Explore the rare and perilous moments in the Sundarbans when honey collectors (mouals) choose to track the Royal Bengal Tiger. Discover harrowing tales of survival, coexistence, and rescue missions from the heart of the world’s largest mangrove forest.

When Man Follows Tiger: A Glimpse into the Sundarbans’ Most Exceptional Moments

The Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is infamous for its elusive Royal Bengal Tigers. These apex predators are masters of stealth and ambush, making any journey into their domain a perilous one. For the local communities and forest workers of the Sundarbans, constant vigilance is a way of life, as the threat of a tiger attack looms large over their daily existence.

But what if the roles were reversed? What if, under extraordinary circumstances, people chose to follow the tiger? This rare, dangerous, and almost unbelievable scenario unfolds in the labyrinthine creeks of the Sundarbans. Let’s explore how.

The Honey Collectors and Their “Friend”: A Dance of Coexistence

Every year, between late spring and early summer, traditional honey collectors, known as mouals, venture deep into the Sundarban Tiger Reserve. They travel in small groups of five to nine, navigating the tidal streams by boat to reach the dense jungle where giant honeycombs hang from the branches of Sundari and other mangrove trees.

These mouals possess a deep, generational knowledge of the mangrove ecosystem. Guided by an intimate understanding of honey availability and potential dangers, they often return to the same islands year after year. This perilous work is done in coordination with forest regulators, who issue permits for this traditional livelihood.

It is during these honey collection expeditions that a strange “friendship” is tested. Sometimes, a team arriving at their chosen spot finds it already occupied by a tiger, whom they respectfully call “bondhu” (friend). Often, the tiger will move on, and the mouals will patiently wait. But if it lingers, the experienced group leader might decide they cannot abandon a honey-rich location.

In this rare instance, they begin to track the tiger—observing its movements and behaviour from a safe distance. The goal is not to confront, but to understand its territory so they can work safely, or to gently encourage it to leave. It’s a delicate and dangerous dance of coexistence, where men follow the forest’s apex predator.

The Grim Chase: A Harrowing Rescue Mission

There is another, far more grim reason for humans to follow a tiger: a rescue mission. When a tiger attacks and drags a person away, the victim’s companions face a harrowing choice. Driven by a powerful mix of courage and loyalty, they follow the attacker into the dense forest.

The goal is to rescue the victim, but the statistics are bleak—over ninety percent of such encounters are fatal. After an attack, the tiger often settles with its victim nearby. The rescue party, now larger and more determined, cautiously follows. Their objective is to create a loud distraction, increase the distance between the tiger and the victim, and hopefully force the animal to retreat.

The tiger, driven by instinct, may try to return to its prey. The team’s front line works to keep it at bay while others attempt to recover the person. In the rare instances where this desperate effort succeeds, it is a testament to incredible bravery and the strong bonds within the community.

A Story of Courage and Loss: The Tale of Babu

Babu, a skilled boat driver and the son of a respected forest worker, knows these dangers firsthand. In his youth, while working as a moual, his team came face-to-face with a “friend” in the southern forest. They chose to wait, tracking its movements until it was safe to work.

But he also witnessed the tragedy of a direct conflict. On another trip, a tiger suddenly attacked a young member of his team and dragged him into the jungle. The group immediately gave chase. About fifteen minutes later, they found the tiger with the victim. Babu and the others managed to scare the tiger away, but they could only recover the young man’s body.

Babu’s story is not unique. Such tales of courage, loss, and survival are woven into the fabric of life in the villages surrounding the Sundarbans, like Deulbari, Jharkhali, and Dayapur. For those who live by the forest, these memories serve as a stark reminder of the risks they take every day.

A Fragile Coexistence: Life on the Edge of the Mangroves

The relationship between the people of Sundarbans and its tigers is a dynamic and complex equation. It is constantly evolving with conservation efforts, changing livelihoods, and a deep-seated understanding of life and death in one of the world’s most challenging environments. This is the raw, unfiltered reality of human-wildlife conflict and coexistence.

This brings to mind an even more audacious story from Marichjhanpi—not of a tiger taking a human, but of humans attempting to snatch a deer kill from a tiger. It was a terrifyingly brave effort… but that is a tale for another day.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why do people follow tigers in the Sundarbans?
A: People in the Sundarbans follow tigers for two main reasons: 1) Honey collectors (mouals) track a tiger’s movements to safely work in an area it occupies. 2) A rescue party follows a tiger to save a person who has been attacked and dragged away.

Q2: Who are the mouals of the Sundarbans?
A: The mouals are traditional honey collectors who venture into the Sundarban mangrove forest every year to collect wild honey. They possess extensive knowledge of the forest, its dangers, and the behaviour of its wildlife, including the Royal Bengal Tiger.

Q3: What is the relationship between people and tigers in the Sundarbans?
A: The relationship is a complex mix of fear, respect, and conflict. The tiger is a constant threat, leading to fatal encounters, but it is also a revered part of the ecosystem, often referred to as “bondhu” (friend) or protected by local deities like Bonbibi.

Q4: Are tiger attacks common in the Sundarbans?
A: While a Sundarban safari is generally safe for tourists, tiger attacks on locals who venture deep into the forest for their livelihood (like fishing or honey collection) are a serious and recurring risk.

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