The Man Eater Of Maulvi Bazaar

[Major Khan]

Tonight , on African Hunting Forums ... I shall be sharing another reminiscence with our fellow forum members . This reminiscence is not mine , however . It is the reminiscence of my good friend and former fellow professional shikaree , Riaz Sharrif ... The author of " Ekti Shikaree Er Jibon Er Obhiggota " ( " The Life Experiences Of A Professional Shikaree " ) . Riaz was kind enough to provide me with English translations of 3 different chapters from his book ... which I have edited and shared on African Hunting Forums ( in the past 2 weeks ) .

This morning , Riaz was kind enough to provide me with another English translation of 1 of his past reminiscences of his adventurous life . It is a reminiscence of the time , when Riaz was forced to contend with a man eating forest panther in the Maulvi Bazaar forests . Tonight , this is the article which I shall be sharing on African Hunting Forums . Riaz's hunt for the Man Eater Of Maulvi Bazaar shall be narrated . And I shall be the narrator of this most hair raising incident in Riaz's life . Let us begin , Dear Readers.

Below , I have provided a photograph taken by myself , of a forest panther dispatched by Riaz in the past ... in a ( successful ) attempt to defend 1 of his clients , from the brute . This photograph is for reference .. naturally . The photograph of the actual Man Eater Of Maulvi Bazaar shall be displayed ... at the climax of this article.

Once again ... I am exceedingly grateful to Riaz Sharrif for providing me with the English translation of this reminiscence , as well as the photographs taken during the time of this incident .

 

[Major Khan]

By Riaz Sharrif

THE GREAT CAT’S CUNNING

“ It was the March of 1965 . I had just returned back to my family Tea Estate in the Sylhet region of ( what was then , known as ) East Pakistan from India ... after successfully guiding a favorite client of mine on a regal Gaur Shikar .
Having spent an entire ten days in India , guiding my client on his Shikar ... I was glad to be back home , and I decided to spend this time with my girlfriend ( who would eventually become my loving wife ) , Melina . I would also spend this free time , tending to the Tea Estate .

Melina wanted to learn how to hunt , and I decided that now would be the best time to teach her some basics . The very next day , we spent our time together in the Tea Estate ... hunting Doves . I was armed with my William Wellington Greener 12 Bore side by side shotgun ( which was loaded with Eley Alphamax Number 8 cartridges) ... while I had armed Melina with my .22 LR caliber Brno bolt action rifle ( which was loaded with 40 grain Eley Rifle club solid cartridges ) .

She was an extremely swift learner . She treated that rifle as if it were an extension of her body , and by sundown ... she had felled ten doves with 16 cartridges ( not too shabby for a beginner ) . She told me that she absolutely loved hunting and enthusiastically asked when we could shoot a Kakar ( Barking ) Deer . It was at that moment ... that I subconsciously knew that she was the right one for me . My only regret in life was that Father never lived long enough to have met her . With those ten doves , she seemed extremely happy .

Knowing that I did not have to drop her off to her family home until 8 o’clock PM ... I decided to try to impress her even more , by asking , “ Would you like to shoot a crane or two ? “ . She enthusiastically nodded and was elated with joy . I decided that maybe I could take her to the very edge of the Tea Estate ... which was on the border of the Maulvi Bazaar Forests . There was a small stream over there ... where cranes could be found in abundance .

As we were walking over there , I was telling Melina that it was absolutely crucial that she either shoot the cranes in the neck or the head ... if she hoped to drop them with a .22 LR caliber rifle . I did not want to introduce her to the recoil of a 12 Bore shotgun , just yet . I wanted to ease her into the world of shooting , so that she felt comfortable shooting all types of firearms. Suddenly , we both saw something ( or rather someone ) lying on the ground . Melina wondered if the person had fallen sick and needed medical assistance .

If only , it were that .

A ghastly sight awaited us . It was an elderly woman . Or rather ... the carcass of an elderly woman . She had been savaged by a vicious animal . Just by looking at the wound marks ... I was immediately able to ascertain that the woman’s killer was a Hunting Leopard . Rather than me describing the condition of the elderly woman’s carcass , please look at the second attached photograph below ( as a sample ) . It should provide a crystal clear sample of the appearance of a human carcass ... after a man eating Hunting Leopard has savaged the human being to death .

Melina recoiled in fear at the disturbing sight ... which was natural , because she was not accustomed to seeing the carcasses of human beings who were savaged to death by Fauna . I , however ( Being a professional Shikari , who had previously put down a man eating Hunting Leopard in 1959 ) ... was . I took a look at the pug marks on the soil ... around the elderly woman’s carcass and determined that the killer was a female Hunting Leopard . I immediately decided to alert the Forest Department Officials about the presence of a man eater in the territory.

Melina asked me why the Hunting Leopard had targeted a frail , lanky , elderly woman ( who did not have much flesh on her ) ... even though several healthy adult male wood cutters ( who had a great deal more of flesh on them ) would often venture into the Maulvi Bazaar Forest . She wanted to know why the Hunting Leopard had eschewed the “ meaty “ wood cutters and opted to target the “ bony “ elderly woman.
I explained to her ... that man eating Hunting Leopards always attempt to attack the weakest potential target . The target whom they know ... will offer the least amount of resistance .

For that is an inherent trait of the great cat’s cunning . “

My Client’s Gaur .

Remains Of A Man Eating Hunting Leopard’s Male Victim ( Modern Times ) .

Pug Marks .

 

[Sam Kunal]

Waiting for next part..

 

[Shootist43]

Another good beginning, "and now for the rest of the story."

 

[Major Khan]

By Riaz Sharrif

A NOCTURNAL CHASE

“ Within 20 minutes , the Forest Department Officials were at the scene of the “ crime “ . They determined that the animal was a threat to all human life inhibiting the Sri Mangal Tea Estates ...located near the Maulvi Bazaar Forests . Knowing fully well , that my part time occupation was being a professional Shikari ... the Forest Department Officials gave me a proposition . They would offer me 500 Taka ... if I managed to get rid of this man eater for them . Now , 500 Taka was a great deal of money ... back in those days ( Today , that very same amount of money shall only get you a cup of iced coffee and a grilled cheese sandwich . How times have changed . ) . Thus , I readily accepted the Forest Department’s proposition.

I drove Melina back to her family home in Father’s old pickup truck . On the way to her house , she asked me when I planned to commence my pursuit for this man eater . I told her that I intended to make an effort to pursue the man eater , tonight . She told me to be careful and asked me if she could assist me in any way . I told her that I could handle it , and that I would get back to teaching her how to shoot ... as soon as I had disposed of the Hunting Leopard . As she got out of the truck , Melina joked that I better not get killed before her parents had a chance to even meet me . We both shared a laugh and then I watched her enter her house . I then drove back to the Tea Estate as soon , as possible .

It was 9 o ‘ clock PM ... when I had finally returned to the Tea Estate . I immediately began to make preparations for pursuing the man eater . I loaded my William Wellington Greener 12 Bore side by side shotgun with an Eley Alphamax LG cartridge ( Each of which , held eight .36 caliber lead slugs ) in the chamber of each barrel . I stuffed the pockets of my hunting vest with a dozen extra Eley Alphamax LG cartridges and took a small torchlight ( referred to , as “ pencil torchlight “ ) from my dresser . I used a piece of dark grey duct tape to tightly attach the torchlight to the fore end of my shotgun . I also took my carbon steel Case “ Trapper “ folding knife , my compass and a few other essentials ... before going and meeting the care taker of my house , Shuja . Shuja was an elderly Shaotaal gentle man ... who was a servant of my Father’s , ever since long before I was even born . He was an exceptionally talented tracker of all game, loyal to a fault ... and best of all , he knew the Maulvi Bazaar Forests like the back of his hands . Father virtually always used Shuja as a tracker ... whenever he would take me out on Shikars as a child . After Father’s death , I told Shuja that I would be more than glad to have him stay on as a servant and care taker of the Tea Estate . Shuja readily agreed , as he had practically raised me and seen me grow up ... ever since I was born .

I told Shuja that I desperately needed his assistance , in tracking down the man eater
... which was lurking about somewhere in the Maulvi Bazaar Forests . Shuja readily agreed to assist me on my nocturnal mission , and asked me to take him to the location where the elderly woman’s carcass had been discovered ... earlier in the day .
And thus , we both set off to the scene of the “ crime “ . A most bizarre team , we were . A 50 year old Shaotaal tracker and a 22 year old Shikari .

Shuja was an absolute Master at the game ( most Shaotaals , being tribal hill people ... usually are ) . It took him little above seven minutes to discover the tracks of the man eater ... just by analyzing the pug marks of the Hunting Leopard . And then ... our long night of spooring had begun. I was counting my lucky stars that we were going to ( hopefully ) be able to tackle the man eater at night ... instead of , during the day .

Those who have read my book ... frequently ask me if I am more terrified of Hunting Leopards during the day , or if I am more terrified of Hunting Leopards during the night . My answer shall always be “ Day Time “ . This is because Hunting Leopards are far more aggressive during the day ... than they are , at night. During the day , Hunting Leopards are in “ Fight Mode “ . During the night , Hunting Leopards are in “ Flight Mode “ . Suppose you have a large Hunting Leopard surrounded in the day time ... during a beat . As soon as the Hunting Leopard and the Shikari make eye contact ... The Hunting Leopard shall attempt to pounce upon the Shikari . It shall attempt to stand it’s ground ... by any & all means . However, for some reason ... their aggression plummets during night time . I have personally experienced a few night time incidents , where our Shikar party would some times track down a family of at least three or more Hunting Leopards together . We would shoot and kill two Hunting Leopards at ranges ... that were frequently less than 20 feet . The third Hunting Leopard would always flee into the long grass , immediately after realizing that the other two Hunting Leopards had already been killed . Even if they had made eye contact with members of our Shikar party .

Around 3 hours passed , as we were cautiously walking through the forest ... seemingly aimlessly . Far off into the distance ... we could hear a faint roar . Shuja told me that this was the call of a Hunting Leopard . We kept following the spoor of the man eater eagerly . Every once in a while ... that faint roar could be heard . Only ... it was getting more and more audible . We were drawing closer . The spoor of the man eater was leading to the direction of the calls .

About 3 more hours passed , when Shuja ( whose eyes were far more adjusted to the dark , than mine ) pointed quietly out in to the distance ... with his left index finger . I asked Shuja what it was . Shuja quietly replied , “ Chita Baagh “ ( Hunting Leopard ) . It took me more than ten seconds to notice it . But then I finally was able to make out the outline of the Hunting Leopard . It’s rosettes had greatly aided it to camouflage itself from the naked eye . I was only able to catch on to it ... when it had commenced moving . With the man eater finally visible , I was determined not to let the animal get out of our sights . We began to stalk to stalk it .

Now , if you are going to stalk a Hunting Leopard at night ... you have to remember a Golden Rule : Only move whenever the Hunting Leopard is moving . As soon as the Hunting Leopard stops moving ... immediately crouch face down on to the ground . The Hunting Leopard will raise it’s head upwards and call , loudly into the night . When it stops calling ... it shall be on the move , once more . Now , you get back up ... on your feet and you resume the stalking .

This is what we did on that night . We slowly began to draw close to the man eater . Every time the Hunting Leopard would stop to raise it’s head and roar into the night ... we would immediately drop face down into the ground and wait for the calling to end . As soon as the Hunting Leopard was on the move , once again ... we were on the move , as well .

By doing this ... I closely made it to within a mere 15 feet of the Hunting Leopard . It’s back was turned to me . I raised my William Wellington Greener 12 Bore shotgun to my shoulder and pulled both triggers simultaneously. A tremendous blast rang out , as the shotgun recoiled violently against my shoulder ( But not aggressively so . The stock fit of that William Wellington Greener shotgun is splendid . Those old world Birmingham gunmakers really knew their stuff ) . Those 16 .36 caliber lead LG slugs completely shattered the man eater’s spinal column . And that was the end of the Man Eater Of Maulvi Bazaar . It was 4 o ‘ clock AM . “

My Old Pickup Truck .

The Man Eater Of Maulvi Bazaar .

Forest Department Officials Setting Up ( Unsuccessful ) Bamboo Traps For The Man Eater .

My William Wellington Greener 12 Bore Side By Side Shotgun .

Eley Alphamax LG Cartridges ( Old Stock ) .

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Great article.

 

[Major Khan]

By Riaz Sharrif

THE PATHOLOGY OF A MAN EATER

" By dawn , the Maulvi Bazaar Forest Department Officials had successfully flayed the hide of the man eater . It was a 160 pound female Hunting Leopard . Indeed , several ounces of undigested human flesh was found inside it's stomach .

We observed two stab wounds in between the Hunting Leopard's two fore legs . The wound patterns were indicative of the tusks of a Bengal Bush Boar . We were now able to mentally reconstruct a proper chronology of events . This Hunting Leopard had attempted to attack a Bengal Bush Boar ... Which defended itself with it's tusks , and managed to injure the Hunting Leopard . The wounded cat , then resolved to become a man eater .

I was duly rewarded with my 500 Taka from the Maulvi Bazaar Forest Department . I decided to do the honorable thing and give Shuja 200 Taka from my reward money. The way in which that elderly Shaotaal gentleman smiled in gratitude , upon receiving that 200 Taka ... was worth more than all of the money in the world , to me .

With my 300 Taka , I took Melina out for dinner at Pubani Hotel ( which used to have the finest continental cuisine ... back in those days ) . We ate our favorite meal : Medium done slow cooked beef rib roast ( referred to , as " Prime Rib " in the United States ) , hashbrowns , creamed spinach , horseradish cream and Pinot red wine . We really enjoyed the meal in Pubani Hotel ( I would end up proposing to her , there ... Five years afterwards . We still dine there every year , on our wedding anniversary ) . Melina listened enthusiastically , to my story about hunting down the Man Eater Of Maulvi Bazaar ... interrupting me many times to ask questions .

However , I would later regret telling her the entire story , because by the end of the dinner ... she asked me , " So , when are you going to take me to hunt dangerous game ? " .

THE END

 

[DieJager]

Really enjoyed it, as usual Major

 

[gillettehunter]

Great story. Interesting to prefer the night. Seems to go against what most of us do.... Thanks for another great hunt from days gone by.
Bruce

 

[Major Khan]

Waiting for next part..

Thank you , Kunal Beta .

 

[Major Khan]

Another good beginning, "and now for the rest of the story."

Well , I should only hope that you enjoy the rest of it , Shootist43 .

 

[Major Khan]

Great article.

Why thank you so much, Witold .

 

[Major Khan]

Really enjoyed it, as usual Major

It is my utmost privilege that you have enjoyed Riaz’s reminiscence so much , Die Jager .

 

[Major Khan]

Great story. Interesting to prefer the night. Seems to go against what most of us do.... Thanks for another great hunt from days gone by.
Bruce

You know ... I have personally made 1 observation , Bruce . You gentle men hunt African leopards during the day . However , in India ... we always used to hunt forest panthers at night . Even in Bangladesh , we currently shoot man eating forest panthers at night ... over torch light . Out of the 22 man eating forest panthers which I have killed , since 1965 ... 21 of them were shot to death, at night .

 

[Panther Shooter]

Major Khan Sir
Another marvelous narration of Riaz’s story . Will your next story involving Riaz , feature the time when Melina shot an Asian Sloth Bear ? I really enjoyed that chapter from Riaz’s book . I believe that it would make an exceptionally mar story to post on AH forums .

 

[Newboomer]

Great story and some excellent stalking to get within 15 feet and not be discovered. Hunting Leopards must not be very aware at night. Keep the stories coming.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Tonight , on African Hunting Forums ... I shall be sharing another reminiscence with our fellow forum members . This reminiscence is not mine , however . It is the reminiscence of my good friend and former fellow professional shikaree , Riaz Sharrif ... The author of " Ekti Shikaree Er Jibon Er Obhiggota " ( " The Life Experiences Of A Professional Shikaree " ) . Riaz was kind enough to provide me with English translations of 3 different chapters from his book ... which I have edited and shared on African Hunting Forums ( in the past 2 weeks ) .

This morning , Riaz was kind enough to provide me with another English translation of 1 of his past reminiscences of his adventurous life . It is a reminiscence of the time , when Riaz was forced to contend with a man eating forest panther in the Maulvi Bazaar forests . Tonight , this is the article which I shall be sharing on African Hunting Forums . Riaz's hunt for the Man Eater Of Maulvi Bazaar shall be narrated . And I shall be the narrator of this most hair raising incident in Riaz's life . Let us begin , Dear Readers.

Below , I have provided a photograph taken by myself , of a forest panther dispatched by Riaz in the past ... in a ( successful ) attempt to defend 1 of his clients , from the brute . This photograph is for reference .. naturally . The photograph of the actual Man Eater Of Maulvi Bazaar shall be displayed ... at the climax of this article.
View attachment 346521

Once again ... I am exceedingly grateful to Riaz Sharrif for providing me with the English translation of this reminiscence , as well as the photographs taken during the time of this incident .

Friend Ponton
We are grateful for your friend Riaz for providing you with these stories. Your style of writing always keeps me in suspense and I find it difficult not to go to the end to see the picture then read the story but I manage despite the frustration.
Your humble friend
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

By Riaz Sharrif

THE GREAT CAT’S CUNNING

“ It was the March of 1965 . I had just returned back to my family Tea Estate in the Sylhet region of ( what was then , known as ) East Pakistan from India ... after successfully guiding a favorite client of mine on a regal Gaur Shikar .
Having spent an entire ten days in India , guiding my client on his Shikar ... I was glad to be back home , and I decided to spend this time with my girlfriend ( who would eventually become my loving wife ) , Melina . I would also spend this free time , tending to the Tea Estate .

Melina wanted to learn how to hunt , and I decided that now would be the best time to teach her some basics . The very next day , we spent our time together in the Tea Estate ... hunting Doves . I was armed with my William Wellington Greener 12 Bore side by side shotgun ( which was loaded with Eley Alphamax Number 8 cartridges) ... while I had armed Melina with my .22 LR caliber Brno bolt action rifle ( which was loaded with 40 grain Eley Rifle club solid cartridges ) .

She was an extremely swift learner . She treated that rifle as if it were an extension of her body , and by sundown ... she had felled ten doves with 16 cartridges ( not too shabby for a beginner ) . She told me that she absolutely loved hunting and enthusiastically asked when we could shoot a Kakar ( Barking ) Deer . It was at that moment ... that I subconsciously knew that she was the right one for me . My only regret in life was that Father never lived long enough to have met her . With those ten doves , she seemed extremely happy .

Knowing that I did not have to drop her off to her family home until 8 o’clock PM ... I decided to try to impress her even more , by asking , “ Would you like to shoot a crane or two ? “ . She enthusiastically nodded and was elated with joy . I decided that maybe I could take her to the very edge of the Tea Estate ... which was on the border of the Maulvi Bazaar Forests . There was a small stream over there ... where cranes could be found in abundance .

As we were walking over there , I was telling Melina that it was absolutely crucial that she either shoot the cranes in the neck or the head ... if she hoped to drop them with a .22 LR caliber rifle . I did not want to introduce her to the recoil of a 12 Bore shotgun , just yet . I wanted to ease her into the world of shooting , so that she felt comfortable shooting all types of firearms. Suddenly , we both saw something ( or rather someone ) lying on the ground . Melina wondered if the person had fallen sick and needed medical assistance .

If only , it were that .

A ghastly sight awaited us . It was an elderly woman . Or rather ... the carcass of an elderly woman . She had been savaged by a vicious animal . Just by looking at the wound marks ... I was immediately able to ascertain that the woman’s killer was a Hunting Leopard . Rather than me describing the condition of the elderly woman’s carcass , please look at the second attached photograph below ( as a sample ) . It should provide a crystal clear sample of the appearance of a human carcass ... after a man eating Hunting Leopard has savaged the human being to death .

Melina recoiled in fear at the disturbing sight ... which was natural , because she was not accustomed to seeing the carcasses of human beings who were savaged to death by Fauna . I , however ( Being a professional Shikari , who had previously put down a man eating Hunting Leopard in 1959 ) ... was . I took a look at the pug marks on the soil ... around the elderly woman’s carcass and determined that the killer was a female Hunting Leopard . I immediately decided to alert the Forest Department Officials about the presence of a man eater in the territory.

Melina asked me why the Hunting Leopard had targeted a frail , lanky , elderly woman ( who did not have much flesh on her ) ... even though several healthy adult male wood cutters ( who had a great deal more of flesh on them ) would often venture into the Maulvi Bazaar Forest . She wanted to know why the Hunting Leopard had eschewed the “ meaty “ wood cutters and opted to target the “ bony “ elderly woman.
I explained to her ... that man eating Hunting Leopards always attempt to attack the weakest potential target . The target whom they know ... will offer the least amount of resistance .

For that is an inherent trait of the great cat’s cunning . “

View attachment 346548
My Client’s Gaur .
View attachment 346547
Remains Of A Man Eating Hunting Leopard’s Male Victim ( Modern Times ) .
View attachment 346545
Pug Marks .

Friend Ponton
Riaz is truly blessed to have not only a loving wife in Melina but to also have her enjoy hunting is more than a man can ask for.
The sight of the body would have been frightening and enough to turn her off the wonderful spot of hunting. I am glad she continued with her hunts.
Your friend
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

By Riaz Sharrif

A NOCTURNAL CHASE

“ Within 20 minutes , the Forest Department Officials were at the scene of the “ crime “ . They determined that the animal was a threat to all human life inhibiting the Sri Mangal Tea Estates ...located near the Maulvi Bazaar Forests . Knowing fully well , that my part time occupation was being a professional Shikari ... the Forest Department Officials gave me a proposition . They would offer me 500 Taka ... if I managed to get rid of this man eater for them . Now , 500 Taka was a great deal of money ... back in those days ( Today , that very same amount of money shall only get you a cup of iced coffee and a grilled cheese sandwich . How times have changed . ) . Thus , I readily accepted the Forest Department’s proposition.

I drove Melina back to her family home in Father’s old pickup truck . On the way to her house , she asked me when I planned to commence my pursuit for this man eater . I told her that I intended to make an effort to pursue the man eater , tonight . She told me to be careful and asked me if she could assist me in any way . I told her that I could handle it , and that I would get back to teaching her how to shoot ... as soon as I had disposed of the Hunting Leopard . As she got out of the truck , Melina joked that I better not get killed before her parents had a chance to even meet me . We both shared a laugh and then I watched her enter her house . I then drove back to the Tea Estate as soon , as possible .

It was 9 o ‘ clock PM ... when I had finally returned to the Tea Estate . I immediately began to make preparations for pursuing the man eater . I loaded my William Wellington Greener 12 Bore side by side shotgun with an Eley Alphamax LG cartridge ( Each of which , held eight .36 caliber lead slugs ) in the chamber of each barrel . I stuffed the pockets of my hunting vest with a dozen extra Eley Alphamax LG cartridges and took a small torchlight ( referred to , as “ pencil torchlight “ ) from my dresser . I used a piece of dark grey duct tape to tightly attach the torchlight to the fore end of my shotgun . I also took my carbon steel Case “ Trapper “ folding knife , my compass and a few other essentials ... before going and meeting the care taker of my house , Shuja . Shuja was an elderly Shaotaal gentle man ... who was a servant of my Father’s , ever since long before I was even born . He was an exceptionally talented tracker of all game, loyal to a fault ... and best of all , he knew the Maulvi Bazaar Forests like the back of his hands . Father virtually always used Shuja as a tracker ... whenever he would take me out on Shikars as a child . After Father’s death , I told Shuja that I would be more than glad to have him stay on as a servant and care taker of the Tea Estate . Shuja readily agreed , as he had practically raised me and seen me grow up ... ever since I was born .

I told Shuja that I desperately needed his assistance , in tracking down the man eater
... which was lurking about somewhere in the Maulvi Bazaar Forests . Shuja readily agreed to assist me on my nocturnal mission , and asked me to take him to the location where the elderly woman’s carcass had been discovered ... earlier in the day .
And thus , we both set off to the scene of the “ crime “ . A most bizarre team , we were . A 50 year old Shaotaal tracker and a 22 year old Shikari .

Shuja was an absolute Master at the game ( most Shaotaals , being tribal hill people ... usually are ) . It took him little above seven minutes to discover the tracks of the man eater ... just by analyzing the pug marks of the Hunting Leopard . And then ... our long night of spooring had begun. I was counting my lucky stars that we were going to ( hopefully ) be able to tackle the man eater at night ... instead of , during the day .

Those who have read my book ... frequently ask me if I am more terrified of Hunting Leopards during the day , or if I am more terrified of Hunting Leopards during the night . My answer shall always be “ Day Time “ . This is because Hunting Leopards are far more aggressive during the day ... than they are , at night. During the day , Hunting Leopards are in “ Fight Mode “ . During the night , Hunting Leopards are in “ Flight Mode “ . Suppose you have a large Hunting Leopard surrounded in the day time ... during a beat . As soon as the Hunting Leopard and the Shikari make eye contact ... The Hunting Leopard shall attempt to pounce upon the Shikari . It shall attempt to stand it’s ground ... by any & all means . However, for some reason ... their aggression plummets during night time . I have personally experienced a few night time incidents , where our Shikar party would some times track down a family of at least three or more Hunting Leopards together . We would shoot and kill two Hunting Leopards at ranges ... that were frequently less than 20 feet . The third Hunting Leopard would always flee into the long grass , immediately after realizing that the other two Hunting Leopards had already been killed . Even if they had made eye contact with members of our Shikar party .

Around 3 hours passed , as we were cautiously walking through the forest ... seemingly aimlessly . Far off into the distance ... we could hear a faint roar . Shuja told me that this was the call of a Hunting Leopard . We kept following the spoor of the man eater eagerly . Every once in a while ... that faint roar could be heard . Only ... it was getting more and more audible . We were drawing closer . The spoor of the man eater was leading to the direction of the calls .

About 3 more hours passed , when Shuja ( whose eyes were far more adjusted to the dark , than mine ) pointed quietly out in to the distance ... with his left index finger . I asked Shuja what it was . Shuja quietly replied , “ Chita Baagh “ ( Hunting Leopard ) . It took me more than ten seconds to notice it . But then I finally was able to make out the outline of the Hunting Leopard . It’s rosettes had greatly aided it to camouflage itself from the naked eye . I was only able to catch on to it ... when it had commenced moving . With the man eater finally visible , I was determined not to let the animal get out of our sights . We began to stalk to stalk it .

Now , if you are going to stalk a Hunting Leopard at night ... you have to remember a Golden Rule : Only move whenever the Hunting Leopard is moving . As soon as the Hunting Leopard stops moving ... immediately crouch face down on to the ground . The Hunting Leopard will raise it’s head upwards and call , loudly into the night . When it stops calling ... it shall be on the move , once more . Now , you get back up ... on your feet and you resume the stalking .

This is what we did on that night . We slowly began to draw close to the man eater . Every time the Hunting Leopard would stop to raise it’s head and roar into the night ... we would immediately drop face down into the ground and wait for the calling to end . As soon as the Hunting Leopard was on the move , once again ... we were on the move , as well .

By doing this ... I closely made it to within a mere 15 feet of the Hunting Leopard . It’s back was turned to me . I raised my William Wellington Greener 12 Bore shotgun to my shoulder and pulled both triggers simultaneously. A tremendous blast rang out , as the shotgun recoiled violently against my shoulder ( But not aggressively so . The stock fit of that William Wellington Greener shotgun is splendid . Those old world Birmingham gunmakers really knew their stuff ) . Those 16 .36 caliber lead LG slugs completely shattered the man eater’s spinal column . And that was the end of the Man Eater Of Maulvi Bazaar . It was 4 o ‘ clock AM . “

View attachment 346711
My Old Pickup Truck .
View attachment 346713
The Man Eater Of Maulvi Bazaar .
View attachment 346712
Forest Department Officials Setting Up ( Unsuccessful ) Bamboo Traps For The Man Eater .
View attachment 346715
My William Wellington Greener 12 Bore Side By Side Shotgun .
View attachment 346714
Eley Alphamax LG Cartridges ( Old Stock ) .

Friend Ponton
Riaz just gave me a lesson in the behavior of hunting leopard for I thought they would have been more dangerous of a night time. We live and learn.
I have had a 12 gauge shotgun fire both barrel once. It was loaded with a 3 inch magnum slug and a Winchester 9 pellet buck shot. This was an accidental fireing of both barrels that I would not like to repeat. To do this intentionally is something I personally wouldn't do.
Road obviously has a better recoil tolerances than me.
Your humble friend
Bob Nelson

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

By Riaz Sharrif

THE PATHOLOGY OF A MAN EATER

" By dawn , the Maulvi Bazaar Forest Department Officials had successfully flayed the hide of the man eater . It was a 160 pound female Hunting Leopard . Indeed , several ounces of undigested human flesh was found inside it's stomach .

We observed two stab wounds in between the Hunting Leopard's two fore legs . The wound patterns were indicative of the tusks of a Bengal Bush Boar . We were now able to mentally reconstruct a proper chronology of events . This Hunting Leopard had attempted to attack a Bengal Bush Boar ... Which defended itself with it's tusks , and managed to injure the Hunting Leopard . The wounded cat , then resolved to become a man eater .

I was duly rewarded with my 500 Taka from the Maulvi Bazaar Forest Department . I decided to do the honorable thing and give Shuja 200 Taka from my reward money. The way in which that elderly Shaotaal gentleman smiled in gratitude , upon receiving that 200 Taka ... was worth more than all of the money in the world , to me .

With my 300 Taka , I took Melina out for dinner at Pubani Hotel ( which used to have the finest continental cuisine ... back in those days ) . We ate our favorite meal : Medium done slow cooked beef rib roast ( referred to , as " Prime Rib " in the United States ) , hashbrowns , creamed spinach , horseradish cream and Pinot red wine . We really enjoyed the meal in Pubani Hotel ( I would end up proposing to her , there ... Five years afterwards . We still dine there every year , on our wedding anniversary ) . Melina listened enthusiastically , to my story about hunting down the Man Eater Of Maulvi Bazaar ... interrupting me many times to ask questions .

However , I would later regret telling her the entire story , because by the end of the dinner ... she asked me , " So , when are you going to take me to hunt dangerous game ? " .

THE END

Friend Ponton
It is typical of a person that you have taught to shoot and hunt to want more but to have your future wife request it would be nice. Riaz can handle the recoil of both barrels of a 12 bore at once but that night you would have been able to push him over with a feather.
Riaz is truly a kind and generous man sharing his payment with Shaotaal, he would have been overwhelmed by such generosity.

I look forward to reading Riaz and Melinas adventures together.
Your humble friend
Bob Nelson