If you thought only humans are crying hoarse about the environment and encroachment into the wild, think again. Three 18-month-old male tigers in the Maghdi range of Bandhavgarh recently showed that when it came to their territory, they would not only defend it but clear it of unwanted debris.
The three tigers literally threw away a forest labourer’s pickaxe and a plastic bowl beyond their territorial limits. Wildlife photographer and conservationist Michael J Vickers recorded the moment.
He writes, “As my jeep slowly turned a corner on the forest track, we found the three tigers resting quietly on the sandy track in front of us. After a short while one of the tigers got up and walked into the forest cover and then to my amazement returned carrying a pickaxe in his jaw, which he then proceeded to carry past his siblings into the adjoining meadow! Just a few minutes later he returned and again walked past his brothers and back into forest. Suddenly there was a loud crash and he again reappeared, this time carrying an orange coloured bowl in his mouth!
These items had previously been left behind by forest department workers. Curiosity and the cat — how very true. It was an amusing scene and I did wonder if he would return for a third item of equipment! Not to be as he was then joined by his brothers in the meadow and the ‘show’ was over!”