Where has Tadoba queen Maya gone?

Nagpur: Has Tadoba’s legendary tigress Maya (T-12) gone missing, or isolated herself from the tourism hustle and bustle after delivering cubs? Tourists regularly visiting the park to to see Maya have voiced serious concern over the lack of direct or indirect sighting of the friendly tigress over the last five days, since the park reopened after the monsoon.

Sources said the last sighting of the tigress was on August 23, when the park was closed during rains. Deputy director (core) Nandkishore Kale denied that the tigress was missing. “We hope the 13-year-old tigress might have delivered cubs. In May, the feline had mated with a couple of males and considering the 110-day gestation period, she must have delivered. We expect she might spring a surprise with cubs,” Kale said.Well-known wildlife cinematographer and filmmaker Subbiah Nallamuthu, who filmed Maya, said, “It is too early to conclude anything. We should wait for 15-20 days. It is possible she delivered cubs, and must be keeping them safe from other males. During this season, prey and water are available everywhere and hence the tigress must be making less movement.” However, expressing concern over the situation, actress and regular Tadoba visitor Sadaa Sayad said, “I was in Tadoba season opener for none other than Maya. I was really looking forward to seeing her in all her glory once again after a break of three months. Though I sighted other tigers, the park didn’t feel the same. The grandeur of Maya doing road shows was missing.”“From management viewpoint, chasing an individual tiger may not be a priority but it is high time foresters launch a massive search operation for Maya. The tigress cannot be referred to as an ordinary one, but she is the one who put Tadoba on the global map. We hope she is not harmed, but her fans want to know whether all is well,” said resort owner Nikhil Abhyankar of Kolara.“We also observed that two three-year-old siblings Bijli and Roma of another dominating tigress Chhoti Tara, were moving into Maya’s territory with their cubs. Maya is very protective of her territory which has ample water bodies, grasslands, and sufficient prey, the basic requirements for tigers. She even fights with rivals to protect it. Other tigers occupying her territory is surprising,” said Abhyankar.“During the last five days, since the park opened after the monsoon, tourist-friendly Maya has not been sighted even once. There is also no direct or indirect evidence either,” said Ankur Hardas, a tourist.Deputy director Kale said, “Every season when the park reopens, stories of Maya going missing do the rounds. Whenever she delivers cubs, she comes out in the open when they are two-months-old. We have installed 25 cameras in the area where she inhabits.”