Wild encounters

Wild encounter - Destiny had it!!!

 

 

This was one such trip that I can never forget in my life. Though we laughed it out after the trip, thinking about the same even today brings me chills. We would have lost our lives by mere foolishness. We learnt our lessons
jungle is not a place for adventure, it comes with its own risks and anything can happen any time

 

No big expectation

 

 This must have happened sometime in 2014/2013, Im not quiet sure. By this time we have become regular customers to jungle and we always traveled in big group. We checked into this resort called Jungle retreat, Thirunelly, Wayanad. Its a small place more of a home stay with 5-6 cottages and a lovely farm sharing the boundary with forest. It was also elephant crossing point. The owner assured us of elephant sighting. This was the time I started getting some hang on photography.I wasn't looking for any sighting, I was just toying with my camera around the property For those who have not visited forest or had any real safaris this must be new. The general tourists does not consider sighting of birds or wild boars or even wild gaur as sighting. Sighting of a Tiger accomplishes your mission of the trip. Its like a trophy, you can boast about it for a long time. I can assure you at least I was away from all these madness. Unlike my family I didn't have any expectations set. Photography was nice distraction and it kept me occupied.

 

 

 

 

Out in the wild

During the dinner time resort naturalist (now a days everybody calls themselves as naturalist, is there a way to check their credentials???) asked us if we were interested in nature walk in the morning. He said there are two tracks one for bird watching and other on periphery of the forest. My husband immediately asked which one is
safest and we were suggested bird watching for next day morning I chuckled to myself, "What a big chicken my husband is" not knowing very own fate of mine...

Out of our big gang only 3 of us me, my husband and his brother  got up for next day morning walk. Our guide was a young malayali guy with a thick accent. He explained us rules of the forest and how to react in a situation of animal encounter. If you see a tiger make an eye contact and walk past it, don't ever show your back. If you see a bear or elephant run for your safety. We walked a long way on road and then cut across into woods. 

 

 

 

 

 

All the way we were teasing my husband that why he didn't have guts to choose to walk in the periphery of the forest My husband was quiet and didn't mind it much. Soon the forest started becoming thick, but I was still able to hear the vehicle sounds from the main road. I thought we were quiet near to the road.(Me and brother in law in the pic)

 

 

 Forest was fully covered with dry leaves each and every step made leaf crackling sound. We walked and walked and came to a point where the forest started slowly sloping. Our guide had a big bird book in his hand and we spotted few birds. 

 

 

 

Then came a big puddle and our guide stopped us and showed us fresh footprints of  elephant herd, he said they may have crossed this point in the morning but he looked little worried.

 

 

 We continued walking but suddenly he asked us to stop and continue. This happened two times, then asked us if we can get back  to the resort. I thought may be he is worried that elephant herd is going to come back the same way, but strangely none of us didn't ask him why. Sometimes its better not to know. We turned back and started walking back uphill. I was walking last in the trail and I slowed down to tie my shoe lace. I was taking some breadth and doing it slowly. The guide walked up to me as if to hurry me up and this time I could clearly see his face up close. He was sweating profoundly. Something must be terribly wrong, my instincts kicked up and I asked him "is there any trouble?"
 

 Wild Encounter?

 

 
Without much hesitation, he said, " I think one big cat is following us!!!" "He stops when we stop and continues to walk along with us somewhere close to the bushes" My brain went blank I couldn't decode big cat for a second, then in a flash all hell broke loose, "oh my god" it must be a Leopard or Tiger. My heart started thumping fast. My husband and brother in law became pale. Our brains prepared us for flight, I started calculating my chances of survival. Easily I was weakest of the group, I can neither run fast nor face the situation. I know I will certainly become  blank if I see a Tiger. How can I walk past a tiger? I reduced all the weight I was carrying. Camera, camera bag, little water bottle, gave all of them to the men. From last I started walking in the middle. I kept telling my brain, whatever happens follow the guide like a mantra. Now the speed of the group multiplied and we were trying to keep up with each other but climbing uphill was tedious felt like each and every cell in my body is generating heat. My tongue got stuck and was out of breadth. I was wondering in my mind how did I get into this situation, would it have been caused by my Rahu dasha? is this my end? who will take care of our child? how stupid for both of us to come on a walking trip like this? I looked at others, my husband was stiff and breathing rapidly my brother in law was pale his ears were red!!! Yes really red!!! Nobody dared to utter a single word. Everybody's mind was working internally. Finally we reached edge of the  forest on to the concrete roads. Caught up some breadth and continued to the resort. We were happy to be alive and thanked god and our stars

 

This was the day, a unique day, where we didn't want to see a Tiger. 

 

The real twist

The real twist happened during the evening safari, the safari jeep took us exactly to the same place where we trekked in the morning, But this time it was a different guide and he casually quoted that this is the  territory of a Leopard who is very inquisitive and quiet often follows people walking along this route. I was take aback for a moment. When I came back to resort I inquired and got to know that the guide was new to this place and he is getting trained to be a nature guide. What all could have happened bothered me a lot for a long time but still it was life time experience and most of all I'm thankful to God that we safely made out of the place. 

So never feel bad to have not sighted a wild life in a safari, for sometimes its a blessing not to sight them at all.