The Misnomer Called Zalim: Life Through the Eyes of T25

Infanticide by male tigers is a very common phenomenon but there are a few stories in the wild that show that they can be doting dads! Here we present a heartwarming story of the benevolent “Zalim” based on observations during routine monitoring for research and conservation.

- Rajesh Gupta

I was born to my parents T22 and T23 and I roam freely in the woods of Ranthambore. Currently I occupy the periphery of the Ranthambore National Park from Singhduar to Tambakhan-Kachida and Dhakra. My territory is thickly forested with trees of Dhok (Anogeissus pendula) and is traversed by annual streams. The Kachida Talab has water throughout the year but I use it to escape from human intruders who come from the nearby villages of Shyampura and Uliana and Badlao on the periphery of the National Park.

Every morning I see the forest staff on foot in my territory. Through the bushes I see them prepare a cast of my pugmark. Though I do not understand it, I feel that they are ensuring my protection by collecting evidences of my presence. So I move on without harming them for their unpermitted intrusion in my territory! Everyday I see several green gypsies with humans in colorful attires peering in through their lenses as I roam the forests. Though I feel bothered by their presence in my territory, my family members say that we have to live with them as they are now a part of our ecosystem. In fact T6 and T28 keep telling me that we actually increase the ‘happiness index’ of humans, who escape from the city hustle and bustle in search of peace in the silence of the woods. Our sightings mesmerize them but I keep pondering whether they adequately compensate us for the happiness we give them?

Many of these two-legged creatures shriek saying “Look, Zalim is here hiding behind the bushes”. Even the guides explain to the tourists—“He is T25 but we also refer to him as Zalim”. My friends T28, T6, T24 say that Zalim actually means ‘Cruel’. Me and cruel! I was so annoyed but there is very little I could do. I traveled through the depths of time to understand whether I was really the “Cruelsome”!