A Tale of Simmering Territory Wars

For those unfamiliar with the intricate tiger dynamics of Corbett’s famed Dhikala zone, let’s start with a tale of power, ambition, and the ever-shifting rule of the jungle.

The legendary tigress Paro once reigned supreme over Sambar Road and Paar, the vast, prey-rich land across the Ramganga. A true queen, Paro commanded respect from tigers and tourists alike. But as with all empires, her rule came to an end—not through the claws of a rival, but at the paws of her own daughters.

Paro in her Swimming pool

Paro had three daughters, and in time, they dismantled her kingdom and took it for themselves. Pedwalli—so named for her extraordinary habit of climbing trees—claimed the Sambar Road area and expanded into Kamarpatta and Ram Singh. Her sister, Parwalli Jr, secured her domain across the river in Paar. The third daughter, who once roamed the Ghetya Rau area, has faded into obscurity, unseen for nearly two years.

Paro & her three daughters as cubs

Paro & her subadult Daughters

Pedwalli as an Adult

Parwalli as an Adult

Fast forward to last year, and both reigning queens—Pedwalli and Parwalli Jr ushered in a new era with their cubs. Parwalli had four cubs of which one did not survive the monsoons, while Pedwalli raised three. But as all tiger mothers know, cubs do not stay cubs forever. Pedwalli’s offspring are now on the cusp of independence, and she has begun to withdraw, nudging them toward their own destinies. This transition means she has been seen less frequently with them, but it also means something else—she is reclaiming her strength.

Pedwall’s 3 cubs

Parwalli’s 4 cubs

Then, last week, the jungle whispered of an audacious move. Pedwalli was spotted striding boldly into Parwalli’s domain, her golden coat cutting through her sister’s land and also an area that she was familiar as a cub like a streak of fire. She walked up to the famed swimming pool at paar. The first time she was seen this deep into her sisters territory. Was this a mere reconnaissance mission? Or was she testing the waters for something far more ambitious—an expansion into her sister’s hard-earned territory?

Pedwalli seen at the swimming pool

For now, Parwalli is unlikely to retaliate. With three young cubs still dependent on her for both food and protection, a direct confrontation would be perilous. But tigers are patient, and the balance of power can shift in an instant. As Pedwalli’s cubs disperse, she will regain her full strength, perhaps setting the stage for a battle between the two sisters—one that could redefine the borders of Dhikala’s tiger kingdom.

The next few months promise an electrifying spectacle. Will Pedwalli push forward, staking her claim in her sister’s land? Can Parwalli defend her territory while ensuring the survival of her cubs? In this ancient battleground where shadows stalk the riverbanks and rivalries simmer beneath the rustling Sal trees, the story of these two sisters is far from over.

In Corbett, power is not inherited—it is earned, fought for, and written in pug marks on the forest floor and claw marks on the tree trunks. The jungle holds its breath, waiting to see which queen will reign supreme.