Villagers in Ranthambore kill a tiger by stoning it to death
Villagers in Ranthambore kill a tiger by stoning it to death (representational pic)
A 12-year-old tiger residing in the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan was slain by local villagers who believed the animal was responsible for the death of a 51-year-old man in Uliyana village.
A 12-year-old tiger in the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, located in Rajasthan, was reportedly killed by local villagers who believed the animal was responsible for the death of a 51-year-old man in Uliyana village, according to officials on Sunday.
“The deceased tiger identified as T-86 was found dead at Uliyana village in Ranthambore on Sunday afternoon. Around two dozen villagers attacked him with some sharp objects such as axes and stones leading to its death on the spot. The tiger was old and injured, likely due to a clash with another tiger. A forest team was tracking him,” said an officer.
Injury marks observed on his face indicate that he may have been assaulted with sharp implements, such as axes, and struck with stones. Additionally, the presence of an old wound suggests a possible prior confrontation with another tiger.
A team has been dispatched by the forest officials to retrieve the tiger’s body from the location, and it will subsequently be sent for an autopsy.
The tiger remained beside the man’s body after the attack, but it quickly retreated into the forest when the villagers noticed it and began to shout.
Following the incident, distressed villagers obstructed the Sawai Madhopur-Kundera road.
The villagers eventually called off their protests after discussions with the state government. Initial reports indicate that furious locals surrounded the tiger, assaulting it with stones and axes.
A former high-ranking official stated that the incident highlights significant deficiencies in the local forest administration’s oversight, urging immediate action to safeguard other tigers in the region.
The protest came to an end after Rajasthan’s agriculture minister, Kirori Lal Meena, facilitated a resolution on several key demands.
