INTREPID explorers from Dorset took a trip on the wild side with an adventure of a lifetime in India.

Barry and Mandy West, Janet Wood, Susan Evans and Annabelle Burroughes were among the team on an expedition to Assam and the Manas National Park led by Dorset explorer Colonel John Blashford-Snell.

The trip was organised by the British Exploration Society and tasks including studying wild elephant and other wild creatures as well as encouraging local people to preserve the flora and fauna.

Movement through the remote area often saw the explorers travel on domestic elephants and their study projects, directed by Dr Tessa Donovan-Beerman, included observations of over a hundred wild elephant, six rhino and two tiger.

They also encountered water buffalo, deer, wild boar and a couple of large pythons - one of whom had eaten the camp chicken.

One of the more memorable experience saw the expedition members bathe their elephants in the cool clear waters of the Manas river at the end of a long hot day.

Inflatable rafts were used to sail down the river so that wildlife coming to drink could be counted.

Wild water buffalo were spotted and fresh tracks o tiger leading to a kill site were found on the beaches.

The work also saw one of the team provide dental treatment and other members give out reading glasses while children who had a tooth removed were given a teddy bear or puppet made by groups of ladies in Dorset.

The team repoorted that the aid to these communities was much appreciated and it is hoped will encourage them to protect the trees and wildlife.

The villagers certainly seemed grateful and gave lively displays of local dancing and music to the team.

There were many other intriguing encounters in Assam, which has suffered from political conflicts for many years and witnessed a particularly bad outbreak of violence last year.

Despite the troubled past, the expedition party were made to feel welcome and the only time a guard had to fire his rifle was to shoot in the air when an angry elephant began to charge a Jeep.

Thanks to the help of Scientific Exploration Society member Sarah Lawton and Partha Pratim Das of the Bodoland Territorial Council, the expedition was most enjoyable and successful.

Colonel Blashford-Snell said: “I do hope more people will now visit this distant but fascinating wilderness."

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