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Excerpts from the main article :
....................But before leaving, the villagers were discussing with us the dangers they face from Elephants and Snakes. This jungle and adjacent ranges are used by the Elephants as their path toward the farmlands of the Bankura and Midnapur districts of West Bengal. The herds of elephants visit this place every year after puja to eat the fresh harvest of Ravi Crops. Besides eating their fresh harvest the herd of elephants does not disturb the villagers. They were saying that the problem arises when a tusker or single elephant with a tusk arrives. These elephants were either thrown away from their herd or they have left their herd as there were other leaders. Either way, these elephants popularly known as Tusker due to their teeth are highly dangerous and they can attack anyone even when not provoked at all.
So we were cautioned by them about this Tuskers.
“If you see them only one thing you must do”
“What”
“Run towards the road at full speed”
Another problem is the snakes. This area is full of Kraits and Spitting Cobras. Although Kraits will not disturb you and slowly slither away Spitting Cobra is not like them. They will throw poison if they feel threatened by you. So the moment you see then try to find a higher [ace where they can not reach or the poisons thrown at you can not reach.
“Where do the snakes take shelter ?”
“Kraits will take shelter wherever they find a warm moist place and Cobras can seep anywhere. So never go out without any shoes and also please don’t go out in the forest at night.”
“no..we will stay inside the tent only. Just ensure the tent is free of Snakes.”
“Yes..you can be assured of that”
After this conversation, they left the place. But we continued our chat. Suddenly with a cracking sound from the clouds above the rain started to fall torrentially.
The rain was so heavy that the entire area, including our camp, was flooded within minutes. Thankfully, the villagers raised the bed considerably, preventing flooding from reaching our bed even in knee-deep water.
“But what about snakes? They will now try to climb our bed to save themselves from the flood.”
One junior member of our team screamed at all of us.
"Yes. That is correct." "But what can be done?" I replied. We don't have alternatives to choose from, and the villagers can't come now because.....Read the full story
