Tiger's

Destiny

by

Anthony Marr

Part 2c

What

must

be

saved

at

all

cost

Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve

Ranthambhore National Park, the brain child of

Fateh Singh Rathore, is in the Rajasthan state of

India.  Its climate is drier than that of Kanha and

Bandhavgarh.  Its landscape somehow seems

more delicate.  In size it is about the same as

Bandhavgarh, but its tiger population has dwindled

from the original 45 or so to about 15.  A reclining

Buddha of a banyan tree watches over them at

the entrance to the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve.

Ranthambhore is distinguished

by its skyline of a range of

magnificent ancient ruins over

a thousand years old, where

the tigers yet roam..

Extremely well preserved,

 in spite of its vintage,

now the tigers' lair..

In spite of its drier

climate, Ranthambhore

and water seems

inseparable.  In fact,

this lake was man-

made, though is looks

as old as time.

A Ranthambhore peacock

is all that can be counted on

to block the incursion of

woodcutters and poachers. 

May the Goddess Durga

safeguard her personal mount.

And may this not be

Ranthambhore's

final glorious sunset.