[anjan_c2007]

While moving in forests infested with bears and wild animals, the best way to defend oneself and repel such attacks is by carrying waste cloth, waste paper, matchbox and if need be fire crackers.

This incident as narrated in Cityline, The Hitavada, concerns two forest workers on a foot patrol on Sunday 23/10/22, around 5.30 pm, who had entered a bear-infested forest area in the Koka jungle precincts of Bhandara dist., Maharashtra. Since the workers were thirsty, they fetched water from a water body from where four bears had just gone. They had assumed that these bears won't return. But to their horror, the beasts came back and the two workers immediately climbed 30-40 feet high, on bamboo and dhawda (Anogeissus latifolia) trees respectively. The bears who were running after the twosome also tried to climb the trees but in vain. The bamboo tree was too straight and the dhawda tree had a pit at its base that deterred the bears from their pursuing their vertical ambitions.

The two workers contacted their superiors from the Maharashtra forest department who rushed to help them. The Range Forest Officer (RFO), his deputy, a beat guard and six workers (total 9 of them) rushed to the spot. Since the forest personnel frequent forests, the locations are well known to them. The RFO and his team came with lighted lanterns and fire crackers. The lighted lanterns and fire cracker sounds made the bears run away from the spot. The two workers climbed down the trees thereafter and heaved sighs of relief after their two hour ordeal.



Having worked in many dense forests in the earlier part of my career as a geologist in Adilabad, Mancherial, Karimnagar, Warangal, Amravati (Melghat forest), Akola, Nagpur, Yavatmal, Wardha and Shahdol dists in Telangana, Maharashtra and M. P. respectively, I have traversed through many such areas, sighting wild animals while on foot traverses with my team/s. We have "Protected Forests" and "Reserved Forests" classified that are demarcated in Survey of India (SOI) topo sheets that are/were 1:50,000 scale on the newer, or the older ones of the British era had it on a 1:63,360 scale. The latter are very rare now as all areas have been redone by SOI. To enter Reserved and Protected Forests and also National Parks etc we need permission from concerned forest authorities. Since we were from the government pursuing government work, this was never a problem.

While in the forests, neither me nor any of my team members ever faced a head-on attack by any wild animal, but for this one incident. I had just escaped a hyena attack in Adilabad dist, Telangana once, when the animal out of inherent fear defensively showed its teeth gnawing at me. It was resting in the bushes, on a rivulet bank. None of us had the clue that the animal would be lurking there. It was summer and the partially moist, rivulet sand and the bushes were ideal as a resting place for this beast. Shouts by me and team members made the animal run away. For the first time, I could closely observe the German Shepard-like looking animal, with shorter hind legs and longer front legs. It was off white in colour with black stripes.

Another fact is that by personal experience I can vouch that the vicinity of Mahua trees (Madhuca longifolia) when these trees are flowering, need to be totally avoided. The aroma attracts bears. The Mahua flowers fall on the ground when matured, and bears also love to feast on these fallen flowers. Also, one needs to avoid the vicinity of water bodies as these attract wild animals especially during dusk. For sighting the wild animals, its just the opposite as enthusiasts would like to sight these in their natural habitat. Such enthusiasts are well prepared and often sight these beasts, perched at a safe height, above the ground.

We were always told by experienced peers to carry waste cloth, waste newspapers, matchbox and if need be fire crackers (the quantities need to depend upon the time one spends in the forest) for self defence, while traversing forests and as a rule did so in such areas infested with wildlife.

[Sanidhya mukund]

This is a topic I have often wondered about. When animals mistakenly enter into human habitation, they often have to experience hostility from us humans. This hostility of course, isn’t out of contempt for the poor beast, but out of fear that the sight of a wild beast instills in us. It is this fear that causes us to try and defend ourselves even before the poor animal has comprehended what is going on and leads to human-animal conflict and cases where the outnumbered beast always gets the short end of the stick.

Like humans, animals also have a similar defensive instinct that kicks in when our kind happens to venture into areas of their dwelling. In addition to the fear of getting harmed, some animals also see us as a good opportunity to fill their bellies, which isn’t exactly ideal for us!

A few things that must be kept in mind by everyone travelling close to wildlife hot spots or through jungles are:

1. Always know in detail what kinds and numbers of flora and fauna are found in the area. If possible, know the specific nuances of the wild animals found there.

2. Travel in large groups and in consultation with the local wildlife authorities. Keep contact numbers of the concerned people handy.

3. If possible, avoid travelling during dark.

4. Know what kind of forest is it: a national park? A protected area? A patch of wilderness untouched by humans?

5. If possible, nothing beats travelling with a companion who has good knowledge of the area and the animals.

These measures will definitely help us alter our own conduct in manners that will mitigate the conflict with animals. However, in the unfortunate situation of an attack, one will have to act quickly enough to make the animal go away. In most cases, knowing what scares the animal away is the best tool one has in his favour. Everything else depends on luck to a very large extent. Sometimes, even experienced people get injured in attacks, as was seen in Kaziranga, Assam:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=T0kzdu_wTM0

Another example of a situation that could have been a lot worse. The truck should have been slower, since it was a rhino corridor:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-TuX7rbw_88

[Slushmaster]

I have visited a good number of national parks and protected forests in India and Africa and there are some animals you should always be worried about. In Indian context, Sloth Bear and Elephants are the ones that are high on threat levels to humans as compared to Tigers or Leopards.

Typically, in almost all the national parks, walking is prohibited for a commoner. The reason is clear i.e. to protect flora and fauna and then to prevent any conflict between man and animals while earning revenues. Also, animals don't get too used to people walking in forests and are typically comfortable watching us in vehicles/jeeps.

There are a very few cases where animals attacked or killed someone within the periphery of national parks. So, following simple rules chalked out by forest folks are enough self defence. Also, never try to cross the path of animals no matter how fast you can drive. So in a national park, it's always good to stay in your vehicle, keep a good distance between your vehicle and animal and do not disturb the animal.

Most of the animal attacks occur in buffer zones of forests/ national parks, near animal corridors or in villages surrounding the forest. Based on my experience here are a few things that you can do to reduce your chances of getting into a sticky situation:

1) Talk to locals about any rogue animal in the area where you are planning to venture. Most of the villagers on the periphery of forests know a lot more about the movement of animals than forest officials in their area. You will easily come to know about any rogue tusker or any kind of predator movement
2) Wear clothes that help you to be a part of your surroundings. Wearing shades of green or khaki in the forest makes it difficult to be spotted by animals who lack good eyesight(Elephants, Sloth bear etc.)
3) Avoid lotions or deodorants with strong fragrances. Your favourite deodorant or perfume easily announces your presence to Elephants, bears or rhinos
4) Observe the area around you carefully and keep a note of anything out of the ordinary. Fresh dung or broken branches or fresh footprints/pug marks must be dealt with extreme care and urgency
5) Lastly, travel in groups with someone having the knowledge of area where you are walking or planning to camp

Now coming to the self-defense part, here are a few things that you can do:

1) Carry a 4-5 feet bamboo stick and use it as a walking stick if you are stepping in an area where tigers or leopards frequently sighted.
2) Travel in groups of 3-4 and make sounds so that animals like bears or tigers know your presence in advance. Most of the sloth bear/ tiger attacks occur when they get startled by woodpickers or villagers
3) Carry bear spray or pepper spray, it can come handy when there is an animal ready to charge you.
4) Try gauging the wind direction while in forest areas. Tigers will always attack you from the opposite direction to wind in a jungle. Always try to be in the opposite direction of the wind if you accidentally come closer to an Elephant herd or a bear with its cubs
5) If you suddenly come in front of a wild animal, shout loudly, make yourself look bigger and slowly retreat without running. Avoid sudden movements and running will make things worse for sure
6) Lastly, keep quiet, stay calm and pray to god if you end up in a place where you are facing a tiger, elephant or a bear. Believe me, you won't be able to do much

Also, never venture in an unknown area without a guide, avoid any trekking or jungle walks after 5 PM and respect the wild. It's good to be a part of an adventure, but adventure without knowledge and preparation is a recipe for disaster.

Thanks,
Slushmaster

[supermax]

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

While moving in forests infested with bears and wild animals, .

Please refrain if you can, from using the word 'infested' when referring to wildlife, in forests and in wilderness! Forests are their homes. If anything, we are the intruders. We should absolutely take due caution and do our best to avoid human-animal conflicts, but if anybody is doing the infesting, it's us humans.

[Ragul]

One tip I can give to protect yourself when camping in a tent in a forest (not a reserve where camping is not allowed) is to keep a wide-mouth bottle with water-tight cap to pee into rather than step outside your tent at 3-4 am to take a pee. Empty in the morning and wash when you can later.

Especially with the situation in India with leopards visiting housing colonies and adapting to human habitats - this could save you the fearful moments of stepping out in the eerie dark on top of a forested mountain for example . Works only when camping solo (i.e one person per tent)for obvious privacy reasons. I actually started this habit when backpacking in Sikkim more than a decade back and it was too cold to step out in the frigid weather at 4am. Then I also discovered it makes a great “hot water bottle” under the sleeping bag.

[inmotioninc]

Originally Posted by Slushmaster

2) Wear clothes that help you to be a part of your surroundings. Wearing shades of green or khaki in the forest makes it difficult to be spotted by animals who lack good eyesight(Elephants, Sloth bear etc.)

.....

2) Travel in groups of 3-4 and make sounds so that animals like bears or tigers know your presence in advance. Most of the sloth bear/ tiger attacks occur when they get startled by woodpickers or villagers

Lots of great advice there. But I found a couple of points a bit contradictory.

Given that most of the attacks happen when animals are startled by humans (i.e suddenly crossing paths with each other), I would say that it is better wear bright clothes that can be easily spotted by animals from a distance. It will give them a chance to move away and avoid confrontation.

And I absolutely agree about making noises while moving through wooded areas. I hike a lot in the Himalayas and use a small whistle whenever I'm moving through wooded areas frequented by bears.

[famousshoes]

One Effective deterrent against animals and especially aggressive dogs is a compressed air horn. This works great as a hip strap on for people who like to run at night and encounter street dogs that are territorial and have become a menace.
A bit expensive but very worth it.

https://www.amazon.in/SAFETY-SPORT-P.../dp/B00YVO4WHS

Cheaper of course if you can get it with someone flying in, though i'm not sure about the flight safety regulations on compressed air cans.

Originally Posted by supermax

Please refrain if you can, from using the word 'infested' when referring to wildlife, in forests and in wilderness! Forests are their homes. If anything, we are the intruders. We should absolutely take due caution and do our best to avoid human-animal conflicts, but if anybody is doing the infesting, it's us humans.

Thank you for pointing this out! It is of course we humans who have infested wildernesses and surrounding areas in the name of game resorts / metro sheds and whatnot, pushing animals into increasingly narrower and narrower corridors of jungle. 'Man-animal' conflict is actually a misnomer. It is the animals pushing back against the greed of man and for space that is rightfully theirs.

[fhdowntheline]

My view on this is as follows:
1) those who need to visit forests but it is not part of their core profession should only go along with a local forest expert.
2) Those who are in the business of visiting forests for their livelihood are likely to know better than most of us in this forum.
3) Tourists (like most of us) should stick to National park guidelines and never venture on their own. Heck, I'd never venture even into the road leading to Arthurs Seat after sunset at Mahabaleshwar. I believe it is closed for vehicles anyway.
I have had conversations with people who are in the category 2) above and the basic inference is that the animal in front of you is likely to be as afraid of you as you are of it because of mutual unfamiliarity. Unless it its an elephant which is smart enough to know that it can easily kill you, and will not hesitate one bit if you cross the proverbial line- which in the elephant's case is within its earshot. If you are that close and the elephant has made its call, God save you. Because it can run faster than the fastest athlete.
And we also have the often ignored topic of bee swarms. They are easily startled and when they chase you, you can die from a bad fall more than their stings.

I do not agree with the usage of firecrackers or horns or alarms of any kind. We, especially the urban dwellers have no right to disturb the animal's peace especially when we have no business to be in their environment.

[anjan_c2007]

Another point I have forgotten to mention in the OP. The bears during a face to face encounter usually hit the human face with their foreleg claws, that have extremely sharp, pointed and long, curved nails. In one village in Telangana in the then Warangal dist., the dense forest very near the village Bhopalpalli (this village has become a coal mining town now with quite a few coal mines) had a lot of bears. Bhopalpalli was 70 kms away from Warangal via Parkal. We had sighted a few bears from a distance during our work and took utmost precautions while in the forest. Bhopalpalli did not have electricity during the 1980's. I was given two tough and reliable petrol Jeeps (1969 and 1972, Jeep CJ 3B , regn nos. WBJ 7433 and AAY 2952) by the government, but no generator and hence we had to make do with hurricane lanterns and petromax's for lighting. Yes, they provided us a monthly quota of kerosene as fuel.

But one fine day during the winter, a villager who had gone to the forest to possibly get some firewood was attacked by a bear and his face was very badly bruised after being mauled. Villagers narrated about older experiences and about how the bears had similarly attacked humans of their village.

[Slushmaster]

Originally Posted by inmotioninc

Lots of great advice there. But I found a couple of points a bit contradictory.

Given that most of the attacks happen when animals are startled by humans (i.e suddenly crossing paths with each other), I would say that it is better wear bright clothes that can be easily spotted by animals from a distance. It will give them a chance to move away and avoid confrontation.

An elephant will never move away from you and making yourself easily visible is asking for problems. The reason most of the people involved in wildlife wear Khaki and shades of green is to gel with the surroundings. However, a tiger or leopard can easily spot you from a long distance irrespective of what you wear and can hear you from very far and will avoid you if spotted.

Wear bright if you anticipate a rescue, else in a jungle don't wear brights.