A wildlife photographer has captured the jaw-dropping moment a Bengal tiger leapt clean across a stream in India.
Debtanu Baidya’s stunning snaps show the tigress – nicknamed Choto Maa – suspended mid-air as she clears the waterway with effortless grace.
The 25-year-old took the shots in August 2024 while leading a safari group through the Sundarban Tiger Reserve, a vast mangrove forest home to just over 100 of the endangered big cats.
READ MORE: Lion and lioness share loving embrace
- Advertisement -
Originally from Kolkata, Debtanu is both a tour guide and the founder of Nature+ Safaris.
He said the rare sighting was taken from about 50–70 metres away.

“The photos were taken at the perfect moment,” Debtanu told What’s The Jam.
“She’s a female adult tigress, and it looked almost like she was posing for the camera.”
The Bengal tiger is among the world’s largest cats, growing up to 10 feet long.
- Advertisement -
But with only 3,700–5,500 left in the wild, encounters like this are increasingly precious.

Debtanu first picked up a camera as a teen and has since dedicated his life to photographing India’s wildlife.
Over the years, he’s had plenty of heart-stopping encounters – from mock-charging rhinos to tracking the elusive Pallas’s cat in the remote Ladakh region.
- Advertisement -
Debtanu said: “In February, while hosting a tour at India’s Kaziranga National Park, a rhino came onto the road and gave us some head-on shots, then suddenly made a mock charge before heading into the grassland.

“We were in our gypsy and stayed put, as we were at a safe distance.
“These are common incidents when hosting a group or tour, but they are not dangerous.
“We always keep one thing in mind – since we all use telephoto lenses, we prefer to keep a safe distance from the animals.
“This way we don’t disturb them, and they don’t feel threatened.”

Asked about his most memorable moment, he said: “At the age of 22, I went to India’s Ladakh region in search of the rare and elusive Pallas’s cat.
“And yes, I spotted it and took a lot of pictures.
“As a wildlife enthusiast, that’s a great achievement for me.”
Debtanu’s latest tiger photos, now going viral online, have been hailed by wildlife fans as some of the most breathtaking images ever taken in the reserve.
READ MORE: Incredible images from the 2025 Best Destination Weddings Photo competition revealed