Rays filtering through foliage - Muthanga Sanctuary
We didn't expect much out of a one and a half hour jeep safari into the Muthanga wild-life sanctuary (Wayanad, Kerala), but we had an encounter that made the trip totally paisa vasool.
Towards the later half of our safari, we crossed another jeep whose driver exchanged some worried words with ours in his native tongue. Apparently some elephant was blocking the way back to the exit of the park. Our driver, a courageous man, decided to check it out himself rather than make the about turn.
Tracks leading into the forest
When we went up ahead we saw a few jeeps waiting and watching a huge tusker, notorious for attacking vehicles in the past, having his breakfast just on the edge of the track that we needed to take. All the vehicles were ready to go back. One jeep, in order to give the occupants a closer look at the tusker, reversed and drove quite near to the tusker. A second later, the jeep was driving away, chased by the giant beast itself! Lucky for them (and all of us) the tusker gave up after a short chase, and went back to his breakfast.
The angry tusker
That was one scary scene. We stood no chance against the animal if he decided to chase and hurt us. Our driver turned to us and asked whether he should try to sneak past the animal. We told him we completely trusted his judgment. Slowly, while other vehicles made their way back away from the animal, we sneaked up close to the beast, and when we were close enough, we suddenly charged with whatever power the old rusty vehicle could muster. This time the tusker got alarmed and jumped out of our way, and while we drove past out of the park, we got a last glimpse of this "hostile" animal.
Towards the later half of our safari, we crossed another jeep whose driver exchanged some worried words with ours in his native tongue. Apparently some elephant was blocking the way back to the exit of the park. Our driver, a courageous man, decided to check it out himself rather than make the about turn.
Tracks leading into the forest
When we went up ahead we saw a few jeeps waiting and watching a huge tusker, notorious for attacking vehicles in the past, having his breakfast just on the edge of the track that we needed to take. All the vehicles were ready to go back. One jeep, in order to give the occupants a closer look at the tusker, reversed and drove quite near to the tusker. A second later, the jeep was driving away, chased by the giant beast itself! Lucky for them (and all of us) the tusker gave up after a short chase, and went back to his breakfast.
The angry tusker
That was one scary scene. We stood no chance against the animal if he decided to chase and hurt us. Our driver turned to us and asked whether he should try to sneak past the animal. We told him we completely trusted his judgment. Slowly, while other vehicles made their way back away from the animal, we sneaked up close to the beast, and when we were close enough, we suddenly charged with whatever power the old rusty vehicle could muster. This time the tusker got alarmed and jumped out of our way, and while we drove past out of the park, we got a last glimpse of this "hostile" animal.
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2 comments:
Wow.. thrilling experience it must be!
"thrilling" is right :)
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