Bigcats News

[peter]

THE CONVERSATION OF DEATH

A tigress severely wounded by a vehicle and in great pain attacked a jeep with tourists less than a day after she was hit. Inside the jeep, she bit a tourist in the chest and held on. Would have been game over in most cases, but then someone intervened. It took an effort, but it had an effect. When the tigress had left the jeep, the one who made her change her mind was attacked. When he thought his time had come, the tigress suddenly let go. Both looked into each others eye and than the tigress left, never to be seen again.        

Courage is something difficult to fathom. Mr. Sharma definitely made a difference that day. In more than one way, the tigress also did. She apparently knew about jeeps and those inside. When she was about to take her revenge, someone made her let go. Anyone who knows a bit about big cats and their anger would conclude this was remarkable. When she attacked the one who had intervened, she decided against it and, after what must have been a kind of exchange, disappeared into the forest. Even more remarkable. 

I remember a book written by Barry Lopez. He noticed that wolves, when they have cornered their victim, often seem to interact with their victim. The 'conversation of death' has an effect: not all are attacked.

Those who hunt in the forest and use stealth to contact their victim don't talk. All energy is invested in the kill. When it isn't about food, however, ambush hunters, very seldom, talk with the one they targeted. When Mr. Sharma seemed doomed, the tigress let go. I know of more stories I consider reliable. Those who survived a very personal encounter with a wild big cat always are unable to say why that was. Maybe there are things that can't be described. 

After his ordeal, Mr. Sharma was again attacked by a tiger. Again he stood his ground and again he survived. It seems Mr. Sharma knows something about tigers only very few can understand. It's in this respect telling that he decided to inform the public many years after the event only.

Good find, PC. I propose to post a copy in the thread about wolf children. In a way, this story seems to fit. Reply