big five

[jonahpach]

Hey Ivory56 you now only need to bag a Bengal Tiger to qualify to be a "Pasaltha" (Meaning Good husband or loosely translated as 'warrior') as per our local Mizo Tradition. It is the highest possible achievement that a man can attain in our traditional society and needless to say, nobody has qualified in the last 30-40 years..

[prashantsingh]

Both the kings charged each other. And Rajput king killed the king of jungle with one sword blow in two pieces!!!
This is called hunt!!!

Heard a similar story where the hero was Tipu Sultan hunting a tiger with a French officer.There after he was called the "Tiger of Mysore".

Wonder if these stories were "custom made" to create a larger than life picture of the king.

There are two people whom I have known and who are still living. Both big game hunters who hunted with rifles. One was mauled by a leopard
and the other by a tiger. Both spent many months in hospital and survived only because of the timely medical aid they received.

[Sakobav]

ivory56

Great pictures now the stories behind them ...

Killing Tigers with swords well as Saying goes in Africa -- If only Lions ( Tigers) could tell their tales until then we have to content with Tiger slayers and folk lore...

Tigers probably were hunted by a posse with beaters etc and yes final blow on exhausted and fatigued tiger could have been delivered but even that requires some cojones
Wasnt their a famous Indian rebel leader in 1857 who was mauled to death by a Tiger presuming he was alive and healthy before he was attacked...

[ivory56]

I would like to thank Prashant for posting the pictures for me.
It started in Jan when I meet Valam and John in Houston at the safari club covention. The same guys I have hunted with during my last four trips. After the hand shakes and hugs Valam asked me if I was ready to complete my big five with a elephant. My immediate response was no , too expensive and besides that it would be like shooting at the barn door. He laughed and said the elephant hunt is the most difficult of the big five getting up close and personal at 30 yards. More PHs, clients and trackers are killed by elephants they any other animal.
Ruth my compainon was with me. She knew deep inside me I wanted to complete my big five. She really wanted me to complete my big five. She pulled Valam to the side and said buy Chandra a beer and chill out. Valam got the message. We dranked beer and talked and talked. Finally when he said he would give me 20% dicount I could not resist.
Lufkin is 2 hour drive from Houston. Flight from Houston to Atalanta is 2 hours. Atalanta to Joburg is 17 hours nonstop by delta. Maun Botswana is another 2 hour flight to Joburg. The camp is another 2 hour drive up north to Maun to the edge of the Okavanga Delta. The highest population of elephants in the world I am told is in Botswana. Getting through the customs and South Africian police is not too bad if you have all the right papers. I have always taken my own rifle for my hunts(blaser 375hh). The formalites in Maun were insane, they charge a fee for the rifle and ammo. Ammo had to be carried as a separate check luggaged in Air Botswana. Arrived at camp athe the edge of the Okavanga Delta on May the 1st. Camp staff( about 10 locals) were there to welcome us in the usual Africian hospitality singing and dancing. Ruth joined in with the dancing and hit it off with the staff. They were doting on her the whole trip.
The next morning after breakfast we were off to the bush,saw several footprints it is just amazing how they follow those tracks. I had two PHs. One from Madubula safaris S.Africa with whom I had hunted and the other Johan Caltz from Botswana. Had to have Botswana licenced Ph. Both were Africian(dutch decent) built like a rock. Very professional and didnt leave anything to chance. Both carried 500 nitro doubles. Made me feel safe (not so fair to the elephants).
After lunch on the third day and after a short nap under a large acacia tree we loaded the thr range rover to look for more tracks, we hardly move when we saw a large yellow and black stripped spitting corba cross the truck. The corba was probalby watching us have lunch. What takes the cake is the encounter with the black mamba. On the fourth day Mario had stopped the truck to look at tracks. I was sitting in the cab and about to open the door,when the tracker yelled from the bed of the truck go!go!. There was a large 8foot black mamba coiled around a mupani tree, a few feet from the door on m y side. Maba are aggresive and will strick at anything that moves especially 2 feet away. Mario calmly drove another 20 yards and stoped I was drenched in sweat and nearly made a puddle in the Africian bush. Mamba had about that time had slithered up the tree I have a few snaps, will try to send them.
Elephants tracks are enormous. The graze about 30 miles aday and can go 80 miles.
On the 6th day of the hunt we started off as usual after a quick breakfast. Ruth and me in the cab and Mario int he driver seat. We drove about an hour, when Oats one of the trackers ( other two trackers were inocent and Edwin) spotted a big bull. Oats was riding in the bed of the truck, and was able to spot 4 bulls 300 yards away. The truck stopped, and we got out, chambered a round and put the gun on safety and checked the direction of the wind. In about 20 minutes we were 30 yards from the bulls. Vlam spotted the one with the biggest tusk he was facing us. Wind was just perfect. He did not see our catch our sent. Other 3 small bulls were feeding. One with the big tusk took a few steps towards us. Valam quickley placed the shooting sticks in position. Its not to often you get to shoot at an elephant with shooting sticks. The tusker for some reason turned sideways and offered me a perfect shot. I had my cross hairs lined up between his eyes until he turned sideways. Valm repeatly said wait! wait! like he knew the elephant was going to turn sideways and offer me the perfect shot. At the right moment Valm said shoot now, all the time having his 500 nitro express with open sites trained on the elephant. I did not hear the 375 go off are feel the kick it was over in a second. We slowly walked up to him and place a second insurance shot at the base of the skull. Was speechless and full of awe and admiration for this magnificant creature. I touched him softly with respect and Valm gentley closed his eyelids. We were happy not really rejoicing, a difficult emotion to explain like bitter sweet.
Valm cut the tail and handed it to me and saying it was my proof of ownership. A few hours later the villagers were there in truck and tractors. Every piece of meat was taken. Seeing the childern feed was vcery gratifying.

If you wonder why a sane man treasures memories of near death by a bull elephant, I am not sure I can explain the sentiment. J Chandra MD Ivory 56

[xl_target]

Ivory 56,
Great Story!
Please reminisce and recount for us the stories of how you earned the rest of your Big 5.

[brihacharan]

[quote="prashantsingh"]
He has just completed his Big 5 in Africa.
This means he has already shot a Rhino, Leopard, Buffalo and the Lion. In fact he shot the Lion at the age of 52.

Hi Ivory56!
> Welcome to IFG & Hearty congrats on bagging the BIG 5
> Prashant - Re: Ivory56's age I wish to say:
Age is no Bar
Agar Dil aur Sharir ho Thayyar
Karenge hum Shikhar Bar - Bar
Briha

[prashantsingh]

Lovely report ivory.
Looking at the snaps I assume the buffalo was (perhaps) the first of your Big 5.
How did it all start and how long did you take to complete the Big 5?

[Baljit]

Very nice story!! Ivory 56.

Tell us the rest of the stories of your Big 5.one at a time.

i Enjoy it.

Thank's again

Baljit