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Stories are often heard of people who died during
expeditions into the wild. Few, if any, of these deaths
resulted from lack of food in the jungle. More often
than not, the victims died of other causes like animal
attacks, diseases, exposure to severe wind, rain and
cold or accidents. Food plants are readily available
in the jungle. They contain essential vitamins and
minerals and are rich in protein and carbohydrates. All
plants provide enough roughage to keep the body in good
working condition. The main skill that one must possess
is the ability to know which plants are edible and which
are not. Do not assume that the plant that birds or
other animals have eaten is safe for human consumption.
This may not be. It is wiser to test a new specimen by
just nibbling a small amount of it. Should stomach
trouble occur, it can then be relieved by drinking
plenty of hot water.
Animals roam in the wild. Most of them venture out
only at night. They are a source of nourishment.
However, trapping or hunting them demands great skill
and expertise. The bark of trees, twigs and leaves form
an important part of the diet of many animals including
several species of deer and goats, squirrels and other
small rodents. By studying the marks made by the
animal's teeth, one will be able to identify the species
of animals available for food. The toothmarks of sheep
and goats generally run obliquely while those of the
deer run vertically. Stumps with conical tops that
looked as if they had been felled by an axe are the work
of the beaver and a scattering of nutshells on the
ground may indicate the presence of a squirrel.
It is important to be equipped with skills of
survival to be prepared for any kind of situation or
problem that one may encounter in life. |
