https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

An Officer Chronicles His Close Encounters With Sariska Tigers

Indian Masterminds Stories

Credited for restoring the Sariska Tiger Reserve and the Bharatpur Wildlife Sanctuary, retired IFS officer Sunayan Sharma spent around four decades in the wild. The officer still continues his work on wildlife conservation and is serving as the President of Sariska Tiger Foundation. In his journey, he dealt with many deadly situations, encountered wild animals, and worked closely with and for tribal people. All these changed his perception and views on the wild and wildlife. 

In his latest book called Wild Treasures and Adventures: A Forester’s Diary, the 1971 batch officer of Rajasthan cadre recalls his experiences and anecdotes.  Speaking to Indian Masterminds, Mr. Sharma gave more vivid details.

RECONNECTING PEOPLE TO NATURE

“Earlier many hunters like Jim Corbett and authors like Rudyard Kipling used to write books about jungle and jungle life. In recent decades, there has been a dip. People are losing their connect with nature. I believe literature can be a great medium to help them reconnect. Hence, this book,” Mr. Sharma said. This is the fourth book from the forest officer turned author. Earlier he has written a book on Sariska titled Sariska: The Tiger Reserve Roars Again and Birds in Paradise about Bharatpur. Unlike these two, the Wild Treasures and Adventures includes stories which are based on incidents and experiences where the officer was physically present. Explaining the story style of his writing, he said that he wanted to engage the readers and stories are a great way to do that. 

ENCOUNTERING TIGERS 

Mr. Sharma is an engineer turned forester, and he joined the Indian Forest Service because of his passion for wildlife. He said that many people book jungle safari or visit zoos to take the feel of wildlife, but, in reality, it is much more than that. In all his years in forests, he had many encounters with wildlife, even big cats like the tiger. Talking about one such incident, which is also mentioned in his book, he said, “It was in 1991, when I was first posted in Sariska as the field director. I had no experience with tigers till then. My staff member told me that a tigress has occupied the Kankwari Fort (in Sariska). I was raw and didn’t know about them. In my excitement, I took my staff with me to see the tiger. Upon reaching there, we could clearly see pug marks and body marks of the tigress. The smell was also so fresh, which seemed like the tigress had just left the place on seeing our team. I could feel that she was hiding nearby, watching us.” It was really a close encounter and later Mr. Sharma apologised to his staff for putting their life in danger.

That wasn’t the only close encounter. In 2008, he almost bumped into a tigress who was sitting on a kill. The officer was then posted in Sariska for looking into the reintroduction of tiger. It was the rainy season and grasses were tall. One tigress was missing from three days. On the third day, they located the tiger with GPS and got to know that she has crossed the road and was moving towards populated areas. Since that could prove fatal, Mr. Sharma asked for reinforcement and immediately moved with two staff members to sight the tiger. In the process, he literally bumped into the tigress who had just killed a sambhar. “We were lucky that she ran away as she wasn’t expecting humans. Otherwise, a tiger on hunt or a tigress with her cubs are the most ferocious,” he said.

THE BLACK GODS 

Mr. Sharma is also grateful to the forest service for helping him change his perception about the tribal people. During his early days in the forest, he was posted in tribal dense areas. He spent a lot of time with them, ate with them, and stayed in their houses. Earlier, he was told that tribals are offenders as they used the resources of jungle or encroach on forest land. He said, “While I was with them, I got to know that we made the rules and imposed them upon the tribals as offenders. But, our rules don’t abide with their culture. I closely observed their way of life and got to know that they are much more civil and progressive than us.” 

He is known for restoring Sariska and Bharatpur Sanctuary

In his book, he has called the tribals ‘Black Gods’ as he learnt many things from them. He has described an incident where he spotted a ‘Baraat’ where the groom was carrying a bamboo stick and had some decoration on his face. He was accompanied with around 9-10 people who were carrying some boxes. The bamboo was the symbol of him being the groom. The officer was amazed to see this and was curious about the boxes. Later, he got to know that the number of people in the Baraat depends on how much have been agreed upon by the bride’s side. If the people are extra, then the groom side carries the food for them. The officer was surprised to know this, as in mainstream society, the bride side has to bear all the responsibilities of welcoming the groom’s family. Even after doing everything, they are sometimes subjected to insults. 

With his latest book, Mr. Sharma wants to attract the readers towards nature, and know about the tribals. He believes that since the animals don’t vote, so they are not counted, while the tribals are not treated with equality. Only if more people become aware about them, our ecology and the rich cultures of various tribes can be preserved. 


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Western Railway's Female Mechanics Drive Critical EMU Maintenance
Vijayadashami Boosts Women's Empowerment: Western Railway's Female Mechanics Drive Critical EMU Maintenance
IDES Officer Shobha Gupta
IDES Officer Shobha Gupta Appointed Director General of Defence Estates; Will Oversee 18 Lakh Acres of Defence Land
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services
Controversies Lead to Transfer of 8 Out of 24 IAS Officers in Madhya Pradesh; Key Collectors Removed Following Disputes with Legislators
ACC_Appointments Committee of Cabinet
Senior Bureaucratic Movements Cleared by ACC: Repatriations, Curtailments, and Extensions Notified
shastri-bhawan
CSS Forum Backs Officer Deepak Khoda After Suicide Attempt Over Alleged Workplace Harassment by IAS; Demands High-Level Probe in Letter to Minister
Gandhinagar: Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R
14 Million Seedlings and Counting: Gujarat’s Centres of Excellence Drive Horticulture Innovation with Global Backing
Siyan Gudis old age homes Chhattisgarh
CM Sai Announces 'Siyan Gudis' for Elderly in 4 Chhattisgarh Cities, Launches Welfare Measures on International Day of Older Persons
Sardar Patel 150th birth anniversary celebrations
Gujarat CM Reviews National Unity Day Arrangements Ahead of Sardar Patel’s 150th Birth Anniversary at Sardar Sarovar Dam
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
How Siddhartha Saxena Cracked UPSC CAPF AIR 326 Against All Odds
Dr. S.K
Technology Meets Ecology: IFS Dr S K Srivastava’s Game-Changing Innovations in Forest Management | Eco Warrior Awards 2025 Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Live Interaction
From Cut-off Dates to Coaching & Reforms: UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Assures Aspirants of Fairness, Transparency & a Future-Ready UPSC | UPSC@100
A Century of Service: The UPSC’s Landmark Year Begins. Chairman Ajay Kumar on UPSC’s Centennial: “Merit,...
Giriraj Parihar MPPSC 2024
From Constable to Deputy Collector: Giriraj Parihar’s 9-Year MPPSC Journey | Farmer’s Son, Brother to Five Sisters
From a jail guard to MPPSC 2024 Rank 8, Giriraj Parihar’s nine-year journey of self-study, hard work,...
Ankit MPPSC 2024 Rank 3
From Village Dreams to Deputy Collector’s Chair: Meet Ankit, MPPSC Rank 3 Hindi Medium Topper
Ankit, a Hindi-medium aspirant from Balaghat, secured Rank 3 in MPPSC 2024 and became Deputy Collector...
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Western Railway's Female Mechanics Drive Critical EMU Maintenance
Vijayadashami Boosts Women's Empowerment: Western Railway's Female Mechanics Drive Critical EMU Maintenance
IDES Officer Shobha Gupta
IDES Officer Shobha Gupta Appointed Director General of Defence Estates; Will Oversee 18 Lakh Acres of Defence Land
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
Dr. S.K
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT