Umesh Kumar Ray

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The cobra lay coiled around the branch of the sturdy sagwan (teak) tree. It would not budge despite fervent attempts by the residents of Ratti Tola village.After five hours, the hapless villagers finally called Mundrika Yadav, once a guard at the nearby Valmiki Tiger Reserve. He has rescued more than 200 animals including tigers, leopards, rhinoceros, and snakes. When Mundrika arrived he first tried to get the cobra to descend, which it did. “I put a bamboo stick in its mouth and tightened the rope. Then I put it in a sack and released it back into the forest,” says the 42-year-old. “It took me just 20-25 minutes.”

The <a href="https://valmikitigerreserve.com/">tiger reserve</a> in Bihar’s West Champaran district, covers nearly 900 square kilometres, and is home to 54 tigers, besides a host of other wildlife. “Hum spot par hi turant jugaad bana lete hain [I can innovate on the spot],” says Mundrika about his rescue tactics.Mundrika, who belongs to the Yadav community (listed as Other Backward Classes in the state) grew up in close proximity to the forest and its animals. “When I used to take the buffaloes to graze in the forest, I would often catch snakes. From that time, I developed an affection for wildlife. So, when the physical examination for a forest guard was held in 2012, I applied and got the job,” says the resident of Vijaypur village. He lives here with his wife and daughter. “The map of the entire reserve is in our eyes. You blindfold us and leave us in the forest, and you get out in a car, we will come out of the forest before you,” says the former vanrakshi (forest guard). Mundrika worked as a forest guard for the next eight years, hanging on despite his monthly salary being routinely delayed by up to a year. “Protecting forests and animals is a passion for me,” he tells PARI.

In 2020, the Bihar government appointed a new set of forest guards through open recruitment. The earlier set of guards like Yadav were given other jobs – he now drives the vehicles of the VTR. “We have been sidelined,” he says, unhappy about his new position. Mundrika was not eligible to sit for the new examination because of his age, and his education qualifications – he has passed his matriculation – not sufficient for the post of a guard.When the situation is dangerous and critical, the new forest guards reach out to Mundrika. “The forest guards appointed through examinations may have a degree, but they do not have practical knowledge,” he says. “We were born in the forest and learned to rescue animals by living with them.”

Mundrika to the rescue

جنگلی جانوروں کے محافظ مُندریکا

వన్యప్రాణి రక్షకుడు ముంద్రికా

காக்க வந்த முந்த்ரிகா

ਜਿੱਥੇ ਡਿਗਰੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਤਜ਼ਰਬਾ ਕੰਮ ਆਵੇ

ଉଦ୍ଧାର କରିବାକୁ ମୁନ୍ଦ୍ରିକା

संकटमोचक मुंद्रिका

രക്ഷിക്കാൻ മുണ്ഡ്രികയെ വിളിക്കൂ

ಮುಂದ್ರಿಕಾ ಎನ್ನುವ ಆಪತ್ಬಾಂಧವ

સંકટ સમયની સાંકળ મુંદ્રિકા

जंगली जीव-जन्तु मन के तारनहार मुंद्रिका

রেহাই দেবেন মুন্দ্রিকা

উদ্ধাৰ কৰিবলৈ মুন্দ্ৰিকা আছে নহয়

मुंद्रिका, संकटमोचन नाम तिहारो!

जंगली जीवों के तारणहार मुंद्रिका

Gorbadhana, Ramnagar, West Champaran, Bihar, India

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Mundrika to the rescue

If you’re face-to-face with a dangerous predator in Bihar’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve, or a wild creature needs to be rescued, jeep driver Mundrika is the man to know. Once a forest guard, he lost out to those who have passed written examinations, but people still rely on his skills

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