STORY

This is Arrowhead, the undisputed queen of Ranthambore National Park in India, resting in regal calm as her cubs hover close. I’ve followed her for years, and on this morning, the light was merciful, the forest unusually quiet. The cubs were curious but tentative, their young eyes flicking between me and their mother. Arrowhead, by contrast, was resolute. She watched with the unflinching stare of a ruler who knows both her power and her responsibility. The air was dry, and the grass had paled into ash, but the vibrancy of this family lit the scene. As they settled in, I stayed low, barely breathing. Capturing them like this - not hunting, not hiding, just being - was a rare reward. It’s these moments that define the story of the wild: strength passed down, territories defended, cubs slowly learning to become legends themselves.