Abu's Monarch of the Jungle on the PROWL.

“The Night Stalker": A Majestic Encounter in Abu Jungle

The leopard returns to his winter haunts in Abu

Leopard on the prowl

There's a rumble in the jungle,

The Night Stalker is on the prowl,

The Langurs are on the lookout,

The alpha male makes a ruckus,

Warning the others of the tribe,

Here comes the Monarch of the Jungle.

A primal presence stirs in the heart of Abu’s wilds, casting a shadow over the land, and filling the air with a palpable tension. With the return of the Night Stalker, the monarch of these forests, the jungle’s inhabitants are on edge. With their cries of warning, the Langurs, guardians of the treetops, respond to the alpha male barking orders to his troop. The predator has come.

On a fateful evening, around 9 p.m., the Langur’s alarm shattered the stillness of the night. Their sharp cries echoed through the thick forest, alerting everyone to the stealthy approach of the elusive leopard. My daughter and I rushed outside, flashlights in hand, our hearts pounding in sync with the jungle’s rhythm. The air was thick with anticipation. We stood, waiting, until the glowing eyes of the Night Stalker pierced the darkness.

 And there it was—the ruler of the forest, cloaked in rosettes, moving with grace and power. Excitement mingled with fear as we beheld this raw beauty from a safe distance. The leopard moved through the underbrush, its body a sleek shadow blending with the night. Each motion was poetry, smooth and deliberate. Watching the ace tree climber in its element, we couldn’t help but feel both mesmerized and humbled by nature’s grand design.

I shared the news of the leopard’s return with the locals the next day. As always, they took precautions, locking up their goats and dogs, a nightly ritual in this part of the world. The leopard may be magnificent, but it is still a predator, and those living on the edge of the jungle know the stakes all too well.

Three nights later, the Night Stalker returned. This time, hunger drove it closer to the village, testing the boundaries of coexistence. A mason’s dog became the target of the leopard’s hunger, and chaos erupted. With quick reactions, the dog’s owner managed to scare off the predator, but the jungle’s monarch had grown bolder, leaving behind an unsettling reminder.

Grief manifested itself the next night. The Night Stalker struck once more, taking the lives of my neighbour’s two puppies that were kept in a crudely constructed cage. The reality of living near such a powerful predator is both bitter and sweet. We lament the losses the leopard leaves behind while appreciating its untamed beauty. The villagers remain on guard, aware that the leopard is now circling their perimeter and keeping a lookout for easy food.

The Night Stalker’s return is a sign of a deeper crisis—a struggle for survival that forces it to the very fringes of human habitation. Prey is scarce, and habitat loss has driven it to adapt. Once content with wild pigs, rabbits, and the occasional Langur, the leopard now hunts street dogs, and sometimes, even eyes goats and young cattle. Each encounter drives the villagers to guard their homes and animals more fiercely than ever.

Yet, despite the mounting tension, one fact brings a measure of comfort: the leopard, for all its strength and cunning, has never attacked a human in these parts. Its solitary nature and preference for the shadows seem to keep it from crossing that line. It’s a delicate balance, one of respect and restraint, between the predator and the people of Abu.

As the villagers learn more about their elusive neighbour, they marvel at the leopard’s unique abilities. Its agility, unmatched in the animal kingdom, allows it to scale trees and store its prey high above the ground, far from scavengers. Its rosette-covered coat, each marking as individual as a fingerprint, speaks to a lineage that commands awe and respect. Solitary and secretive, the leopard embodies both grace and danger.

“Wagera” is the name given to the leopard in Rajasthan, and it holds a special place in the local lore. Revered for its power and beauty, the Night Stalker continues to inspire a blend of fear and admiration among the people of Mount Abu. Even as they take steps to protect their homes and livestock, they cannot help but feel a sense of awe for this majestic creature. The Monarch of the Jungle remains a symbol of the untamed wild—a reminder that, in the dance between man and nature, it is the leopard that leads.

The pugmarks on our Boundary wall Photograph per kind favour my neighbour Govind.

Want to see Leopards in the wild click below 

THE LEOPARDS OF BERA.

Cassey our Mutt was born to be FREE. Mount Abu

Cassey, Our Mutt Born to Be Free—Mount Abu.

 Cassey was born to be free, and though her life was cut short, her wild spirit infused every moment. On April 28, 2017, at 4 a.m., she met her fate when the leopard took her. But before that, she had already made her mark on our hearts, a mark as enduring as the hills she once roamed.

 Cassey’s story with us began on a rainy day in July 2015. Mount Abu had just experienced its heaviest rainfall–40 inches in 48 hours. Amidst the floodwaters, a tiny, just-over-a-month-old pup appeared at our doorstep, like the storm had delivered her to us. We weren’t planning on adopting another dog, after the sadness of losing our beloved Great Dane, Buddy, who we had sent to live at St. Mary’s School. But fate had unique plans. Our daughter, ever the kind-hearted soul, named her Cassey, and from that moment, she became part of our family.

Cassey, the love of my life.

Cassey was wild at heart, a true free spirit. She was a small, sleek, and energetic dog, always on the move. Her eyes sparkled with a passion for life, and her little body was in motion whether she was dashing up and down the hillside or hunting her favourite prey: the mongoose. She had the speed of a cheetah and the stamina of a horse, often chasing after a squirrel, rat, or even the notorious mongoose. Her call of the wild, echoed by the shrill cry of the “did-you-do-it” (Red-wattled lapwing), would mark the start of her hunt. Cassey was born to roam, and she lived for the chase.

While we had dogs in our home for as long as I could remember, none were quite like her. She never cared much for food. We gave her small portions, but she often left them untouched, or she’d bury them for later as if preparing for some unknown future need. Cassey was a dog who lived on her own terms, preferring the thrill of the hunt over the comfort of a full belly. She made friends, both with the local children and the other wandering mongrels that passed through our lives. But it was her late-night escapades that set her apart. Often, she would vanish into the shadows at night, returning only in the pre-dawn hours. I regularly felt she had made some unspoken pact with the leopard. Despite her wild freedom, she always came home safe.

Cassey’s relationship with the leopard was one of mutual respect, or perhaps instinct. She was not one to back down. In the last moments of her life, her instincts took over, and she faced the predator head-on. Perhaps she thought she could outwit it, or maybe she was protecting what she saw as her territory.

Cassey getting used to her newfound home

Playing in the garden August 2015

Cassey at six months. She loved to play, be it a ball or a stick. You name it she was always game.

One-year-old, a real handsome mutt on the lookout for the mongoose.

The mongoose always gave Cassey the slip 

Her powerful sense of smell took her to the hideouts of the mongoose.

The mongoose, with its speed and agility, always made it to its hideout.

She had mastered the steep granite slopes like the goats of our area.

Basking in the winter sun

She kept herself occupied by enticing other mutts to have a game with her.

A large Daman opposite the house.

Her curiosity and pottering around the garden once caused her to be bitten by the Daman. She developed a fever and looked really shaken. It looked like she was going to lose the use of her back legs while walking she began tottering. For about a day and a half, she never came out of her room. I had phoned the vet, but he told me there was not anything to get hassled she would come around. Sure enough, on day three, she was up and about. Now, her instincts were finely tuned. She would burst out in a frenzy whenever she smelled the snake and forewarned us of its presence.
I remember once when a huge monitor lizard had made its way into the garden and Cassey went nuts trying to figure out what this creature was.

Cassey returned home with her booze bottle.

Cassey getting ready to uncork her bottle.

Ready for her first winter swig. December is cold in Abu.

Our pretty mutt in her winter attire!

Cassey waiting patiently for her Christmas treat.

Ready to have her cake and goodies on Christmas Day. She loved her Indian sweets, cookies, and biscuits. “All that is a big no for doggies” I don’t think it's taboo, let them eat everything in moderation.

It's gonna be sunset soon time I headed down for my dinner or else my mistress will boot my rump.

Cassey stared down the hill at what appeared to be some strange animal at the base.

 What are those creatures down there? I’ve seen them around since I’ve made a home here, but what are they? Her fascination and curiosity for these four-hooved critters were a sight to behold. She wanted to befriend them, but their strange behaviour and grunting sounds kept her at bay.

These semi-wild pigs were a constant source of amusement and fascination for Cassey.

Bear Attack and Hazard to Locals Mount Abu [ 24/09/2013 ]

Bear Attack and Hazard to Locals Mount Abu

Over the years, the population of the Sloth bear has been steadily increasing while that of the Leopard has been on the decline, so have the population of the Samba.

Almost every year there have been reports of bear attacks on the local population of this town. Quite a few have been seriously maimed for life. The most recent attack took place on Saturday 21 September 2013. These bears are most dangerous when roaming with their cubs.

Easy pickings in town from garbage are seductive to these critters and people not suspecting that they would meet up suddenly with them end up being mauled and maimed for life.

I believe that the old lady attacked had gone to pray at a temple and on her way home, met up with this unfortunate incident. You can read it by clicking this link.

Bear Knocks out woman's eye

Received the two gruesome images via my phone

I request tourists visiting Mount Abu to please be aware and alert, especially while walking down lonely roads at night. I have encountered the bear on many an occasion. Thankfully, I've been on my scooter and not on foot.

 Taken In the St.Ann's church premises mid-day