The striped cat is making its presence felt more visibly at Betla national park, where old forest hands describe tiger-sighting as a matter of luck. A Telegraph picture

Ranchi, May 2: S.N. Ganguly could not believe his luck when he spotted the striped golden-yellow creature making it?s way stealthily across the green shades of the Betla National Forest.

As he and his family watched breathlessly the languid movements of the animal, which almost glided across the dried leaves and disappeared within seconds into the woods, he could not but feel a moment of triumph.

The stocky 40-something guide had already warned him in the morning that spotting a tiger in these zones was a matter of huge luck.

The dream ride continued as the family from Hooghly managed to sight three more of the big cats at Betla. That was in December 2005.

This April, Chatra RJD MP Dheerendra Agarwal was in luck again as he sighted the elusive animal at the same spot. There were similar stories from south Chhotanagpur zonal inspector-general of police, D.K. Pandey, who came back from Betla the same month after spotting a leopard. The last lucky guys were two Germans tourists Patrick and Alex who also managed to see a striped cat.

The trend seemed more surprising since the 226-sq-km Betla National Park, nestled in the Deccan Plateau of the Chhotanagpur province, falls in the rain-starved district of Palamau.

Though watered by three rivers, there were reports last November that the water holes had dried up within the park.

Field director, Project Tiger, Palamau, R.M. Prasad explained that the department had made elaborate arrangements to ensure no animal died of water scarcity.

?The animals are turning up to drink water from these artificial waterholes and that results in more visitors spotting them. Last summer was not a problem since there was good rain in 2004-2005. This year, could have become difficult since the natural waterholes dried by November 2005,? Prasad said.

He added said bore wells were dug all over the 1,026-sq-km project tiger area and trucks loaded with generator sets are being used to lift water from there to be supplied in different parts.

?Tourists have been lucky to spot leopards and tigers in such conditions. Besides, we are also spotting regular pug marks of tigers,? he said.

There are 38 tigers in the Palamau Tiger Reserve, which spawns from Betla to Netarhat, he informed. The Betla National Park, covering an area of 226 sq km running from Betla, Chipadohar and Garu, also has many tigers, but the tourist zone of the park, which is around 49 sq km, has the lone tigress called Rani.

Providing more information, Betla range officer Amar Nath Bhagat said there were 28 natural water sources within the park, 10 water holes of three-feet depth and 10 water tubs made of GI sheets.

?Two tankers regularly lift water from the bore wells and supply them to water sources across the park,? he said.

?Betla may be having only one tiger in the tourist zone but it has over 6,000 monkeys, over 5,000 deer, 125-150 bisons, leopards, wild boars, peacocks and many other animals whose numbers are also quite decent. From July to December, there were up to 80 elephants sighted within the park,? Bhagat said.

?A herd of 22 elephants were also moving around Betla quite often till April this year,? he added.

Water or not water, Betla, felt wildlife expert H.S. Pawar, was no different from Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh, in its bio-diversity. After all, it does boast of 47 species of mammals, 174 species of birds and some 970 kinds of flora.

More reasons for tourists to turn to the wild tracks.