Jungle Adventure

At four o'clock a.m. the full moon was setting in the western horizon on this frosty November morning. The chill air made us wish for an early sunrise! This would be a day of adventure--adventure into the wild animals' formidable jungle.

We were a group of three, each astride tame domesticated elephants guided by their mahouts. My good friend, Bill, took the lead. I was next in line astride my assigned elephant. The forest service officer rode his elephant transport with its masterful mahout in the rear position of our party.

We were not hunting elephants, but we were in wild elephant territory hoping to see an Indian wild buffalo call guar. These huge animals weigh several tons when mature. The male guar has long, dangerous, massive horns several feet in length. Guar heads are wide and strong. These animals are swift runners despite their massive size. They are not aggressive unless threatened.

The area was covered with tall reed-like grass and bushy small trees. Animal trails crisscrossed this desolate area where wild animals travelled and grazed.

On the dimly-moonlit winding trail through marshy areas we had travelled about an hour when we came upon a small herd of untamed elephants of all gender, age, and size. One big bull decided to follow us. We thought he would soon turn back to join his herd, but he continued to tailgate our threesome party.

The aggressive tailgater rushed toward us. A broken tusk attested to his willingness to fight. Frequent blasts of siren-like snorting sounds and throwing dirt which he siphoned through his flexible trunk were distracting and made our elephants and riders uncomfortable. Efforts to escape the enraged animal had not been successful until the forest service officer fired his shotgun over the oncoming elephant's head.

Shortly after daybreak, my mahout pointed to a big python snake in a shallow mountain stream feeding on the small fish floating downstream. It would have been an easy shot for me, but I was not interested in snake hunting. This python was probably fifteen feet long. This was a chilling sight which left me with an eerie feeling.

The first rays of the rising sun lighted the tall grass and bushes. They took on a waving shadow-like picture akin to ocean waves. A herd of tiny hogdeer rattled the tall grass as they swiftly ran through the jungle.

The morning breeze became stronger. Birds began to appear in the sky. Sounds of horn-bill birds, native to the jungle, echoed through the brisk morning air. Nearby we saw a flock of turkey buzzards circling an area covered by ragged tree shrubs. Some of these carrion eaters were poised in the tops of the scrubby bushes. We crossed another dusty animal trail. We could see fresh tiger footprints imprinted in the sand. Parallel to the footprints path a shallow furrow was noted. We concluded that the tiger dragged his prey to his hidden dining area.

The stench of carrion and fetid odor convinced us that we were near the tiger's hideout secreted in the swamp. Perhaps a hogdeer had been his prey? Tigers are noted for their tastes for fresh blood and decaying animal flesh.

We had not gone far from that horrible smell when we saw rustling of the eight foot swamp grass! A female one-horned rhinoceros charged from the thicket toward Bill's elephant. I could see this massive animal form rushing forward. Her body appeared like a steel plated military tank! I was too frightened to call out my feelings of fear. The rhino's calf was trailing close behind her. The forest ranger pulled his elephant along side the elephant I was riding. A quick shotgun blast interrupted the rhino's up and down head swings and she suddenly turned away with her calf in hot pursuit and disappeared.

We were not hunting animals to shoot even though we each had a powerful rifle for self defense.

Now we travelled undisturbed. A small herd of sambar, a large wild animal resembling the American elk, ran swiftly from a small meadow where they had been feeding. Their forked horns glistened in the sunlight. Their picturesque, swift escape looked like wind blown brush floating out of our sight.

The final wild animal sighting was one I shall never forget. A giant guar raced away from our trail. I could see his huge body as he raced away from our view. This wild beast was too far away for shooting or photography. I was joyful that I had an opportunity to view that gorgeous animal in his natural environment. I am happy that I do not own his massive horns for a trophy! I hope that the wild buffalo that I saw is still home in the jungle.

This page is maintained by Dr. Wood's son, Harold W. Wood, Jr., of Visalia, California.
My E-mail address is: harold@planetaryexploration.net

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