A wild buffalo, arna, common in our Terai jungles, is said to be very aggressive. Very little provocation is called for this animal to attack human beings ferociously. Neither the tiger, the king of the jungle, nor the light-footed predator, the leopard, would try something like that. They prefer avoiding their most dreaded enemy — the obnoxious biped creature — the man.

All wild animals invariably dislike human race. Some people try to shun them, but some, upon encounter, heap their wrath upon these ferocious creatures. In truth, their aggression is triggered by their own fear of humans. The fact is, they are equally scared as we are of them when in the wild. Here’s a case in point.

Once a group of anglers from Dharan decided to try their luck at Koshi Tappu National Park. The big Sapta Koshi had cut a depression forming a pool. The next day found the group casting their bait in the pool. Nobody had the faintest idea that a drama lay in wait. One of the anglers, Ashok, had to respond to the call of nature. Asking his friends to keep an eye on his rod, he entered the thick woods. A little later, still crouched on his haunches, he heard a rustling sound. The jungle, no less than the charkoshe, abounded in all manner of wild animals. He cocked his head; the rustlings were replaced by heavy footfalls. Fearing the worst, Ashok finished off and walked out into the clearing. To his horror, hardly ten yards across, stood a towering bull buffalo staring menacingly at him! He froze to the ground. Then with a yell that could be heard for miles, Ashok ran for his dear life as never before. He could hear the thud of hooves behind him and thought this was the end of it all.

Panic written all over his face, a huffing and puffing Ashok finally made it to his friends. Still shaking like an aspen, he looked at them. His jaws dropped. Having witnessed the whole drama, they were doubled up with laughter which did not seem to stop even at his sorry plight. Instinctively he looked back, but the bull was nowhere to be seen. Alarmed by the suddenness, the poor buffalo thought it better to dash for the safety of the woods rather than face this dreaded enemy who emitted a very hideous roar.