While hopscotching from one tiger reserve to another in the central state of Madhya Pradesh, India, I came face to face with a Bengal tiger in Kanha National Park.
I was on a jeep safari arranged by PureQuest Adventures and, fortunately, there was a Nikon Nikkor 500mm lens between us. India is estimated to be home to about 70 percent of the world’s tigers, and through the creation of tiger reserves, its government is making an active effort to protect its majestic national animal.
Kanha National Park is Madhya Pradesh’s largest national park, and other animals found here include leopards, jackals, wild pigs, sloth bears, swamp deer and sambars, which roam its vast grasslands and forests.
More wildlife opportunities abound in the state’s Bandhavgarh National Park and Satpura National Park, as well; the latter is particularly good for spotting waterbirds including Indian skimmers, grey herons, purple herons, river terns and bar-headed geese.