1.6. Into the Wild - Class 12 - English Yuvakbharati

Authors: Kiran Purandare & Shaaz Jung | Genre: Prose (Non-fiction/Biographical)

1. Comprehensive Glossary

2. Introduction & Summary

Ice Breakers:

• Wildlife Sanctuaries: 1. Bandipur (Karnataka), 2. Kaziranga (Assam), 3. Jim Corbett (Uttarakhand), 4. Ranthambore (Rajasthan), 5. Kanha (Madhya Pradesh).

  
  

• Hobbies vs. Professions: Pursuing a passion like wildlife photography or environment conservation offers a way to express oneself, though it comes with challenges like limited professional scope.

  
  

Summary:

This chapter is divided into two distinct parts centered on the wilderness.

Part I: Lost in the Jungle follows the harrowing experience of Kiran Purandare, a wildlife expert. After a day in a "hide" at Umbarzara, he loses his way while returning to Pitezari village. He describes the terrifying atmosphere of the forest at dusk, the alarm calls of Langurs signaling a nearby Leopard, and his mounting panic as trails vanish. Eventually, he finds a bicycle wheel mark—his "silver lining"—which leads him back to human civilization.

Part II: Tracking the Panther of Nagarhole profiles Shaaz Jung, a finance-professional-turned-wildlife-photographer. Shaaz is renowned for documenting "Saya," the world's first black panther to be studied so intimately. Beyond photography, Shaaz founded the BCRTI to resolve man-animal conflicts by educating locals and providing them with vocational training in tourism. His work highlights that protecting animals is not just a moral duty but can also be a source of sustainable income for forest-fringe communities.

3. HSC Board Activity Sheet Pattern (Prose Section)

A1. Global Understanding (2 Marks)

• Set 1: True/False – 1. Kiran Purandare was accompanied by many friends in Umbarzara. 2. A Leopard's presence was indicated by Langur alarm calls. 3. Shaaz Jung initially chose a career in finance. 4. Saya is the name of a famous Tiger in Nagarhole. 5. BCRTI educates villagers on the importance of conservation.

  • Answer: 1-False , 2-True , 3-True , 4-False (it's a black panther) , 5-True.

    
    

• Set 2: Sequential Order (Part I) – Arrange: (a) Realizing he was lost. (b) Finding bicycle wheel marks. (c) Hearing Langur alarm calls. (d) Seeing the village lights.

  • Answer: (c), (a), (b), (d).

    
    

• Set 3: Complete the Web – Shaaz Jung's multi-faceted roles.

  • Answer: Wildlife photographer, Cinematographer, Big cat tracker, Man-animal conflict resolution seeker, Lodge owner.

    
    

• Set 4: Complete the Flowchart – Reactions of petrified Langurs to the Leopard.

  • Answer: Leader makes alarm call -> Brigade continues calls -> Speeding to trees near and far -> Securing places on treetops .

    
    

• Set 5: Correct the Statements – 1. The forest communicates only through sight. 2. Shaaz Jung leads photography safaris only in India.

  • Answer: 1. Listening is a sense far more important than sight in the forest. 2. He also leads safaris in Africa.

    
    

A2. Complex Factual (2 Marks)

1. How did Kiran Purandare know the Leopard was nearby? 

   -> He heard the distinct 'Khyak! Khyak!' alarm calls of Langurs. He also found a fresh scat on the trail with bluish-purple flies hovering over it, indicating a predator had recently passed.

   
   

2. Describe the writer's "silver lining" in the jungle. 

   -> After being lost for over an hour, the writer found a trail of bright red soil. On this trail, he saw bicycle wheel marks, which reassured him that a village was nearby.

   
   

3. How did Shaaz Jung’s encounter with 'Scarface' change his life? 

   -> Shaaz witnessed a young leopard (Scarface) defeating an older one for territory. This incident led him to answer the "call of the felines" and dedicate his life to chronicling wildlife rather than finance.

   
   

4. Explain the conflict between villagers and animals at Nagarhole. 

   -> There is no specific buffer zone, so fields begin where the forest ends. In dry seasons, elephants and boars ruin crops, while older leopards carry away livestock, leading to local resentment.

   
   

5. How does BCRTI help the local community? 

   -> It provides vocational training to villagers, enabling them to find employment in wildlife resorts as naturalists or guides. This turns "tourist currency" into a benefit for the locals.

   
   

A3. Inference / Interpretation / Analysis (2 Marks)

1. Explain the significance of the title "Into the Wild." 

   -> It represents both a physical journey into dangerous jungles and a professional journey of leaving civilized careers (like finance) to find a deeper purpose in nature and conservation.

   
   

2. Why does the author say "I was alone here like a fox"? 

   -> It implies he had to be extremely alert, stealthy, and cautious. Like a fox, he had to use all his senses—eyes wide open and ears grasping sounds—to survive the predator-filled environment.

   
   

3. Interpret: "The animals are paying me back." 

   -> This means that because Shaaz and locals like Madegowda protect the animals, the resulting tourism allows them to earn a living as guides. The presence of wildlife has become their "source of income."

   
   

4. Analyze the importance of 'listening' in a forest. 

   -> According to Shaaz, the forest communicates through the voices of birds and animals. Listening allows one to track movements and identify dangers that are not yet visible.

   
   

5. What does Kiran Purandare's final thought suggest? 

   -> "There still exists a jungle where we can get lost... our good luck" suggests that he values the wild for its raw, untamed nature. It reflects his deep love for the preservation of true wilderness.

   
   

A4. Personal Response (2 Marks)

1. Would you like to visit a jungle alone? Why?

   -> No, because as Part I shows, a jungle is a place of "terrifying turmoil" if you lose your way. I believe safety lies in numbers, and an expert guide is necessary to navigate the "sanctum sanctorum" of predators.

   
   

2. How can we reduce man-animal conflicts in our society? 

   -> We should adopt the BCRTI model by educating locals and creating buffer zones. Providing alternative income sources like eco-tourism can turn enemies of the forest into its protectors.

   
   

3. Is wildlife photography an easy profession? 

   -> No, it requires "months of toil," patience, and the ability to handle dangerous situations. One must be prepared to face "man-animal conflict" and the physical toll of living in the wild.

   
   

4. What life lessons can we learn from tracking animals? 

   -> Tracking teaches patience and the need to "never stop discovering". It also teaches us to respect the "past and present" cycles of life, as Shaaz saw with the leopards.

   
   

5. In your opinion, what is the best way to conserve nature? 

   -> The best way is to involve local communities directly. When people realize the "value of protecting" animals leads to their own financial stability, conservation becomes a natural part of their lives.

END

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