THOLPETTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY -March-11-2008

It was a midday-call from my friend, noted wildlife photographer Sally Thankappan that led me for a wild entourage to the Tholpetti wildlife sanctuary in the evening.

I was thrilled as it was my first brush with wildlife as a photographer. More amazing was the accompaniment of a great photographer like Sally who knows all the nook and corner of the jungles of Wayanad. Being exposed to jungles Sally is very much familiar with the animal world.

We packed off with all equipments by 4 pm. Our friend Raghavan was waiting for us with good news that tiger sighttings in the locality has been icnreased many fold in the last few days. We met the range officer Mr. Sunilkumar who provided us all facilites for our stay in the guest house of the forest department.After refreshing at the Guest House we went for a night-drive through the main road. Piercing through the dark night Our Wagon-R dashed through the jungle road. Often we saw some herds of elephants, deers and wild boar. We had some record shots and returned by midnight.We had a nice sleep.

Forest Guest House

SalyThankappan my guru waiting for action
Our morning trip started at 6 am. Shankunni, an expert driver and guide came with his safari jeep and we entered the lush green thick forest through the dusty road which welcomed us with all its wild grace. We were eagerly looking for the tigers. We spent an entire day in the forest in search of the tiger. We met countless herds of elephants, spotted deers, gaur , birds and bison but no tiger.At the end of the wilderness Desolation struck us. We kept silent.

With full of despair we packed all our equipments in the evening and started our return trip. While we were moving through the twllight all of a sudden there came a tiger. Wagon R came to a grinding halt. He stared at us for a moment and with graceful movements crossed the road into the forest . We had a futile attempt to capture his maginfiicnt movements in camera but in vain.

My guru said pictures shot are great.But pictures unshot are greater.