“Jo hota hai acche ke liye hota hai” (Whatever happens, happens for the best) — this old saying came true during our field trip on July 18th, 2025.
Between July 10 and 17, after showcasing our BNHS bustard and florican films at the GreenHub Film Festival in Bhopal, we attended a workshop on vulture rescue and release, followed by a visit to Sardarpur Wildlife Sanctuary. After the hectic schedule, on July 18th, our team was in Nagpur, en route to the BNHS Annual Research Seminar 2025.
🛞 Trouble On The Road
Just a kilometre out, our BNHS vehicle began to wobble. We checked the tyres and found all four were old and cracked. To stay safe, we stopped in Umred and spent two hours replacing the tyres and fixing the alignment. It felt like we had lost a whole afternoon.
But then nature surprised us.
🐆 A Leopard On The Rocks
Only 5 km from Gothangao, local villagers were pointing at something on a rock. We saw a beautiful leopard resting in the sun. Kids and elders were excited, and so were we. It was a special moment.
🐯 Four Tiger Cubs Playing
Later, near a small pond, we paused for some birdwatching. One of our team members, Rushikesh, thought he saw dogs. But Dr Neelkanth Bora checked with binoculars—it was two tiger cubs! Then Debi Goenka, our senior Governing Council member, spotted two more cubs nearby. The cubs were just 100 meters away, playing happily.
Forest watchers informed us that a large male tiger was also present, so the cubs were being monitored for their safety. Seeing them up close was a rare and emotional experience.
🦊🐕 A Fox And Wild Dogs
As we drove through a nearby village, we saw an Indian Fox cross the road. On our way back to Nagpur the next morning, we saw seven wild dogs—a quiet, early morning treat.
🌟 What We Learned
Our tyre trouble turned into a beautiful chance to see wildlife. We were reminded that conservation work is not just about planning. It is also about being patient, staying curious, and letting nature surprise us.
Note: We were not carrying high-end cameras on this trip. All the moments—from leopard basking on the rocks to tiger cubs playing near the pond—were captured using a simple pocket cybershot camera. It was a good reminder that sometimes, the best stories do not need fancy gear—just a bit of luck and a whole lot of awe.
From tyres to tigers, our journey became a story we will never forget.
Author: Dr Sujit Narwade, Deputy Director, Lead of BNHS Bustard and Florican Program, Bombay Natural History Society.