hot on our trail. A few moments down the new jeep trail and we come to a sudden stop. Jeep engine cut. Silence. Soon other jeeps pull near. Massan signals them to turn off their jeeps. He knows our best chance to view her is with the air as still and quiet as possible.
Camera's ready. I can hardly breathe. I am so excited. Is this really happening? Mrs. Bahks is having trouble steadying her camera, too. This is their fifth trip. If we see a tiger it will be the first sighting for them. Our first sighting. Almost everyone's first sighting.
Out of the corner of my left eye I see movement. A few seconds go by. Now I see the tigress' magnificent face. She moves at a steady pace completely out of the shade and protection of the trees and tall grasses. I take a photo. Click. Just as I'm ready to take another one the jeep driver next to us is so excited he turns the key in the ignition. No one else's jeep is on.
By him turning the key the jeep makes the metal on metal sound that startles the tigress. At that moment, and only at that moment, did she turn her head toward us and make a mouth opened, fangs showing roar. Click! Whoa! I think I've just taken the best photo ever in my entire life!. All around us we hear soft chatter, voices murmuring in Hindi along with the click, click, click of cameras.
Amazingly, as soon as she crossed the road she went about twenty feet and laid down in the shade. She is incredibly hard to see now. The stripes on a tiger are the same shape as shadows of limbs and branches of trees in the Indian forests. The fallen leaves are similar shades of orange to a tiger's base coat. To say she is perfectly camouflaged is an understatement.
Adrenaline and excitement course through my body. I look around and feel the same energy in the others. Respectfully quiet, more clicking of the cameras and most-of-all big smiles and nods of the head.
To be Continued... Part 4. The final installment in this series.
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