Lakkadbagga

I just found out that a hyena is called lakkad bagga in Hindi. 

Did not know that there was an Indian word for the creature. The locals near Sandhan Valley don't know what to call them. A cackle of Hyenas have been relocated there by the forest department. So a few years ago, we were just walking there one day, after camping near Amruteshwar temple. I was eager to go into the valley, and I also knew the way, so I was leading everyone else. Then I see this majestic creature emerge from the trees, looking around. At first I freeze, because I had not seen anything like it. Then instinct kicks in, and I drop to the ground, looking at it carefully. I am a bit scared at this point, because I know the rest of the clan would not be far behind. 

The guy behind me walks up to me, clueless about the creature. I stop him from going ahead, point to the hyena and whisper, "hyena". That guy turns back to the rest of the group, and shouts loudly "arre jaldi aao, hyena hai". The hyena turns around and bolts into the woods. 

We visit the valley, these guys smoke, and then we are resting at the edge of the forest. There is something noisy in the jungle that comes towards us. The others get a bit apprehensive, but I am relaxed. No snake or wild animal is so noisy I think. I turn out to be right, it's an adorable puppy, and one of the happiest I have seen. I give it some water, which it drinks gratefully and immediately goes to sleep near my legs. 

We leave, and after walking for a bit, the puppy runs up behind us! I am worried it will get eaten by the Hyenas. 

Everyone agreed was a good detour (It was my plan to make a pitstop there), we head back to the base village of Samrad, where we ask one of the Bandes (not person, that's a surname of a family in the village) about the relocated Hyenas. I camp down the middle of the valley with my friends regularly, and the hyenas are news to me. He confirms my suspicions that they do not have a name for the creature. I ask if they have caused any problems, and he says not much, but that they have eaten a few chicken. 

Anyway, don't remember if I had blogged this before, decided to preserve the memory before it evaporates from my memory banks.