Essential Skills: How to Survive in the Wild

1

Surviving in the jungle is all about maximizing the tools at your disposal.

Since being able to build a fire is of vital importance to both your morale and safety, that’s one of the first things you need to tackle. There are various innovative ways of building a fire. For example the curved bottom of a coke can be used to focus sun’s rays on dried tinder to start a flame.

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2

If you’re lost in a tropical forest, it can be easy to find water. Wring out your shirt for starters. If however, you’re lost in a desert where sand and rocks stretch out in a shimmering sea mile after mile, searching for water can become difficult. So here are a few ways to divine water from earth:

Dry stream beds are always a promising source of water. Start digging at the base where the bed seems to ‘funnel’. If you come across damp earth, water can’t be too deep down.

Since most animals prefer to stay close to a water source, any sign of wildlife, especially birds is a good indication that there’s water around. So keep looking.

However, whatever you do avoid chopping off cactuses and biting into their sap like cowboys in Western Classics. Cactus juice contains a deadly concoction of chemicals and acids… not good for the tummy.

3

If you’re not intimately familiar with geography of the region avoid snacking on unknown fruits and berries. Even if you see animals and birds eating them, don’t take a chance as they may have developed immunity against the possible toxin, something which you haven’t. It’s far better to fish or hunt small game for food.

Tip: a primitive fishing net can made by looping a sturdy vine and covering it with your t-shirt. Now all you have to do is dip it in water and wait…

4

You will also have to spend a good amount of time building a sturdy shelter, if you want to avoid the company of ravenous animals at night. Look for rocky enclosures (small caves) as readily available options. If you don’t come across any, choose a cluster of trees, where you can build a passable hammock by crisscrossing branches between tree trunks.

Tip: Build your shelter as high above the ground as possible.

5

When lost in the wilderness one of the easiest yet the most overlooked methods of attracting attention is using a signal mirror. (Another use for the shiny coke can)

When aimed correctly, the brilliant flash from a mirror cannot be ignored and will reveal your position in the densest of vegetation and the most rugged of mountainous landscapes.

6

When lost in the jungle one of best ways of finding your way to civilization is to follow a river or a stream. It’s almost certain to lead you to civilization.

From the June 2011 issue of FHM India.