Above: These calm and placid waters are the lair of the Marsh Crocodile, or "Mugger."
If the tiger rules the jungle, it is this creature who rules the water...
at least in Tadoba Lake!
Above: On most of my Tadoba trips, my Mugger sightings have been restricted to heads bobbing briefly above the water, or equally brief glimpses of scaly backs.
Last monsoon I got lucky. I saw several of these magnificent creatures at the edge of the lake.
They seem to come from a much more ancient world than this; from the age of reptiles.
This one reminded me of a poem from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland...
"How cheerfully he seems to grin,
And neatly spreads his claws,
And welcomes little fishes in,
With gently smiling jaws!"
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