By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Almora, 12 May: After nearly one-and-a-half months of fear and tension in Tadam village adjoining the Corbett Reserve in Salt block of Almora district, the suspected tiger believed to be behind two fatal attacks on villagers was finally tranquillised by teams of the Forest Department and the Corbett administration. The tiger was captured from the same forest region where the second fatal attack had recently taken place, bringing considerable relief to villagers who had been living under constant fear for weeks.
The forest officials are now in the process of establishing whether the captured tiger was indeed responsible for both deaths reported in the village. For this purpose, DNA samples collected from the animal are being sent for scientific examination.
It may be recalled that the first incident had taken place on 31 March this year, when 60-year-old village resident Khim Singh had gone into the forest to collect firewood. He was attacked and killed by a tiger, triggering panic throughout the region. Following the incident, fear gripped the village and nearby areas as people became increasingly reluctant to venture into forests or isolated locations.
Before the fear could subside, another fatal attack took place on 3 May. Mahipal Singh, aged 55 and also a resident of Tadam village, was returning home carrying grass when a tiger attacked him just a short distance away from his house. He died on the spot. The second killing within a little over a month naturally resulted in public anger and anxiety, with villagers demanding immediate action from the Forest Department.
In view of growing protests and concerns regarding public safety, the Almora Forest Division had temporarily closed the Mohan Safari Tourism Zone. Forest teams, assisted by the personnel from Corbett Tiger Reserve, were deputed to continuously conduct search operations in the area and locate the animal responsible for the attacks.
Providing details of the operation, senior wildlife veterinary officer of Corbett Tiger Reserve, Dr Dushyant Sharma, said that the tiger was tranquillised late at night nearly one-and-a-half kilometres inside the forest from the site of the last incident in Tadam village. He stated that the captured tiger is a male and is estimated to be between two and two-and-a-half years old.
According to officials, the tiger presently appears to be completely healthy. Dr Sharma said DNA samples from the animal are now being sent to the Wildlife Institute of India laboratory for examination so that it can be conclusively determined whether the same tiger was responsible for both attacks on villagers. Blood samples and other medical examinations of the tiger will meanwhile be carried out at the Dhela Rescue Centre.
The repeated attacks had severely affected normal life in Tadam village. The schools in the area had also remained shut due to the prevailing fear, while villagers were living under constant threat and avoiding movement outside their homes, especially during early morning and evening hours. With the tiger now tranquillised and removed from the area, residents have finally breathed a sigh of relief, although the final confirmation regarding its involvement in the two deaths will depend upon the outcome of the DNA investigation. What should be a matter of grave concern is the fact that the tiger involved is young and healthy. In the past, only the old and slightly incapacitated tigers were known to attack humans and turn maneaters.
