Most Harrowing Experience(s) Ever with Organisms

[jurga_li]

Strangely, but my worst and most frightening experience with animals was with Toque Macaque in Polonaruwa, Sri Lanka. Macaques in that place are used to people feeding them so they come close. I went to a lotus pond to make a photo and did not look around much so did not notice that a monkey was following me, apparently waiting to get some food. I stepped backwards for a better view and directly onto the tail of the animal. There was a screech, the monkey hit my ankle with a paw, leaving four long scratches and,what was worse, stood in front of me in a threatening pose, baring its teeth. As it was mature male with very serious fangs and I knew about the the other consequences of macaque bite, I was really frightened. Thankfully, as I stood still, quietly speaking to the animal, it finally went away without any further action. When I went back to the car, local guide almost had a fit, seeing my ankle, but calmed down after learning that it was not a bite. So everything ended not so bad as it could. Do not ever, anywhere feed wild animals!