-
“Bhagwan har jagah nahi hota hai, Isi liye toh usne Maa ko banaya”… Bollywood movie “Mom”
(God can’t be present everywhere that’s why he made Mother)
Well, when the subject is Mom then what better than our bollywwod (Hindi) cinema can be there to start the sharing & I have so many dilogues to choose, from yet the above, one from the movie Mom I thought would be apt & happy for another episode of Super Moms from Tadoba! Those who haven’t read part on of this subject, this is my (on behalf of many wildlife lovers) tribute to the Tigresses of Tadoba which are actually Super Moms & a little effort to make common people know about these mom’s great journey which is full of struggles! Incidentally the Mom movie’s lead role was played by one Super Star lady of Hindi Cinema, i.e., Shreedevi whose struggle to the stardom also was somewhat similar like these Super Moms of Tadoba! At the same time this my sharing may have some lacunas on the front of time lines, places as well blood line as I am not a researcher of wildlife or of Tadoba forest, but a mere tourist who knows a bit little more than common tourists about the forests as well with my engineering background has some logic to back what I see & observe! This series is not to glorify Tadoba (it already is, though) or some particular tigers or even the tiger species at large but to make know the people importance of these wonderful individual animals which has played incredible role in not only their own conservation (read as survival) but in process uplifting lives of thousands of humans also as well secure future of wildlife at large!
Here, many will ask isn’t such words are not far-fetched, as how can some tigers (tigress actually) can individually do mammoth task of conservation at large, is it not we the humans who should be applauded for making them able to do rather its, we, the humans who are responsible for the success of conservation of tigers & wildlife at places like Tadoba & that is true, but! But the question I want to ask all such people is, who made it to the tigers that now we needed to do efforts for the conservation of wildlife, answer is, we the humans only, right? So, if we are taking efforts of conservation of wildlife its nothing great as that’s our sins which we are trying to undo but real credit is if of these Mumma tigresses which are trying to cope up with humans’ efforts & helping us to conserve the wildlife, is what people should know, that’s why the sharing. And I was fortunate (read as lucky) to be able to visit Tadoba many times & observe these Moms as that now only made me realize their contribution & efforts but I could learn a lot about wildlife or say life at large & coexistences’ importance for conservation! Few of these tigresses I have watched them over a decade & seen their journey from being a little cub to mom of cubs, its wonderful & I will cherish these moments for ever, so in a way it’s very personal tribute from me to all these tigresses also! Why I call them Super Mom is, because of the great service & sacrifice they have done in the process of becoming a Mom & agreed, sacrifice is second name of motherhood but what we are doing to appreciate that sacrifice, is the question I asked myself & so this sharing! Most of these tigresses have something in common apart from being a tiger & that is fight for space, first with their own mom & later with their siblings when they are grown up & fight for space with humans is on, all the time & it’s becoming tougher /bitter by day & yet they are not giving up their fight for survival of themselves as well of wildlife, that’s what makes them Super Moms!
Madnapur Express, Super Mom Junabai!
Som six/ seven years back image of a young tigress with four cute cubs trailing her surfaced on social media (FB only then) & the photographer has aptly captioned it as Madnapur Express & that day Kolara side of Tadoba made entrance in the world of wildlife lovers (read as tiger photographers’). As, till then Tadoba means Moharli side (Its one of the first gates of Tadoba forest) & not many people even knew that there is entry from Kolara/ Chimur side & tigers are sighted here also, which is the main cause of visit for most people. As well Madnapur & Kolara buffers also opened & Junabai the name given to the tigress from a local village’s old(juna) lady (bai) which was supposedly killed in the range by some tiger where this tigress has made her territory, with her four cubs was ready to rule this part of forest! And since last nearly eight years she is sole queen of Kolara/ Madnapur/ Palasgaon buffers (these are villages just outside of core area). And her job is not easy, as if on one side these are much populated habitats with human settlements then on other side this part of forest is like male tiger’s corridor from Tadoba core to outer forests. The male tigers which have thrown out from core forests in the territorial fights from the ruling tiger often takes shelter in these buffer forests & so do new tigers which want to enter ion core forest in search of territory & on this corridor rules Junabai. I have been lucky to watch Junabai for last five years & the way she has learnt to deal with new tiger males as well humans is admirable! As on one side she has to get tuned with new male tigers & on other side keep safe distance from humans which are in abundance in this part of buffer forests. Trouble with male tigers is if you have got cubs from one tiger & he moves out of the forest then the new male will always try to get rid of your cubs which is most painful for any mom but that’s how nature is, cruel a times! And because of the geographic location of Junabai’s area the movement of new tigers is continuously on yet she has managed to raise many cubs which is her gift to Tadoba. About dealing with humans, she is a master now as its heartening to watch Junabai keeping distance from humans inhabitataing these forests along with the tigers (its allowed as its buffer). So many times, I have seen the domestic cattlemen (chrawahe/ gurakhi) are taking their cattle on the forest roads or guarding their sheep grazing around & unaware of presence of Junabai resting in the foliage around them but very alert & keeping keen eye on their movements! The moment these men leave the forests which is late evening or for taking the animals to another part of buffers behind them, I have seen her silently emerging from the bushes & start her hunt for food or marking her territory. Similarly, I have observed Junabai dealing with village women who has to enter in the forests for Tendu-leaf collection or such daily routine jobs or just taking these roads for commuting to their destination, yet she never scares them by suddenly jumping in front of these village women or cross their path! Junabai has survived so long & successfully because she knows, now the humans are part of her life & attacking them will serve no good for her or her cubs & she respects humans’ presence in her forests by being observant yet keeping safe distance from them & that’s so wonderful to experience! At the same time when there is new male tiger in the area, she keeps her cubs in one part of the forest & lure the new male tiger to another end of the forest ensuring safety of her cubs of which this male tiger is not father!
At the same time while with her cubs she is super alert & ever watchful, as in my recent trip I get to observe her such skills from close. While we were waiting at a spot where in the thickset of shrubs Junabai was resting with her two small cubs around, there was just a small window through the bushes from where we can see her & when with cubs’ tigress usually choose such place only so she can hide them when she was out on hunting. She must have been tiered due to job of hunting all night for herself & her cubs & the stress must be there all the time for safety of the cubs which are left behind when she is on hunt, so rest is an important factor for mom tigress. The cubs were wide awake & in playing mood while Junabai was fast asleep, though she knew our presence around but she knew we are no threat for her cubs so she could afford to sleep & we were waiting if she wakes up & takes the cubs to nearby water body, in such case patience is the key as a tiger can sleep for hours leaving your frustrated but we too are veteran now in wait game so the clock was ticking. Suddenly in the distance faint alarm calls & wild dogs voices came to our ear & Junabai was up on her feet in a flash like she was never sleeping & in one stride she was on the road in front of our gypsy instructing the cubs not to move from the place by her eyes & her eyes scanning the entire area for possible threat which wild dogs are for tigers. Her ear raises & taking every smallest of sound in to judge the direction as well distance from the side wild dog’s calls have come & she decided to circle the entire area & left! I have witnessed a Super Mom on her duty to her best as she was in deep sleep which we were observing for nearly an hour & not sure when she will wake up & a faint call of wild dogs & she was on her feet in a flicker to ensure safety of her cubs & went for the round of entire area keeping aside her tiredness aside & ready to face the threat by herself as wild dog are hard enemies even for a tiger & can injure a tiger as they attack by pack yet Junabai was ready to take them on for the cubs! There is a temple of now inside the forest of Junabai lady where our Super Mom has been seen hanging around often & that’s why Junabai tigress is named after her. About the bloodline of Junabai, some says she is daughter of another Super Mom of Tadoba i.e. of Choti Madhu, which currently rules Junona buffer & some says she is daughter of Tara & I have written about Choti Madhu in earlier episode of Super Moms of Tadoba, though nobody can confirm this info & many says she just took over the present territory as it was laying vacant! But one sure thing is Junabai is mother to another Super Mom in making i.e. tigress named Verra who is right now ruling adjoining forests of Junabai’s territory, Belara & have two bold cubs, so Junabai is already a Super Grand Mother actually!
Tigress like Junabai does one more good thing for the wildlife tourism & that is in the process of becoming Super Mom for her cubs she makes them comfortable with humans as well the forest & this is why most of these cubs when grow up, are not shy or afraid of humans & gives good show to the tourists which is the main attraction of wildlife tourism & makes Tadoba dear to the wild lifers across the globe! And in doing so, indirectly Junabai (and her likes) has become mother to many locals also, as because of her sightings with her cubs Madanpaur/ Kolara buffers are flooded with tourists & a major source of income for many households, this is why Junabai is one of the best Super Moms of Tadoba & may her regime grow, is my wish for her!
Though by every day the task of making the cubs grow is becoming hard for even Super Mom like Junabai as numbers of tigers are increasing & space is same rather reducing thus fight for the territory are becoming more often & the first victims are small cubs from another male tiger! It’s a big jungle yet its not so big that a Mom can hide her cubs from all the eyes & eventually some or other cub does gets killed by some other tiger, as recently she has lost her grown sub adult female cub to another tigress! What we can do is try giving Super moms like Junabai as much space we can give & disturb them less & for that wild life tourism is the key as then the locals around Junabai won’t mind occasionally their cattle or sheep getting killed by her as they know its out of need for survival & on Junbai’s survival depends their own survival also, long live Super Mom Junabai!
Such is charisma of tigress Junabai that I have decided to cover two or three Super Moms along but when I started writing about her, the entire sharing space she only took & I don’t want to stretch your reading patience, so more Super Moms of Tadoba in next episodes, adios with this promise.!
-
Sanjay Deshpande
Sanjeevani Dev.
Please view my sharing about finding a Right Home/ Office in Pune, at YouTube link below & share if liked...
https://youtu.be/27j3I3rwGPQ?si=-ODYBxVI2Dl_C345
Please do visit my blog links below to read about real estate & home buying!
https://visonoflife.blogspot.com/2024/01/choosing-your-home-along-with-future-of.html
http://jivnachadrushtikon.blogspot.com/2023/02/blog-post.html
Creating Togetherness; team Sanjeevani Way (Click link below)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/65629150@N06/albums/72157627904681345
For any of your complaints about city, log in at link below
www.punecorporation.org
Take your issues to Hon PM at link below...
Think Green, Think Life
Posts
