The experience of riding on a jungle safari is impassionally derived while reading the wildlife conservationist ERC Davidar's biography, 'Whispers from the wild'.
His childhood in Trichy introduces the author to varied wild animals. A few tamed, newcomers were put in the rigorous process of it and delinquents such as bonnet macaque were promptly deposited into the adjacent forest begins his journey of being with and observing animal behaviours.
The author's adulthood becomes an extension of his childhood after he relocated into a real wild jungle in Nilgiris, where he transforms into a mature hunter. The hunter in him gave the courage to follow the animal trails in the forest initially, but his urge to understand the ecosystem replaced totting gun with a handsome camera. Thus, the book is whole of wild animals with mighty elephants, leopard, wild dogs, hyenas and many more in its glory and up close are a few close people of the author.
The thrill of riding on a safari with the author, who remained and traversed miles by-foot in the whole story, is infectious. His friends are mine as I know my gentle elephant Bumpty likes to take long bath which is promptly ended with slashing of mud across his body. Another gentle animal Kumariah of the same clan introduces herd culture to Cheetal Walk, which was despised during its solitary days later.
Possession of machans atop tall trees of varied species brought us closer to the study of animal behaviours despite having its own perils. I was in awe of Davidar when we held our machans on the stumps of fallen trees to witness the actions of huge animals from proximity. Different locations had been identified along Sigurhalla stream which these animals consider it as their favourite spots for drinking water. When the stream was polluted, a gentle animal taught us to scoop sand from river bed to find clean water beneath it.
I was petrified when Davidar's legs which were dangling from a makeshift machan atop huge branches of mango tree touched the shoulder of an elephant while it intended to take rest under it. The elephant ran in an opposite direction and we decided not to stay back in forest after the dusk hereafter.
I laughed out loud when Davidar's head of the college decided to publish his picture of bonnet macaque (a monkey species) in the caption 'as good as you'.
I was touched when Davidar extended his right arm for our 'Tikki' ( mongoose) to trust and deepen the bonding with his new master.
We together learnt that feaces of hyena contains bones as these scavengers pulverize bones for their food. The wild dogs moving around in packs can chase away leopards from its hunt. But they are still yours faithfully lot with the humans in the forest.
It was a humbling experience to read his biography where his enormous knowledge about the wilderness came across in a layman language but poetic. His integrity in narrating the tales even if he was fled away from solitary animals or tattered by bison on a fateful day remains impeccable and endearing.
He doesn't preach to save forest as a conservationist but he allows us to fall deeply in love for the nature. The first lessons that he learnt to understand the forest using wind, odour and sounds to criss-cross the forest and reach his safe abode in Cheetal Walk was filled with anecdotes and the traditional knowledge of indigenous tribes here. The varying flow of water along the forest streams likened to roaring of tiger during its strong flow and recounted cooing birds such as pigeons when the water trickles along it remains etched in my memory for its sheer imagination.
He was a lawyer but tucked his profession in the margins of forest and oblivion to us. He was a wildlife conservationist but never articulated in length his achievements. He only cared to present his experiences with wilderness, in a more humane and hilarious way.
In the end, the author brought me closer to him and made me fall in love with both nature and his inquisitive childlike passion that I cherish and yearn to be 'as good as you' in my field.
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