Crossing Torsa River in Jaldapara

One of my memorable experiences was the crossing of Torsa river on a rickety raft when patrolling the rhino habitat in Jaldapara wildlife sanctuary in north Bengal. Crossing a river in a wild area where no modern bridges exist is an experience of life-time. You enjoy nature when you are living in natural settings. On occasions like this, the clear water with fish following around your silently drifting raft, the crisp fresh breeze wafting over the river, the trepidation and the thrill arising out of the thoughts about the possibility of slipping down into the river, the muffled voices of the raftsmen, and the wide open horizon under a blue sky - all these had made indelible impressions in my mind when I was working to protect the rhinos of Jaldapara.