What Else Besides Tigers?

What else can you spot besides Tigers at the Ranthambore National Park? Well, during my frequent trips, I have been able to spot some amazing birds and animals. Among some are Francolins and Crocodiles. But then some of the candid poses of spotted deer and Sambhar deer can be an amazing experience. Momma Sambhar Doe stamps her foot hard on the ground when she perceives danger. I saw the mother stamping her feet to warn her offspring of danger, which was in the form of a large mongoose, and not fortunately, a tiger!

Watching a Sambhur Deer and her offspring can evoke emotions associated with parenting. I spotted a mother Sambhur Deer with her offspring, and they were in perfect sync, ears pointed in one direction, the offspring waiting to spring to safety when prompted by the mother.

But then, the crocodiles basking in the sun can be as terrifying, though not as terrifying as the Nile Crocodiles that I used to see in Ethiopia. 

Apart from all the birds one will spot at the Ranthambore National Park is the Indian Thick Knee. Spotting one could be a gift, but spotting two can be a treasure!

Ultimately, it comes back to the question of whether one has spotted a tiger at the Ranthambore National Park, and the fact is that yes, you are more likely to spot one or more!

Special thanks to Sam Travels and Tours New Delhi, the link to which I have posted at the top of my post. Sam Travels and Tours in New Delhi handled our resort and safari bookings for the trip. They were constantly in touch with us during our visit.

Photographing T 2505 (Shubh) at the Ranthambore National Park Today

Just spotted T-2505 in Ranthambore National Park. He is supposed to be a young male Bengal tiger nicknamed Shubh. I spotted him as he was crossing a causeway from the Joggi Mahal area in zone three.

Shubh is the offspring of the dominant tigress Riddhi, and he carries the bloodline of the tigress Machli. Shubh is growing up into a confident young tiger, asserting his dominance in zones 2 and 3.

And then he walked away with great nonchalance, as if he did not have any care in the whole world. Incidentally, we were able to spot his pug mark, which is how we were able to spot him. In close proximity to the exit point, we were able to spot Shubh's brother, T 2506, in the bushes.

Shikra on a Branch and Jackals on the Bund

Shikras are small birds of prey. They are raptors that hunt small rodents. In medieval times, they were used to get food for hawks. While Shikras are generally found in forests, these days they are more likely to be found in residential areas, thanks to changing ecological patterns. With forests disappearing and game disappearing, Shikras and even white-breasted Flamingos are forced to scavenge for food in urban areas.

We are all heading towards an ecological disaster because of the damage being done to the ecosystem. While birds like Shikras and Flamingoes are adapting their lifestyles to suit changing conditions, one wonders how we human beings will be able to cope with adverse environmental conditions. We are already reeling under a heat wave, Shikras will be able to fly away to other lands, but we will remain stuck within a situation that has been made worse by ourselves.

But then, Shikras are not the only victims of human developmental activities! Jackals have also learned to adapt to changing conditions. Jackals are now edging closer and closer to urban areas. A scarcity of food has led them to converge on residential areas in search of food. These, once shy mammals, are now growing bolder and bolder, and are often used to human presence.

At Mom's Memorial Service

We held a special memorial service for Mom, in which the life of Mrs Ivy Lal was celebrated. She had lived. We were honoured by the presence of many family members, relatives, friends and members of the congregation. The memorial service took place in the Church of the Epiphany, Civil Lines, Gurgaon, on the ninth of May, 2026.

Pews were occupied, and the grandchildren presented a musical rendition that was spell-binding and mesmerising. Mom would have felt proud to see her grandchildren performing so well in her honour. Blessed are those who are remembered and honoured, for they live on in minds and memories.