A trip to Pench Tiger Reserve was all that I could ask for after a really tiring holiday business season. And the trip turned out to be more exciting than I had bargained for. I spotted a tiger and a leopard TOGETHER! Oh well, they were not exactly walking hand in hand. The leopard was right by the roadside and we saw the tiger passing over some rocks high above on a hill, its skin turning white from the falling sun rays. Both the mighty creatures were unaware of the other’s presence. The whole thing was over in a few moments and there was no chance to take a photo. The leopard was still there but all I got on my film was hind portion which is not too recognisable. The pic. that follows was taken the next day when we were shown a tigress and her four grown-up cubs on elephant back.

I was afraid my 15 month old daughter would not sit on elephant back but she enjoyed the rocking back and forth so much that she wouldn’t climb off it! And her reaction when she saw the tigers? She gave them one look and said called out nonchalantly - ‘Meaoww’ and turned to see the elephant she was riding upon. She thought they were ordinary cats!