“Boar, bear, then tiger” — this is how local mountain folk rank the dangers posed by wild animals, but in the Qinling Mountains, there’s a special addition — the takin, which can be considered a super predator. Most people can hardly imagine how fierce a wild boar can be. In reality, it’s common to see large patches of upturned earth and uprooted trees in the mountains — all the work of wild boars. Moreover, their population is quite substantial, so the chance of encountering them is relatively high. A group of wild boars isn’t particularly scary because they feel secure and may even surround you without posing much threat. However, a solitary wild boar is extremely vicious and views humans as enemies, determined to eliminate you with its tusks. So, if you come across such a lone killer, never panic. Stay still in place. Usually, the wild boar will show signs of agitation, but do nothing — don’t crouch down, as this signals an attack to the animal. Don’t provoke it. Slowly back away while facing the boar until it’s out of sight. Other than a gun, don’t expect any weapon to be effective against it.Traveler's Tales: Pioneering a New Outdoor Culture
As for bears, everyone knows their power — one swipe can take off your face. They typically live at elevations between 1,000 and 2,000 meters. Compared to wild boars, they’re less aggressive and will usually warn you in advance, giving you enough time to escape. However, a mother bear with cubs — the ultimate “mama bear” predator — will instinctively chase and attack anyone who enters her line of sight. Don’t count on outrunning her on two legs when she’s on four, unless she has no intention of attacking you. If she does give chase, apart from climbing a tree, I haven’t heard of any other life-saving methods. In 1998, a farmer’s wife in Zhouzhi County was attacked by one. She played dead but was tormented for most of the day and nearly bled to death. So, this method should only be used as a last resort. Tigers no longer exist in the Qinling Mountains, unless one escapes from a zoo. The takin, on the other hand, appears the most docile but is actually the most dangerous animal in the Qinling range — a smiling assassin that looks like a mix between a sheep and a cow. It can be found at various altitudes throughout the region and injures or kills at least a few mountain residents every year. In spring, due to scarce food in the high mountains, they often descend to valleys around 1,500 meters in elevation to forage, making this the period when they are most likely to harm humans. Groups of takins aren’t dangerous, but the real problem lies with solitary ones — almost always injured or defeated adult males. These are irritable and usually gore people to death.
Experience shows that staying calm, slowly retreating, and not provoking the animal seem to be the only viable strategies. There’s also a legend whose truth is uncertain: takins are known as “forest guardians” and will try to stamp out campfires. So, if you need to make a fire, go ahead and make one. These days, the best you can do is protect yourself — wild animals generally won’t attack unless you’re foolish enough to walk alone in the dark. The situations mentioned above are all possible encounters during hikes. When camping overnight, unless you’re silly enough to pitch your tent right in a wild animal’s den, animals won’t instinctively attack tents. At most, they might circle around it because food scraps from dinner might attract them. So remember to keep your backpack and food inside the tent so they don’t get eaten, and then you can sleep peacefully. Keeping a knife by your pillow will more likely result in self-injury or harm to your fellow travelers.