Tiger is the largest cat in the world. A male Bengal Tiger has an average length of 9 to 10 feet, including the tail and similarly, a female can be as big as 7.5 to 8.5 feet. The largest Tiger ever recorded in the foothills of the Himalayas, in the present-day state of Uttarakhand, was ‘Bachelor of Pawalgarh’, shot in the winter of 1930 by Jim Corbett and measured at 10 feet 7 inches over the curves.
The average weight of Bengal Tigers can be around 180 to 250 kg for males and 100 to 160 kg for females. Summer is a very good time to look for the Tigers, as the visibility through the ground vegetation improves. As the summer advances, the water sources dry up. Tigers have a great need for water in the hot weather and are usually seen near the few remaining water sources like waterholes and river valleys.
This massive male Tiger was recently recorded by Jim’s Jungle Retreat Chief Naturalist, Manoj Sharma, in fading light of the late evening, on one of the drives to Corbett Tiger Reserve. It was seen sitting in a small waterhole in a dry riverbed.
As the weather turns more and hotter, May and June are the best months to look for Tigers in Corbett Tiger Reserve. Located close to Jim’s Jungle Retreat are Dhela and Jhirna Tourism Zones of the reserve, areas that offer some of the best Tiger-viewing opportunities.