Latest news with #JungleBook


News18
13 hours ago
- News18
International Tiger Day 2025: 7 Must-Visit National Parks In India To Spot The Animal
The day also highlights threats and legal reinforcement against tiger poaching and encourages governments, NGOs and communities to unite against habitat loss, climate change and human-wildlife conflict. (Image: AI-Generated) Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh: It is known for its high tiger density and scenic landscapes, including rocky hills and the historic Bandhavgarh Fort. (Image: AI-Generated) Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan: One of the largest national parks in the country, visitors are almost guaranteed to spot the majestic animal here. (Image: File Pic) Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh: This iconic park is described in detail in Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book. A jungle safari between April and June is the best time to spot the tiger here. (Image: AI-Generated) Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand: The oldest national park in the country, it is home to several tigers, particularly the Royal Bengal Tiger. (Image: AI-Generated) Kaziranga National Park, Assam: Yes, it is known for its world-famous one-horned rhino. However, the national park is also a great spot to tigers. (Image: AI-Generated) Satpura National Park, Madhya Pradesh: If you lucky enough, you can spot the striped animals enjoying a swim during summers. (Image: AI-Generated) 9/9 Bandipur National Park, Karnataka: One of the prominent national parks in South India, it is a great destination to spot tigers. (Image: File Pic)


Time of India
18-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Rare black panther spotted with leopard pals in Nilgiris sparks ‘Jungle Book' nostalgia online: ‘Bagheera is looking for Sher Khan'
In a magical moment captured in Nilgiris, a black panther was spotted strolling with two leopards, stunning wildlife lovers and evoking Jungle Book memories. Shared by IFS officer Parveen Kaswan, the video drew emotional reactions online, with users quipping, 'They're looking for Sher Khan!' Experts stress that such rare sightings underline the urgency of leopard conservation. A rare video from Tamil Nadu's Nilgiris has gone viral, showing a black panther—often likened to Bagheera from The Jungle Book—walking alongside two spotted leopards. Shared by IFS officer Parveen Kaswan, the sighting left netizens amazed, sparking nostalgia and wonder. (Screenshots: X/ @ParveenKaswan ) Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A Scene Rarer Than Fiction Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads 'They're Looking for Sher Khan!' The Panther's Perilous Path In the shadowed forests of the Nilgiris, a scene straight out of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book came alive—leaving wildlife lovers spellbound and the internet abuzz with emotion and awe. A majestic black panther, reminiscent of the beloved Bagheera, was caught on camera taking a moonlit stroll alongside two spotted leopards , evoking both wonder and 29-second clip was shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Indian Forest Service officer Parveen Kaswan, who aptly captioned it, 'Bagheera and other friends for a night walk on the roads of Nilgiris. What a rare thing.' Within hours, the video began doing the rounds on social media, drawing parallels with the animated world of Mowgli and his jungle the wild, leopards are solitary by nature. Catching even one on camera is often a matter of luck, patience, and persistence. But this brief sighting—showing not one, but three leopards walking together, one of them melanistic—is a wildlife black panther, known scientifically as a melanistic leopard , is not a separate species but a genetic variation of the Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca). As IFS officer Kaswan explained in a follow-up post, 'These animals appear black due to a genetic condition called melanism, which results in excess dark pigmentation. Despite their dark coats, their characteristic leopard rosettes are often visible under certain lighting conditions.'What makes this particular video stand out is the rare documentation of a melanistic leopard moving in sync with two regular-patterned leopards. Such visual harmony among these elusive cats in the same frame, and in the open, is almost unheard many netizens, the video was more than just a wildlife moment—it stirred up memories from childhood. One user commented, 'I remember Baghira from Mowgli. Such a cute character.' Another wrote with a mix of humour and imagination, 'They are looking for Sher Khan.' Others were in awe of the animal's natural grace, calling it the 'ultimate nocturnal predator.'In a digital world often saturated with chaos, this fleeting glimpse into the tranquil, untamed wild offered a moment of pure connection—between nature, memory, and the internet marvelled, Kaswan didn't let the moment pass without a reminder of the growing threats to these magnificent creatures. 'Conservation efforts are vital for their survival,' he noted. 'They face threats like habitat loss and poaching.'The Indian leopard, agile and fiercely adaptable, has often been a silent survivor amidst urban expansion and shrinking forests. Capable of leaping over 6 meters, running at speeds over 58 km/h, and even swimming when necessary, it is the smallest of the four 'big cats' under the Panthera genus—yet arguably the most with viral moments like this one, the silent grace of these animals may no longer remain unseen. Perhaps, like Kipling's stories, this moment too can inspire a deeper sense of wonder and responsibility toward our shared wild heritage.


Time of India
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Biopic on India's first Hollywood star Sabu Dastagir in the works
Sabu Dastagir Sabu Dastagir, widely regarded as India's first actor to find success in Hollywood, will soon have his life story adapted for the screen. Producer Prabhleen Sandhu of Almighty Motion Picture has acquired the rights to Sabu: The Remarkable Story of India's First Actor in Hollywood, a biography by Debleena Majumdar. The upcoming adaptation will be developed either as a feature film or a web series. Prabhleen shares, 'Sabu's story deserves to be told with honesty and scale. He wasn't just India's first global star; he was a bridge between cultures, generations, and continents. Bringing his journey to the screen isn't just about making a film — it's about preserving a legacy that must not be forgotten, and that's a responsibility we take seriously. ' Debleena adds, 'Thanks a lot to my literary agent Mr Suhail Mathur for believing in me and for not only getting me a book deal and an AV one but for also sharing the amazing idea and Almighty Motion Picture for finding value in the story and for shaping it with this brilliant vision. It was an honour to research on this book and more importantly to learn about how cinema and movies evolved through world changing global events. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Đây có thể là thời điểm tốt nhất để giao dịch vàng trong 5 năm qua IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo ' Born in Mysore to a mahout, Sabu rose from modest beginnings in colonial India to become an international star. He made his debut in Elephant Boy (1937), based on Rudyard Kipling's Toomai of the Elephants, and featured in Hollywood classics like The Thief of Bagdad, Jungle Book (1942), Arabian Nights (1942), and Black Narcissus (1947). In 1960, he was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Alongside his film career, Sabu, who became an American citizen, served in the United States Air Force during World War II, earning recognition as an air gunner.


Geek Vibes Nation
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Vibes Nation
‘The Wolf, The Fox, And The Leopard' Review - On The Importance Of Being Human
Our stories are what make us who we are. But what if that is robbed from us and twisted? Does that change who we are, as well? The story of the child raised by animals or non-human entities is a familiar one. Many people of older generations (this writer included) may remember 'Julie of the Wolves,' a novel by Jean Craighead George. Expanded further, many of us remember different versions of The Jungle Book as children. Or maybe you are more linked to the supernatural and connect with Mama. Regardless, the stories of feral children are numerous, but most of them are consumed with nature being human-like in its representation. Despite a title that may seem like that of a child's animated movie, David Verbeek, the writer and director of The Wolf, The Fox, and The Leopard, is certainly not limited in this way, and it is to the benefit of his film. In its opening, Verbeek does not hide his feint. He introduces a young man (Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen) who is struggling with his place in the world. A voiceover informs us that he believes that he is the main character. This is all preamble to meeting our feral child (Jessica Reynolds), who is known by many names throughout the narrative. As the young man is devoured by the pack of wolves that surround the child, we come to understand that his death is the inciting event for the removal of this child to a more 'civilized world.' From here, the film is divided into chapters, showing her journey from being wild to being hidden in the world and possibly back again. The film borrows from fables but also manages to carve its own path through the human psyche. Pacing issues abound, and it may be difficult for most audiences because there are few, if any, supporting characters that we deeply care about. And yet, the film manages, through the phenomenal performance of Reynolds, to propel itself through the human condition. There is a strange sort of growth that Reynolds manages. As a feral child, she begins the film devoid of language. As she ages and is taught by numerous others, her progression is palpable, vivid, and believable. As anyone who has watched (or read) stories similar to this, this puts her in the upper echelon of physical and vocal actors. Despite this movement, the film smartly leaves you wondering if this is actually a regression. Is she better left alone? Those moments of solitude are punctuated by cinematographer Frank van den Eeden. The care taken in showing the natural world is painstaking, to the point of highlighting the ugliness of the modern world. The decision to show the forest between chapters, combined with pinpoint editing by Matthieu Laclau and Yann-Shan Tsai, wordlessly acknowledges the loss that the protagonist suffers without dwelling unnecessarily. More importantly, The Wolf, The Fox, and The Leopard leaves us wondering what it is to be human. Although hard to understand, she begins with a pack, a community of protection. As she is ripped from this comfortable world, everything begins to change. At first, she is studied by a team of scientists, led by Tanaka (Naomi Kawase). These scenes are literally stark as we transfer from the beautiful wooded area to an antiseptic, white laboratory. Kawase, in her limited screentime, almost makes us wish for a different, happier, maternal film. But this is not to be, because she is removed by a husband-and-wife team (Marie Jung and Nicholas Pinnock), the titular fox and leopard. The chapter in which she is with these new parental figures is perhaps the most challenging of the entire film. As our protagonist has moved from a pack to being a test subject to now a much smaller (and maybe less 'human') community, there is a lot to carry narratively. If this chapter does not hold together, nothing that happens in the final moments will resonate. Luckily, Reynolds, Jung, and Pinnock are more than up to the task. These sequences are sweet, kind, disturbing, upsetting, and rage-inducing in equal measure. Verbeek, as a writer, manages this balance just about perfectly. The result is a final chapter that hits much harder than expected, given the purposefully slow pace. A character's return comes as a pleasant and dark surprise, and Verbeek manages somehow to tie it all together without a hammered home message, leaving us to ponder in the silence as the credits roll. Film has the ability to ponder our largest questions. What does it actually mean to be human? Is that innate in our birth? Is that humanity actually a good thing? The Wolf, The Fox, and The Leopard is not here to answer any of these questions. But it will make you think about them. Is it better to leave well enough alone, or is it our duty to do better, to help with that connection with our own? And who makes that decision, who tells that story? Again, no answers, but Verbeek gave us a lot to think about, and sometimes, that is enough. The Wolf, The Fox, and The Leopard held its World Premiere as a part of the International Narrative Competition section of the 2025 Tribeca Festival. Director: David Verbeek Screenwriter: David Verbeek Rated: NR Runtime: 124m


Business Standard
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
BAAGH: The Real Jungle Book of Today Sounds a Call for Conservation Through a Gripping Thriller
VMPL New Delhi [India], July 7: BAAGH: Tiger - The Inside Story, a powerful new novel that merges wildlife crime, suspense, and an urgent conservation message, is now available on all major platforms. Set against the expansive and untamed wilderness of India and the Himalayas, BAAGH offers a visceral glimpse into the murky world of illegal tiger trafficking--today the third-largest illicit trade in the world. The novel traces the journey of Jaggu, a Bavaria tribesman from central India, born into a lineage of notorious poachers. Caught between his violent ancestral past and an evolving reverence for the forest, Jaggu's story is one of redemption, grit, and inner conflict. His journey--spanning Deccan's dusty trails to the snow-laden Himalayan passes--follows the contraband trail of a poached tigress, bringing to light the emotional, spiritual, and ecological costs of wildlife crimes. Praised as "real and raw" by Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff, the novel goes beyond entertainment, serving as a "clarion call for conservation." From nail-biting chases through Kathmandu to encounters with Yak caravans in Tibet, the story not only thrills but immerses readers in the forest's language, rhythm, and politics. Dr. Rajesh Gopal, Secretary General of the Global Tiger Forum, lauds the novel as "The Jungle Book of today--redefined by modern challenges of poverty, encroachment, and poaching." The book's realism and emotional weight are rooted in the life experiences of its author, Abhishek Ray. Known to many as a national award-winning composer behind soundtracks of critically acclaimed films like Paan Singh Tomar and I Am Kalam, Ray is also a government-certified tiger tracker and wildlife conservationist. He is the creator of the Sitabani Wildlife Reserve, a rewilded hill once barren, now home to thriving species. Ray brings this rare authenticity to BAAGH, crafting a protagonist that reflects his own journey into the wild. Sonu Nigam, who trekked with Ray in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, writes in the book's preface, "Be prepared for a vivid, dramatic trek through thrilling storytelling, drenched in truth and fact-finding." The novel has received endorsements from some of India's most respected voices in conservation and music. IBCA Director General S.P. Yadav called the book "a spiritual message for humanity", while singers like Shaan and Kavita Krishnamurthi have praised the emotional depth and cinematic prose. Google Books describes it aptly: "An intriguing story encompassing wildlife, crime, action, adventure, and contraband, Baagh reflects the tiger's fight for survival against all odds in today's human-dominated landscape." At its heart, BAAGH is not just a tale of survival but a powerful invitation to rethink humanity's relationship with nature. The novel is dedicated to the wild tigers and leopards that have crossed paths with Ray during his solitary treks--those that, as he poetically states, "looked me in the eye and decided to spare my life so that I could write their inside story." BAAGH on Google Books