Amidst the lush green forests and natural valleys of the world famous Kanha National Park of Madhya Pradesh, there are many such mysteries and exciting stories related to wildlife, which astonish people even today. One such touching and amazing story is that of two tigers named 'Ram' and 'Lakshman', whose story of birth and upbringing is no less than a film script. A few decades ago, when the relationship between humans and wildlife in the forests of Kanha was not as tense as it is today but was based on mutual trust and co-existence, a local Gond family had raised these two orphan tiger cubs as children in their home. This story is not just about two animals growing up, but it is the story of the unbreakable love, trust and natural connection that has existed between humans and nature for centuries. When two small cubs were orphaned, the Gond family extended a helping hand. This is the time when new dimensions of wildlife conservation were being created in the forests of Kanha. One day, during patrolling, the Forest Department found two very small and helpless tiger cubs inside the forest, whose mother was nowhere to be found. After taking care of them for the first few days, the question arose as to how to save these hungry and helpless cubs, because at that time there were no modern wildlife rescue centers and such advanced arrangements for bottle-feeding. In such a situation, a local Gond family of Kanha came forward and set an example and took the responsibility of raising those two small cubs in their home. The family members nurtured them like their own children, fed them milk and took care of their every small and big need, after which the cubs accepted that family as their everything. Those two unique tiger companions, known as 'Ram' and 'Lakshman'. As the two cubs grew up, seeing their agility and strength, the local people lovingly named them 'Ram' and 'Lakshman'. There was amazing coordination between the two brothers and they always behaved the same. While playing in the courtyard of the Gond family's house and living among humans, his innate natural tendencies and aggressiveness were gradually developing, but he never had any ill will towards humans. The village children used to play with him and the elders of the family took full care of his safety. It was a sight worth seeing when a giant tiger lived among humans as if it were a pet. But it was a big challenge for the wildlife experts that a wild animal cannot be kept in homes forever, because its real place is the open sky and dense forest. Return to the forest and the journey to become the true protectors of Kanha Time passed and when Ram and Lakshman reached their youth, the forest department and wildlife experts took the difficult decision of releasing them back into their natural habitat i.e. the open forests of Kanha. Initially it was feared that these tigers, growing up among humans, might not be able to learn the ways of the forest and hunting, but the laws of nature are supreme. As soon as he stepped into the forest, his innate instincts were awakened and within no time he learned to hunt on his own. The surprising thing was that his old love and affection for humans had not ended; They were often seen patrolling the Kanha and around areas where there were human settlements. He never became a threat to any human being, rather he created an environment in the forest to protect the tourists and forest workers from poachers and external threats, due to which he was given the title of 'Protector of Kanha'. Even today, this unique saga of Ram and Lakshman is alive in the folklore of Kanha. Even though Ram and Lakshman are no longer in this world, the old guides, forest officers and people of the local Gond community of Kanha National Park still narrate the stories of these two tigers to the coming generations with moist eyes and pride. This story is a living proof that if the relationship between humans and wildlife is based on love, respect and co-existence rather than selfishness, then nature gifts us such wonderful relationships that become immortal in the pages of history. Today, when wildlife conservation and human-wildlife conflict has become a big challenge for the entire world, this story of Ram and Lakshman of Kanha teaches us that through compassion and sensitivity, balance can be established even in the most difficult situations.
