DIFFERENT animals respond differently to human interaction, just as we respond differently to different animals. We may cuddle up with a cat because it likes it as much as we do, but big cats are not so cuddly so they can attack and injure us in no time.

Though encountering wild animals is not likely in urban settings, out in the wild there is much that can pose a serious threat to anyone who happens to venture there. So this week we have compiled some essential survival tactics to aid anyone who has an encounter of the wild kind.

Avoidance is the best defence so it is best to keep your distance and take steps to prevent attracting wildlife so that it also doesn’t consider you as a threat.

A dog attack

WHILE dogs are considered as pets, one can get attacked by a dog because many breeds possess natural predatory aggression, especially if there is anything in your behaviour that makes them feel that way. So it is important to know how to behave with dogs, especially ones that are not familiar with you.

Never reach out immediately to pet a strange dog. Let it get familiar with you first and smell your scent. If you approach with your hands, do so slowly with your palms up. Never show the dog a closed fist or put your hand behind your back.

Read the signs.

• Most dogs are generally curious and it is normal for them to bark at you or bound towards you.

• Do not approach a dog without the owner’s permission, if the owner is there.

• Always keep a safe distance between you and a dog, even on a leash.

• Do not stare the dog in the eyes as it will perceive it as confrontational, but do not turn your back on the dog. Try to stand sideways and look slightly away.

When a dog attacks...

• Don’t panic as you may then appear threatening to the dog and it will charge.

• Never stare back at a dog. Direct eye contact will be taken as a challenge.

• Do not run. Stand still or walk at a constant slow pace. If you run, you are telling the dog “Chase me” and the dog will beat you at this game in no time, no matter how far away it is.

• Turn your side to the dog and slowly step away.

• Never use a part of your body, such as an arm or a leg, to distance yourself from the dog as the dog may see a waving arm as a target and snap at it.

• In case you fall on the ground, curl up into a ball and put your hands around the back of your head to protect your neck and face.

• When a dog bites you, don’t pull away while in its grip as that will tear the skin. If escaping is not easy, fall on the dog with your full body weight as dogs cannot wrestle and it will break its bones.

Bull fight/attack

WHETHER in a grassy field, crowded arena or a street, bulls are completely unpredictable. Signs that show the bull consider you as a threat are — growling, head-shaking and pawing the earth and rubbing him in it, and even glaring at you.

However, some bulls can go after you without giving you any notice. If you grab a weapon, go for a thick stick that won’t break on impact, an axe handle, a one- to two-foot long piece of pipe, or a bat — anything large enough to defend yourself with.

What to do when a bull attacks

• Bulls can outrun people so if you are thinking of running, make sure your escape route is a short one. If you can’t find an escape route either side-step and run for it, or hit back hard.

• Evade the bull by flinging a coat (like the bull fighters you see on TV) or any hand-held object, into the bull’s path. The bull will most likely pause to investigate the decoy with its horn before coming after you again, giving you some precious time to escape or pick up something else to throw in its path.

• Bulls are attracted to any bright colour, not necessarily red, so subdue anything bright that you are wearing or take it off.

• Bulls don’t like water so if there is a lake, river or some water body around, run for it.

• If you are in a group, draw off the bull by flinging a coat on it while the women and children run in different directions. But the bull can chase any of them while the others will get a chance to escape.

• If you are thrown down by a bull, and have managed to escape its horns, the only way to hurt him is by grasping the nose ring (if there is one) and hanging on to it.

• If you have been knocked down, or are cornered, feign death as it has sometimes helped people escape and survive.

• If there’s no place to hide, either side-step the bull and run in the opposite direction, or face the bull, scream as loud as you can and hit the bull across the face or muzzle as hard as you can with any weapon you have.

Snakes

THOUGH not in cities, in small towns and villages, snakes are common in summer as they enjoy being in the heat. But they are not people-friendly and are likely to run away from you before you run away from them! They are fleers, not fighters, so an attack is rare.

And as most snakes are non-venomous and almost harmless, don’t panic when you see one. But when there is no escaping a snake, you need to know what to do.

Escaping a snake

• Signs such as these tell when snakes are feeling threatened — their heads raise and they hiss or their tails rattle if they’re rattlesnakes. In that case, stay where you are so that the snake feels free to escape.

• Don’t throw anything at it in an attempt to kill it first, because if you miss it, the snake can move quickly and strike you in no time.

• Back away slowly. Change directions and walk away. If it looks like it is following you, stamp on the ground to make vibrations in the ground, which should be enough to drive it away.

• Don’t try to capture or trap a snake. Most snake bites occur when someone tries to capture a snake.

When bitten by a snake

• Wash bite area with soap and water as soon as possible.

• Never suck or squeeze the venom out of the wound. This is just done in movies and in real life, it can make the situation worse.

• Take off jewellery if you are bitten in your arm or hand as the injured area may swell, making bracelets, rings or watches a problem.

• Make sure the bite is lower than your heart to slow the flow of venom in your bloodstream.

If it is a coral snake — a snake with black, yellow and orange bands in that order — pull the snake off you as soon as possible. Their fangs are small, so they have to work to get a lot of venom into the wound. If you pull it off quickly, not as much venom will be inserted into your bloodstream.

• Try to remember what the snake looked like so that it can be identified and this will help you at the hospital in the treatment.

• Drink lots of water.

• Head for the nearest hospital.

Bear

WE are not likely to come across a bear in our part of the world, except for those that we may sometimes encounter on the streets which a ‘tamashay wala’ has tied to a leash. But in some other parts of the world, such as North America, you can find one while camping or hiking in the wild. And if you do, then take these steps.

• Never disturb a bear, if it has not seen you. And if it does see you, stay calm. Attacks are rare. Bears may approach or stand on their hind legs to get a better look at you. These are curious, not aggressive.

• Do not run! Stand your ground or back away slowly and diagonally. If the bear follows, stop!

• Do not make direct eye contact as large predators tend to view this as territorial and aggressive.

• Stand tall, wave your arms so that you appear larger than you are, and speak in a loud and low voice.

• If a bear is charging, almost all charges are ‘bluff charges’, so don’t run even now as you may trigger its instinctive reaction to ‘chase’ you. Remember, you can’t outrun a bear.

• Climb a tree only if it is right next to you and you can quickly get at least 30 feet up.

• Stand your ground and wave your arms and speak in a loud low voice. If you are lucky, the bear will come within a few feet and then veer off at the last second.

• If there is no escape, play dead. This indicates to the bear that you are not a threat. Curl up in a ball with your hands laced behind your neck. The foetal position protects your vital organs. Lie still and be silent. Surprised bears usually stop attacking once you are no longer a threat.

• If it does attack, fight back. Use any weapon you have at hand, go for the eyes, try and make it seem that you are too much of an effort.

• Never get between a mother bear and her cubs.

Mountain lion/cougar

AGAIN, chances are you will not meet a cat as big as a mountain lion unless you are travelling through its territory. However, you must still know what it takes not to become its meal.

• Dawn or dusk is peak times for cougar activity.

• Stay calm, stand your ground and don’t back down! Back away slowly if possible and safe to do so.

• Do not stare directly into its eyes, bend down, turn your back or run. Running triggers an innate predatory response that can lead to an attack and bending down trigger a pounce response.

• Raise your arms to make yourself look larger, clap your hands and throw something you might have in your hands, like a water bottle.

• If it’s in a crouched position, an attack is imminent and when it does, fight back. People have successfully fought off lions with rocks and sticks. Try to remain standing and get up if you fall to the ground.

Crocodile/Alligator

CROCODILES are man-killers, and it is very rare for you to escape from them. But the good news is that it’s very rare for a crocodile to chase a human on dry land. And the average human could easily outrun it as the crocodile prefers to sneak up on its prey in the water. It’s a much faster swimmer than runner.

What to do

• Flee very quickly

• Run in zigzags, as it’s extremely hard for them to turn on land.

• If you are in water, go to the nearest safe place,(such as a boat, a tree).

• If attacked: when bit and pulled underwater, kick at its eyes or grab its throat and squeeze until it lets go, and swim away and go to the nearest hospital.

• If it has you in a death roll, roll the same way it’s rolling so it doesn’t rip you in half.