Bengal Tiger
Bandhavgarh National Park, India
In the early morning, long before sunrise, I climb into the rear seat of an open four-wheel-drive vehicle and head toward the jungle. Above me, countless stars shine clearly in the sky.
Even with a down jacket worn layered beneath my rainwear, the biting wind mercilessly draws away my body heat. Although the daytime temperatures are high, the mornings and evenings become frigid.
I am visiting Bandhavgarh National Park, one of the primary habitats of the Bengal tiger. Each day at sunrise, I enter the jungle to search for them.
Several days have passed since I began photographing, yet I have had almost no chance to see a tiger up close. They often lurk deep in the dense forest and rarely venture into open areas. Even when I manage to spot one at a distance, the conditions are unfavorable, making it impossible to capture a satisfactory photo.
Day after day brought disappointment, but despite my growing impatience, I continued the search. Eventually, a brief opportunity appeared.
Once a tiger enters the thicket, its bold stripes blend into the surrounding brush, making it nearly impossible to see. As it moved from one thicket to another, I aimed my 400 mm lens at the narrow opening, ready to capture the fleeting moment when it emerged through the gap.
The tiger is known as the king of the jungle. Alongside the lion, the so-called king of beasts, it can be regarded as one of the world鈥檚 two great carnivores. Unlike lions, which live in prides, tigers live alone except during mating season or when raising their cubs. They inhabit a vast range stretching from Siberia to Southeast Asia.
However, of the eight subspecies that once numbered an estimated 100,000 individuals a century ago, three have already gone extinct. Today, fewer than 3,000 remain, putting them on a steady path toward extinction.
