“Do you know, madam, it’s unsafe to go out in the evening? Lately, leopards have been spotted in the area, making it dangerous,” warned the cab driver.
In the past few years, I have been going places in Uttrakhand. Uttarakhand is a state in northern India. It is known for its natural beauty, which includes the majestic Himalayas, lush green valleys, and numerous rivers and waterfalls.
The state is divided into two main regions: Garhwal in the west and Kumaon in the east.
Uttarakhand is home to several national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, such as Jim Corbett National Park, India’s oldest national park, and Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve.
The region is rich in biodiversity, with various flora, including oak, pine, rhododendron, and deodar trees, as well as fauna like tigers, leopards, elephants, and snow leopards.
Yet, almost every journey here begins with a warning. Whether from cab drivers or locals, someone always shares a leopard tale. Some have spotted the creature passing by in the dead of night; others saw one from a distance during the day.
These stories add an extra thrill to every adventure, a reminder that we walk through the wild’s living room.
But honestly — when a leopard is on the prowl, can anyone guarantee safety, no matter the time of day?
So, whenever I go for a walk, I imagine what I would do if the leopard appeared. I build imaginary scenarios and a rescue strategy in my mind.
Many people say to stay still if you see a leopard or a tiger and not threaten them — after all, we humans are essentially in their territory, aren’t we?
Some shared that they had been running away for their lives when they saw a leopard from a distance.
In the forests of Uttarakhand, no journey is complete without these wild stories. So, here’s mine.
One morning, a fellow traveller and I went to a nearby meditation place early.
The air was cool, with a hint of the night’s chill. The birds were chirping, and the sky looked beautiful.
This serene start to the day was peaceful and rejuvenating, a perfect blend of nature’s beauty and the calm rhythm of rural life.
As we walked, we heard dogs barking and saw them running. This situation reminded us of our conversation with the locals.
Just the previous night, we heard how dogs sometimes bark and run when they sense a leopard or tiger nearby. And so, without hesitation, we ran too, heart pounding, adrenaline surging.
We were running only to realize that the dogs were perhaps communicating with each other.
While the reality was different, in our minds, we were sure to be saving ourselves from leopards and tigers in the early morning.
And that my friend was one of my friends in the wild moments by the mountains.
