Shaaz Jung’s Instagram page is a dream for lovers of wildlife. African elephants amble along the bushland; lions regally survey their lands, and black panthers, darker than the night, stare moodily into the camera with gleaming coats and glowing eyes. It’s enough to set your pulse racing, or better still, start plotting a safari holiday to see these beauties in the flesh.
The wildlife photographer has spent considerable time in East Africa, where he runs wildlife camps and tours, but his favourite part of the world to track big cats and photograph them is Kabini (officially called Nagarhole National Park) in Karnataka, where he runs The Bison Resort with his family.
Home to elusive creatures like the leopard, tiger and panther, Kabini is the erstwhile hunting ground of the Maharaja of Mysore and one of the finest national parks in the country. Its deciduous forests are a joy to experience, especially with a trained naturalist, and a thrill for wildlife photographers from across the world.
Watching a peacock dance for a mate is a riveting sight, but humans might be missing half the show. Studies have shown that peacocks also emit a low-frequency sound that can be heard by females, but is inaudible to human ears.
Kabini is known for its leopards, and the spotted king reigns over the forest. This site was once a temple where locals would bow to the gods in reverence and gratitude. Today, it is covered in vines and ferns and serves as home to one of the park’s many leopards.
The black panther’s velvet fur is in stark contrast to the lush green around. The most elusive of big cats, the panther is actually a black-coated leopard. Look closely, and you can see its spots.
It doesn’t matter how many times you see a tiger; it never gets old. Here, the big cat trains its eyes on us, calmly licks his paw, claws outstretched, as if to remind us that this is not our territory. We are merely visitors.
The big cats get all the press, but Kabini has little delights too. Like this chameleon that has evolved over thousands of years to accept, adapt, and survive.
This photo was edited to showcase the magnanimous beauty of nature: the falling leaves, the bare trees, the owl perched on a low branch, and the leopard silhouetted against the rising moon.
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