Surgeon With Tiger Tattoos

It was the call of the tigers that made Dr Krishnakumar Mechoor, an orthopaedic surgeon, fall in love with the wild.

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His fascination with the enigmatic cat began after watching Nat Geo documentaries. "And I bought my first camera just to photograph tigers," he says.

It was after completing his studies and starting work that Krishnakumar first ventured into Bandipur to see a tiger for real. "They are really shy, solitary beings. That's why spotting a tiger in the wild — even from a distance — gives such a high," says Dr Krishnakumar.

"Tiger is the apex predator. The entire forest comes alive when a tiger is on the prowl. Birds and monkeys start warning calls, other animals flee as soon as possible. Even the trees and wind seem to react."