Thursday, April 15, 2010

B2.. The Maharaja!





B2, born to Mohini (Bachchi) in April 1997, was one of the 3 males born in the litter. With rivals like “Charger”, the then king of Bandhavgarh, and his own brother “B1”, the road to the top was not easy. But with the death of Charger in 2000, B2 started to take over the kingdom of Bandhavgarh from his nearest rival B1. B1 was reported to be poached somewhere around 2002. B2 was the new king.
B2 marched the jungle of Bandhavgarh like a maharaja now. His mere presence would send an alarm in the whole kingdom that the king was on the prowl. But the Rajbehra male (BOKHA) had different plans. He was the only tiger to have challenged B2 in Bandhavgarh and survived with his share. No other male could even dream of stepping in the maharaja’s kingdom. B2 still was the dominant male tiger with more than half of the kingdom under his belt.. Bokha, on the other hand was happy with what he got.
2009, B2 turned 12. With age catching up, B2 was an easy target. Kalua, one of the Mirchani cubs and his own son took on B2. But the wounds on the face and body of Kalua were a straight message.. DO NOT MESS WITH ME.. !!!! Bokha again tried to push B2 in 2009. With Bokha walking upto Chakradhara, again it was a challenge for B2. But this time B2 backed off. Bokha still visits the meadows of Chakradhara but on no occasion has any fight taken place. B2 still is the maharaja.. !!!!
Being one of the largest recorded male tiger in the country and undoubtedly the most photographed tiger of his times, B2 has ruled Bandhavgarh for a decade now. B2 lived fearlessly throughout the years until the NEW TALA MALE (BAMERA MALE) stepped in his father’s territory to start his own kingdom. He was in no hurry. He walked from the Bamera Range till the Tala range, but would never cross Siddhbaba. He was moving in with a plan in mind.
12th April 2010, Bandhavgarh: News of B2 injured in a territorial fight with Bamera male. B2’s got wounds in his paws and was seen limping in the Mirchani area. Every social networking website was full with the news of B2 being injured. “Prayers for B2” was the status message of millions of fans of B2. This was not the first time when B2 was injured but this surely was the first time when the MAHARAJA was BADLY INJURED.
I have so many wildlife lovers, photographers, journalist on my list. And everyone knows the primary law “Survival of the fittest”. But no one ever said so in the case of B2. Their love for B2 made them selfish. Nobody.. Nobody asked how the Bamera male was..?? Was he also injured.. ?? Had it been the other way round and the Bamera male would have been injured in the fight. It would not have gained so much publicity……
I myself love B2. I have waited for him for hours. I have never waited outside a girls’ school or a college for so long. But I have never seen B2 in my life. Never.. !!!! Came close many times but missed him by seconds.. I have been following him since the last 10 years now.. I have sighted almost all the males and females in the tourism zone. I have witnessed territorial fights, courtships, kills and all. But I could not manage even a glimpse of the Maharaja. Seen thousands of photographs of B2, but have never been able to click a single photograph of the maharaja.
I also wish B2 a long life. I pray that he recovers from his injuries soon. So that I may be able to see him and photograph him once in my life. That still remains a dream.. a dream…. !!!!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

i am gutted as I saw B2 ON 24th March this year and he was awesome and had a personality I would be disappointed if does not make it.
For this is nature.The other male Tiger is also a Tiger though a recluse but B2 is famous and is connnected with people.

What a beautiful tiger he is !!

Anonymous said...

Hello sir, do you know how much B2 weighed in his prime? Was his weight recorded by anyone? Thanks.

shehla Masood said...

what is the Staus of B2 Plss inform us and update.

shehla.miracles@gmail.com

Siberian tiger said...

South China tiger is the most endangered cat species in the world. They are so vulnerable that some scientists believe that they have disappeared in the wild. In captivity they remained 50-60, unfortunately, can not the mate among themselves, as are all related, so that they will soon disappear. They have disappeared because of human negligence and greed.

NSM said...

I missed B2 in my trip in beginning of April. I saw the Bokha tiger and Kalua. However, all the naturalists and the guides were in awe of B2!

Nice update though!

NSM
http://wanderlustinindia.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Long live B2 the King.

http://wildtigerwatch.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

i thnk charger is more better then b2 but i m apreciatng ur love toward b2

Shreyas said...

I saw B2 on 15june 2011...he has ceded territory to Bamera male...still when you look at him you cant make out that he is an old tiger past his prime...still looks fit
I guess it is fitting that he lost his territory to his son only..as he had his gene

Anonymous said...

Friends if anyone not see than from today it is your dream forever because now B2 is no more.....!

Unknown said...

oh B2..I so miss u !!
Prolly one of the most royal tiger...

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