India: Tiger

The tiger is the symbol of India. Despite efforts to maintain their numbers, human demand for their habitat and a small army of poachers continually puts pressure on the numbers. I photographed this tiger in Bandhavgarh National Park, created in 1968. Before that time it had been a private hunting reserve for the royal Rewa family.

While at the park I saw more than a dozen tigers. Most of the time, though, it was a brief glimpse, an eye in the underbrush or an individual crossing a road in the distance. This fellow stayed in view for quite a while, treating us with regal indifference. I use a wide aperture to stop motion and to blur the background so the tiger stood out.

Don't forget to check out my show, ART WOLFE'S TRAVELS TO THE EDGE, on your local PBS channel to learn more about these tigers that roam the Bandhavgarh National Park and my other worldly travels.