Oct 13th, 2012
Listened to more stories from villagers today about alleged tiger attacks. One woman claimed that her dog has been attacked three times and is now mentally disturbed. One of my guide's told of tiger attacks which occurred in his village three years ago. He said that seven cows were taken in seven days, causing the villages to sleep with their livestock until they thought the threat had passed. My guide's father saw the tiger on the morning of the seventh day, sleeping next to a calf it had killed that night.

Because I am not able to walk at a normal pace in these mountains, we've decided to break up in to two teams. We will send an advance team into the jungle to look for signs of tiger activity and I will move in the direction the young woman we spoke with yesterday said she encountered the tiger family. Our teams will then meet up at next camp site, talking with villagers along the way.

Lunch, at a villager's home

Wheat Mash for lunch

I'm learning that most of these people are aware that life in the mountains does not come without risk. The monsoon rains can arrive early and destroy their crops. Cattle can be killed by loosing their footing on the steep mountain side or be taken by wild predators. Chickens are regularly taken by wild cats, raptors, and canines. Its the way things are. These people, for the most part, do not believe that humans are entitled to a risk free life. They accept their losses but are open to reducing them in a way that doesn't threaten the existence of the wildlife living among them. I found this attitude to be refreshing. Sharing can be a wonderful thing.