The Mighty Mahaman
Deep in the dense jungles of the mixed deciduous type of forests of Bandhavgarh, in the vast grassland expanses, flanked by the Sal trees, the tiger has been the indomitable ruler. But what is unlike that of any other forest is the enmity between two families of tigers, than runs into three generations.
A very young B2 was rising up the ranks after exiling his father, the invincible Charger in early 2000s, who commanded the largest territory of Bandhavgarh, ever. By 2002-03, after the death of his brothers B1 and B3 to poaching and electrocution, B2 became the emperor to the throne at Tala range of Bandhavgarh.
It seemed that he too would reign undisputed like his father, Charger, but a nemesis threw a challenge in 2003-04. His lineage unknown, a new tiger known as Bokha (which is Hindi for broken tooth, cos he had a broken canine) became a formidable opponent.
After a series of skirmishes, the kingdom was split between B2 and Bokha. Bokha clearly hailed from a different line, with a discerning physical structure and heft; something that’s carried forward to his offspring. Tigers, though built for the kill, hardly show their prowess and steer clear of scuffles that might prove to be fatal. So, these two tigers split the kingdom between them, with B2 occupying the high seat of power at the most fertile Chakradhara area of Tala and Bokha (also called Rajbhera male) ruling parts of Tala and Magadhi.
Unlike most forests where male tigers disperse away from the natal or birth areas, thus always having new kings; interestingly, the kingdom of Bandhavgarh is inherited by the next-in-line, from the same family. As B2 and Bokha aged gracefully, their respective sons rose to the throne, both playing a part in injuring and overthrowing the old kings - their fathers.
Bamera, son of B2, was already becoming the dominant tiger but not long before did he face stiff competition from Jobi.
Jobi (named so after the area where he ruled, Jobi-vah) was born in 2006 to Bokha male and Jhurjhura female. Jobi and Bamera rose to prominence by 2010 and were already owning and ruling the chunk of territories of their respective fathers. Unfortunately for them, their reign also coincided with the influx of dominant males.
The only known mate of Jobi was Choti Mahaman female (daughter of old Mahaman Female) and two prominent tigers of their litter was New Mahaman male aka Mamu and Chota Charger, born in April 2012.
In the meanwhile, Bamera was on an expansion spree, and Jobi put a check; though he could not capitalize, due to the dominant Blue Eyes and Mukunda who were ruling substantial parts of the park in Magadhi and Khitauli areas respectively (Tala, Magadhi and Khitauli are the core areas of Bandhavgarh TR).
In one of the fights with Jobi, Bamera was injured in both his forepaws, but blinded Jobi in one eye. Following this, Jobi retreated to a corner of the park – Jobi-vah. Bamera too was injured probably by Bheem (a new tiger who started to command Khitauli, even perhaps by ousting Mukunda), and Bamera died by the mid of 2016.
Mahaman male aka Mamu was rising to power and showing his prowess in Magadhi area.
However, in early 2016, Bamera’s son, known as Mr. X immediately captured parts of Magadhi, by probably killing the dominant Blue Eyes. And by early 2017, Mr. X defeated and exiled Mamu out from his erstwhile territory, thus bringing to fore, the rivalry to the third generation; one that existed between their grandfathers and then their fathers – probably the longest standing rivalry in the tiger world.
As Prof. Leon Megginson once said, ‘According to Darwin’s Origin of Species, it is not the most intellectual of the species that survives; it is not the strongest that survives; but the species that survives is the one that is able best to adapt and adjust to the changing environment in which it finds itself’, tigers adapt to avoid fights and retreat, and only to strike when they are strong.
Mamu moved further to the South-East part of the park, but still commanding a huge chunk of territory. He mated with the daughter of Blue-Eyes, Dotty (and though Dotty couldn’t conceive, she had cubs eventually), a tigress-mate from the Jobi-vah area and also is probably the father of the Dabhadol female’s litter. In a reserve like Bandhavgarh with a high density of males, having three females under his rule, is not a mean task by any measure.
At 8 years old, Mahaman is in his prime, but so is Mr. X. Undoubtedly, Mr. X is a veteran in tiger skirmishes and has a great genetic lineage behind his back, but Mahaman has a few tricks up his sleeve too. He is built like a tank with a genetic advantage of his own.
Like his father Jobi, Mahaman has a round and a huge skull, with a strong fore and an equally strong rear (unlike many tigers), which probably evens the Mr. X - advantage.
With their boundaries adjacent to the other, a skirmish is on the cards, and these two could destroy the other, just the way their fathers did. And an even worse supposition – with both having cubs from their mates, will this rivalry carry on to a fourth generation?
Photographed is a young Mahaman, a few months after being ousted by Mr. X, walking across in an ostentatious display of his muscular flank and tank-like-build.