The Pench Tiger Reserve’s Khursapar gate need no introduction. For several years, wildlife enthusiasts have identified the location as a place to go for a sure sighting.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri and his family recently paid a visit to the Khursapar area. And spotted a tiger chasing a spotted deer.
On Friday, Dr Umesh Krishna who accompanied Ravi Shastri said, “Ravi Shastri who dominated Indian sports as a player, coach and commentator visited Pench Tiger Reserve. Staying on the Madhya Pradesh side, Ravi expressed his interest to visit Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. Thankfully the Maharashtra forest department honoured his request and felicitated him at Khursapar gate.”
Dr Umesh Krishnawho, who also runs NGO Nat
Edu Foundation, said, “During safari, Ravi Shastri sighted Indian gaur, spotted/sambar deer, four-horned antelope and variety of trees in the range. His excitement was at most when he saw a tigress stalking a barking deer. The tigress charged and chased a spotted deer.”
Narrating the experience of witnessing the tigress in the wild, Ravi Shastri reportedly told Dr Umesh Krishna, “To witness a – tiger chasing and hunting a deer is once in a lifetime = experience. On the cricket field, you don’t think much, just perform. You fail sometimes, you succeed sometimes. It applies to wildlife safari too.”