Playful Tiger Cub Steals the Show at Ranthambore, Catches Egret but Lets It Fly Free

Sawai Madhopur: Visitors to Ranthambore National Park were treated to a rare and heart-warming wildlife moment on Thursday evening, when a young tiger cub was seen playfully catching an egret and then releasing it unharmed—turning what looked like a hunt into a moment of sheer mischief.

The unusual scene was witnessed near Malik Talaab in Zone 4 of the park during an evening safari. The cub, a male offspring of tigress Riddhi (T-124), was roaming near the water body when an unsuspecting egret came into its path. In a sudden move, the cub pounced and gently grabbed the bird by its wings, holding it in its mouth.

At first, tourists—both Indian and foreign—were stunned, assuming the cub had made a successful kill. For nearly five minutes, the young tiger was seen walking along the edge of the pond with the egret in its mouth, occasionally tightening its grip with the help of its paws as the bird struggled to escape.

However, to everyone’s surprise, the moment took an unexpected turn. As the cub finally sat down, the egret managed to slip free near its paws and flew away safely. The tiger made no further attempt to chase it, calmly watching the bird disappear—clearly more interested in play than prey.

Video Captured by Tourists

The rare interaction was captured on mobile phones and cameras by safari-goers and has since gone viral, delighting wildlife enthusiasts. This is not the first time the same cub has caught public attention. Earlier videos showed him climbing trees and balancing on branches, while his mother, tigress Riddhi, sat watchfully below.

About Tigress Riddhi and Her Cubs

Tigress Riddhi (T-124), around seven years old, was born in October–November 2018 and is the daughter of the famous tigress Arrowhead (T-84). She primarily roams Zones 3 and 4 of Ranthambore National Park. Riddhi has become a mother twice and is currently training her two cubs—both around two and a half years old—to survive in the wild.

Wildlife experts say such playful behavior is common at this age, as cubs hone their hunting instincts through mock chases and harmless encounters. For the tourists present, however, it was a once-in-a-lifetime glimpse into the softer, playful side of the jungle’s most majestic predator.