Motorists were left astonished when they had to suddenly stop as a gigantic tiger, weighing approximately 40 stone (560 pounds), crossed a busy road in Central India.

This unexpected event took place just a few feet away from the motorists and was captured on camera by Bhargava Srivari, a 29-year-old amateur wildlife photographer.

Srivari was driving through the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve when he witnessed this rare encounter. He said, “I was confident that the tiger would do its best to remain inconspicuous while crossing, but it seemed to have made up its mind to simply jog across the road to the other side of the forest.”

The tiger’s sudden appearance on the road caught two motorists by surprise. Srivari commended their composure, saying, “Dealing with a 250 kg killing machine on a motorbike is not easy. Kudos to these motorists for keeping their cool and waiting for the tiger to pass by.”

The Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is home to approximately 80 wild tigers. Srivari mentioned that although the tigers generally avoid humans, both species have been able to coexist in the area without significant conflict. He added, “This mutual understanding has led to one of the most remarkable success stories in tiger conservation in Tadoba.”