Two and a Half Minutes

Riddhi · Ranthambhore · 2 June 2026 · 8:56 to 8:59 am

By June the forest is bare and the heat arrives early. At 8:56 on my last morning of the season Riddhi appeared between the trunks, already walking. The camera clock says the whole encounter lasted two minutes and twenty-six seconds.

She came through the trees, through the grass and straight past, and the seventh frame is her walking away over the fallen logs. It was one of my last sightings of her before she was reported with a new litter. These are the frames in the order they were made.

8:56:51 am — between the trunks

8:56:51 am — between the trunks

8:56:55 am — four seconds later, coming through

8:56:55 am — four seconds later, coming through

8:57:24 am — head-on in the dry grass

8:57:24 am — head-on in the dry grass

8:57:24 am — the same moment, closer: her eyes through the grass

8:57:24 am — the same moment, closer: her eyes through the grass

8:57:33 am — passing the jeep

8:57:33 am — passing the jeep

8:59:09 am — from the second camera, the forest she was walking into

8:59:09 am — from the second camera, the forest she was walking into

8:59:17 am — walking away over the fallen logs

8:59:17 am — walking away over the fallen logs

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