Filming Tigers in the Wild

Filming tigers is easy for amateurs and holidaymakers on a wild tiger safari in the preserves. With the easy availability of video and digital cameras that can create quality videos, wildlife photography and making clips and footage have become widespread. 

In the case of the tigers, amateurs can make videos of a tiger safari in the large parks spread all over the country. You need to book permits that allow entry in the tourism area of the core for a specific time and the date requested. The availability of the permit is difficult during weekends and holidays hence needs to be booked in advance.  

All parks offer a guide service for a charge which is mandatory and they help in locating the big cat so you can film. You can also employ a trained naturalist, but if you stay at a luxury resort they offer services as a complement. Naturalists can be of greater assistance with their experience and knowledge of the local wilderness. They are keen trackers and photographers hence they will be of immense help. Nearly all of them communicate in English. 

For professional filming in case of leverage in prohibited times and places, carrying out restricted movements, organizing shoots at chosen places, and for remote filming, permissions are required from the ministry MOEF and PCCF the principal warden of the State the chosen tiger reserve is situated in. Fees have to be paid to the government which can be substantial. This requires following norms and procedures hence a liaisoning agent should be contacted. Most of the tour operators in destination management can assist you in this task because of their familiarity with the task and the domains.  

Making documentaries or commercial films on tigers is time-consuming and expensive.  It takes time and effort to come across the right moments to make a sequence and complete the film as per intent. A well-made documentary could take as much as four years after making frequent visits. 

Professional companies making wildlife films need to be resourceful and should take the help of local destination management companies. Preparation, research, and getting familiar with the destination are important. While most of the films are made at one tiger reserve in India it is normal to target a couple more in the vicinity for the purpose.

Only educational filming is allowed in the reserves and no commercial venture is supported.  The purpose should be research, awareness, and discovery. 

For making a professional tiger film besides permissions, other factors have to be considered.  The destination characteristics, climate, expected weather, travel itinerary, period, the visibility of the big cats so on.

Local help is much advised for planning and execution. The service providers will help in information gathering, itinerary suggestions, and tracking the tigers. The success of the expedition will depend upon local help. The locals DMCs come into the picture for organizing the tour and the necessary bookings like accommodations, transportation, etc.

Most of the activities are based on seasons since breeding is more in winters, dry summers mean greater visibility due to strong sun and congregations at water holes but with a thin dry canopy. It is impossible to film during the monsoon since the parks are closed generally from 1 July to the end of September. The slush prevents movement and the equipment could get soiled or dampened. 

Those who do not wish to make several trips should choose a period between February to March whence the sightings are good and so is the beautiful forest that is still green. 

All booking regarding travel and accommodations and park entries, mid-route diversions if any should be well booked in advance with help of the destination management company. Arrangements should be such that after reaching the destination, the team is able to solely focus on filming without any distractions.   

If required an interpreter who has a good command of Hindi or the local regional language in many states should be hired. This will be good for team members who do not speak or understand English which is widespread in India as a second language. 

Excursions

The most common timings available on daily basis are from dawn to 10 am. At some reserves, it could be up to 11.30 am while it could be shorter as well. In the evening safari begins at 3. pm and ends before sunset. In summer safari begins from 4 pm to a little before sunset.

A lensman can book the daily safari, hire a jeep for themself or share with others to cut costs. Another option is to book a seat on the canter usually 12 seaters sometimes 20 seaters.  But the best for the lensmen is to hire the full jeep for greater movement and privacy.  

Remember the jeep is restricted to the zone mentioned in the permit hence take advice from the hotel manager or naturalists if you come to know one, this helps in choosing the best zones.  

Full-Day Safari

You can hire a jeep for yourself without some restrictions in the tourism area. You can have lunch at a designated place, and cross over into other zones in the tourism area. The tourism area comprises twenty percent of the core. 

You enter half an hour early and exit half an hour late from the stipulated timings of the daily jeep safari. 

This is ideal for filmmakers and photographers but remembers it is very expensive.  The full-day safari is booked at the field director's office who is also the Chief Conservator of the reserve. The contact is available on the Internet at the park's official site.

Some reserves organize night safari in the buffer zone or the outer ring. Details can be had at the gate of entry of each park. 

In Central India or Madhya Pradesh, a booking permit for a daily safari is available on MPOnline Portal. 

All entries in the park for excursions are subject to rules and regulations, the guide accompanying is responsible to oversee adherence.    

You can carry an amateur digital camera or video camera free of charge but for professional equipment please inquire if there is any charge for entry.  

A separate Fee has to be paid at the gate each time you enter as a guide fee. You cannot enter the park without a guide.  

Filming with Special Permissions

With permission from the ministry MOEF or PCCF, the entry timings could be as specified. 

The PAs are dense jungles comprising of Sal, mixed species, teak, and bamboo with equally dense undergrowth at places. These are biodiversity heavens with panoramic landscapes. There are more than fifty protected areas to choose from. But the best ones I have listed below:

• Kanha Tiger Reserve
• Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve
• Pench Tiger Reserve
• Tadoba Tiger Reserve
• Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve
• Corbett Tiger Reserve
• Panna Tiger Reserve 

Kanha National Park like the other parks has excellent sightings of the big cats. The destination has a sound infrastructure, and easy access from Jabalpur Airport in Madhya Pradesh. Being a large park the number of accommodations and amenities are the best. Please carry all the essentials including funds since the reserves are situated in remote interiors. 

Bandhavgarh and Kanha are similar in vegetation except for the swamp deer which is not present in the former two.  Bandhavgarh is home to some ancient structures and zoomorphic idols of Lord Vishnu. Both Kanha and Bandhavgarh are accessible from Jabalpur Airport in Madhya Pradesh in Central India.   The distance is 156 km for Kanha and 174 for Bandhavgarh. 

Panna is accessible from Jabalpur Airport at a distance of 204 km. It is a broadleaf sry deciduous tropical forest where teak dominates. It is good for tiger sightings and for bird photography.

Pench National Park is accessible from Nagpur Airport in Maharashtra at a distance of 90 km. It can be reached via Jabalpur Airport and Kanha as well at a distance of 200 km. Tadoba is also reachable from Nagpur Airport at a distance of 154 km. Both are dry deciduous mixed forests with little moisture but the tiger sightings have been good and both destinations have a good tourism infrastructure in terms of highway accessibility, hotels, and resorts for luxury and budget accommodations.

Corbett National Park is in Uttrakhand at a distance of 245 km. It is an amazing biodiversity hub at the foothills of the Himalayas home to more than 260 tigers and 500 plus species of birds.  Like Bandhavgarh, it is a picturesque reserve with a well-developed tourism infrastructure in terms of hotels and resorts pertaining to budget and five-star categories. 

Ranthambore is accessible from New Delhi Airport with good tiger and avian sightings but the destination is commercialized and can be visited on a Golden Triangle Tour.

Filming and Photography rules and regulations are quite similar in the reserves but it is wise to familiarize yourself beforehand. 

*Note Filmmakers and photographers should make full arrangements prior to reaching the destinations mentioned here.