This young male Bengal tiger stepped out of the bushes just as we were preparing to leave Bandhavgarh National Park in February 2024. He paused briefly in the open, his body framed by the lush forest behind him. He appeared to be heading toward water to drink, but his posture remained tense and alert. Still early in his independence, he is gradually moving farther from his mother, learning to navigate the forest on his own while remaining cautious of older, dominant males. Not yet the apex predator of his territory, he balances curiosity with constant vigilance during this vulnerable stage of his life.