Rendezvous with Wild Elephants at Bandipur-Part II

This was the second encounter we had with around a bunch of 6-7 elephants when we were on a safari in Bandipur.

 

On Dec 25th after the first encounter in the morning we again regrouped in the evening for safari at  JLR to look for the inevitable cats in Bandipur.We were in an open jeep this time.We were sitting on the back side of the jeep with a newly married couple.One family was sitting on the front side along with the driver.This time the driver has driven the vehicle in the deep forest.We were deep inside the forest after seeing some spotted deer and peacocks.Suddenly we heard the sound of trumpet from the left side of the forest.We can see one elephant (here in after called Ram) on the left side and one calf and elephant on the left side but standing some what on the front side from the jeep.  

I named him Ram

Ram almost stopped the jeep by waiving and  making sounds.The driver stopped the vehicle and stopped the engine also.The insiders in the vehicle were now frightened.He was standing from the vehicle at a distance of some 5-6 feet on the left side,sometimes charging and sometimes raising its trunk and trump ting.For one minute we were staring at him and Ram staring at us.Then the driver started the vehicle and put the gear.The vehicle started moving and the elephant also started chasing us.The driver again stopped the vehicle and engine both.This happened for 2 times and finally the driver stopped the vehicle.

Elephants coming out from the forest

The elephant Ram was now standing behind the vehicle at a distance of 2 feet. I can say i was at his trunks distance from rear seat of my jeep.Now it was really scary thinking whether these elephants will leave us today or not.

Ram Waving its Trunk at 2 feet from jeep

 Now on the left side of the forest i can see some five elephants with the baby elephant surrounding it.Now the story was clear that this was a protecting act.We waited for some 4 minutes there for the elephant to calm down.Now the elephants started coming from the left side behind the vehicle with the baby elephant along with one of them.They were at  a distance of two feet from our vehicle.By this time the driver has started the vehicle and slowly he was moving also.All the elephants have now surrounded the baby making it secure from the intruders (we the tourists).The trumpet voice was again heard as if they have won over us and scared us to run away.  

                                                                                                                                                                   

Elephants surrounding the baby

Finally we started to move the vehicle seeing the elephants surrounding the baby and making him secure.We all felt a sigh of relief.

We leaving them after they calmed down

All of us were scared and thinking and talking what would have been the result if the elephants would have attacked the vehicle.All sorts of bad thoughts were coming to us.I thought in the beginning like others but gradually i accepted one thing that this was an experience for a lifetime for all of us to remember.

One lesson we should all learn is the balance of the nature and the interference with the animal habitat has to be minimal.Otherwise the imbalance will create a situation which can lead to a situation where the confrontation can happen.

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