Tigers & Peacocks: Safari in Ranthambhore Park

On Thursday June 14 we woke up at 5 am to go on a Tiger Safari in two jeeps into Ranthambhore National Park to fully understand the importance of the work that Prakratik Society is doing to save the tiger, the forest, and provide the surrounding villages an alternatives means of livelihood (read previous blog entry for more info on this).
We separated into two groups, group A with Sophia, Linda, Jazmin and Satoko were taken to zone 3 and our group with Farah, Sejal, Paul and I travelled to zone 5. The jungle was beautiful. peaceful and full of wildlife, including deer, rabits, antellopes, monkeys and peacocks. Unfortunately, our group wasn't lucky enough to spot any tigers despite waiting for over an hour by a watering hole that the tigers have previously been spoted by forest guards. Group A was lucky enough to spot a tiger with her three adolescent cubs, but according to the locals, you can go to the jungle a dozen times and may not see a tiger once. This is how reduced their numbers have become, which is really really sad, because they are magnificant animals.
But our dissapointment was abated somewhat by an incredible display of other wildlife including witnessing the courtship dance of a peacock
There were no takers for him despite the fact that there were 4-8 peahens right infront of him, but according to our safari guide, the peahens play hard to get and it takes a really really long time for the peacock to prove his ummm virility? beauty? ability to shake his booty? I don't know. But I think human males can learn a lesson from the peacock especially its persistence in trying to woe a mate. (This doesn't include my own husband of course, he was as persistent as a peacock although he doesn't strut like one, at least not in public) We also have some peacocks and peahens on the campus roaming around, or in the case of the peacock strutting his stuff, it's hillarious to watch him walk because he is aware of his own beauty.

During the safari I had a whole new appreciation for the work that the Prakratik Society and Environmental and Wildlife societies do in general and I fell like this is a big part of public health, especially when the programs implemented are multi-sectoral and multi-pronged social ecological projects that aim to change social norms to better the planet and the preserve the future of humanity.