I had a frightening experience with my own tiger, and my fear level was off the charts, reaching an intensity of 11 on a scale of 1 to 10.

Tiger attacks are undeniably terrifying, and this was no exception.

Though fear can make one appear weak, I suppressed it, knowing that fleeing would only escalate the situation. I didn’t want my tiger to transition from snarling to swatting.

If my tiger had launched a full-scale assault, escape would have been impossible. During our initial conflict, he was simply having a bad day, and I had to endure his grumbling while searching for an exit.

I had raised Saigon since he was a cub, nurturing him with bottles, assisting with his bodily needs, and even allowing him to sleep in my bed. However, once he became agitated, our close bond meant nothing. In our first encounter, I believed he would allow me to walk away unharmed.

But the second time was different.

As you can imagine, a dangerous situation was about to unfold.

We were strolling on the property when Saigon suddenly dropped to the grass, intensely sniffing the air. Curious and caught off guard, I foolishly bent down to investigate. It was a grave mistake.

Saigon swiftly turned and forcefully swiped at me. In a split second, I managed to turn my body, so he struck the top of my arm rather than my face. Nevertheless, the impact was jarring and painful.

While I understood how to handle aggression and didn’t expect unwavering loyalty, Saigon’s behavior still angered me. I remember thinking, “How dare you challenge me after everything I’ve done for you!” It bothered me that he could exhibit such hostility.

My thoughts were irrational, but in the end, my anger became a brief respite from fear. It enabled me to guide him back to his enclosure. However, as soon as I closed the gate behind me, anxiety overwhelmed me, leading to me vomiting on the grass. Bravery had its limits.

Looking back, it was clear that engaging in close contact with my tiger was a mistake that could have been avoided. After all, Saigon was simply being a tiger. I had no right to expect obedience from him, nor did I have the right to be angry at him.

I had anticipated a negative incident and feel fortunate that I managed to maintain composure when it occurred. Since then, I’ve realized that life presents us with moments of fear, but it’s best not to actively seek them out.