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In the Realm of the Tiger

byVinod GoelAvailable online; Travels across India for speaking engagementsStarts from7,500 per articleView full gallery

From the iconic tigress Maya to the legendary Collarwali, these frames capture the raw behaviour of the Royal Bengal Tiger. Each image documents real, unscripted moments in our country's majestic reserves.

This family portrait was taken on International Tiger Day to celebrate India's success in doubling the tiger population. As a tiger lover who has visited parks for two decades, seeing such a healthy family thriving in the wild at Tadoba gives me immense hope for their future.

On World Wildlife Day, I share this image of a tigress with her cubs. Protecting the tiger at the top of the food pyramid ensures the protection of the entire forest ecosystem. This family represents the success of India's conservation efforts.

This is a tribute to the legendary tigress 'Collarwali' of Pench, who passed away in 2022. Known as 'Super Mom', she gave birth to a record 29 cubs. I photographed her here as a young subadult in 2007, already looking like a queen on her throne.

This is the iconic tigress Maya of Tadoba, walking with her cubs. She is a fierce protector, and understanding her behaviour is key to ensuring human and animal safety. My articles often explore the complexities of human-wildlife interactions based on such field observations.

A rare sighting of the first courtship between the famous tigress Krishna (T-19) and Star Tiger (T-28) at Ranthambore in 2009. Being one of only two vehicles there allowed me an intimate view of this natural drama, a story I have retold many times.

About In the Realm of the Tiger

I don't just photograph tigers; I document their survival strategies. Whether it's the legendary 'Collarwali' of Pench with her record-breaking 29 cubs or the fierce protection of the tigress Maya in Tadoba, my focus is on capturing the struggle and triumph of these big cats in their natural habitat. When you look at these images, you are seeing more than a portrait—you are witnessing the complex life of our national animal as it navigates a changing landscape.

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