The Bear and The Herder

“I lived in the jungle with my sheep for 13 years. Herding sheep has to be the most difficult thing to do in this world. With me would be one or two fellow herders and at the end of each year we...

Published19 August 2016

Reading Time 2 mins

Author Stories of Nepal

Location Nepal

“I lived in the jungle with my sheep for 13 years. Herding sheep has to be the most difficult thing to do in this world. With me would be one or two fellow herders and at the end of each year we would come down to our village to sell some sheep and we would go back to the jungle again. Sometimes the rain would take away our hut and we would just have to take cover under rocks. When at night we took turns to patrol to make sure tigers and bears didn’t kill us and our sheep but many times they did. We would wake up to see an entire meadow red with sheep blood. We would gather around the remaining sheep and go find another place where they could find grass. Once as I collected wild berries, a bear attacked me. I remember my head inside it’s mouth. I fought her off with my sickle but I was badly injured. But somehow my friends saved me. You see, the danger was real, but the jungle was home and it taught me what no school can. It taught me of nature and survival and how we all are animals.” (Govinda Gurung, Simma, Sankhuwasabha)

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