Leh

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Encounter with Leopard in Bandipur

It is not everyday we venture in to wild.... though our everyday life it self is as wild. I happen to drive wild to places for work and being called a national permit truck driver by joke. For a change I took off from work and went to amazing places in Karnataka. I call them now amazing , as I had not seen them before but had heard of them a lot.

We arrive at bandipur after we have driven 2000 km. from Hasan, Hampi, Badami, Pattadakkal, Goa etc. Reached there by 11.30. The Jungle Lodge has rooms which are impressive. The painting of an animal full on the wall is so lively and wonderful. And creates the environment for getting in to the mood from the temples to nature. The Golghar, the dining hall is virtually open and Large...

By 3.30 PM Bama the driver and Harsha the naturalist are ready and Jeep moves out with us towards the Jungle. We cross gates and get in to denser forest... the tracks are non existent but Bama knows where and how he is going. We see bunch of Deer.. then many bunches... relaxing and some fighting too... Suddenly we hear the trumpet... blown by the tusker... Jeep stops and Bama advances toward him.... It is a very different feeling when you look in eyes of tusker....... And Tusker too starts towards us. You understand meaning of Chill Running Through Spine...... Bama obviously knows what can happen and what can not. But not me..... I am compiling courage.. and Tusker stops, Raises trunk and Trumpets again.... I think it was salute to us. He and his family turn back and start grazing as if we are not there. We observe them for a while and proceed further.

We spot Bisons, one set of wild dogs.. they are dangerous I believe. Even Tigers are afraid of them. As they always have number on their side. More families of Elephants...But not the rare animal....

We get down from the jeep at one point. And walk for almost a kilometer to reach Moyar river and valley which separates Tamilnadu and Karnataka. Wonderful site it is. But it is also frightening as it is all tough terrain and not scalable easily. We had to turn back as light was fast diminishing. We returned back to Lodge. There the camp fire was waiting for us. The food was getting arranged for buffet and we sat under the Star studded sky in a nice chilled weather for the dinner.

It was decided that we leave early morning 6.00 am so as to get enough time till it heats up. And 3 of us were near jeep when Bama and Harsha were already there waiting for us. I was not so enthusiastic as I was always eluded by the Wild life of India... be it Corbett, Be it Periyar, Be it Top Slip. For me it was one more futile attempt to go to Jungle. but still I was ready.

We started and waiting a kilometer itself we had gang of elephants jus by the side of  the road was obliging the travelers ( though there were not many). We took different turn. and we were traveling through 5 ft tall grass. Heard of Deer and Some Peacocks was added to the memory..

We are in deeper jungle and the information is that out of 880 sq km of reserved forest only 60 sq km is open for visitors like us. Remaining is really reserve. So possibility of animals leaving that area and venturing here...??? I became more skeptical..

And suddenly Harsha said in low tone STOP. Jeep Stopped.. Take reverse... STOP...

See left on the tree....... On the tree??? Against light... nothing is seen to my eyes... then something moved... and Bigger Movement... And The Leopard was slowly climbing down.

He had surely seen us going ahead definitely and expected not to come back and disturb him. But Harsha was too sharp to spot him.

He got down in front of us... and decided to go past our Jeep to back of us. He came out of bushes and walked as if we are not there. Not looking at us....( Was he afraid too?..) He passed within 3ft from me.

I had taken decision as it was against light to keep my camera in Video mode rather

than Still. And had shot his movement right from he moved from the tree.. till he went back of jeep.

As he was walking away from us... Bama started engine and put jeep in reverse. Slowly. But sensing we are coming from back Leopard stopped and was looking for something in bushes. kept loitering.. We had to stop.

My God it was such a display of strength. Ignoring us.. walking past us as if we are not there.... The grace... and the Royal behavior. Hats off. The speed and agility and  sharpness could be turned in to a mercenary in a moment.

It was going on for almost 7 to 8 min. Emperor wondering and allowing you to watch... what a luck. And suddenly he rushed in to thick bushes and vanished without any trace.

It was like a dream and we were awake. What did we do for all that time? What was

going on in mind...?? My mind was aghast and there was no emotion to mention. I was

in sort of meditating stage. probably hypnotised by His highness's appearance. But there was not a shred of fear. But definitely i was amazed.

We wondered for some more time but there was not to be further luck beyond such a

magnificent meeting. We returned to Base by 9.30 Am. As soon as we left the Jungle and joined the main road... hunger took over and when back in Jungle Lodge we probably finished 6 people's breakfast.

By 10.30 it was time to say adieu to all of them. Note a government organisation behaving friendly and taking care of you.... It was tough time to say See you soon again.

Plan was done that every alternate Friday I should go there with some body or other.. and if nobody is ready to come..? Go ALONE..... Who is coming with me on this Friday?