For the uninitiated, the solitary lure of an Indian forest means spotting the Tiger in its natural habitat, of watching the most beautiful feline slink through the undergrowth, muscles rippling and tail never ceasing to twitch. This is the land of the Tiger, amidst lush green forest perched precariously on mountains, silent since they were born. This is the land of the Indian Tiger. This is Panna National Park

















In the recent past, Panna has become a haven for Tiger sighting. This is substantiated by the fact that this National Park has over 38 Tigers, thanks to the committed research and management by Dr. Raghu Chundawat and the forest authorities. Raghu's study has helped expand Tiger breeding territories through controlled habitat management. Also, the Park authorities have now deputed elephants to head out into the dense forest, the most effective way to spot a Tiger.


However, before venturing into tiger country, it might be a good idea to get acquainted with its habits. Here are some for starters:

• The Tiger is basically a solitary animal and rigidly territorial. It demarcates its territory by spray-marking foliage and rocks with a mixture of urine and a secretion from their anal glands. They also mark their territory by scratching trees, which help sharpen their claws. The Tiger marks its territory for two reasons: to attract a mate during breeding season and to ward off other male Tigers.
  
  
• Tigers hunt by stalking. Taking advantage of every inch of forest cover available, they stalk up to their prey to make a final charge to pounce on its quarry. The Tiger kills with a suffocating bite across the back of the neck, which breaks the spinal cord and vertebral column. If the prey is too big, the Tiger prefers to hamstring it first and then kill it in the usual fashion. A Tiger always starts feeding from the hindquarters and may consume 20-35 kg of meat in its first meal. An adult male Tiger kills about 3,600 kg of prey, while an adult Tigress feeds on about 3,000 kg of prey every year.
  
  
• Tigers prey on almost all mammals that share its habitat but have a marked preference for deer, especially the Sambhar, which is abundant in Panna.