It is a common phenomenon that during hot summer tigers visit nearby waterholes to cool off their body temperature and quench their thrust. Most of the sightings in Indian national parks happen based on these criteria only. After entering the park everybody used to check corresponding waterholes to identify tiger movement and activities.
Over the past decades, I have seen many tigers enjoying waterholes during my safari, be in Tadoba, Bandhavgarh, Kanha, or Corbett but this year in Pench I had a fantastic sighting of a male tiger cooling off in the water and doing different behavioral activities. Initially, we spotted him on the banks of a man-made waterhole. He was very much relaxed and reluctant about what is going on in his surroundings. He was less bothered about any safari vehicles and their activities.
Usually, the tiger scratches trees and uses urines to mark their territories in the jungle. In that particular waterbody of Pecnh, there were many tree branches dipped in the water. He literally hugged those submerged branches and made full use of them to cool off. He is known as Koraigad Male of Rukkad zone in Pench tiger reserve. Here are a couple of images from that incident.
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Every frame is marvelous. What a majestic beauty and you were lucky to see it in a leisurely mood.
Glad that you liked it Monika.