The Leopards of Jawai: Tracking Big Cats in Rajasthan's Granite Hills
Jawai is a leopard landscape unlike any other in India — not a fenced reserve, but a patchwork of granite hillocks (kopjes) and Rabari shepherd villages in southern Rajasthan, where leopards have lived alongside people for generations without a single recorded conflict. There's no dense forest to hide in here; the cats den in rock crevices in plain view, which is what makes Jawai one of the most reliable places anywhere to photograph a wild leopard.
We were a group of three, and our guide and driver Mukesh was outstanding — sharp-eyed at spotting, and patient enough to wait out a sighting rather than rush it. We made totally 5 trips during our tour.
Here are some images from the adventure :
Leopards
Maya
Maya peeping out of the Cave Den Maya making a dash up the hill Maya waiting for her cub Maya checking the Jeeps Maya checking the Jeeps Maya checking the Jeeps Maya making a dash up the hill Maya returning back to the Den Maya returning back to the Den Maya returning back to the Den Maya returning back to the Den
Maya's Cub
Maya's Cub Maya's Cub Maya's Cub Maya's Cub Maya's Cub Maya's Cub wary of the Jeeps Maya's Cub peeping out of the Den
Aravali & her Sub-Adult Cubs
Aravali on hilltop at sunset Aravali's cubs on hilltop at sunset Aravali on hilltop at sunset Aravali and her Sub-Adult Cubs Aravali and her Sub-Adult Cubs Aravali's Sub-Adult Cub Aravali's Sub-Adult Cub Aravali's Sub-Adult Cub
Birds & Animals
Indian Robin, Common Kestrel, Red-rumped Swallow
Indian Robin taking off Common Kestrel flying overhead Red-Rumped Swallow
Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark, Barn Owl, Indian Eagle-Owl
Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark Barn Owl Indian Eagle-Owl
Yellow-throated Sparrow, Indian Desert Fox
Yellow-throated Sparrow in flight Yellow-throated Sparrow Indian Desert Fox Indian Desert Fox
Day after day, better and better
Too good!
Absolutely stunning!