On a fallen Teak Tree

[Shyamala Kumar]

While travelling from Hunsur to Kutta the road winds through the thick jungles of Nagarhole .It was getting quite dark when half way to our destination we saw a shadow cross the road from the right just a few meters ahead. We braked and thinking that whatever it was would have disappeared into the forest on the left .To our surprise ,as we came abreast we saw what appeared to be a female leopard crouching atop a fallen teak tree , balefully looking at us .She seemed to be soothed by the falling darkness and though she was close to the main road and at no great height from the ground she quickly curled up for the night .It was so dark I did not expect my camera to work .Never the less I took a few shots . Nikon 850+200-500 1/80s, ISO 1600 ,F/7.1 ,Jan 2020