With reports of a tiger lurking in Teekli, a little known village in the outskirts of Gurgaon, B&E set forth in the wilderness of this small village, tracking the pug marks...
T he recent news peg of a tiger lurking somewhere in the
villages of Gurgaon triggered my venture to Teekli, a village in the outskirts of Delhi. Just a while after the car cantered effortlessly through the narrow road with endless shades of green on either side, a familiar face among a group of villagers drew my attention. It was Lakhi Ram whose statement and appearance in one of the dailies had spurred curiosity and wonder. “It isn’t recent. The animal has been around for years now. Many cows and goats have been killed and eaten. Gopi’s cow was found half eaten yesterday. I can also show you the pug marks in the field. Sher to hai yahan (There’s a tiger for sure),” he concluded while the others nodded in affirmation.
Lakhi Ram and two others agreed to take us to the interiors of the wilderness where he had seen the pug marks. After a rickety ride through the vast mud-packed spread amidst the Aravalis, we stopped the car and took to the feet in search of the evidence of the striped beast. “Here it is!” called out Lakhi Ram. There were deep imprints of claws in the damp mud. “I told you I have seen pug marks. And there are people in Ansal Farms who have seen the ‘tiger’,” he informed us. Unsure whether the pug marks was of a tiger, leaopard or another carnivore, we took pictures for its verification from a wildlife expert, and headed on the hunt for witnesses.
On our way through the stretches of green towards Ansal Farms, we chanced upon a shepherd who provided us with some more interesting facts. “I have seen the animal. But it isn’t a tiger. It doesn’t have stripes, it has spots,” explained Ganga Ram. “These villagers don’t recognise the difference. I have been living here for years and have seen hunters who would hunt tigers. But what roams around here is a cheetah. And not just one. Many! About four-five of them,” he said. Must be a family of leopards, I thought.
T he recent news peg of a tiger lurking somewhere in the
villages of Gurgaon triggered my venture to Teekli, a village in the outskirts of Delhi. Just a while after the car cantered effortlessly through the narrow road with endless shades of green on either side, a familiar face among a group of villagers drew my attention. It was Lakhi Ram whose statement and appearance in one of the dailies had spurred curiosity and wonder. “It isn’t recent. The animal has been around for years now. Many cows and goats have been killed and eaten. Gopi’s cow was found half eaten yesterday. I can also show you the pug marks in the field. Sher to hai yahan (There’s a tiger for sure),” he concluded while the others nodded in affirmation.Lakhi Ram and two others agreed to take us to the interiors of the wilderness where he had seen the pug marks. After a rickety ride through the vast mud-packed spread amidst the Aravalis, we stopped the car and took to the feet in search of the evidence of the striped beast. “Here it is!” called out Lakhi Ram. There were deep imprints of claws in the damp mud. “I told you I have seen pug marks. And there are people in Ansal Farms who have seen the ‘tiger’,” he informed us. Unsure whether the pug marks was of a tiger, leaopard or another carnivore, we took pictures for its verification from a wildlife expert, and headed on the hunt for witnesses.
On our way through the stretches of green towards Ansal Farms, we chanced upon a shepherd who provided us with some more interesting facts. “I have seen the animal. But it isn’t a tiger. It doesn’t have stripes, it has spots,” explained Ganga Ram. “These villagers don’t recognise the difference. I have been living here for years and have seen hunters who would hunt tigers. But what roams around here is a cheetah. And not just one. Many! About four-five of them,” he said. Must be a family of leopards, I thought.
My mind instantly absorbed Ganga Ram’s words, considering that a tiger could not have strayed as they had long disappeared from the neighbouring wildlife reserve, Sariska. Ganga Ram narrated an incident when one of his goats was hauled away in his presence by one of these beasts. On requesting, he agreed to take us through the woods where he claimed to have often seen a ‘cheetah’ pass by. He spoke all along as we followed him through the trees and scrubs, rambling about his life in this wild outskirt of the city... of the Ansals acquiring this land, of the dwindling number of animals in jungles... Interestingly, he has a neelgai (blue bull)which plays a sheep dog and protects his goats by signaling them to change course on sensing trouble ahead. He suddenly halted, abruptly cutting short the conversation.
“There! I have seen the ‘cheetah’ there.” I stood with anticipation, gazing at the grassland from atop the elevated mount, hoping to catch a glimpse or get to hear the animal’s call, which had created a stir. It was for quite some time that we stood, silently, the breeze whistling through the trees. Was it plain bad luck or was there no carnivore there, I asked myself. On further investigation and finding pieces of bones (presumably that of a cow) strewn around, and the claims by the security guard (of the entire stretch that comprises Ansal Farms) of having seen a leopard a few days ago, reinstated my belief of a wild shadow’s existence. “They haven’t harmed a human yet. They only feed on cows and goats for survival. They shouldn’t be captured and taken away,” said Ganga Ram, as he was taking leave, his smile highlighting his wrinkles. Inspite of repeated attacks on their cattle, the intrepid villagers too were of the same opinion.
“There! I have seen the ‘cheetah’ there.” I stood with anticipation, gazing at the grassland from atop the elevated mount, hoping to catch a glimpse or get to hear the animal’s call, which had created a stir. It was for quite some time that we stood, silently, the breeze whistling through the trees. Was it plain bad luck or was there no carnivore there, I asked myself. On further investigation and finding pieces of bones (presumably that of a cow) strewn around, and the claims by the security guard (of the entire stretch that comprises Ansal Farms) of having seen a leopard a few days ago, reinstated my belief of a wild shadow’s existence. “They haven’t harmed a human yet. They only feed on cows and goats for survival. They shouldn’t be captured and taken away,” said Ganga Ram, as he was taking leave, his smile highlighting his wrinkles. Inspite of repeated attacks on their cattle, the intrepid villagers too were of the same opinion.
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