March 2016 came with a fresh wave to our wildlife endeavors, Jhalana Forest was now open to everyone for safari. One could enter in their own car after paying a nominal fee. We jumped over this and started going there morning and evening to pursue our dream of spotting Leopard in the wild. A thirst which wasn't quenched even by a visit to Bera 2 years back! These magnificent cats were still elusive to our eyes.
From 2 to 5 march we had visited jhalana religiously every morning and evening, but didn't get to see the leopards. With the limited knowledge and experience of Tiger tracking, we went around the two tracks of the forest. We found a few calls, traced pug-marks, waited for long hours at the water holes, but the leopards were elusive. Finally we got our first glimpse on 6 March. It was early morning and I had the head lights switched on which made something glow in the bushes. We followed and finally saw a leopard, probably a cub, running away in the bushes.
5 seconds and it was all over, he vanished. Where did he go? Waited there for almost an hour, but no sign of the leopard!
This brought us to a conclusion, this is not a Tiger! It is the most elusive of the cats and hence is the most successful. We started searching the internet for ways to track and trace these cats. Finally we chanced upon an article written by someone I recognised as our very own Deky, or DK as most of us would call him, The same person who had posted a leopard pic on this thread. Shot a message asking for his help and tips on how to track. Got a very positive reply, and he gave us some tips. We started again.
One morning I was waiting inside the park for some movement and calls and got to meet him personally. Though the safari ended with no sighting, but I got a friend! He guided me on the things I was doing wrongly, He asked us listen to Peacock, Partridge and Squirrel alarm calls, whilst we were looking for deer, antelope and monkey calls!
Cut to March 19 - The evening safari was again going down without any sighting. Around 1815hrs, whilst going towards the exit, decided to quickly check an area which everyone calls mines. We saw a car of Jhalana veterans standing. They waved at us and we moved quickly. They pointed towards the leopard, but we were clueless! Then they said look closely in the bushes. There it was, right in front of us, less than 5m away. Hidden with its amazing camouflage.
After the initial excitement, we were asked to move out of leopards sight so as to give it way for moving towards the water point. It was difficult to let the leopard go out of sight, but we still followed. Only to come back and realise that it actually came down and started moving towards the water point.
After this the female went and sat near the water hole. We took a couple of shots and left her there as it was time for us to exit the park.
Finally we had seen a leopard in the wild and that too at a very close distance and in open. We thanked the veterans- Doc and Bana. Called DK and told him about the awesome sighting. After 19 days and some 25 safaris later, we had our first good sighting.
On 21 March again in the mines we saw the same female cross the path. We followed it at a distance. It went on the path and kept looking backwords at us ensuring her safety.
Later she climbed an area where there was no track and marked her territory.
It was a sight to behold, after spraying the scent she moved quickly in the bushes and vanished. It was like she was wishing us Happy Holi! As it was holi, park was also closed and we also traveled to see some relatives giving us a week long break.
We decided to control our movement to the park as we were overdoing it in search of this leopard. It was decided that we will only go 2-3 times a week
The leopards went missing again, and the next sighting was 3 weeks later. April 11, whilst coming from mines and going towards another point, my partner asked me to stop and reverse a bit. I did, and there it was. Down, lying low with belly on the ground so that you mistake it for bush or stone!
When he realised that we had seen him, he stood a bit and gave us couple of shots before turning around and going back in the nala.