Filming Tigers in India

Every wildlife photographer amateurs or professionals dream of photographing tigers in India. All filmmakers major or minor think of filming big cats in India. The country has more than 50 tiger reserves and more than 3000 adult tigers. Due to active protection, the number of these big cats is growing day by day as breeding has increased tremendously. The big cats give birth to more than 4 cubs every year, and rear them for two and a half years after which they breed again. The males can mate throughout the year till the ripe age of 14 years.      

Though any tiger reserve can be chosen for filming the big cats,  some destinations offer better opportunities due to the high number of sightings. The parks with very good sightings usually have high visitor traffic. These are the most visited parks but there is a limit to the number of people that can enter the reserve due to restrictions placed by NTCA and the State governments.  The parks are divided into a few zones, and each zone has a limit. Most of the safaris are booked online on the State Government Portals while booking is also available at the reserve gates. You can also book a safari at the director's office or respective reserve, these are protected areas and have separate forest departments. The addresses could be found online on the Internet by typing the name of the reserves.

Best Tiger Reserves

Some of the best reserves are National Parks as well.

Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttrakhand

Kanha Tiger Reserve in Uttrakhand

Bandhavgarh In MP

Ranthambhore in Rajasthan 

Pench National Park in MP

Panna National Park in MP 

These NPs have more than 100 thousand visitors and are highly popular. While many amateur photographers and small filmmakers can use their skills to film on safari, making documentaries is costly and time-consuming.  

For documentary makers, and professional photographers who need to cross the limits of regular safari need special permission from the Ministry of Environment or MOEF, and the principal chief wildlife warden or PCCF  of the states.  These are costly and require time for permissions to be granted if acceptable. It is not easy to organize photo tours in India for professionals.  Wildlife filmmakers and professional photographers need to make a lot of arrangements for photography sessions and need the help of local guides.

The best is to take the help of the local tour operators who can help organize the sessions in the respective tiger reserves.  The best choice is to go with Indian tour operators who can organize the documentary filming events.  Remember there is a rush during the festive seasons and weekdays hence book safari in advance.    

     

Kanha National Park A Tiger Photographer's Delight!

The majestic beast lay stretched on the jungle road, rather half of its massive frame was on the path under the direct sun, and the rear end was under the shadow of the bush. Excited, I made a near fatal error and persisted. 

We had inched a shade too close to the massive beast as I delivered sermon to unassuming but nevertheless excited guests. I have never seen a tiger in my life one of the guest had informed me as we crossed over into the park. I wish for lot of photographs he had informed me on our first meeting at Courtyard House in Kanha. As a naturalist I expect you to deliver.      

And here was one lying right in front, unassuming and not at all threatening. Extolling the virtue of this majestic beast that lives in the myths and dreams alike, I was immersed in the dialogue and failed to notice the  twitch. The next whence I looked at him straight I noticed the warning....it was too late. 

It was all over in seconds. How could a beast so huge lift himself effortlessly and strike with lightning speed simply defies the law of gravitation? All I could see was a massive flash of yellow passing in front of the jeep and a deafening roar which still rings. The trepidation was instant and I was wobbly all over. 

"Reverse!"  

Fear writ large on my countenance! The tiger could have with one swift strike aimed right taken slabs of meat from my body. "A few kilos..." was all I could hear from the guide as pandemonium struck and we backed off. Or he could have wrenched my head off...I began to surmise the worst, pacified by the increasing distance from the beast in the bush. 

Some lovely images my guest who had never seen a tiger in his life remarked. "I would like some more photos! Totally out my senses I could but just stare at him. Unbelievable. He sat calm and composed a camera with a huge lens on his lap. 

Mukul Yadav

"I am sorry the big cat is not used to humans and the jeep. We will stay away." After some time we tried to return on the guest's insistence but the following jeeps warned us to stay away. Rightly so.  

I was totally unnerved. Well it happens you learn from mistake, never venture close to big cats without gauging their temperament. Like a gentlemen the beast did not harm me and was satisfied with the warning. For some time the new entrant charged on number of jeeps till he got used to the introduction. He had arrived from a non tourist zone and had not seen the jeep before. 

There is another similar incident but for later...    

With right guidance a photographer has ample opportunity to film or capture images of this magnificent predator at Kanha National Park. There are more than hundred tigers in the park. Before you begin to consider this animal as commoner loitering on the wilderness infested pathways you must know these big cats are most elusive. This is the character of the beast and requires lot of logic to track them. They are a challenge to your sensory apparatus and understanding of behaviour and your patience.   

Safari Jeeps

In the torturous terrain of deep glens, tall grass, a cryptic maze of vegetation and dense forests the big cats find easy camouflage and space to hide. Tiger tracking could often be frustrating experience for the guests and the naturalist as well. That is the character of this animal.  

Rare and endangered, it is flourishing at Kanha. Year on year visitor numbers are increasing on quest for the magnificent beast. A large chunk of wildlife photographers arrive here at the tiger reserve to capture award winning images. 

Male Tiger (Paul Fear)

Kanha's tiger  landscape is a paradise with panoramic settings, frequent tiger sightings and exciting adventures. Amazing variations in light conditions are available to enhance effects in all seasons with equally striking backdrops. The destination is well suited for photography and film making in India. The efforts have to be made within rules and regulations set for safaris on open jeeps in the park. For going beyond the rules for photography/film making one needs to have permission from MOEF India and PCCF of Madhya Pradesh. 

Courtyard House Kanha

The park is well endowed with tourism infrastructure and accessibility and accommodation is good. For booking tiger safari at Kanha you need to plan in advance. There is a limit to entry in the core zone of the park hence book permits in advance.   For tiger photography long lenses are not required but it is a matter of choice, in my opinion 300mm critical focusing lens with bean bag is enough. An option of full day safari is also available which though costly suits the lensmen very well. 
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Uday works as freelance naturalist at Kanha. He also provides SEO Service and website contents in English. Uday is a blogger and loves to write on tiger conservation, environment and wildlife in general. Uday teaches Internet Marketing in Summer Holidays.

Contact: pateluday90@hotmail.com
09755089323