Manohar Mahoot: - Accha, we are now about to enter inside the deep forest. Just keep my earnest request. Please don’t shout, scream or talk loudly among yourselves. Also, don’t try to tease or shout at any animal, once you spot it inside the jungle. All animals in this jungle are scared about elephants, but side by side, it is also true that an elephant is a peace loving animal. It does not want to go in any kinds of confrontations with wild animals.
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Roy: - We are roaming inside the jungle on this elephant’s back for around 5 minutes or so. We are yet to spot any wild animal. Really, today is our bad luck.
Ayandeep: - Look at your right side carefully. There are two deer behind that bush. They are now running away from that place.
Manohar Mahoot: - Everyone look at your left direction. Can you see that rhinoceros standing quietly on its own muddy territory.
Debarjun: - What is wrong with its horn? Why is it half broken?
Manohar Mahoot: - in the last mating season, he had a fight with his competitor and was badly injured.
Sain: - Competitor in the mating season? What does that mean?
Manohar Mahoot: - unlike humans, animals of the jungle have their own rules of mating. To access a female animal, there are several contenders. As per the jungle rules, only one male animal will get access to a female animal for a mating season. There is no scope of sharing a female animal among several male animals. In human society, a woman is permitted to become a Draupadi, but not in wild animals’ society. But, yes, if a female animal goes to a new territory, then she starts finding for another male partner and rejects her former mating partner. This rhinoceros has lost the pointed tip of its horn, which is why; nowadays, he does not fight with any other male rhinoceros. He just remains on his own in this territory. That’s why; all the safari tourists of Jaldapara can always spot this rhinoceros. This rhino is injured but act as a marketing icon for this Jaldapara elephant safari.
Ayandeep: - Hey, have you people noticed one thing? This Mahoot is carrying a bhojali, the typical Nepali Sword-like weapon. He has kept it on his left thigh and is very firmly tied with a red colored towel. Debarjun, just ask him, why is he carrying this bhojali?
Debarjun: - Accha, Mahoot bhai, what is the role of this bhojali in this safari?
Manohar Mahoot: - Many a times it has happened that a tiger or a leopard has pounced on the tourists or Mahoots from the trees or bushes. When a tiger attacks you; you will hardly get some fractions of seconds to protect yourself. Within those moments, if you can play smartly, then you survive, otherwise, your death is inevitable. For 3 times, in my career as a Mahoot in this Jaldapara forest, I have faced the tigers. In 2 instances, I was lucky enough to save myself, because my domesticated elephant changed his direction of walking. But, in one instance, it was a direct confrontation. The leopard was on the tree and jumped towards me. I just swung my bhojali targeting that leopard. Luckily, I survived. My left arm was badly injured. Still, there are marks in my left arm. The leopard’s right paw was badly injured and after some days, the forest officers confirmed that the leopard had died due to excessive bleeding. Don’t regard my words as a joke. This elephant safari is very risky as any time a tiger can attack you. That’s why; this safari is conducted only in the morning for security purposes. Sometimes, the elephants also start running out of fear, when they can smell any tiger within its few meters.
Roy: - An elephant can easily throw away a tiger or a lion with its trunk. Then, why an elephant runs away after seeing them?
Manohar Mahoot: - An elephant’s skin is very thick and rough. Scratches or wounds on an elephant’s skin take too much time to heal. Also, an elephant cannot lick its skin with its own saliva, which clots the blood. Elephants are not afraid of tigers but always try to avoid injuries from those sharp claws or paws of tigers.
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