Stalking Tiger and chasing Elephant

Описание: Action packed evening during the 10th Jan evening safari at Nagarhole forest. We had been scouring the forest for sighting predators similar to the sightings we had during our previous safari in the same zone because we kept hearing alarm calls of cheetal and in spite of efforts by the naturalist and all the persons on the vehicle we were unable to sight these elusive big cats. We then came towards the water hole where we had heard alarm calls and we expected to see a tiger sitting in the water, but then we found a young female elephant drinking water and another safari vehicle with photographers also were waiting there for over 45 minutes playing the waiting game decided to go elsewhere to try their luck. Since we had no sightings during this safari we started photographing the elephant drinking water and also was completing its ablutions within the water The elephant started smelling the air around it while in the middle of the waterhole and then it came to the bank and started splashing itself with wet mud on its body :p (body lotion) and at the same time raising its trunk and smelling the surrounding. It suddenly got very agitated and ran into the bush squealing and trumpeting and immediately rushed out with the same vigor and did couple of mock charge to our jeep and then crossed the path and was wrecking trees as well trumpeting and squealing indicating presence of a tiger. While everyone was busy photographing or capturing video on their mobile i was watch 180 degrees diametrically other side looking for action in the waterhole and lo suddenly the majestic Mastigudi male tiger walks down to the waterhole and sits in the water for few minutes. The elephant trumpeting and squealing other side of the waterhole attracts the tiger and then this tiger gets up from the water and walks across the path just about 5 feet behind our safari vehicle stalking the elephant and crouched behind the bush. The elephant sensed the proximity of the tiger started running towards the tiger and we expected to see a hunt/ fight of our life time since it is well known that Mastigudi male hunts gaurs and elephants generally and is pretty bold tiger but then today the tiger beats the hasty retreat with the elephant noisily following the tiger into the bush. I have combined multiple videos and couple of photographs to show the entire sequence as mentioned above and i am sorry because i did not shoot the entire thing in one go. I hope you like the same.